A method for controlling functional operations of an intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120), comprising: storing in a memory of a Universal Control Engine the association between each of a plurality of controllable functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) and at least one of a plurality of communication methods to be used when transmitting a command for controlling the corresponding one of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) receiving by the Universal Control Engine a request from a controlling device intended to cause the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) to perform at least one of the plurality of functional operations; causing the Universal Control Engine to use the at least one of a plurality of communication methods that has been associated with the at least one of the plurality of functional operations to transmit to the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) at least one command wherein the at least one command is appropriate for controlling the at least one functional operation of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) and wherein at least two of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) are each associated with at least a different one or more of the plurality of communication methods; and responding, by the Universal Control Engine, to the request from the controlling device intended to cause the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) to perform the at least one of the plurality of functional operations by using a highest prioritized one of the communication methods that has been associated with the at least one of the plurality of functional operations to transmit to the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) the at least one command for controlling the corresponding at least one of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120). storing in a memory of a Universal Control Engine the association between each of a plurality of controllable functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) and at least one of a plurality of communication methods to be used when transmitting a command for controlling the corresponding one of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) receiving by the Universal Control Engine a request from a controlling device intended to cause the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) to perform at least one of the plurality of functional operations; causing the Universal Control Engine to use the at least one of a plurality of communication methods that has been associated with the at least one of the plurality of functional operations to transmit to the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) at least one command wherein the at least one command is appropriate for controlling the at least one functional operation of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) and wherein at least two of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) are each associated with at least a different one or more of the plurality of communication methods; and responding, by the Universal Control Engine, to the request from the controlling device intended to cause the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) to perform the at least one of the plurality of functional operations by using a highest prioritized one of the communication methods that has been associated with the at least one of the plurality of functional operations to transmit to the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120) the at least one command for controlling the corresponding at least one of the plurality of functional operations of the intended target appliance (106, 108, 110, 120).