A system and method for controlling an external device from a first device include a display and a user interface associated with the first device. The first device has a first controller and a first data port. An external device has an external controller and a second data port coupled to the first data port. The external device communicates a command and a command identifier to the first controller. The first controller causes the display to display the command. When the command is selected by the user interface, the first controller transmits the command identifier to the external controller through the first and second data port.