System and method for personalizing an electrical device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for personalizing or customizing an electrical device. In one arrangement, the system comprises a graphical user interface having selectable options corresponding to device functionality, a control panel configured to receive a selection input by a device user of at least one of the selectable options of a functionality to be associated with a given removable button, and logic configured to detect selection of the given removable button in a device control panel and determine the functionality associated with the given removable button, wherein the device performs the functionality associated with the given removable button is implemented.

1 . A method for personalizing an electrical device having a plurality of button openings that are adapted to receive interchangeable, encoded buttons, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a graphical user interface having selectable options corresponding to device functionality;    receiving selection of at least one of the selectable options of a particular device functionality to be associated with a particular encoded button; and    assigning the selected device functionality to the encoded button such that when the encoded button is disposed within a button opening of the electrical device and depressed, the selected functionality will be performed by the electrical device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving selection of a particular device functionality comprises receiving selection of a particular sound that is to be emitted by the electrical device when the encoded button is depressed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected functionality will be performed by the electrical device when the encoded button is depressed irrespective of the particular button opening in which the button is disposed.  
   
   
       4 . A method for enabling customization of an electrical device, comprising: 
 providing a graphical user interface having selectable options corresponding to device functionality;    receiving a selection input by a device user of at least one of the selectable options of a functionality to be associated with a given removable button;    detecting selection of the given removable button in a device control panel;    determining the functionality associated with the given removable button; and    performing the functionality associated with the given removable button.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving a selection comprises receiving a selection input into the electrical device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving a selection comprises receiving a selection input into a computing device separate from the electrical device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein detecting selection comprises detecting the position of a pin of the given removable button with a button receiving member.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining a functionality comprises determining what electrical device operation to perform when the removable button is selected.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining a functionality comprises determining a sound to generate when the removable button is selected.  
   
   
       10 . A customizable electrical device having a plurality of button openings that are adapted to receive interchangeable, encoded buttons, comprising: 
 a graphical user interface having selectable options corresponding to device functionality;    a control panel configured to receive a user input corresponding to selection of at least one of the selectable options of a particular device functionality to be associated with a particular encoded button; and    logic configured to assign the selected device functionality to the encoded button such that when the encoded button is disposed within a button opening of the electrical device and depressed, the selected functionality will be performed by the electrical device.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the selectable options includes a particular sound that is to be emitted by the electrical device when the encoded button is depressed.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical device is configured to perform the selected functionality responsive to depression of the encoded button irrespective of the particular button opening in which the button is disposed.  
   
   
       13 . A system for enabling customization of an electrical device, comprising: 
 a graphical user interface having selectable options corresponding to device functionality;    a control panel configured to receive a selection input by a device user of at least one of the selectable options of a functionality to be associated with a given removable button; and    logic configured to detect selection of the given removable button in a device control panel and determine the functionality associated with the given removable button, wherein the device performs the functionality associated with the given removable button is implemented.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control panel is configured to receive a selection input into the electrical device.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control panel is separate from the electrical device and configured to receive a selection input.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logic is configured to detect the position of a pin of the given removable button in cooperation with a button receiving member.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logic is configured to determine what electrical device operation to perform when the removable button is selected.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logic is configured to determine a sound to generate when the removable button is selected.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the logic is configured in at least one of hardware and software.