Infrared control signals are communicated between an infrared remote control unit (16) and an infrared controlled device (18) via network gateways (14). A sub-network of a backbone network (10) is automatically set up prior to transmission of messages. The sub-network comprises a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network (10). The setting up of the sub-network comprises automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways (14) to detect network gateways (14) that indicate ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request. Subsequently, when a first infra red control signal is received from the infrared remote control unit (16) at a first one of the network gateways (14), a message is transmitted dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways (14) over the backbone network (10) to the subnetwork of the selected devices. The message from the backbone network (10) is received at a second one of the network gateways (14). The second one of the network gateways (14) transmits a second infrared control signal from to the infrared controlled device (18) dependent on information derived from the message. The information in the network message may comprise sample values of the demodulated infrared control signal.