Patent ID: 8266666

Claim:
A remote controller comprising: a radio frequency transceiver; a user interface with at least one component; a memory storing computer instructions; and a controller operably coupled to the memory, radio frequency transceiver and the user interface, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising: causing the radio frequency transceiver to communicate utilizing a communication session with a subsystem of an interactive media communication system to control a set-top box by way of commands transmitted from the radio frequency transceiver to the subsystem for controlling the set-top box via the subsystem, wherein the communication session operates according to an Internet Protocol: and wherein the subsystem and the set-top box operate from the interactive media communications system; presenting at the user interface of the remote controller one or more selectable graphical user interface elements associated with selectively accepting or rejecting relinquishment of control of the set-top box responsive to a notice received at the radio frequency transceiver from the subsystem, wherein the set-top box is controllable by both the remote controller and an infrared device, and wherein the notice indicates a request to transfer control to the infrared device communicatively coupled to the set-top box.