Methods and apparatus for simplified remote control operation of components

1. A remote control, for use with an entertainment system having a TV and set-top-box, the remote control comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting commands to the TV and to the set-top-box;

a keypad comprising a plurality of user-selectable keys;

a memory storing commands for the set-top-box and the TV; and

control logic adapted to issue commands, via the transmitter and in response to the keys selected to the set-top-box and TV;

wherein the remote control is configured to allow a user to select one of at least two modes of operation for the remote control, and to allow the user to set the remote control to control one of the set-top box and the TV, wherein the modes of operation comprise a normal mode and a limited mode;

wherein, when in normal mode or limited mode and set to control the set-top box, the remote control allows, the user to issue a first set of commands to the set-top-box;

wherein, when in normal mode and set to control the TV, the remote control allows the user to issue a second set of commands to the TV; and

wherein, when in limited mode and set to control the TV, the remote control allows the user to issue a subset of the second set of commands to the TV, and prevents the user from issuing those of the second set of commands not in the subset, the subset selected from the group consisting of a command to turn the TV on, a command to turn the TV off and commands to change the volume of the TV.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the subset consists of the command to the turn the TV on and the command to turn the TV off.

3. The remote control of claim 2 wherein the command to turn the TV on and the command to turn the TV off are the same command.

4. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein the user selects the mode via a sequence of keystrokes.

5. The remote control of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more LEDs; and

wherein the control logic is adapted, upon receipt of a user selection of a mode, to use the LEDs to give a visual indication to the user of the mode selected.

6. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein the remote control is adapted to operate in either a normal or limited mode for any component it can control.

7. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein the mode is selected by the user during programming of the remote control based on the characters entered for the control code used to the control code the TV.

8. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein:

the transmitter is capable of transmitting commands to a VCR;

the memory is capable of storing commands for the VCR;

the control logic is adapted to issue commands, via the transmitter and in response to the keys selected, to the VCR;

wherein the remote control is configured to allow the user to set the remote control to control the VCR;

wherein, when in the normal mode and set to control the VCR, the remote control allows the user to issue a third set of commands to the VCR; and

wherein, when in the limited mode and set to control the VCR, the remote control allows the user to issue a subset of the third set of commands to the VCR, and prevents the user from issuing those of the third set of commands not in the subset, the subset selected from the group consisting of a command to turn the VCR on, a command to turn the VCR off and commands to play, stop, rewind, pause, record, eject and fast-forward a video cassette.

9. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein:

the transmitter is capable of transmitting commands to a DVD player;

the memory is capable of storing commands for the DVD player; and

the control logic is adapted to issue commands, via the transmitter and in response to the keys selected, to the DVD player;

wherein the remote is configured to allow the user to set the remote control to control the DVD player;

wherein, when in the normal mode and set to control the DVD player, the remote control allows the user to issue a third set of commands to the DVD player; and

wherein, when in the limited mode and set to control the DVD player, the remote control allows the user to issue a subset of the third set of commands to the DVD player, and prevents the user from issuing those of the third set of commands not in the subset, the subset selected from the group consisting of a command to turn the DVD player on, a command to turn the DVD player off and commands to play, stop, rewind, pause, and fast-forward a DVD.

10. The remote control of claim 1 , wherein selection of the mode requires multiple user actions in a prescribed sequence and further comprising:

a protected switch for selecting normal mode or limited mode; and

wherein the multiple user actions include accessing the protected switch.

11. The remote control of claim 10 , wherein the protected switch is within a battery compartment of the remote control.

12. A remote control, for use with an entertainment system comprising a plurality of components where at least two of the plurality of components have a plurality of operational states, the remote control comprising:

a transmitter for communicating with at least one of the plurality of components;

control logic for transmitting signals via the transmitter; and

wherein the control logic is adapted to allow the user to select between a first mode and a second mode of remote control operation, and to allow the user to select one of the plurality of components to control;

wherein, when the remote control is in the first mode of remote control operation and the user has selected a first of the components to control, the user can give any of a first set of instructions to the remote control resulting in the remote control transmitting one or more of a first set of commands for the first of the components corresponding to the first set of instructions;

wherein, when the remote control is in the second mode of remote control operation and the user has selected the first of the components to control, the user can give any of the first set of instructions to the remote control but the remote control will transmit only commands to the first of the components that correspond to a predetermined subset of the first set of instructions; and

wherein the selection of the first mode or the second mode is not based on an identity of the user.

13. The remote control of claim 12 wherein the predetermined subset of the first set of instructions are selected to prevent the user from rendering the entertainment system inoperable.

14. The remote control of claim 12 wherein the control logic is adapted to allow the user to select between the first mode and the second mode during programming of the remote control to control a component.

15. The remote control of claim 12 , wherein the user selects the first or second mode of operation for a component when programming the remote control to control the component.

16. The remote control of claim 12 , wherein the remote control is part of a component in the entertainment system.

17. The remote control of claim 15 , wherein the user selects the second mode for a component when entering the component's control code.

18. The remote control of claim 17 , wherein the user selects the second mode for all components via a protected switch.

19. A method for transferring user commands to an entertainment system component to maintain the component in an operational state, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a first mode of remote control operation or a second mode of remote control operation from a user at a remote control device, wherein the selection is not associated with an identity of the user;

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of components of an entertainment system from the user;

receiving instructions for controlling the selected component from the user at the remote control device;

in the first mode, transmitting a command to the selected component in response to each of the received instructions; and

in the second mode, transmitting a command to the selected component in response to each of a subset of the received instructions, wherein no commands are transmitted in response to those of the received instructions not belonging to the subset.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the subset is selected from the group consisting of a command to turn the selected component on, a command to turn the selected component off, and commands to change an audio volume of the selected component.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a second one of the plurality of components of the entertainment system;

receiving second instructions for controlling the second selected component from the user at the remote control device;

in the first mode, transmitting a command to the second selected component in response to each of the received second instructions; and

in the second mode, transmitting a command to the second selected component in response to each of a subset of the received second instructions, wherein no commands are transmitted in response to those of the received second instructions not belonging to the subset of the received second instructions.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the selected component comprises a television.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the subset of the received second instructions comprises a command to turn the second selected component on, a command to turn the second selected component off, and commands to change a programming channel of the second selected component.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the second selected component comprises a television converter device.