System and procedure for distributing user interface device configurations

Abstract

In a computing device that can be configured by a user according to several selectable user interface (UI) device configurations, a method comprising: Uploading the UI device configurations to a remote system to share the UI device configurations with participants of the remote system; wherein the user is enabled to establish restrictions regarding the sharing of the UI device configurations, whereby selected of the multiple UI device configurations are not made available for access by the participants, while the remaining multiple UI device configurations are made available for access by the participants; Displaying the UI device configurations that have been made available for access by the participants, for selection by the participants; In response to a selection by a participant, instructing the remote system to transmit one or more selected UI device configurations to another computing device, thereby making a UI device of the other computing device configurable according to the one or more selected UI device configurations, where the UI device of the computing device corresponds to a keyboard; where the multiple UI device configurations include at least one or more keyboard configurations, and where a keyboard configuration corresponds to at least one or more keyboard macros, a character repetition delay configuration, a character repetition rate configuration, a cursor blink speed configuration, or a software driver for the keyboard.

Description

AREA OF REVELATION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to user interface devices, and more particularly to a system and method for distributing user interface device configurations. BACKGROUND

[0002] It can be technically complex and time-consuming for users to configure user interface (UI) devices, such as a navigation system (e.g., a computer mouse, game controller, etc.), a keyboard, display, and / or an audio system (e.g., a speaker system, headset, etc.) for a computing device such as a calculator, a gaming system, a media player, or the like. Furthermore, there may be cases where a user desires to vary UI device configurations between software applications with UI-related features.

[0003] US 2008 / 0 082 594 A1 describes a method and a system for backing up and / or restoring user-specific settings for one or more IP telecommunications terminals. A backup operation is initiated via a user interface of the IP telecommunications terminal. A file name and a backup file are provided by the telecommunications terminal during a backup operation. The backup file is transmitted to an HTTP server, and the backup file is transmitted to the IP telecommunications terminal or other terminals in response to an HTTP GET message received from an IP telecommunications terminal connected to the HTTP server. Accordingly, multiple users at multiple locations and across multiple platforms can utilize individual user interfaces.

[0004] US 2007 / 0 203 984 A2 describes a system and method for exchanging skins between a first user and a second user in a computer-based network. A first skin selected by the first user is transmitted to the second user and displayed to him. The transmission and / or display is performed automatically. A second skin selected by the second user is transmitted to the first user and displayed to him. In one embodiment, the first and second skins are displayed alternately (e.g., at regular intervals) to the first and second users. Each user can be assigned one or more skins, including a default skin.Options are available that allow a user to authorize the sharing of skins with other users, specify which skins can be shared, control the amount of time between alternating skin renderings, and determine the number of times the skins can be alternated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object underlying the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a computing device; Fig. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system; Fig. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method of operation in the communication system; Fig. Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of a graphical user interface that supports the method of Fig. 3 illustrates; and Fig. 5 depicts an illustrative diagram of a machine in the form of a computer system in which a set of instructions, when executed, can cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method in a computing device that includes presenting a plurality of selectable user interface (UI) device configurations distributed by a remote system, instructing the remote system to provide the computing device with one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, receiving the one or more UI device configurations from the remote system, and configuring a UI device of the computing device according to at least one of the one or more UI device configurations. The plurality of UI device configurations may be provided to the remote system by multiple participants of the remote system.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system comprising a controller for collecting a plurality of UI device configurations, receiving a request from a computing device to download one or more of the plurality of UI device configurations, and transmitting the one or more requested UI device configurations to the computing device for configuring one or more UI devices of the computing device. The plurality of UI device configurations may be supplied by multiple users of the system.

[0008] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a UI device having a circuit element operated by a computing device according to one of a plurality of UI device configurations supplied to the computing device from a remote system. The remote system may receive the plurality of UI device configurations from a plurality of participants of the remote system.

[0009] Fig. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a computing device 100. Computing device 100 may include a wired or wireless transceiver 102 (herein, transceiver 102), a group of user interface (UI) devices 106, a power supply 116, and a controller 104 for managing operations thereof. Transceiver 102 may utilize common wireless access technologies, such as, among others, cellular Software Defined Radio (SDR) and / or WiMAX technologies. Cellular technologies may include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS / HSDPA, GSM / GPRS, TDMA / EDGE, EV / DO, and next-generation wireless access technologies as they emerge.

[0010] In another embodiment, transceiver 102 may support wireless short-range access technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cordless technologies such as Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) or Personal Handyphone System (PHS). In yet another embodiment, transceiver 102 may support wireless technologies such as a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) operating in conjunction with an Internet Protocol (IP) for exchanging messages on a public Internet network over a Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) or cable interface.

[0011] The group of UI devices 106 may include a pressable or touch-sensitive keyboard (or keypad) 108, a navigation device 110 such as a computer mouse with an optical sensor and / or a trackball, wheel, or navigation dial with one or more selection buttons, a game controller, or other suitable navigation system for operating operations of the computing device 100. The group of UI devices 106 may further include a display 112 such as a monochrome or color LCD (liquid crystal display) for conveying images to the end user of the computing device 100. In an embodiment where the display 112 is touch-sensitive, a portion of the keyboard 108 may be presented using the display.

[0012] The group of UI devices 106 may also include an audio system 114 that utilizes common audio technology for transmitting soft audio (e.g., sound perceived only near the human ear, such as through a headset) and loud audio, such as a speaker for mono or stereo sound presentations, hands-free operation, or other suitable uses. The audio system 114 may further include a microphone for capturing audible signals from an end user, enabling voice communications over a common communications network and / or for speech recognition applications. The group of UI devices 106 may be, in whole or in part, an integral part of a housing assembly of the computing device 100. For example, a portion of the audio system 114 may be a headset with a built-in microphone coupled to a portion of the audio system that is an integral part of the housing assembly of the computing device 100.

[0013] The power supply 116 may utilize common power management technologies, such as removable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging technologies to charge the removable batteries and supply power to the aforementioned components of the computing device 100, enabling portable applications. The power supply 116 may also utilize power management technologies, singly or in combination, that receive power from a common electrical outlet and supply regulated power to the components of the computing device 100. The controller 104 may utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor and / or digital signal processor (DSP) with associated memory(s), such as a mass storage device (e.g., a hard disk), flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM, or other memory technologies.

[0014] The calculator 100 from Fig. 1 may represent, without limitation, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, a mobile telephone (e.g., a cellular phone), a short-range telephone (e.g., a cordless or wired office or home telephone), or a gaming system operably coupled to a communications network for online or local gaming. Other computing device embodiments suitable for the present disclosure are contemplated within the scope of the claims described below.

[0015] Fig. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200. The communication system 200 may include a portal 202 operating from one or more common web servers 204. The portal 202 may be communicatively coupled to multiple computing devices 100 that implement any of the above embodiments of the computing device of Fig. 1. The computing devices 100 may exchange messages with the portal 202 via the communication network 201, which may use common circuit-switched technology and / or packet-switched technology to support communication sessions between them. The circuit-switched or packet-switched technologies may correspond to common wired or wireless access technologies that support the Fig. 1, as well as combinations thereof.

[0016] The portal 202 may facilitate the exchange of UI device configurations as in method 300 of Fig. 3 described, support. Fig. 4 depicts one embodiment of a graphical user interface illustrating method 300.

[0017] The method 300 may begin with step 302, where users of computing devices 100 log in to the portal 202 for managing UI device configurations. Each user may access the portal 202 through a common Internet browser (e.g., Mozilla Firefox™, Internet Explorer™, etc.). The registration process may include a procedure in which each prospective subscriber provides contact information (e.g., first and last name, email address, phone number, etc.). Once the user is a subscriber, the portal 202 may assign the user a user ID and password defined by the subscriber or the portal. The services of the portal 202 may be free of charge, fee-based based on services provided, or according to specific promotions, a combination of free services for some subscribers and fee-based services for others.

[0018] At step 304, participants may upload one or more UI device configurations to the portal that will be used by their computing device 100. In the present context, a UI device may correspond to any device that can serve as a user interface that presents and / or partially controls the operations of the computing device 100. Common forms of UI devices may include, without limitation, a keyboard 108, a navigation device 110, a display 112, or an audio system 114, with any of the embodiments previously described for the computing device 100 of Fig. 1. The method 300 is also applicable to other forms of UI devices not described herein that may serve as a user interface now or in future generations of computing devices.

[0019] UI device configurations can take on countless embodiments. For example, a keyboard configuration may correspond to one or more character macros created by the participant who uploads the configuration to the portal. Macros may be useful for typing a sequence of characters more quickly or may also be used to reassign keyboard keys. For example, in certain gaming applications, a user might find it useful to reassign keys (e.g., the number "9" to the letter "R"). Therefore, selecting the "R" key when a particular game is running produces a character "9" output, as if the "9" key had been pressed. Similarly, the participant can create a macro where two or more keystrokes are generated from a single keystroke.For example, a macro can be created such that when the "F11" key is selected, a character string can be associated with and generated by selecting that key; for example, selecting F11 can be designed to generate the character string "Hello." In addition to macros, the participant can upload keyboard configurations managed by an operating system (OS) of the computing device. OS-related keyboard configurations can include, without limitation, a character repeat delay configuration, a character repeat rate configuration, a cursor blink speed configuration, a software driver for the keyboard, or combinations thereof.

[0020] A display configuration may correspond to display color calibration settings, display sharpness settings, display refresh rate settings, a desktop configuration, a window appearance configuration, a display resolution configuration, a configuration for multiple monitors that extend the desktop capacity of a computing device, a touch sensitivity configuration for touch-sensitive displays, a software driver for the display, or combinations thereof.

[0021] A navigation device configuration may correspond to one or more navigation button configurations, a selection speed configuration for the one or more navigation buttons, a selection lock configuration for the one or more navigation buttons, a pointer selection configuration, a pointer speed configuration, a snap configuration for the pointer, a visibility configuration for the pointer, a configuration for a rotation mechanism of the navigation device, a navigation stroke configuration for establishing a ground surface detection configuration of an optical sensor (or similar surface sensor) of the navigation device, an accelerometer configuration, a software driver for the navigation device, or combinations thereof.

[0022] An audio system configuration may correspond to a volume configuration, a balance configuration, an audio equalization configuration, a stereo configuration, a noise reduction configuration, a digital audio playback configuration, an audio configuration for operations performed by the navigation device, a configuration of a microphone of the audio system, multi-dimensional audio settings (e.g., three or more dimensions, such as a 5.1 audio configuration, 7.1 audio configuration, etc.), a software driver for the audio system, or combinations thereof.

[0023] From these illustrative embodiments of UI device configurations, a subscriber of portal 202 may deliver any portion of the aforementioned configurations or other UI device configurations suitable for achieving objectives to the portal. The delivery process may occur via a software application running on computing device 100 and capable of retrieving UI device configurations from an operating system of the computing device or another suitable storage location within the computing device or remotely from the computing device (e.g., an external local or remote hard drive, remote server, etc.). The software application may be managed by the subscriber (user) of computing device 100.

[0024] At step 306, participants may instruct portal 202 via a browser of computing device 100 to organize the UI device configurations. For example, a portion of participants interested in gaming may wish to organize their UI device configurations under a social network of gamers. Another portion of participants may wish to establish a social network of friends and family. Other participants may be less discriminating and prefer to share their UI device configurations with any participants of portal 202. Thus, any social and / or organizational hierarchy may be established by the participants and / or a service provider of portal 202. Participants may also establish sharing restrictions on the UI device configurations at step 308 by limiting the community of participants that can access their archived UI device configurations.

[0025] For example, some participants may define a "buddy" list for exchanging UI device configurations only with participants listed in the buddy list. Other participants may prefer not to share their UI device configurations with any participants. These participants may prefer to use the portal 202 for private purposes, such as to facilitate portability between computing devices 100. For example, if a participant changes computing devices 100, the participant may access the portal 202 through a common browser and download a software application to the computing device 100 to assist the participant in transferring the participant's UI device configurations to the new computing device. Before updating the UI device configurations of the new computing device 100, the software application may save previously existing settings in case the participant wishes to restore those settings at any time.This feature may be useful in situations where the subscriber wishes to temporarily switch between computing devices 100 (e.g., when renting and borrowing a computing device). This recovery technique may also be applicable to subscribers who share UI device configurations.

[0026] Once the UI device configurations are uploaded and organized with sharing restrictions, the portal 202 may monitor requests made by computing devices 100 of participants requesting, at step 312, a representation of available UI device configurations that may be downloaded and applied to the UI devices of the requesting computing devices at steps 316 to 318 once a selection is detected at step 314. Steps 316 to 318 may also include a process or record of pre-existing UI device configurations before they are modified, in case the participant later wishes to restore them.

[0027] Fig. 4 depicts illustrative embodiments of graphical user interface (GUI) snapshots of portions of steps 312 through 318. In this figure, a first GUI depicted by a subscriber's first computing device 100 depicts subscriber groupings that may be established by the subscriber in step 306 and / or the portal service provider 202. In this figure, the GUI depicts groupings for "Player," "Friends," "Family," "Private," and others, which may be accessed by selecting "More."

[0028] The "Player" GUI button may display a list of participants in a social network interested in gaming. A "Friends" or "Family" GUI button may display a limited set of UI device configurations shared by participants, optionally defined by a participant at step 306. The "Private" GUI button may display UI device configurations that the participant of portal 202 does not share with other participants. For illustrative purposes only, assume that the participant selects the "Player" GUI button (with the bold and thicker outline). In response to this selection, portal 202 displays a new GUI with a selection of players.Each player is identifiable by name or pseudonym, and can be assigned an average rating determined from a collection of ratings collected by Portal 202 from participants belonging to the "player" grouping. The more stars displayed next to a player, the higher the satisfaction rating from participants who download the UI device configurations provided by the player.

[0029] In this representation, the participant selects Player X perhaps because they have a higher satisfaction rating than the other players, or because the participant appreciates that particular player. This selection redirects to a GUI that lists video games for which Player X has designated different UI device configurations. After selecting the first video game, the portal 202 displays another GUI with a selection of UI device configurations. Each UI device may be listed separately, allowing the participant to optionally select the UI devices of interest. In this example, the participant selects the navigation device and audio system configurations designated by Player X for "Video Game 1."

[0030] After selecting the GUI OK button, the portal 202 begins downloading the navigation device and audio system configurations to the subscriber's computing device 100 (illustrated by the GUI download process). Once the navigation device and audio system configurations are successfully downloaded, the subscriber has the option to apply the configurations or reject the update. When the OK button is selected, the computing device 100 updates the UI devices with the downloaded configurations and begins operating the UI devices according to these configurations. The update process can be performed by configuration software running on the computing device via its operating system or by software downloaded from the portal 202.

[0031] For the average person skilled in the art, it would be obvious that the GUI used in Fig. 4 are illustrative and not limiting. Those skilled in the art may expect that any GUI arrangement may be used to perform steps 312 through 318. Furthermore, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the organization of participants and the classification of UI device configurations may be arranged differently, as long as they achieve an end result of updating UI device configurations of a computing device 100 via the portal 202.

[0032] The method 300 may further include steps for rating the UI device configurations downloaded from the portal 202. For example, at step 320, the portal 202 may detect that a participant has invoked a process to submit a satisfaction rating using a software application provided by the portal 202 and running on the computing device 100 or via a browser interface to the portal. The satisfaction rating may be a simple GUI selection from zero to five stars, with five stars being the highest level of satisfaction, with half stars also selectable. Once selected, the portal software running on the computing device 100 or the browser sends the satisfaction rating to the portal 202 at step 322, which the portal records at step 324 according to the source of the UI device configuration, which in this illustration is Player X.Portal 202 may use the submitted rating from this participant (and others downloading the same or similar UI device configurations from Player X) to update Player X's satisfaction rating.

[0033] Regardless of whether the participant submits a satisfaction rating, an option to restore the previously existing UI device configurations may be presented to the participant at step 326 via the portal 202 or portal software operating locally on the computing device 100. If a restore option is selected at step 326, the computing device 100 may proceed to step 328 and restore UI device configurations that existed prior to step 318.

[0034] From the foregoing descriptions, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may be modified, reduced, or further developed without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, the method 300 may be adapted such that the UI device configurations may be partially archived. This means that participants may choose to upload or download portions of UI device configurations instead of a complete set of configurations. In yet another embodiment, the method 300 may be adapted such that the service provider of the portal 202 exclusively defines the groupings of participants and categories of UI device configurations. This embodiment may be useful in social networks where an expected behavior or outcome is desired by the service provider of the portal 202.

[0035] Other suitable modifications may be applied to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the reader is referred to the claims for a more complete understanding of the scope and extent of the present disclosure.

[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a machine in the form of a computer system 500 in which a set of instructions, when executed, could cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine could be connected to other machines (e.g., using a network). In a networked deployment, the machine could operate in the capacity of a server or client user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

[0037] The machine could include a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, network switch, or network bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify operations to be performed by the machine. It is understood that a device of the present disclosure generally includes any electronic device that provides voice, video, or data communication. Furthermore, although only a single machine is depicted, the term "machine" is also to be understood to include any collection of machines that individually or collectively execute a set of instructions (or multiple sets of instructions) for performing any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[0038] Computer system 500 may include a processor 502 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), main memory 504, and static memory 506 that communicate with each other via a bus 508. Computer system 500 may further include a display unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel display, a solid-state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Computer system 500 may include an input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive 516, a signal generation device 518 (e.g., a speaker or a remote control), and a network interface device 520.

[0039] The disk drive 516 may include a machine-readable medium 522 storing one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 524) embodying any one or more of the methodologies and functions described herein, including the methods presented above. The instructions 524 may also be stored, in whole or in part, in the main memory 504, the static memory 506, and / or within the processor 502 during their execution by the computer system 500. The main memory 504 and the processor 502 may also constitute machine-readable media.

[0040] Dedicated hardware implementations, including, but not limited to, application-specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays, and other hardware devices, may also be constructed to perform the methods described herein. Applications that could incorporate the apparatus and systems of various embodiments include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more interconnected hardware modules or devices, with associated control and data signals sent between and across the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Therefore, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

[0041] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are configured to operate as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations may include, among other things, distributed computing or distributed component / object computing, parallel computing, or virtual machine computing may also be configured to perform the methods described herein.

[0042] The present disclosure provides a machine-readable medium that contains instructions 524 or receives and executes instructions 524 from a propagated signal, such that a device connected to a network environment 526 can send or receive voice, video, or data and communicate over the network 526 using the instructions 524. The instructions 524 could also be transmitted or received over a network 526 via the network interface device 520.

[0043] Additionally, although machine-readable medium 522 is shown as a single medium in an example embodiment, the term "machine-readable medium" is to be understood to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database and / or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "machine-readable medium" is to be understood to include any medium capable of storing, encoding, and carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

[0044] Accordingly, the term "machine-readable medium" is to be understood to include, but is not limited to, solid-state storage, such as a memory card or other package containing one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memory, random access memory, or other rewritable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical media such as disk or tape; and / or a digital file attachment to an email or other standalone file or set of files is considered a distribution medium, which corresponds to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is deemed to include any one or more machine-readable media or distribution media listed herein, including technically recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations recited herein are stored.

[0045] Although this specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to specific standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet-switched network transmission (e.g., TCP / IP, UDP / IP, HTML, HTTP) represents examples of the prior art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents with substantially the same functions. Accordingly, superseded standards and protocols with the same functions are considered equivalents.

Claims

[1] In a computing device configurable by a user according to a plurality of selectable user interface (UI) device configurations, a method comprising: Uploading the UI device configurations to a remote system for sharing the UI device configurations with participants of the remote system; wherein the user is enabled to establish restrictions on sharing the UI device configurations, whereby selected ones of the plurality of UI device configurations are not made available for access by the participants, while the remaining ones of the plurality of UI device configurations are made available for access by the participants; Displaying the UI device configurations that have been made available for access by the participants for selection by the participants; in response to a selection by a participant, instructing the remote system to transmit one or more selected UI device configurations to another computing device, whereby a UI device of the other computing device is configurable according to the one or more selected UI device configurations, wherein the UI device of the computing device corresponds to a keyboard; wherein the plurality of UI device configurations comprise at least one or more keyboard configurations, and wherein a keyboard configuration corresponds to at least one or more keyboard macros, a character repeat delay configuration, a character repeat rate configuration, a cursor blink speed configuration, or a software driver for the keyboard. [2] The method of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is an electromechanical keyboard or a touch-sensitive keyboard. [3] The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of participants of the remote system utilizes a respective computing device that controls one or more UI devices, wherein each of the plurality of participants independently configures a portion of its one or more UI devices, and wherein each of the plurality of participants causes its computing device to transmit the configured portion of its one or more UI devices to the remote system. [4] The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UI device configurations are organized into a plurality of categories, and wherein each of the plurality of participants is assigned to at least one of the plurality of categories. [5] The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting a satisfaction rating for each of the at least one UI device configuration to the remote system, and wherein the remote system presents the satisfaction rating to at least a portion of the plurality of participants of the remote system. [6] The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device corresponds to at least one of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, a gaming system, a terminal managed by a host computer, a PDA, and a mobile phone, the computing device being communicatively coupled to the remote system via a communication network, the communication network corresponding to a circuit-switched communication network or a packet-switched communication network, and the remote system corresponding to a portal, and the method comprising: Storing one or more pre-existing UI device configurations of the UI device of the computing device prior to configuring the UI device if at least one UI device configuration has been received from the remote system; Receiving a request to restore the one or more previously existing UI device configurations of the UI device; and Configuring the UI device with the one or more pre-existing UI device configurations, [7] System comprising a control for: collecting a plurality of user interface (UI) device configurations, wherein the plurality of UI device configurations are provided by a plurality of users of the system for sharing the UI device configurations with other users; wherein the system is configured to enable a user to establish restrictions on the UI device configurations provided by the user, whereby selected ones of the UI device configurations provided by the one user are not made available for access by other users, while the remainder of the plurality of UI device configurations are made available for access by the subscribers; Displaying the UI device configurations that have been made available for access by the participants for selection by the participants; Receiving a request from a computing device to download one or more selected UI device configurations; and Transmitting the one or more requested UI device configurations to the computing device for configuring one or more user interface (UI) devices of the computing device, wherein the one or more UI devices correspond to at least one keyboard, wherein the plurality of UI devices comprise at least one or more keyboard configurations, and wherein a keyboard configuration corresponds to at least one or more keyboard macros, a character repeat delay configuration, a character repeat rate configuration, a cursor blink speed configuration, or a software driver for the keyboard. [8] The system of claim 7, wherein the keyboard is one of an electromechanical keyboard and a touch-sensitive keyboard. [9] The system of claim 7, wherein the system corresponds to a portal hosted by one or more web servers, wherein the plurality of users are subscribers to the portal, wherein each of the plurality of subscribers of the system utilizes a respective computing device that controls one or more respective UI devices, wherein each of the plurality of subscribers independently configures a portion of its one or more UI devices, and wherein each of the plurality of subscribers causes its computing device to transmit the configured portion of its one or more UI devices to the system. [10] The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of UI device configurations are organized into a plurality of categories, each of the plurality of users being associated with at least one of the plurality of categories, and wherein the controller is configured to Receiving a satisfaction rating for each of the one or more UI device configurations from the computing device and Displaying the satisfaction rating for at least a proportion of the system's multiple users is suitable. [11] User interface (UI) device adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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