Universal remote control device

A remote control system comprising:

• a first electronic device;
• a second electronic device;
• an optical fiber coupled between a first optical transceiver and a second optical transceiver;
• a remote control device for controlling the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the remote control device comprising:
• an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitting a first control signal for controlling the first electronic device via an IR communication channel;
• and
• a wireless communication interface for transmitting a second control signal for controlling the second electronic device to the first optical transceiver via a wireless communication channel, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are further transmitted from the first optical transceiver to the second optical transceiver via the optical fiber and, the first control signal further provided by the second optical transceiver to the first electronic device to control the first electronic device, and the second control signal further provided by the second optical transceiver to the second electronic device to control the second electronic device.

A method for controlling a first electronic device and a second electronic device using a remote control device, the method comprising:

• receiving a first control signal for controlling the first electronic device;
• transmitting the first control signal from the remote control device via an infrared (IR) communication channel;
• receiving a second control signal for controlling the second electronic device;
• transmitting the second control signal from the remote control device to a first optical transceiver via a wireless communication channel;
• transmitting the first control signal and the second control signal from the first optical transceiver to a second optical transceiver via an optical fiber, the first control signal further provided by the second optical transceiver to the first electronic device to control the first electronic device, and the second control signal further provided by the second optical transceiver to the second electronic device to control the second electronic device.