http://www.lirc.org/ is where you need to start , it is the software that controls the infrared under linux. I had previously used one that came with a media center for windows and it worked fine check out
http://www.lirc.org/html/table.html for a list of compatible ones. You can also google mythbuntu and lirc for further documentation pertaining to lirc on an ubuntu based distro.
If you have an android phone / tablet you can use
Gmote to control via wireless network, which is what I do now.
Regards,
JKZfixme
