Patent ID: 7432909

Claim:
A control system, comprising: a control apparatus that receives an operation panel from a controlled apparatus, the operation panel including display elements used to control the controlled apparatus, the display elements including a specific display element used to control a specific function of the controlled apparatus; and a remote control device having first and second operating units, the first operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus using the operation panel and the second operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus, wherein said control apparatus includes (a) a receiving unit that receives a control signal from said remote control device, and (b) a control unit that (i) generates a first command if the control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the specific display element in the operation panel is operated using the first operating unit, and (ii) generates a second command if the control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the second operating unit is operated, the first and second commands being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus, wherein the first command generated by the control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, wherein the second command generated by the control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, and wherein the control unit updates the operation panel using data sent from the controlled apparatus to said control apparatus in response to the second command so as to indicate that the specific function of the controlled apparatus is controlled, if the second command is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus.