A remote control (3, 4) for controlling source devices (PC, DVD, RADIO, MP3, TV1, TV2) and playback devices (B1, B2, TV1, TV2, M) sends a command document (DOC) containing a control command (SB) in the form of text to the source device (PC, DVD, RADIO, MP3, TV 1, TV2) or playback device (B 1, B2, TV 1, TV2, M) to be controlled, with the result that a user-friendly matching of the control commands (SB) and a decoding of control commands (SB) is rendered possible in a plurality of devices.