Patent ID: 7865568

Claim:
A wireless remote control device operatively coupled to a user device via a network, the wireless remote control device comprising: a receiver configured to wirelessly receive from the user device via radio frequency (RF) technology over said network a network packet having a destination address and including at least one command, the at least one command for controlling operation of one of a plurality of household appliances; a controller configured to analyze the destination address of the received network packet to determine if the received network packet is intended for the wireless remote control device, wherein the controller is further configured to: store information regarding capabilities of the wireless remote control device, the capabilities of the wireless remote control device comprising a set of known commands, and identify the at least one command from the received network packet and compare the at least one command with the set of known commands to determine if the wireless remote control device can perform the at least one command; and an infrared (IR) transmitter which transmits an IR signal directly to each of the plurality of household appliances to control operation of said one of said appliances based on the at least one command and based on the controller determining that the received network packet is intended for the wireless remote control device, wherein each of said plurality of household devices comprises an IR receiving port for receiving the IR signal directly from the IR transmitter.