System and method for controlling appliances with a wireless data enabled remote control

A residential gateway appliance control system comprising:

• a remote control device interface to receive remote commands from a remote control apparatus via a wireless data protocol;
• a broadband interface to communicate with a remote data network;
• a processing module responsive to the remote control device interface and responsive to the broadband interface;
• a first appliance communication interface responsive to the processing module, the first appliance communication interface to control a first set of appliances via a first protocol;
• and
• a second appliance communication interface responsive to the processing module, the second appliance communication interface to control a second set of appliances via a second protocol.

A method of communicating data via a wireless link, the method comprising:

• receiving a user command at a remote control hand-held unit;
• sending a data signal that comprises an appliance control command using a wireless data protocol over the wireless link to a residential gateway system;
• and
• sending a control signal from the residential gateway system to an appliance, the control signal based on the appliance control command.

A hand-held remote control apparatus for use with a residential gateway system, the hand-held remote control apparatus comprising:

• a user command input module;
• a user command processing element, the user command processing element coupled to the user command input module;
• and
• a wireless data protocol communication module responsive to the user command processing element, the wireless data protocol communication module operative to communicate wireless data corresponding to a received remote control user input command over a wireless link to the residential gateway system.

A method of processing wireless data commands communicated from a remote control unit to a residential gateway system, the method comprising:

• receiving a wireless data signal that comprises an appliance control command communicated from the remote control unit to the residential gateway system;
• processing the appliance control command at the residential gateway system;
• and
• sending a control signal from the residential gateway system to an appliance, the control signal based on the appliance control command.