Infrared remote control and receiver approval process

  • Article

This topic contains information for independent hardware vendors (IHVs) who want to create infrared remote controls and receivers for use with Windows Media Center.

Introduction

Formerly, independent hardware vendors (IHVs) sent their design documents and sample remote controls to Microsoft for review and subsequent approval against the required specification documents.

Starting on April 12, 2011, this approval process was streamlined to make it easier for IHVs to build remote controls and receivers that are compatible with Windows Media Center. This process maintains the same high level of quality and functionality that consumers have come to know and expect from Microsoft for Windows Media Center.

Overview of infrared remote controls and receiver requirements

To be compatible with Windows Media Center in Windows 7, infrared remote controls and receivers must comply with the requirements that are defined in the Remote Control and Receiver-Transceiver Specifications and Requirements for Windows Media Center in Windows Operating Systems Specification. These requirements include the following:

  • Infrared remote controls should use either the Philips/Microsoft RC-6 or the Microsoft/SMK QP IR protocol.

  • All Windows Media Center remote controls must use the same button treatment for the Windows Media Center Green Start button.

    The Green Start button presents the Microsoft product branding and serves as an important part of the overall user experience. Users should be able to relate easily to any device in the Windows Media Center ecosystem as part of the same Windows Media Center user experience. Microsoft uses the Green Button Assembly and its physical appearance as the branding mechanism.

    Note  The Green Button is exclusively used for starting Windows Media Center.

     

  • All Windows Media Center remote controls must include all Microsoft Required buttons. Microsoft Required buttons are buttons that must be included on the remote control so that the user can fully interact with the Windows Media Center user interface, and can play and manage different media experiences in Windows Media Center.

  • Windows Media Center remote controls can also include any of the Microsoft Recommended, Microsoft Optional, or Microsoft Reserved buttons. Microsoft Recommended buttons are buttons that have consistently been shown to score high in usability studies about the perceived need by users.

  • The infrared (IR) protocols support multiple remote controls and multiple Windows Media Center computers in the same room. The total number of separate remote control addresses is eight. The user should be able to change the address of the remote control by using a few simple keystrokes.

For more information about the Windows Media Center requirements for remote controls and receivers, download the Remote Control and Receiver-Transceiver Specifications and Requirements for Windows Media Center in Windows Operating Systems Specification

Detailed approval process for infrared remote controls and receivers

To build new Windows Media Center remote controls and receivers:

  1. Download, read, sign, and return the following agreements to Microsoft:

    For more information about this process, send email to: remotemc@microsoft.com.

  2. Download, read, sign, and return the following three-way protocol license agreements to the respective license holders:

  3. After the license holder receives the signed three-way protocol license agreement, the license holder must sign and return it to you. It is your responsibility to send it to Microsoft to be signed. Three-way protocol license agreements that have already been signed by the license holder should be mailed to the following address:

    Media Center & RC-IR

    One Microsoft Way

    Redmond, WA 98077

  4. After Microsoft receives and signs the three-way protocol licensing agreement, Microsoft will notify the license holder to release the protocol specification to you.

  5. After you have completed these steps, you can use the following Windows 7 Logo Program authorization code in order to perform a self-test process and qualify for the Windows 7 logo: MS11hs6n.

    Note  The authorization code is case sensitive.

     

For more information about the self-test process, see Windows 7 Logo Program for Hardware Overview.

 

 

Send comments about this topic to Microsoft