Host arbitrated user interface resource sharing

1. A method for managing a computer user interface device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between a computer user interface device and a first personal computer system;

utilizing the computer user interface device to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system;

establishing an inter-system communication link between the first personal computer system and a second system;

communicating a predetermined signal from the computer user interface device to the first personal computer system; and

in response to receiving the predetermined signal at the first personal computer system, at least:

communicating a hand-off signal from the first personal computer system to the second system over the inter-system communication link, the hand-off signal indicating that the computer user interface device and a second computer user interface device are to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system instead of to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system;

establishing a second wireless communication link between the computer user interface device and the second system; and

communicating user interface information between the second system and both of the computer user interface device and the second computer user interface device over the second wireless communication link.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device to the first personal computer system comprises communicating the predetermined signal over a data channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device to the first personal computer system comprises communicating the predetermined signal over a dedicated control channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first computer user interface device comprises a keyboard;

the second computer user interface device comprises a mouse; and

the keyboard serves as a communication conduit for all information between the mouse and the second system.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing, on the computer user interface device, a human-perceivable indication of which system(s) the computer user interface device is being used with.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a user interface with which a user may specify characteristics of the predetermined signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a user interface with which a user may define a particular user input that, when input by the user, will cause the computer user interface device to communicate the predetermined signal to the first personal computer system.

8. In a first personal computer system, a method for managing a computer user interface device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link with the computer user interface device;

utilizing the computer user interface device to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system;

establishing a second communication link with a second system;

receiving a predetermined signal from the computer user interface device over the wireless communication link; and

in response to receiving the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, communicating a hand-off signal to the second system over the second communication link, the hand-off signal indicating to the second system that the computer user interface device is to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system instead of to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, prior to receiving the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, communicating user interface information with the computer user interface device over the wireless communication link, and wherein the predetermined signal is embedded in the user interface information communicated in a data channel.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hand-off signal indicates that the computer user interface device and a second computer user interface device are to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system.

11. The method of claim 8 , comprising, prior to receiving the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, providing a human-perceivable indication that the computer user interface device is being used with the first personal computer system.

12. The method of claim 8 , comprising, in response to receiving the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, providing a human-perceivable indication that the computer user interface device is being used with the second system.

13. The method of claim 8 , comprising providing a user interface with which a user may specify characteristics of the predetermined signal.

14. The method of claim 8 , comprising providing a user interface with which a user may associate a particular user input with the predetermined signal.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein establishing a wireless communication link comprises determining whether the computer user interface device is authorized for use with the first personal computer system.

16. A first personal computer system for managing use of a computer user interface device, the first personal computer system comprising at least one module that is operable to, at least:

establish a wireless communication link with a computer user interface device;

utilize the computer user interface device to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system;

establish a communication link between the first personal computer system and a second system;

detect a predetermined signal communicated to the first personal computer system from the computer user interface device; and

in response to detecting the predetermined signal, communicate a hand-off signal to the second system, the hand-off signal indicating to the second system that the computer user interface device is to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system instead of to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system.

17. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to detect the predetermined signal embedded in user interface information communicated in a data channel between the first personal computer system and the computer user interface device.

18. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the hand-off signal indicates that the computer user interface device and a second computer interface device are to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system.

19. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to, prior to the first personal computer system receiving the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, provide a human-perceivable indication that the computer user interface device is being used with the first personal computer system.

20. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to, after the first personal computer system receives the predetermined signal from the computer user interface device, provide a human-perceivable indication that the computer user interface device is being used with the second system.

21. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to provide a user interface to a user, the user interface providing to the user the capability to specify characteristics of the predetermined signal.

22. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to provide a user interface with which a user may associate a particular user input with the predetermined signal.

23. The first personal computer system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one module is operable to perform authentication processing, the authentication processing comprising determining whether the computer user interface device is authorized for use with the first personal computer system.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a user input device for a personal computer system.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a touch-based input device with which a user inputs information to a personal computer system.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a computer mouse and/or computer keyboard.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is an audio input device with which a user inputs audio information to a personal computer system.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a video input device with which a user inputs video information to a personal computer system.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a user output device for a personal computer system.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is a video display device with which a personal computer system outputs video information to a user.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer user interface device is an audio speaker device with which a personal computer system outputs audio information to a user.

32. A method for managing a computer user interface device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between a computer user interface device and a first personal computer system, the computer user interface device comprising an audio input device with which a user inputs audio information to a personal computer system;

utilizing the computer user interface device to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system;

establishing an inter-system communication link between the first personal computer system and a second system;

communicating a predetermined signal from the computer user interface device to the first personal computer system; and

in response to receiving the predetermined signal at the first personal computer system, communicating a hand-off signal from the first personal computer system to the second system over the inter-system communication link, the hand-off signal indicating that the computer user interface device is to be used to provide a user interface between the second system and a user of the second system instead of to provide a user interface between the first personal computer system and a user of the first personal computer system.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the predetermined signal comprises a voice command.