Patent ID: 8312495

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a memory device configured to store an image file that at least partially defines an image of a set-top box remote controller that includes a plurality of remote controller buttons, and to store a plurality of signal files representing commands that are each configured to control an operation of a respective set-top box and are associated with respective buttons in the image of the set-top box remote controller; and a processor configured to generate an image of a set-top box remote controller upon a display according to the image file and to respond to a selection of a respective remote controller button in the image of the set-top box remote controller so as to cause an associated signal to be transmitted to the respective set-top box; wherein the processor is further configured to receive a plurality of inputs selecting one or more of the buttons in a sequence, the selections made by a user interacting with the one or more of the buttons in the displayed image of the set-top box remote controller, transmit, at a time the selections are made by the user, signals representing a sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence to the set-top box, store, at the time the selections are made by the user, the plurality of inputs selecting the one or more of the buttons in the sequence for use in at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence, set a time delay between transmission of two or more commands in the sequence of commands for use in the at least one future transmission of the sequence of commands associated with the one or more of the buttons selected in the sequence, automatically vary the time delay based on the set-top box type, capture a plurality of still-images of video feedback of content received at the respective set-top box during execution, by the respective set-top box, of the sequence of commands associated with the signals transmitted to the respective set-top box, the content received at the set-top box comprising a movie, and compare the plurality of still-images of the video feedback to at least a portion of a reference video.