A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances provides an interactive instruction set and associated programming which is downloadable to a controllable appliance having an associated display, such as an Internet enabled television. The programming is accessible by the controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions from the interactive instruction set to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for setting up the controlling device to communicate commands to another controllable device (e.g., a DVD, VCR, DVR, etc).

A television and system and method for providing a remote control device are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television includes a processor, a memory, a tuner, a panel, and an audio driver therein in an interconnected architecture. The television may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, such as a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device having a touch screen display, whereby formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions, including virtual buttons, may be transmitted to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device for display on the touch screen display to create an experience parallel to the experience on the television. The television receives and processes virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control amenities associated with the television.

An electronic device according to the disclosure includes an infrared signal receiver, an infrared signal transmitter, a memory that stores computer instruction code, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to: receive a first infrared signal output from a remote control device according to a user input for controlling an external device connected with the electronic device through the infrared signal receiver, identify a second infrared signal corresponding to one of control commands for controlling the operation of the external device based on control information included in the received first infrared signal, identify the output timing of the second infrared signal based on the type of the first infrared signal, and control the infrared signal transmitter to output the determined second infrared signal based on the identified output timing.

The present invention may provide a display device that automatically configures a remote controller so that an external device connected to the display device can be controlled. According to the present display device, a power control code can be recognized on the basis of a response of a connected external device, and a control code set corresponding to the power control code can be received through a server. When there are a plurality of control code sets corresponding to the power control code, the corresponding control code sets can be received through the server by performing comparison with a user interface included in the video image received from the external device.

A set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box system, first and second set-top boxes each include a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, a wireless transceiver, memory, and storage communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. Each of the set-top boxes is connected to a display, such as a television. A syndication profile associated with the set-top boxes enables a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control both displays via each of the set-top boxes.

In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.

A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to transmit communications to an intended target appliance.

Devices and methods are provided for masking signals from multi-mode remote control devices. A method may include receiving, by a first device, a first key command from the first device or a second device operatively connected to the first device, the first key command indicative of a first infrared (IR) command code received by the first device or the second device. The method may include receiving a non-IR message and determining, based on the message, that the first key command is associated with a second IR command code for controlling a third device. The method may include preventing, based on the determination that the first key command is associated with the second IR command code for controlling the third device, the first key command from causing the first device or the second device to perform an action.

A password less login using a smart device is caused to retrieve from a cloud-server a one-time use code. The smart device is associated with a virtual user account to control a plurality of controllable devices with a device app installed on a smart device. The one-time use code is provided to a controllable device and the controllable device is caused to provide the one-time use code back to the smart device. The app causes the one-time use code provided back to the smart device by the controllable device to be authenticated. In response to the one-time use code being authenticated, the controllable device is bound to the app whereupon the controllable device is controllable through use of the app.

A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to transmit communications to an intended target appliance.