Method and apparatus for uploading and downloading remote control codes

A method for providing information on remote control devices and controlled appliances, comprising:

• providing a database with information about said devices and appliances;
• providing an Internet connection to said database;
• receiving consumer-supplied data over the Internet;
• entering said consumer-supplied data into said database, said data regarding aspects of said devices and appliances from a plurality of first consumers, wherein said consumer-supplied data entered into said database includes make, model number and device type, said consumer-supplied data including IR codes for particular models of remote control devices and techniques, including sequencing information, used when programming remote control devices, said IR codes including codes emitted by device remote controls and uploaded in electronic form;
• wherein said database is thereby constructed using consumer-supplied data from a plurality of consumers;
• downloading said consumer-supplied data to subsequent consumers over the Internet, so that consumers can use said consumer-supplied data to generate configuration data in said remote control devices, said configuration data being capable of configuring a remote control so that it can control external devices in a consumer's particular external device configuration, said entered data being usable to configure IR codes in said remote control devices.