Using A/V device to send controlled device communication-related parameters to program remote control

1. An audio-video (A/V) device configured to present, in response to navigation signals wirelessly received from a remote control, a series of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) through which a user can navigate to select a component to be controlled, the A/V device in response transmitting to the remote control communication-related information to enable the remote control to communicate with the component, the GUIs including:

a first GUI enabling a user to select a type of component;

responsive to selection of a type of component from the first GUI, a second GUI listing plural manufacturers of the type of component;

responsive to selection of a manufacturer from the second GUI, a third GUI presenting a list of models supplied by the manufacturer selected from the second GUI, a user being able to select a model from the list on the third GUI to cause the A/V device to transmit the remote control-communication-related information.

2. The A/V device of claim 1 , wherein the A/V device is a TV.

3. The A/V device of claim 1 , wherein the GUIs are presented on a video display.

4. A remote control (RC) comprising:

a portable housing;

a wireless bidirectional transceiver in the housing;

a computer readable storage medium in the housing; and

a processor in the housing configured to communicate with the transceiver and storage medium to execute logic comprising:

receiving, from an A/V device via the transceiver, code information for communicating command signals to a component to be controlled;

storing the code information on the storage medium; and

using the code information to control the component in response to user input on the RC, wherein the RC navigates through a first GUI to enable a user to select a type of component from the first GUI, the RC responsive to selection of a type of component from the first GUI, enabling a user to navigate a second GUI listing plural manufacturers of the type of component, the RC responsive to selection of a manufacturer from the second GUI enabling a user to navigate a third GUI presenting a list of models supplied by the manufacturer selected from the second GUI, a user being able to select a model from the list on the third GUI to cause the A/V device to transmit the code information to the RC.

5. The RC of claim 4 , wherein the transceiver is an infrared transceiver.

6. The RC of claim 4 , wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

7. The RC of claim 4 , wherein the transceiver is an ultrasonic transceiver.

8. Method comprising:

establishing a bidirectional link between a remote control (RC) and an audio/video (A/V) device;

using the link to allow a user of the RC to invoke graphical user interface (GUI) on the A/V device;

allowing a user to select a component from the GUI using the RC;

sending from the A/V device communication-related information pertaining to the component over the link to the RC; and

presenting on the A/V device both a prompt for a user to select a mode on the RC and an indication of a mode actually currently selected on the RC.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising receiving at the A/V device updates to the communication-related information from a wide area network.

10. The method of claim 8 , comprising automatically associating, at the RC, the communication-related information with at least one mode selector on the RC.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein in response to selection of the mode selector, the communication-related information is used to send command signals to the component.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the A/V component is a TV.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the link is wireless.