Patent ID: 8395477

Claim:
A control method, the method comprising: receiving device control information including a first command via a network interface and a communications network coupled to said network interface, said network interface being located at a first location, said first command being a command for controlling a device at said first location; identifying the device at said first location to be controlled, said identifying the device including: accessing a subscriber record corresponding to said first location; determining from said subscriber record what device or devices at said first location are available for control; when said subscriber record indicates there are multiple devices at said first location which can be controlled via said communications network, identifying an answering machine as said device to be controlled when said first command is a voice mail or message command; and identifying a set top box as said device to be controlled when said first command is a video command; and sending a second command to said identified device, said second command being a copy of said first command or a reformatted version of said first command.