Gesture-Based Addressing of Devices

A remote control for selecting and controlling an electronic device, comprising:

• a touch-sensitive screen;
• a programmable digital signal processor in communication with the touch-sensitive screen;
• and
• a transmitter in communication with the programmable digital signal processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to determine a number of fingers touching the touch-sensitive screen, to set based on the number determined an address context corresponding to the electronic device, to identify a gesture made by the fingers on the screen, and to generate based on the gesture identified a corresponding command to be transmitted to the electronic device corresponding to the set address context.

A computer-readable medium having stored instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method of selecting and controlling an electronic device by gestures on a remote control, wherein the method comprises:

• (a) determining a number of fingers touching a screen of the remote control;
• (b) based on the number determined, setting an address context corresponding to the electronic device;
• (c) identifying a gesture made by the fingers on the screen;
• and
• (d) based on the gesture identified, generating a corresponding command to be sent to the electronic device corresponding to the set address context.