System and method for monitoring user interactions with a universal controlling device

A universal controlling device, comprising:

• a processing device;
• a user interface coupled to the processing device;
• and
• at least one memory device coupled to the processing device, wherein the at least one memory device has stored thereon instructions which instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the universal controlling device to respond to the universal controlling device being caused to exit a quiescent mode of operation by providing a time stamp to a first data previously stored in the at least one memory device that indicates a one of a plurality of controllable appliance operating modes in which the universal controlling device is currently operating and by subsequently sensing a first user interaction with the user interface indictive of a first command being transmitted to a media rendering appliance to cause the media rendering appliance to access a one of the plurality of media content, sensing a second user interaction with the user interface indicative of a second command being transmitted to the media rendering appliance to cause the media rendering appliance to stop accessing the one of the plurality of media content, and storing within the at least one memory device a second data indicative of a time between the sensed first user interaction and the sensed second user interaction.