Abstract: A system and method for manipulating the private settings of a peripheral device where the system includes at least one host computer and a peripheral device in a communication interface. The peripheral device has a data store including setting data for public settings of a peripheral device and private settings of the peripheral device that are implicated in the public settings, and has a variable manager that is in communication with the data store of the peripheral device. The host computer transmits a data packet including one or more public settings for of the peripheral device across the communication interface and the variable manager receives the data packet and retrieves the setting data from the data store in response to receipt of the data to packet. The variable manager processes the data packet and manipulates one or more of the private settings of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a virtual operator panel for a peripheral device where the system includes a peripheral device including a processor and a data store that stores public settings corresponding to private settings of the peripheral device, each public setting indicative of at least one private setting of the peripheral device. The peripheral device has a device process and a host process, or alternately, is in bidirectional communication with at least one host computer including a data store, a display and a processor. The host computer or host process selectively transmits a request to the peripheral device or device process requesting public settings of the peripheral device for the generation of a virtual operator panel for the peripheral device.