Star cluster codeset database for universal remote control devices

A method for using a controlling device to command a control the functional operation of an appliance, the method comprising:

• accessing a first keycode data structure in response to a processing device of the controlling device determining that an input element of the controlling device has been interacted with, the first keycode data structure comprising a plurality of links to a corresponding plurality of additional keycode data structures;
• determining when the first keycode data structure contains a keycode corresponding to the activated input element of the controlling device;
• and
• when the keycode corresponding to the interacted with input element of the controlling device is determined to be absent from the first keycode data structure, sequentially using each of the plurality of links to access a one of the corresponding plurality of additional keycode data structures and, when any, a further keycode data structure linked to by the accessed one of the corresponding plurality of additional keycode data structures until the keycode corresponding to the interacted with input element of the controlling device is determined to be contained in the accessed one of the corresponding plurality of additional keycode data structures or the further keycode data structure linked to by the accessed one of the corresponding plurality of additional keycode data structures whereupon the controlling device is caused to use the keycode when transmitting the command to control the functional operation of the appliance.