Patent ID: 7319409

Claim:
A control unit configurable to control one or more functions of a target device, comprising: a memory in which is stored a plurality of protocols and a plurality of commands; a plurality of function keys; and programming responsive to an input for selecting from the plurality of protocols stored in the memory a protocol that is appropriate for communicating with the target device, for transmitting to the target device using the selected protocol a request for configuration information, for receiving from the target device a function indicator transmitted by the target device in response to the transmitted request, for selecting from the plurality of commands stored in the memory a command appropriate for the target device and corresponding to the received function indicator, and for mapping the selected command to a select function key of the plurality of function keys such that activation of the selected function key results in communication of the selected command using the selected protocol to the target device to thereby control a function supported by the target device that is represented by the function indicator.