Abstract: A remote control device tries each of a number of command sets and detects a user's response to each attempt to identify the correct command set. Each attempt includes sending a signal to a controlled device that, if properly received and understood by the controlled device, would cause the controlled device to display a message to the user instruction the user to perform a predetermined user input gesture on the remote control device. The remote control device recognizes the predetermined user input gesture, e.g., pushing of a button, as acknowledgment from the controlled device that the most recently sent command or commands were successfully received and understood by the controlled device.