Patent ID: 7161524

Claim:
A method for using an universal remote control to access extended operational functions of a device, comprising: (a) accepting input into the universal remote control that serves to identify a library of code data values stored in a memory device of the universal remote control wherein the library of code data values includes both code data values for use in commanding the device to perform common operational functions and code data values for use in commanding the device to perform extended operational functions; (b) mapping the code data values from the identified library of code data values for use in commanding the device to perform common operational functions to standard keys of the universal remote control; (c) accepting input into the universal remote control for causing the universal remote control to transmit a signal including a code data value from the identified library of code data values for use in commanding the device to perform an extended operational function; and (d) accepting input into the universal remote control to map to a programmable key of the universal remote control the code data value from the identified library of code data values for use in commanding the device to perform an extended operational function that was last transmitted by the universal remote control in step (c).