Abstract: A process for minimizing the software component and maximizing the hardware component of an infrared code includes separating the software component from the hardware component. The software component may be stored in memory, on a disk, accessed through a remote server, stored on the hard drive of a microprocessor, or the like. The hardware component may be implemented as a simple peripheral device, an outboard integrated circuit or imbedded within a processor or on a PC motherboard. The variable IR data, such as the bit modulation technique, the function data, and the protocol data, are stored in the software component. The software component configures and controls each IR transmission. The hardware component, which transmits the IR light for sending the infrared code, includes a pair of carrier cycle registers, a pair of bit modulation registers, and buffers to enable synchronous loading of frequency, duty cycle, cycle data, and wait time sent from the software component.

Abstract: A remote control for consolidating several native remote controls of consumer electronic devices identifies, stores and re-transmits signals of the other remote controls for operating several of the electronic devices with one remote control unit. The remote control includes a receiver, a microprocessor, memory, and a transmitter. The remote control identifies a Protocol or transmission technique of each native remote control by comparing a transmitted signal from the native remote control to a preprogrammed data base of Protocols of the universal remote control. During the identification process, frequency and cycle count are detected to determine a Protocol carrier family. Pause and bit modulation information of the transmitted signal are detected for further refining the selection of the Protocol from the preprogrammed data base of Protocols. Finally, a second signal is examined to make the final selection of the correct Protocol.