Method for controlling operations of computing devices

A computer-readable medium for configuring a target device, on which is provided:

• instructions for identifying a target device connectable to a computer network;
• instructions for identifying on said network one or a plurality of groups of peer devices which employ configuration settings similar to configuration settings used by the target device;
• instructions for receiving input, for each of said groups of peer devices, from the target device as to whether the target device is to be included as a member of the group;
• instructions for identifying one or a plurality of default parameters associated with each group of which the target device is to be included as a member, such that each default parameter describes a configuration setting determined to be suitable as a default setting for the configuration to which it relates based on a determination that it is commonly used by members of the group;
• instructions for presenting each of said default parameters to the target device;
• for each default parameter presented to the target device, instructions for
• receiving input from the target device as to whether the default parameter is to be implemented for the target device and implementing or not implementing the default parameter for the target device in accordance with said input,
• comparing input received from the target device to input received from other members of said group,
• determining whether default parameters associated with the group are consistent with configuration choices commonly made by members of said group as expanded to include the target device and, if not, changing default parameters to the extent necessary to reflect configuration choices commonly made by members of the group.

A system for configuring a target device, comprising:

• a target device and a computer network to which the target device may be connected;
• one or a plurality of groups of devices which are peers to the target device and which may be identified as employing configuration settings similar to configuration settings used by the target device;
• a computer, connected to the network, receiving input from the target device, for each of said groups of peer devices, as to whether the target device is to be made a member of the group;
• a computer, connected to the network, identifying one or a plurality of default parameters associated with each group of which the target device is to be made a member, such that each default parameter describes a configuration setting determined to be suitable as a default setting for the configuration to which it relates based on a determination that it is commonly used by members of the group;
• a computer, connected to the network, presenting each of said default parameters to the target device;
• a computer, connected to the network, presenting each default parameter presented to the target device and
• receiving input from the target device as to whether the default parameter is to be implemented for the target device and implementing or not implementing the default parameter for the target device in accordance with said input,
• comparing input received from the target device to input received from other members of said group,
• determining whether default parameters associated with the group are consistent with configuration choices commonly made by members of said group as expanded to include the target device and, if not, changing default parameters to the extent necessary to reflect configuration choices commonly made by members of the group.