System and method for effectively performing a remote control configuration procedure

A method for effectively controlling an electronic system, comprising:

• receiving electronic programming from a program source by utilizing a settop box;
• reproducing said electronic programming with a television;
• controlling said television with a remote control over an RC-TV communications link;
• and
• performing a configuration procedure automatically with said television and a configuration server in an entire set of handshaking steps to allow said remote control to also control said settop box over an RC-STB communication link, said configuration server being at a remote network location that is accessible by other network device, said television automatically accessing STB control codes from said configuration server based upon a device type of said settop box for adding settop-box control functions to internally modify said remote control during said configuration procedure.

A system for effectively controlling a television system, comprising:

• a cable-television settop box that receives electronic programming from a cable-network program source;
• a television that is configured to reproduce said electronic programming upon a display screen;
• a configuration server that stores STB control codes for said cable-television settop box;
• and
• a remote control that controls said television over a wireless RC-TV communications link, said television and said configuration server automatically coordinating an entire set of handshaking steps for performing a configuration procedure to allow said remote control to also control said settop box over an RC-STB communication link, said configuration server being at a remote network location that is accessible by other network devices, said television automatically accessing said STB control codes from said configuration server based upon a device type of said settop box for adding settop-box control functions to internally modify said remote control, said television providing a graphical-user-interface for identifying a correct version of said STB control information, and for visually indicating said settop-box control functions on an displayed image of said remote control.

A system for effectively controlling a television system, comprising:

• a satellite-television settop box that receives electronic programming from a satellite-network program source;
• a television that is configured to reproduce said electronic programming upon a display screen;
• a configuration server that stores STB control codes for said satellite-television settop box;
• and
• a remote control that controls said television over a wireless RC-TV communications link, said television and said configuration server automatically coordinating an entire set of handshaking steps for performing a configuration procedure to allow said remote control to also control said settop box over an RC-STB communication link, said configuration server being at a remote network location that is accessible by other network devices, said television automatically accessing said STB control codes from said configuration server based upon a device type of said settop box for adding settop-box control functions to internally modify said remote control, said television providing a graphical-user-interface for identifying a correct version of said STB control information, and for visually indicating said settop-box control functions on an displayed image of said remote control.