Abstract: A remote control device for an electronic appliance includes a plurality of channel number inputting keys for inputting a channel number and a further key different from the plurality of channel number inputting keys. When the further key was operated, a CPU determines whether any one of the plurality of channel number inputting keys was operated directly before the further key was operated. If so, the CPU sends the electronic appliance a first remote control code related to channel selection. If not, the CPU sends the electronic appliance a second remote control code which controls a function different from the channel selection. In this case, the sole key fulfills the two functions to reduce the number of keys.

Abstract: A remote control device including a receiver for receiving a control signal which remotely controls an external device, a RAM for storing the received control signal in correspondence to a respective one of keys, a transmitter for reading a control signal corresponding to an operated key from the RAM and transmitting the read control signal, and a display for displaying the stored data in the RAM when the control signal is received/transmitted. In a first aspect, when an external control signal is received and stored for any key, a key for which no control signal is stored is detected from the RAM and displayed on the display. When a control signal is transmitted, a key for which a control signal is stored in the RAM is detected and displayed on the display. In a second aspect, when an external control signal is received, a detector detects the contents of the received control signal, which are then displayed on the display.