Remote control system

1. A system, comprising:

a remote control comprising a first communications link and a second communications link; and

a host device adapted to configure the remote control using the first communications link, wherein the configured remote control is adapted to control a plurality of remote devices using the second communications link, wherein the host device is further configured to update the remote control with device-specific command information from a database using the first communications link if the database contains the device-specific command information, and entering a learning mode if the database does not contain the device-specific command information, wherein the host device comprises a receiver configured to receive signals from a remote control transmitter associated with at least one of the plurality of devices.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the host device is adapted to transmit command information for controlling one of the plurality of remote devises to the remote control responsive to user inputs.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the command information comprises one or more command codes and signaling protocols used for controlling remotely controlled devices.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the command information includes one or more infrared (IR) command codes and signaling protocols.

5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the host device comprises a memory for storing the command information.

6. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the host device retrieves the command information from a remote database.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first communications link comprises a radio frequency (RF) link.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the second communications link comprises an infrared (IR) data transmitter.

9. A method, comprising:

accessing a programming menu on a host device responsive to a signal transmitted from a remote control using a first communications link;

displaying the programming menu on a display;

selecting from the programming menu a device to be controlled by the remote control wherein the selected device is controllable by an associated remote control transmitter;

transmitting command information associated with the selected device from the host device to the remote control using the first communications link;

storing the command information in the remote control;

controlling the selected device with the remote control using a second communications link;

receiving a firmware upgrade from the host device using the first communications link,

selecting a learning mode when the device to be controlled by the remote control is not in the programming menu; and

determining command information associated with the device to be controlled, wherein determining the command information comprises receiving and analyzing the signals from the remote control transmitter, wherein the signals are received and analyzed in the host device.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising retrieving the command information from a memory in the host device.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving updates to the command information from a remote database.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising retrieving the command information from a remote database.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first communications link comprises a radio frequency (RF) link.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the second communications link comprises an infrared (IR) link.

15. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

accessing a learning mode menu on the host device, wherein the learning mode menu provides instructions to the user through the display.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein determining the command information associated with the signals from the remote control transmitter further comprises:

transmitting signals from the remote control transmitting associated with the device to be controlled.

17. A remote control, comprising:

a first communications link configured to transmit signals to and receive command information from a database accessible to a host device in response to receiving a selection of at least one device associated with the command information, the command information comprising command codes and signaling protocols for controlling one or more of a plurality of remotely controlled devices, wherein the command codes and signaling protocols are based on signals received by the host device from one or more remote controls associated with the one or more remotely controlled devices, and wherein the first communications link is further configured to receive the command information from the host device if the database contains the command information, and is further configured to cause the remote control to enter a learning mode if the database does not contain the command information;

a memory to store the command information received from the host device; and

a second communications link to control the one or more of the plurality of remotely controls devices.

18. The remote control according to claim 17 , wherein the first communications link comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

19. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the second communications link comprises an infrared (IR) transmitter.