Patent ID: 8335435

Claim:
A network system for controlling devices which operate in response to an infrared signal, comprising: modules which output an infrared signals for controlling the devices in response to command data or analyze path information of the command data, forward the command data to next one of the modules, and receive infrared control signals generated by the devices; and a home server which comprises identification (ID) numbers of the modules and the path information of the command data for allowing the command data to reach each of the modules and outputs the command data or receives the infrared control signals, wherein each of the modules comprises: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver which receives or forwards the command data; an infrared (IR) transceiver which outputs the infrared signal to the devices or receives the infrared control signals from the devices; a memory unit which stores a scope database (SDB) and a path database (PDB), wherein the SDB indicates ID numbers of modules positioned within a range in which the command data is to be forwarded, and the PDB indicates ID numbers of modules through which the command data passes to be forwarded from the home server to a final one of the modules; a real time clock (RTC) which stores current time and outputs time information; and a controller which controls the RF transceiver and the IR transceiver in response to the SDB and the PDB and performs authentications using the time information of the RTC.