Universal remote control device for controlling entertainment-related functions

A method for universal remote control system for controlling home entertainment-related functions and standard computing operations of a computer, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device;
• transmitting a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device;
• transmitting a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device;
• performing selected ones of the standard computing operations including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command;
• performing a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of an entertainment mode, in response to the second command;
• translating, by the computer, the third command into a modified command and transmitting, by the computer, the modified command in a modified control signal to a consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode;
• in a third setting of the entertainment mode setting, performing computing operations, by the computer, in response to the third command;
• wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode;
• wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system;
• and
• performing a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command.

An apparatus for a universal remote control system for controlling home entertainment-related functions and standard computing operations of a computer, the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device, transmitting a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device, and transmitting a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device;
• means for performing selected ones of the standard computing operations including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command;
• means for performing a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of the entertainment mode, in response to the second command;
• means for translating the third command into a modified command and means for transmitting the modified command in a modified control signal to a consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode;
• means for performing computing operations by the computer, in response to the third command, in a third setting of the entertainment mode;
• wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode;
• wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system;
• and
• means for performing a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command.

A physical memory device having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a computer perform the following:

• receive a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device;
• receive a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device;
• receive a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device;
• perform standard computing operations of the computer including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command;
• perform a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of an entertainment mode, in response to the second command;
• translate the third command into a modified command and transmit the modified command in a modified control signal to consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode;
• perform computing operations of the computer, in response to the third command, in a third setting of the entertainment mode;
• wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode;
• wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system;
• and
• perform a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command.