Patent ID: 7928958

Claim:
A remote control system comprising: a remote controller that generates and transmits a first operation signal using a wireless transmission medium; a group of peripheral devices physically separate from the remote controller at a location unable to receive the operation signal from the remote controller; a peripheral device control apparatus that includes: a storage section that stores a plurality of operation tables, each indicative of operational content for remote-controlling a desired peripheral device in response to said first operation signal, in association with a plurality of operation modes and also stores a current operation mode; an interface through which a plurality of control information including model name information are downloaded and stored in said storage section; an input section adapted to receive said first operation signal and a second operation signal from a controller device other than said remote controller; a control section that performs remote control, corresponding to the operation signal received via said input section, on the desired peripheral device as follows: (a) in a first mode whereby the first operation signal received is processed in accordance with the operation table corresponding to the current operation mode among the plurality of operation tables stored in said storage section; and wherein said signal generation section generates and transmits a remote control signal to the desired peripheral device, wherein said storage section further stores peripheral device control information related to remote control signals receivable by various types of peripheral devices, and wherein, when a remote control signal to be transmitted to the desired peripheral device is designated, in association with the first operation signal received via said input section, in the operation table corresponding to the current operation mode among the plurality of operation table stored in said storage section, said control section performs control to cause said signal generation section to generate the remote control signal on the basis of the peripheral device control information stored in said storage section; and (b) in a second mode whereby the second operation signal received is output directly to a signal generation section and wherein said signal generation section transmits a remote control signal to the desired peripheral device.