iRemote patent.. prior art in TV/etc/programmable remotes?

[Jim Witte]

On Apr 13, 2007, at 7:45 PM, LuKreme wrote:
> <http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/04/12/patent.iphone.remote/>
>> Apple has filed for a patent titled "Techniques for pairing remote  
>> controllers with host devices" that mentions using a "mobile  
>> phone" to serve as a remote controller for a Mac computer.

Geez, they can *patent* that?  Isn't basically any TV/etc remote (and  
certainly programmable ones - that will either learn codes, or where  
you type them in) be "prior art" for this kind of thing?

   Of course, if Apple doesn't patent it, and it's actually  
patentable, then Im sure MS would (if they don't *already* have some  
patent(s) that might conflict..)

   Although, the 'pairing' function might be new..

   This is *almost* as bad as "one click".  Okay - one click was MUCH  
worse in terms of silliness, but still.

Jim