Method and apparatus for device control

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided by which one device (12) can be used to control another device (11) without any requirement that the controlling device (12) has any knowledge of the nature or functionality of the controlled device (11). The controlled device (11) transmits to the controlling device (12) a set of possible parameter choices, together with information identifying the possible parameter choices. The controlling device (12) then displays (or otherwise provides to the user) both the set of parameter choices and the information so that a user (13) is able to select a set of actual parameter choices through the user interface of the controlling device (12). The set of actual parameter choices is then transmitted back to the controlled device (11), whose operational parameters are then modified in accordance with the set of actual parameter choices. The controlling device (12) thus needs no knowledge of the nature of the controlled device (11), as it only has to present the information and choices provided by the controlled device itself to the user (13). The nature of this presentation can be determined by the display and user interface capabilities of the controlling device.