Apparatus and methods for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller

A method for generating remote control codes which are transmitted by for controlling appliances from a remote control, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing in ROM, for each of a plurality of protocol building block types, a plurality of protocol building blocks for generating remote control codes for controlling an appliance;
• storing in ROM key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;
• entering a progrmming code representative of one of the protocol building blocks for each of the protocol building block types, and stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;
• storing in RAM a pointer to each of the protocol building blocks represented by the programming code and a pointer to the key data represented by the programming code
• accessing the protocol building blocks and the key data in ROM using the pointers;
• and
• generating a remote control code using the accessed protocol building blocks and key data.

A remote control for tramitting remote control codes for controlling appliances, the remote control comprising:

• a ROM storing, (a) for each of a plurality of protocol building block types, a plurality of protocol building blocks for generating remote control codes for controlling an appliance and (b) sets of key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote control;
• means for receiving a programming code representative of (a) one of the protocol building blocks for each of the protocol building block types and (b) key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller
• a RAM storing a pointer to each of the protocol building blocks represented by the programming code and a pointer to the key data represented by the programming code;
• and
• means for generating a remote control code using the protocol building blocks and the key data in ROM using the pointers in RAM.