Patent ID: 7388511

Claim:
A system for remote control of at least two like controllable devices, the system comprising: a) a remote control device comprising: a remote control input means for inputting a user-specified command for controlling the controllable devices; and a remote control transmitting means adapted to transmit the user-specified command; b) a coding device comprising: a coding input means for receiving the user-specified command from the remote control device; a coding means designed to add to the user-specified command a device identifier for identification of at least one of the controllable devices; a coding transmitting means adapted to transmit the device identifier and the user-specified command in combination; c) the like controllable devices each comprising: a receiving means adapted to receive the device identifier and the user-specified command in combination; a decoding means designed (1) to extract the device identifier, (2) to compare said extracted device identifier with a further device identifier for identification of the controllable device, and (3) to refrain from further operation with the received user-specified command if said identifiers do not match; an output means for supplying the user-specified command if said identifiers do match; wherein the remote control device and the coding device are separate devices which are selectively interconnectable and disconnectable, the remote control device functioning to transmit the user-specified command to controllable devices when the coding device is disconnected and the coding device functioning to transmit the user-specified command when the remote control device and the coding device are connected.