Remote control device with appliance power awareness

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with these needs a controlling device is provided having programming which ensures an appliance will be placed into a desired power state.
To this end, the controlling device transmits a query message to a power monitor associated with the appliance to obtain the current power state of the appliance.
If the current power state does not correspond to the desired power state, the controlling device transmits a command to the appliance to effect a change in the current power state of the appliance.
In this regard, if the appliance is responsive to discrete power commands, the controlling device transmits a discrete power command to effect the change in the current power state (i.
e.
, turn the device on or turn off).
If the appliance is responsive to power toggle commands, the power toggle command appropriate for the appliance is transmitted to cause the appliance to change its current power state to the desired power state.
A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.