USER CUSTOMIZATION OF MENUS

1 . A method of customizing menus for a consumer electronics device, the method comprising:

preparing menu definitions for the menus to be customized on the consumer electronics device,

wherein the menu customization is tailored to a consumer;

generating menu configuration information using the prepared menu definitions; and

transmitting the generated menu configuration information to the consumer electronics device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device specific information specifies the consumer electronics device, and

wherein the consumer electronics device is customized with menu definitions specified by the consumer.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the device specific information includes

a unique device identifier to identify the consumer electronics device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving the unique device identifier from the consumer electronics device; and

sending a temporary code to the consumer electronics device and associating the unique device identifier to the temporary code.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising

using the temporary code to associate the consumer electronics device with the consumer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

using a code displayed on the consumer electronics device to ensure that the consumer configuring the consumer electronics device has physical possession of the device and that the device is properly connected to a network such that the device receives a menu customization.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

enabling the consumer to trigger a menu customization request for the consumer electronics device by utilizing an on-device application or web-site.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein enabling the consumer to trigger a menu customization request comprises

duplicating actions of the consumer which are used frequently into a shortcut menu.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein enabling the consumer to trigger a menu customization request comprises

saving a current menu configuration into a preset menu.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling the consumer to customize the menus; and

controlling ordering, nesting, and availability of menu items.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

enabling the consumer to create named presets for menu customizations to allow switching between sets of customizations.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

generating the menu customization that limits at least one of Internet channels and broadcast channels that can be accessed through the menus.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

generating the menu customization that limits at least one of Internet channels and broadcast channels that can be accessed using buttons.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

setting maximum volume and parental rating limit when the menu customization is applied.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

adding menu items to the menu customization to switch to a particular preset of menu customizations.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the menu customization includes duplicate menu items.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the menu customization renames menu items.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the menu customization specifies icons to use for menu items.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

enabling the consumer to use an image file for a menu item in the menu customization.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

specifying shared customizations in terms of changes so that the shared customization is applied to consumer electronics devices with different base menus.

21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

applying multiple configurations to the consumer electronics device such that effects stack with each other.

22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

applying menu changes to the consumer electronics device through a web site.

23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

setting up a parental control code for the menu customization that is required to switch to another menu customization.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising

providing different parental control codes that allow access to different sets of menu customizations.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a password is required for an account used to register for a menu customization.

26 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

receiving a menu customization request from the consumer electronics device,

wherein the menu customization request includes device specific information to identify the consumer electronics device.

27 . A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program to customize menus for a consumer electronics device, the computer program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

prepare menu definitions for the menus to be customized on the consumer electronics device,

wherein the menu customization is tailored to a consumer;

generate menu configuration information using the prepared menu definitions; and

transmit the generated menu configuration information to the consumer electronics device.