Systems and methods for creating a button map for implementing remote control functions for a standard input/output device in a video playback system is described. One embodiment is directed to a method which includes first adding a button that is currently selected along with its neighboring selectable buttons to a button map, iteratively adding a new selectable button not in the button map and then adding all neighboring selectable buttons for the new button to the button map. Finally, the method includes selecting one of the buttons in the button map using a standard input/output device.