Methods and apparatus for dynamic volume punch-through

1. A method for controlling an audio output level in an entertainment system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a remote control, a mode selection from a user, the selection placing the remote control device in a first mode and indicating a client device for controlling;

establishing, by the remote control, a first wireless communication link with the client device;

detecting, by the client device, that a first audio/video device is in a power status other than fully ON, the first audio/video device being coupled to the client device and to a second audio/video device;

transmitting to the remote control over the first wireless communication link, by the client device, the detected power status of the first audio/video device;

while in the first mode, receiving, at the remote control, an audio level adjustment input from the user; and

while in the first mode, in response to the audio level adjustment input, controlling, by the remote control, an output audio level of the second audio/video device based on the received audio level adjustment input.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the power status comprises:

sending, by the client device, a request for the power status to the first audio/video device over a bidirectional control bus; and

receiving, by the client device, the power status from the first audio/video device over the bidirectional control bus.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bidirectional control bus is a consumer electronic control bus of high definition multimedia interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the output audio level of the second audio/video device comprises:

pairing, by the remote control in the first mode, with the second audio/video device; and

transmitting an audio level adjustment command to the second audio/video device over a second wireless link.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein pairing includes retrieving control codes associated with the second audio/video device, and wherein the second wireless link is an infrared optical link.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication link is a bidirectional radio frequency wireless interface.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is a set top box.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first audio/video device is an audio/video receiver, and wherein the second audio/video device is a television.

9. A method for dynamically controlling an audio output level of an audio/video device by a remote control device, the method comprising:

receiving a mode selection from a user for putting the remote control device in a first mode, the first mode indicating a client device being a target device of the remote control device;

establishing a communication link with the client device;

receiving a power status message from the client device, the message indicating a first audio/video device coupled to the client device in a power state other than fully ON;

while in the first mode, receiving an audio level adjustment input from the user; and

while in the first mode, controlling an output audio level of a second audio/video device based on the received audio level adjustment input, the second audio/video device being coupled to the first audio/video device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the output audio level comprises:

selecting a control code associated with the second audio/video device from a memory location; and

transmitting the control code together with an audio level adjustment command to the second audio/video device over a second wireless interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second wireless interface is an Infrared communication interface.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the communication link with the client device is a bidirectional radio frequency wireless interface.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first audio/video device is an audio/video receiver and wherein the second audio/video device is a television.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the output audio level comprises:

pairing with the second audio/video device over a second wireless interface; and

transmitting an audio level adjustment command to the second audio/video device.

15. A remote control, comprising:

a user interface section coupled to a processing section, the user interface section configured to receive a mode selection and an audio adjustment input from a user;

a transceiver section coupled to the processing section, the transceiver section configured to receive a message from a client device over a first wireless interface, the message indicating that a first audio/video device coupled to the client device is in a power status mode other than fully ON;

a transmitter section coupled to the processing section, the transmitter section configured to send a plurality of commands to a plurality of electronic devices over a second wireless interface, the plurality of electronic devices including the first audio/video device and a second audio/video device, the second audio/video device being coupled to the first audio/video device, the transmitter section further configured, upon receiving the audio adjustment input from the user, to transmit a command for output audio adjustment to the second audio/video device based on the audio adjustment input;

a memory section coupled to the processing section, the memory section configured to store a plurality of profiles associated with the plurality of electronic devices; and

the processing section configured to, upon receiving the message, instruct the transmitter section to pair with the second audio/video device.

16. The remote control of claim 15 , wherein the first audio/video device is an audio/video receiver and the second audio/video device is a television.

17. The remote control device of claim 15 , wherein the mode selection and the audio level adjustment input are based on the user's interaction with a plurality of buttons on the remote control.