You mention Daikin. Are you using the Coolmaster interface? Are you aware that Philips has a Daikin 232 module? Is there a particular reason you did not use 232 vs IR? I also realize that this module has discrete temperature buttons and not the up/down you desire.

I will state that I'm very concerned things can get really out of sync if you are exclusively using IR as you have no way to query the current status.

Please confirm whether or not 232 is in use for the Daikin.