REMOTE OPERATION OF LOCAL OR DISTANT INFRARED-CONTROLLABLE AND NON-INFRARED-CONTROLLABLE DEVICES

摘要

Tokenized commands originating in an infrared (IR) remote control are sent over a home automation network using low-cost radio-frequency (RF) and/or powerline (PL) communications to enables operation of distant IR-controllable devices not within view of the IR beam from the remote control, as well as operation of other devices that are not IR-controllable. Using IR or RF, the remote control (10) sends only a few bytes of tokenized information designating the specific function to be controlled. An IR or RF receiver (30) optionally retransmits the tokens over another network (70), such as the powerline. "IR Blaster" devices (50) receive the tokens via RF or another network, and apply them to an IR engine that generates an IR pulse stream identical to that of the original remote control. Non-IR devices (60) receive the tokens via RF or another network and interpret them as specific control commands.