Remote control system and method

A system for mounting to a vehicle including a user interface element and for controlling a transmitter device configured to send an expected transmission to receiving device, the system comprising:

• a transceiver;
• an interface for receiving a first signal from the user interface element;
• a processor configured to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the transceiver and the transmitter device, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the transceiver to send a second signal to the transmitter device via the bi-directional data communication link based upon the first signal received at the interface;
• wherein the processor is configured to format the second signal so that the transmitter device will send the expected transmission to the receiving device.

A method for configuring a system for mounting in a vehicle to send an expected transmission to a receiver device located external the vehicle, the receiver device configured to change states based upon the receipt of the expected transmission, the method comprising:

• receiving a user input signal at an interface for communicably coupling to a user interface element;
• establishing a bi-directional wireless data communication link with the receiver device;
• sending a request for information regarding the receiver device and/or the expected transmission via the bi-directional wireless data communication link;
• receiving the information via the bi-directional wireless data communication link;
• and
• configuring the system for mounting in the vehicle to transmit the expected transmission upon receiving a command signal.