An image display device configured to obtain device identification information corresponding to a peripheral device connected to the image display device and control a wireless communicator to transmit search data corresponding to the peripheral device to a control device of the image display device based on the device identification information, and to determine pairing data and control code information corresponding to the peripheral device, based on the device identification information, upon receiving response data from the control device, and transmit the pairing data and the control code information to the control device through the wireless communicator.

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 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).

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an agent control system that includes a virtual version of a remote control. In one aspect, the disclosure describes an input history store that stores user input operations corresponding to received user inputs to a remote control located at a subscriber location and an agent controller associated with a service provider that generates a dashboard user interface (UI) that operates in part to display a virtual version of the remote control, one or more of the input operations corresponding to the received user inputs to the remote control at the subscriber location, and/or a recommended action to execute on the virtual version of the remote control. Other aspects are described in detail herein.

Methods for a soft universal remote (SUR) controller are performed by systems and apparatuses. Audio/visual (A/V) devices may be controlled by hardware remote controllers that are not configured to control other devices of an audio/visual system. A SUR controller implemented by an A/V device provides consumable control signals to such other devices based on control signals from the A/V device remote controller. A SUR controller determines another device for which a received control function is directed, and transmits a generated consumable control signal for the control function of the received control signal is provided to the other device. User interfaces are provided by SUR controllers for the configuration of SUR controllers and remote controllers, and for control of other A/V devices via the user interfaces.

An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a signal receiver configured to receive a first wireless signal; a signal transmitter configured to output a second wireless signal; and a processor configured to: identify an external apparatus based on an input key indicated by the first wireless signal as the first wireless signal is repeatedly received through the signal receiver; identify the second wireless signal based on the input key and the external apparatus; and control the signal transmitter to repeatedly output the second wireless signal while the first wireless signal is repeatedly received. Each of the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal alternately comprises a signal section corresponding to the input key and an idle section, and the processor is further configured to control the signal transmitter to output the second wireless signal during the idle section of the first wireless signal.

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 display device includes a display, a network interface for connection with a access point, an external device interface configured to receive image data from an external device, and a processor configured to acquire information on the external device connected to the external device interface, receive an information set of a plurality of search devices connected through an Internet network from the access point, and display a test screen for checking connection of the external device on the display when any one of the plurality of search devices matches the external device based on the information on the external device and the information set.

An image display device configured to obtain device identification information corresponding to a peripheral device connected to the image display device and control a wireless communicator to transmit search data corresponding to the peripheral device to a control device of the image display device based on the device identification information, and to determine pairing data and control code information corresponding to the peripheral device, based on the device identification information, upon receiving response data from the control device, and transmit the pairing data and the control code information to the control device through the wireless communicator.

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.