System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

A method for setting up a control mode of operation of a controlling device having a plurality of input elements, the method comprising:

• transmitting from the controlling device while the controlling device is in a controlling device setup mode of operation to a first controllable appliance while the first controllable appliance is in a first controllable appliance setup mode of operation at least one setup procedure command to obtain from the first controllable appliance a setup data for provision to the controlling device, wherein the at least one setup procedure command is caused to be transmitted from the controlling device in response to an activation of at least one of a first set of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device;
• receiving into the controlling device the setup data obtained from the first controllable appliance;
• using the setup data obtained from the first controllable appliance to assign to at least one of a second set of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device different than the first set of the plurality of input element at least one function control command wherein the at least one function control command is transmittable to the second controllable appliance while the controlling device is in the controlling device setup mode of operation to test one or more operational functions of the second controllable appliance while at least one of the first set of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device continues to be assigned a setup procedure command wherein the setup procedure command that continues to be assigned to the at least one of the first set of the plurality of input elements is transmittable to the first controllable appliance to cause the first controllable appliance to be exited from the first appliance setup mode of operation;
• and
• causing the controlling device to be exited from controlling device setup mode of operation in connection with causing the first controllable appliance to be exited from the first appliance setup mode of operation whereupon the controlling device will be setup to communicate the at least one function control command to the second controllable appliance when the at least one of the second set of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device input element is subsequently activated.