Patent attributes
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a portable computing device may be configured as a universal remote control to wirelessly control one or more electronic devices in a control area. The portable computing device may be configured to transmit over a network to a remotely located network server, one or more queries for control commands for communicating with each electronic device in the control area via control signals. The one or more queries may identify each of the electronic devices. The portable computing device may be configured to receive over the network from the network server, command codes for the portable computing device to communicate with each of the electronic devices through the control commands via the control signals. The portable computing device may be configured to execute the received command codes to communicate with each of the electronic devices in the control area.