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

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.

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.