A method executable by a controller device, the method comprising: receiving, at the controller device (502, 502, 502), a user input requesting an interaction with an accessory device, wherein the interaction includes determining an aspect of accessory state of the accessory device or changing an aspect of accessory state of the accessory device; determining whether the controller device (502, 502, 502) is currently able to communicate directly with the accessory device; in response to determining that the controller device (501) is currently able to communicate directly with the accessory device, communicating directly with the accessory device to perform the requested interaction; and in response to determining that the controller device (502, 502) is currently unable to communicate directly with the accessory device: identifying a proxy device that is configured to communicate with the accessory device by: obtaining a list of potential proxy devices comprising at least obtaining, from the accessory device, a list of paired controller devices during a pair-verified session with the accessory device that occurs prior to receiving the user input; and selecting the proxy device from the list of potential proxy devices according to a selection rule, wherein the controller device (502, 502) has previously established a pairing with the proxy device; establishing communication with the proxy device, wherein establishing communication with the proxy device includes establishing the pair-verified session with the proxy device based on the previously established pairing, the pair-verified session having a session key; generating a request message to the accessory device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device; and communicating, via the pair-verified session, the request message to the proxy device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device. receiving, at the controller device (502, 502, 502), a user input requesting an interaction with an accessory device, wherein the interaction includes determining an aspect of accessory state of the accessory device or changing an aspect of accessory state of the accessory device; determining whether the controller device (502, 502, 502) is currently able to communicate directly with the accessory device; in response to determining that the controller device (501) is currently able to communicate directly with the accessory device, communicating directly with the accessory device to perform the requested interaction; and in response to determining that the controller device (502, 502) is currently unable to communicate directly with the accessory device: identifying a proxy device that is configured to communicate with the accessory device by: obtaining a list of potential proxy devices comprising at least obtaining, from the accessory device, a list of paired controller devices during a pair-verified session with the accessory device that occurs prior to receiving the user input; and selecting the proxy device from the list of potential proxy devices according to a selection rule, wherein the controller device (502, 502) has previously established a pairing with the proxy device; establishing communication with the proxy device, wherein establishing communication with the proxy device includes establishing the pair-verified session with the proxy device based on the previously established pairing, the pair-verified session having a session key; generating a request message to the accessory device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device; and communicating, via the pair-verified session, the request message to the proxy device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device. identifying a proxy device that is configured to communicate with the accessory device by: obtaining a list of potential proxy devices comprising at least obtaining, from the accessory device, a list of paired controller devices during a pair-verified session with the accessory device that occurs prior to receiving the user input; and selecting the proxy device from the list of potential proxy devices according to a selection rule, wherein the controller device (502, 502) has previously established a pairing with the proxy device; obtaining a list of potential proxy devices comprising at least obtaining, from the accessory device, a list of paired controller devices during a pair-verified session with the accessory device that occurs prior to receiving the user input; and selecting the proxy device from the list of potential proxy devices according to a selection rule, wherein the controller device (502, 502) has previously established a pairing with the proxy device; establishing communication with the proxy device, wherein establishing communication with the proxy device includes establishing the pair-verified session with the proxy device based on the previously established pairing, the pair-verified session having a session key; generating a request message to the accessory device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device; and communicating, via the pair-verified session, the request message to the proxy device to perform the requested interaction with the accessory device.