Abstract: A remote control system includes a first network configured for communication via a first format. The first network includes a router configured to receive packetized remote control codes transmitted to the router in the first format. The remote control system further includes a second network configured for communication via a set of second formats. The second network includes a translator communicatively coupled to the router via a network link The translator is configured to receive the packetized remote control codes from the router in the first format and translate the remote control codes from the first format to a set of second formats. The second network further includes a blaster communicatively coupled to the translator. The blaster is configured to received the packetized remote control codes in the set of second formats and transmit the packetized remote control codes in the set of second formats to a set of consumer-electronic devices.

Abstract: The present invention includes a gateway, a content storage medium, and a database. The gateway receives multimedia content from a content provider or from at least one media device. The media device may be co-located with the gateway or remotely-located from the gateway. The gateway annotates the received multimedia content, using alphanumeric annotation or voice annotation, to create metadata. This metadata are information that describes the received multimedia content. The content storage medium stores the annotated multimedia content, and the database stores the metadata. The gateway is linked through a wired network or a wireless network to the media device, a television, the content storage medium, and/or the multimedia content provider.