Systems and methods for facilitating home automation

A method in a set-top box for facilitating home automation, the method comprising:

• under control of the set-top box, wherein the set-top box is configured to receive television programming:
• receiving a command for controlling a remote home device;
• output an interface control that corresponds to the command for controlling the remote home device for presentation by a display screen communicatively coupled to the set-top box;
• receiving, via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the set-top box, an indication that the interface control has been selected by a user;
• and
• transmitting the command corresponding to the selected interface control to control the remote home device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose contents enable a receiving device to facilitate home automation, by performing a method comprising:

• determining a command for invoking a capability of a home device, wherein determining the command includes:
• receiving from the home device a specification of one or more commands for invoking capabilities of the home device;
• receiving from the home device a specification of one or more interface components that each correspond to one of the one or more commands;
• outputting an interface component that corresponds to the determined command for presentation by a display screen communicatively coupled to the receiving device;
• receiving, via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the receiving device, an indication that the presented interface component has been selected;
• and
• transmitting the determined command to the home device.