Hosted network device user interface

1. A method of hosting a user interface of a network device, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a server to display the user interface of the network device at an end user device;

authenticating the end user device to validate controlled access to at least one application programming interface (API) on the network device, the controlled access only permitting access to limited aspects of the at least one API, wherein the at least one API provides support for the user interface; and

communicating display information of the user interface including device settings of the network device to the end user device for display and to permit monitoring and interacting with the network device at the user interface, the interacting including modification of previously defined settings of the network device, wherein the modification occurs after establishing access by the end user device to the network device, wherein the network device includes hardware interfaces that are configured to be coupled to a plurality of hardware devices, wherein the plurality of hardware devices includes a data router and a wi-fi device,

wherein the end user device is configured to specifically tailor the remotely hosted user interface to the network device, and

wherein the remotely hosted user interface is based on a generic user interface that is modified based on particular capabilities of the network device to customize the remotely hosted user interface with respect to the network device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device performs network management functions including parental controls, firmware updates, or firewall configuration, of the network device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating the end user device further comprises authenticating an end user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device settings include configuration data of the network device, the configuration data including an Internet protocol address, a network device identifier and at least one additional network device setting.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server provides hosted web user interfaces of different network devices, and wherein the server provides network device application services for the different network devices on an application server or subscription basis.

6. A network device comprising:

at least one application programming interface (API) to support a remotely hosted user interface of the network device wherein the remotely hosted interface is displayed at an end user device, the remotely hosted user interface to permit a user of the end user device to remotely access and modify previously defined device settings of at least one of a plurality of hardware devices, wherein the modification occurs after establishing remote access by the end user device to the network device, the plurality of hardware devices including a data router;

hardware interfaces that are configured to be coupled to the plurality of hardware devices;

validation logic to permit controlled access to the at least one API to support the remotely hosted user interface, wherein the validation logic only permits access to limited aspects of the at least one API; and

a network communication interface to communicate with a computer data network, wherein the network device is accessible to the end user device via the computer data network,

wherein the end user device is configured to specifically tailor the remotely hosted user interface to the network device, and

wherein the remotely hosted user interface is based on a generic user interface that is modified based on particular capabilities of the network device to customize the remotely hosted user interface with respect to the network device.

7. The network device of claim 6 , wherein the network device is one of a set top box, a phone, and a gaming device.

8. The network device of claim 6 , wherein a computer server uses the at least one API as an interface to remotely host the user interface for display and control of the device settings, wherein the computer server is accessible over the computer data network to the end user device.

9. The network device of claim 6 , wherein the end user device includes a network device servicing application and wherein the network device servicing application is operative to call the at least one API of the network device.

10. The network device of claim 6 , wherein at least some of the device settings correspond to a particular hardware device connected to the network device, wherein the particular hardware device is one of the plurality of hardware devices, and wherein in response to the end user of the end user device identifying modifications to the device settings corresponding to the particular hardware device connected to the network device, the end user device interacts with the at least one API to apply the identified modifications to the device settings corresponding to the particular hardware device connected to the network device.

11. A personal computer device coupled to a network device, the personal computer device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including processor executable instructions that are executable by the processor to perform operations of a network service application using an integrated user interface at the personal computer device, the network service application including instructions executable by the processor to send security information usable to authorize controlled access to at least one application programming interface (API), the controlled access only permitting access to limited aspects of the at least one API, at the network device to support the integrated user interface and to make function calls to the at least one API at the network device to retrieve and display device settings of the network device, wherein the device settings are displayable and modifiable via the integrated user interface at the personal computer device, wherein the modification occurs after establishing access by the personal computer device to the network device, wherein the device settings include configuration data of at least one of a plurality of hardware devices coupled to the network device, the plurality of hardware devices including a data router,

wherein the end user device is configured to specifically tailor the remotely hosted user interface to the network device, and

wherein the remotely hosted user interface is based on a generic user interface that is modified based on particular capabilities of the network device to customize the remotely hosted user interface with respect to the network device.

12. The personal computer device of claim 11 , wherein the network service application is loaded into the memory from a computer readable media device that is provided as a package with the network device.

13. The personal computer device of claim 11 , wherein the network device is accessible by the personal computer device via a network connection and wherein the integrated user interface is stored in the memory.

14. The network device of claim 11 , wherein the remotely hosted user interface is a web user interface that supports the end user device to make changes to configuration data within the network device, the configuration data including data corresponding to a wireless data communication device.

15. The personal computer device of claim 11 , wherein the network device provides access to the at least one API via a remotely located web server over a computer data network, the at least one API corresponding to at least one of the plurality of hardware devices.