A system for controlling functional operations of a plurality of controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114), comprising: a smart device having a first remote control application, the first remote control application being arranged to cause the smart device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of one or more controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the smart device being selected wherein the at least one command transmitted from the smart device is transmitted using a first transmission protocol; and a bridge device having a second remote control application, the second remote control application being arranged to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of a plurality of controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device being selected and being arranged to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of one or more controllable appliance (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to receiving at the bridge device the at least one command transmitted from the smart device, wherein the at least one command transmitted from the bridge device is transmitted using a transmission protocol recognized by the one or more controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114); wherein the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device selectable to transmit commands is fewer in number than the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the smart device selectable to transmit commands; wherein the bridge device is configurable to operate in a first mode wherein one or more of the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device are selectable to cause transmissions to command functional operations of a first target one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) and a second mode wherein the same one or more of the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device are selectable to cause transmissions to command functional operations of a second target one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114), wherein switching between the first and second modes is in response to a signal from either one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) or the smart device. a smart device having a first remote control application, the first remote control application being arranged to cause the smart device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of one or more controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the smart device being selected wherein the at least one command transmitted from the smart device is transmitted using a first transmission protocol; and a bridge device having a second remote control application, the second remote control application being arranged to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of a plurality of controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device being selected and being arranged to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of one or more controllable appliance (108, 110, 112, 114) in response to receiving at the bridge device the at least one command transmitted from the smart device, wherein the at least one command transmitted from the bridge device is transmitted using a transmission protocol recognized by the one or more controllable appliances (108, 110, 112, 114); wherein the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device selectable to transmit commands is fewer in number than the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the smart device selectable to transmit commands; wherein the bridge device is configurable to operate in a first mode wherein one or more of the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device are selectable to cause transmissions to command functional operations of a first target one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) and a second mode wherein the same one or more of the plurality of user interface elements (302, 304, 306, 308, 310) of the bridge device are selectable to cause transmissions to command functional operations of a second target one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114), wherein switching between the first and second modes is in response to a signal from either one of the plurality of appliances (108, 110, 112, 114) or the smart device.