Remote mode selection for a set-top box

1. A remote device for controlling operations of a set-top box via infrared communications comprising:

a sensor;

an infrared receiver configured to receive communications from the set-top box;

an infrared transmitter configured to transmit communications to the set-top box;

a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions such that the processor is programmed to:

detect at least one event based on data received via the infrared receiver from the set-top box;

generate a first single transition command that includes an instruction to transition the set-top box from a first mode, the first mode being a low power mode, to a second mode selected from a plurality of second modes, the second mode being an active mode, wherein the instruction specifies the second mode;

detect, based on an input from the sensor, prior to detecting the event, and without input from a user, a person;

generate a second transition command based at least in part on the detection of the person; the transition command including instructions for the set-top box to transition from an OFF mode to a standby mode, wherein the standby mode supports a quicker response to an initial user input relative to the OFF mode; and

instruct the infrared transmitter to transmit the second transition command to the set-top box.

2. The remote device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

determine an event schedule time for the at least one event based on the data received from the set-top box; and

instruct the infrared transmitter to transmit the first transition command to the set-top box.

3. The remote device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is programmed to determine that the at least one event has occurred by comparing a reference time to the event schedule time for the at least one event.

4. The remote device of claim 3 further comprising a timer configured to generate the reference time.

5. The remote device of claim 3 , wherein the reference time is a time-of-day.

6. The remote device of claim 2 wherein the data received from the set-top box includes a first time representing a target time for the set-top box to operate in the second mode.

7. The remote device of claim 6 wherein the data received from the set-top box further includes a second time representing a predetermined amount of time that the set-top box needs to transition from the first mode to the second mode after receiving the command.

8. The remote device of claim 2 further comprising a schedule storage unit configured to store data representing the at least one event.

9. The remote device of claim 8 , wherein the processor determines whether the at least one event has occurred based on the data stored in the schedule storage unit.

10. The remote device of claim 8 , wherein upon receiving the data representing the at least one event, the remote device transmitter transmits a first mode command to the set-top box to transition the set-top box to the first mode.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor in a remote device, via an infrared receiver in the remote device, data from a set-top box;

detecting, by the processor in the remote device, at least one event based on the data received via the infrared receiver in the remote device, from the set-top box;

generating a single first command that includes an instruction to transition a set-top box from a first mode, the first mode being a low power mode, to a second mode selected from a plurality of second modes, the second mode being an active mode, wherein the instruction specifies the second mode;

detecting, based on an input from a sensor included in the remote device, prior to detecting the event, and without input from a user, a person;

generate a second transition command based at least in part on the detection of the person; the transition command including instructions for the set-top box to transition from an OFF mode to a standby mode, wherein the standby mode supports a quicker response to an initial user input relative to the OFF mode; and

instructing an infrared transmitter in the remote device to transmit the second transition command to the set-top box.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining an event schedule time for the at least one event based on the data received from the set-top box; and

instructing the infrared transmitter to transmit the first transition command to the set-top box.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining whether the at least one event has occurred is based on the event schedule time for the at least one event.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining that the at least one event has occurred includes comparing a reference time to the event schedule time for the at least one event.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reference time is a time-of-day.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

transmitting a command for the set-top box to transition to the first mode upon receiving the data received from the set-top box.

17. A system comprising:

a remote device comprising:

a sensor;

an infrared receiver configured to receive communications from a set-top box;

an infrared transmitter configured to transmit communications to the set-top box;

a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions such that the processor is programmed to:

detect at least one event based on data received via the infrared receiver from the set-top box;

generate a single first transition command that includes an instruction to transition the set-top box from a first mode, the first mode being a low power mode, to a second mode selected from a plurality of second modes, the second mode being an active mode, wherein the instruction specifies the second mode;

detect, based on an input from the sensor, prior to detecting the event, and without input from a user, a person;

generate a second transition command based at least in part on the detection of the person; the transition command including instructions for the set-top box to transition from an OFF mode to a standby mode, wherein the standby mode supports a quicker response to an initial user input relative to the OFF mode; and

instruct the infrared transmitter to transmit the second transition command to the set-top box; and further comprising:

the set-top box comprising a second processor and a second memory, the second memory storing instructions such that the second processor is programmed to:

receive the second transition command; and

transition from the OFF mode to the standby mode based at least in part on the second transition command.