System and method for detecting the removal of a controlling device

A controllable appliance, comprising:

• a processing device;
• a first interface coupled to the processing device for at least receiving communications from a remote control device;
• a second interface couple to the processing device for at least transmitting communications to a remote server device;
• and
• a memory having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by the processing device, causing the controllable appliance to perform steps to determine an inoperable state of the remote control device, the steps comprising:
• causing a timed interval having a predetermined duration to be measured by the controllable appliance;
• using the first interface to monitor for a wireless signal transmission originating from the remote control device;
• and
• when the monitoring determines that no wireless signal transmission originated from the remote control device during the timed interval being measured by the controllable appliance, causing a status notification to be issued via the second interface to the remote server device, the status notification indicating to the remote server device that the controlling device is in the inoperable state.