Methods, systems, and products for discovering electronic devices

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at an electronic device, a query sent from a remote control;

determining a response to the query to self-identify an electronic device to the remote control;

retrieving a predetermined time from memory of the electronic device;

generating a random number;

multiplying the random number by the predetermined time to calculate a random response interval of time;

counting down a first timer until expiration of the random response interval of time;

sending the response from the electronic device when the random response interval of time expires;

retrieving a maximum response time from memory of the electronic device;

counting down a second timer until the expiration of the maximum response time;

monitoring at the electronic device for receipt of an acknowledgment to the response, the acknowledgement confirming self-identification of the electronic device to the remote control;

determining that the maximum response time expired before the receipt of the acknowledgement; and

determining that the self-identification of the electronic device to the remote control has failed.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising calling a random number generator that determines the random number of the random response interval of time.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising assigning a life to the random response interval of time.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising recalculating the random response interval of time when the life expires.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising invoking the first timer that counts down until the expiration of the random response interval of time.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the acknowledgment is received within the maximum response time, then further comprising obtaining a code from the acknowledgment.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the acknowledgment is received within the maximum response time, then further comprising obtaining formatting from the acknowledgment.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a query sent from a remote control;

determining a response to the query to self-identify the system to the remote control;

retrieving a predetermined time from the memory of the system;

generating a random number;

multiplying the random number by the predetermined time to calculate a random response interval of time;

counting down a first timer until expiration of the random response interval of time;

sending the response from the system when the random response interval of time expires;

retrieving a maximum response time from the memory;

counting down a second timer until the expiration of the maximum response time;

monitoring for receipt of an acknowledgment to the response to the query, the acknowledgment confirming self-identification of the system to the remote control;

determining the maximum response time expired before the receipt of the acknowledgement; and

determining the self-identification failed.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise calling a random number generator that determines the random number of the random response interval of time.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise assigning a life to the random response interval of time.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise recalculating the random response interval of time when the life expires.

12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise invoking the first timer that counts down until the expiration of the random response interval of time.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining a code from the acknowledgment.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining formatting from the acknowledgment.

15. A computer readable memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a query sent from a remote control;

determining a response to the query to self-identify an electronic device to the remote control;

retrieving a predetermined time from memory of the electronic device;

generating a random number;

multiplying the random number by the predetermined time to calculate a random response interval of time;

counting down a timer until expiration of the random response interval of time;

sending the response from the electronic device when the random response interval of time expires;

retrieving a maximum response time from the memory of the electronic device;

counting down a second timer until the expiration of the maximum response time;

monitoring for receipt of an acknowledgment to the response to the query, the acknowledgment confirming self-identification of the electronic device to the remote control;

determining the maximum response time expired before the receipt of the acknowledgement; and

determining the self-identification failed.

16. The computer readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise calling a random number generator that determines the random number.

17. The computer readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise assigning a life to the random response interval of time.

18. The computer readable memory according to claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise recalculating the random response interval of time when the life expires.

19. The computer readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining a code from the acknowledgment.

20. The computer readable memory according to claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise obtaining formatting from the acknowledgment.