Systems and methods for providing distributed user interfaces to configure client devices

1. A method for providing a distributed user interface for configuration of a client device comprising:

detecting, from a user interface device, a client device having at least one user configurable setting;

receiving, at the user interface device, setting signals identifying the user configurable setting of the client device and permissible parameters for the user configurable setting, wherein the setting signals are devoid of any data identifying a particular configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented in a user interface and wherein the setting signals do not specify a configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented;

formulating, on the user interface device, a user interface for the client device based on the received setting signals, wherein formulating comprises determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically and then creating a graphical representation of the user configurable setting based upon the determination, and wherein the graphical representation of the user configurable setting is determined by the user interface device rather than the client device and wherein determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically comprises selecting whether to represent the user configurable setting as a check box, a drop down menu, a data entry box, a point-and-click button, a nested menu, a slide controller, or a dial; and

displaying the user interface on a display screen that is external to the user interface device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setting signals further identify current settings of the client device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a notification from the client device to the user interface device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the client device is an embedded device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving input signals corresponding to user input at the user interface device to alter the user configurable setting;

formulating a control signal at the user interface device based on the received input signals; and

transmitting the control signal from the user interface device to the client device.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

detecting from the user interface device a second client device having at least one user configurable setting; and

receiving, at the user interface device, setting signals from the second client device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface device is an embedded device.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user interface is consistent for multiple client devices.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising configuring multiple similar client devices simultaneously on the user interface device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein formulating the user interface further comprises an audible user interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the setting signals further comprise a name, a type, and a size of data provided without identifying a graphical representation of the user configurable setting in the user interface.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the client device comprises a furnace, a portable personal health monitor, a refrigerator or an oven.

13. A system that is configured to provide a distributed user interface for configuration of a client device, the system comprising:

a user interface device having a processor and memory, the processor and memory being in electronic communication with each other;

a client device having at least one user configurable setting, the client device being in electronic communication with the user interface device;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:

detect, from the user interface device, the client device;

receive, at the user interface device, setting signals identifying the user configurable setting of the client device and permissible parameters for the user configurable setting, wherein the setting signals are devoid of any data identifying a particular configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented in a user interface and wherein the setting signals do not specify a configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented;

formulate, on the user interface device, a user interface for the client device based on the received setting signals, wherein formulating comprises determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically and then creating a graphical representation of the user configurable setting based upon the determination, and wherein the graphical representation of the user configurable setting is determined by the user interface device rather than the client device and wherein determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically comprises selecting whether to represent the user configurable setting as a check box, a drop down menu, a data entry box, a point-and-click button, a nested menu, a slide controller, or a dial; and

display the user interface on a display screen that is external to the user interface device.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the setting signals further identify current settings of the client device.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to transmit a notification from the client device to the user interface device.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:

receive input signals corresponding to user input at the user interface device to alter the user configurable setting;

formulate a control signal at the user interface device based on the received input signals; and

transmit the control signal from the user interface device to the client device.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect from the user interface device a second client device having at least one user configurable setting; and

receive, at the user interface device, setting signals from the second client device.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising memory having executable instructions stored therein for providing a distributed user interface for configuration of a client device, the instructions being executable to:

detect, from a user interface device, a client device having at least one user configurable setting;

receive, at the user interface device, setting signals identifying the user configurable setting of the client device and permissible parameters for the user configurable setting, wherein the setting signals are devoid of any data identifying a particular configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented in a user interface and wherein the setting signals do not specify a configuration of how the user configurable setting is to be graphically represented;

formulate, on the user interface device, a user interface for the client device based on the received setting signals, wherein formulating comprises determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically and then creating a graphical representation of the user configurable setting based upon the determination, and wherein the graphical representation of the user configurable setting is determined by the user interface device rather than the client device and wherein determining how to represent the user configurable setting graphically comprises selecting whether to represent the user configurable setting as a check box, a drop down menu, a data entry box, a point-and-click button, a nested menu, a slide controller, or a dial; and

display the user interface on a display screen that is external to the user interface device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to transmit a notification from the client device to the user interface device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:

receive input signals corresponding to user input at the user interface device to alter the user configurable setting;

formulate a control signal at the user interface device based on the received input signals; and

transmit the control signal from the user interface device to the client device.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:

detect from the user interface device a second client device having at least one user configurable setting; and

receive, at the user interface device, setting signals from the second client device.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the setting signals further identify current settings of the client device.