Specifications

Remote Control and Receiver-Transceiver Specifications and Requirements
for Windows Media Center in Windows Operating Systems
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To qualify as a Windows Media Center universal remote control, the following are required:
 The Windows Media Center Green Start button must be persistent in all modes of the universal
remote control. Regardless of the mode that is currently selected, pressing the Green Start
button must always take the user to the Start menu in Windows Media Center.
 The Windows Media Center Green Start button cannot be overloaded and must always take the
user to the Start menu in Windows Media Center.
 To be certified under the Windows Logo Program, the remote control must have all of the
required Windows Media Center buttons either on the remote control as hardware buttons or on
the screen as software buttons. The remote must be configured out-of-the-box as a Windows
Media Center remote, and other functions for other devices can be available in other modes.
 When in Windows Media Center mode, all required buttons must be directly available. All labels
and/or icons must reflect the function that the button provides in Windows Media Center.
 The remote control must be programmable or support learning with an IR database.
 The remote control must have support for a wide range of manufacturers. It cannot support just
one brand or device manufacturer.
 The universal remote control mode must be readily apparent and visible.
 If switches or sliders are used, the end user must be able to determine easily the current remote
control mode.
 Transport controls cannot be overloaded with other functions.
 Windows Media Center shortcut buttons must maintain Windows Media Center labels in primary
positions. Icons cannot be altered or added on the physical shortcut buttons to reflect additional
functionality.
The following are recommended and Microsoft strongly encourages all manufacturers to support
these recommendations:
 Microsoft strongly recommends that the universal remote control setup be done through a 10-foot
extensibility program.
 Slide or manual switches for the universal modes are strongly discouraged. If switches or sliders
are used, the end user must be able to determine easily which mode the remote control is in.
 Navigation controls and the OK button must function as navigation controls in all modes.
 Additional buttons added to the remote for universal functionality should be grouped logically with
other buttons that provide similar functionality.
TV standards and Windows Media Center Remote Controls
For regions where Windows Media Center provides native support for TV broadcast standards,
the remote controls must meet the general remote control requirements in this document.
In those regions where TV has a secondary 10-foot application, the remotes must follow the
guidelines defined below.
If you are distributing a secondary 10-foot TV application on a Windows Media Center computer,
you must distribute a remote control that meets the requirements in this document. In addition,
manufacturers have an option to create a Windows Media Center remote control that supports a
secondary 10-foot TV application. This remote control must have the Windows Media Center
Green button and can have a secondary 10-foot TV application launch button. The buttons for the
secondary 10-foot application can use either of the recommended IR protocols or the protocol
currently used in the secondary 10-foot TV application.