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

[Andy Ringsmuth]

>> <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.

I think it's specifically related to pairing the devices.  I think  
that would be a legitimate patent, honestly.  I'm well aware of the  
abuses of the patent system, however this one seems more unique.  The  
idea of pairing a remote and a host device is one that I like.   
Here's my scenario - I've got an AppleTV and a MacBook.  If I grab my  
AppleTV remote to change a song, etc., pushing buttons affects both  
the AppleTV and the laptop.  I have to hold my finger over the IR  
receiver on the laptop while I change songs on the AppleTV.  Pairing  
the remotes so that identical remotes will work only with a specific  
device sounds like a great idea to me, and a patentable one at that.


-Andy