Apparatus and method for managing operations of accessories

1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions, wherein execution of the computer instructions causes a processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting in a graphical user interface a plurality of substitute actions and a plurality of accessories of distinct operational types, wherein the plurality of accessories are for controlling a software application operable in a computer system or a gaming console, and wherein the plurality of substitute actions comprise substitute stimulation data for controlling the software application;

associating a first substitute action of the plurality of substitute actions with an input function of a first accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein stimulation of the input function of the first accessory produces accessory stimulus data that controls the software application differently from the first substitute action;

recording the association between the first substitute action and the input function;

receiving the accessory stimulus data from the first accessory responsive to a stimulation of the input function of the first accessory;

detecting the association of the first substitute action to the input function of the first accessory;

obtaining substitute stimulus data defined by the first substitute action;

replacing the accessory stimulus data received from the first accessory with the substitute stimulus data obtained for the first substitute action; and

providing the substitute stimulus data for controlling the software application instead of the accessory stimulus data.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the substitute stimulus data is provided to an operating system that controls the software application.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the software application is a gaming application which invokes a gaming feature according to the substitute stimulus data.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein the operating system launches another software application according to the first substitute action.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of accessories correspond to at least two distinct accessory types from a group comprising a keyboard, a gaming pad, a mouse, a gaming console controller, a joystick, a microphone, and a headset with a microphone, and wherein the distinct accessory types correspond to accessories having disparate operational parameters.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

recording a sequence of input function stimuli of one or more of the plurality of accessories; and

associating the sequence of input functions to a macro.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the macro corresponds to one of the plurality of substitute actions.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise recording timing characteristics of the sequence of input function stimuli.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise modifying at least a portion of the timing characteristics according to user provided instructions.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of substitute actions comprise one or more output signals of at least one of the plurality of accessories.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more output signals comprise a code to identify a stimulated input function of an accessory or an audible signal.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion the plurality of substitute actions correspond to one or more actions that control aspects of a software gaming application.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise presenting a statistical frequency of stimulation of one or more input functions of at least one of the plurality of accessories.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise presenting one or more suggestions to modify an efficiency of usage of the at least one accessory.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the statistical frequency of stimulation presented corresponds to a color-coded symbolic usage of the one or more input functions of the at least one accessory.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein recording the association comprises storing the association between the first substitute action and the input function in a profile.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise associating the profile with one or more software applications including the software application.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise combining the profile with another profile comprising one or more other associations of another action and another input function.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting an unknown accessory;

presenting a depiction of an accessory of similar or same category;

receiving instructions describing all or a portion of input functions of the unknown accessory;

creating an accessory identity;

associating the accessory identity with the instructions;

recording the association; and

presenting the accessory identity with the plurality of accessories when the unknown accessory is communicatively coupled to a computing device from which the storage medium operates.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

presenting a plurality of programmable layers of input functions of the accessory;

detecting a selection from the plurality of programming layers;

recording the association according to the selected programming layer; and

monitoring the selected accessory according to the plurality of programming layers.

21. A method, comprising:

presenting in a graphical user interface a plurality of substitute actions and a plurality of accessories of distinct operational types, wherein the plurality of accessories are for controlling software applications operable in a computing device, and wherein the plurality of substitute actions comprise substitute stimulation data for controlling the software applications;

receiving a request to associate a first substitute action of the plurality of substitute actions with an input function of a first accessory of the plurality of accessories;

associating the first substitute action with the input function of the first accessory, wherein stimulation of the input function of the first accessory produces accessory stimulus data that controls the software application differently from the first substitute action;

detecting the accessory stimulus data generated by the first accessory responsive to a stimulation of the input function;

obtaining substitute stimulus data for the first substitute action;

substituting the accessory stimulus data received from the first accessory with the substitute stimulus data obtained for the first substitute action; and

sending the substitute stimulus data for controlling the software application instead of the accessory stimulus data.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the computing device corresponds to one of a computer system or a gaming console.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the substitute stimulus data is sent to an operating system controlling the software application, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating a human interface device (HID) report including the first action; and

transmitting the HID report to the operating system.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the operating system retrieves the first action from the HID report, and conveys the first action to the software application.

25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising presenting a mapping of a frequency of stimulation of input functions of at least one of the plurality of accessories.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising presenting the mapping according to a color coding scheme applied to the input functions of the at least one accessory.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of accessories correspond to at least two distinct accessory types from a group comprising a keyboard, a gaming pad, a mouse, a gaming console controller, a joystick, a microphone, and a headset with a microphone, wherein the distinct operational types correspond to accessories having disparate operational parameters, and wherein each of the plurality of substitute actions comprise one or more output signals of at least one of the plurality of accessories.

28. A computing device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a controller coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the controller performs operations comprising:

presenting a plurality of substitute actions and a plurality of accessories of distinct operational types, wherein the plurality of accessories are for controlling a software application, and wherein the plurality of substitute actions comprise substitute stimulation data for controlling the software application;

associating a first substitute action of the plurality of substitute actions with an input function of a first accessory of the plurality of accessories, wherein stimulation of the input function of the first accessory produces accessory stimulus data that controls the software application differently from the first substitute action;

receiving from the first accessory the accessory stimulus data responsive to a stimulation of the input function; and

substituting the accessory stimulus data received from the first accessory with substitute stimulus data obtained for the first substitute action; and

controlling the software application according to the substitute stimulus data of the first substitute action rather than the accessory stimulus data received from the first accessory.

29. The computing device of claim 28 , wherein the computing device comprises one of a computer or a gaming console.

30. The computing device of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of accessories correspond to at least two distinct accessory types from a group comprising a keyboard, a gaming pad, a mouse, a gaming console controller, a joystick, a microphone, and a headset with a microphone, and wherein each of the plurality of substitute actions comprise one or more output signals of at least one of the plurality of accessories.