A method executable by a system; the system including a host communicating via a network with a client, a message server, and a media server, the media server being a consumer device located on a home network and configured to process media content, the method comprising: receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network; in response to the first message, establishing a real-time communications session between the host and the media server via the network, wherein the establishing comprises transmitting a request from the host to the message server having a pre-determined connection established via the network with the media server, the pre-determined connection being a persistent connection that the media server previously established with the messaging server in response to a message provided by the media server, and wherein after establishing the connection from the media server to the message server, the pre-determined persistent connection is used to transmit an instruction to the media server to establish the session with the host in response to the request received at the message server from the host, the session being established as an outgoing communication from the media server to the host; receiving information about the media content processed at the media server at the host from the media server via the session; providing the information about the media content processed at the media server from the host to the client via the network; receiving an instruction from the client at the host to control the media server; and directing, by the host, the media server to execute the instruction via the session. receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network; in response to the first message, establishing a real-time communications session between the host and the media server via the network, wherein the establishing comprises transmitting a request from the host to the message server having a pre-determined connection established via the network with the media server, the pre-determined connection being a persistent connection that the media server previously established with the messaging server in response to a message provided by the media server, and wherein after establishing the connection from the media server to the message server, the pre-determined persistent connection is used to transmit an instruction to the media server to establish the session with the host in response to the request received at the message server from the host, the session being established as an outgoing communication from the media server to the host; wherein the establishing comprises transmitting a request from the host to the message server having a pre-determined connection established via the network with the media server, the pre-determined connection being a persistent connection that the media server previously established with the messaging server in response to a message provided by the media server, and wherein after establishing the connection from the media server to the message server, the pre-determined persistent connection is used to transmit an instruction to the media server to establish the session with the host in response to the request received at the message server from the host, the session being established as an outgoing communication from the media server to the host; receiving information about the media content processed at the media server at the host from the media server via the session; providing the information about the media content processed at the media server from the host to the client via the network; receiving an instruction from the client at the host to control the media server; and directing, by the host, the media server to execute the instruction via the session.