Downloadable remote control

1 . A method for configuring a universal remote control, the method comprising:

directing a universal remote control at a device, the device being operative to download configuration information to the universal remote control, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device;

determining if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control;

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration, performing the following:

sending information from the device to the universal remote control;

receiving the configuration information at the universal remote control; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.

2 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein the configuration information comprises at least:

a look and feel for each button comprised in the remote control;

button properties for each button comprised in the remote control;

a remote control protocol; and

cryptography information.

3 . The method according to claim 2 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition rate.

4 . The method according to claim 2 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition frequency.

5 . The method according to claim 2 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption methods.

6 . The method according to claim 2 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption keys.

7 . The method according to claim 1 and also comprising storing the configuration information for future retrieval.

8 . The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

reading a barcode with a barcode reader operatively associated with the universal remote control, the barcode comprising encoded remote control configuration information; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the information encoded in the barcode.

9 . The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

receiving a user input; and

sending control information from the universal remote control to the device in accordance with the user input.

10 . The method according to claim 9 and wherein the universal remote control comprises a touch screen and the user input is input on the touch screen.

11 . The method according to claim 1 and wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving a plurality of sets of configuration information.

12 . A universal remote control comprising:

a configuration port operative to receive a download of configuration information sent to a device, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device; and

a processor operative to:

determine if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control; and

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration:

request a download of the configuration information from the device to the universal remote control; and

configure the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 and wherein the configuration information comprises at least:

a look and feel for each button comprised in the remote control;

button properties for each button comprised in the remote control;

a remote control protocol; and

cryptography information.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition rate.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition frequency.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption methods.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption keys.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising a storage device operative to store the configuration information for future retrieval.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising a barcode reader operatively associated with the universal remote control, the barcode reader being operative to read a barcode comprising encoded remote control configuration information,

wherein the processor configures the universal remote control in accordance with the information encoded in the barcode.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising:

a user input receiver; and

a port operative to send control information from the universal remote control to the device in accordance with the user input.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the user input receiver comprises a touch screen.

22 . A universal remote control comprising:

configuration port means for downloading configuration information to the universal remote control, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device; and

processing means for:

determining if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control; and

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration:

requesting a download of the configuration information from the device to the universal remote control; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.