Patent ID: 8319900

Claim:
A television receiver device that is controlled by a remote controller, comprising: an infrared receiver that receives control signals from the remote controller; an infrared transmitter that transmits signals from the television to the remote controller; a processor that, upon receipt of a control signal from the remote controller sends an encrypted challenge to the remote controller in order to obtain a reply from the remote controller, where the encrypted challenge is encrypted using a global key known to both the remote controller and the television; where the challenge and reply are sent automatically without user action; where the challenge and reply to the challenge comprise encrypted messages that serve to assure that the remote controller is properly paired with the television receiver, and where a remote controller that is improperly paired with the television receiver will not execute the command; wherein, upon receipt of an encrypted reply to the challenge, the processor decrypts the reply using the global key and determines if the reply is correct and if so, executes the command associated with the control signal; and wherein if the reply is incorrect, the command is not executed.