Computing device remote control system

A computing device remote control system includes a remote-control device, a remote-control adapter that is communicatively coupled to the remote-control device, and a computing device including a computing device Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector that is connected to the remote-control adapter. A function controller in the computing device is coupled to the computing device USB connector and operates to receive a remote-control message from the remote-control device via the computing device USB connector and the remote-control adapter and, in response, change a control function state stored in the function controller, and generate and transmit an alert. A system controller in the computing device is coupled to the function controller and operates to receive the alert from the function controller and, in response, access the function controller to identify the control function state stored in the function controller, and perform at least one control operation based on the control function state.