Patent ID: 7499107

Claim:
A method for a first device controlling an external device, comprising: setting in the first device one of first and second modes, wherein said first mode is set in response to making a connection to said external device via a data bus and said second mode is set in response to terminating said connection to said external device via said data bus; receiving a first command signal of a first control protocol from a user input device; generating a second command signal of a second control protocol responsive to said first command signal and outputting said second command signal to said external device via said data bus if said first mode is set; performing a function responsive to said first command signal without generating and outputting said second command signal if said second mode is set; and wherein: said user input device includes an up arrow key; said first command signal is generated by said user input device responsive to user depression of said up arrow key; and said second command signal represents a next track command.