Method for remotely controlling media devices via a communication network

A method of controlling a media device, comprising:

• establishing a media session with a remote device via an Internet-protocol communication link;
• receiving control commands from the remote device encapsulated in media messages in the context of said media session;
• extracting the control commands from the media messages;
• and
• controlling the media device responsive to the control commands.

A method of enabling a remote device to control a local media device comprising:

• establishing concurrent media sessions via an Internet-protocol communication link;
• receiving control commands within a first media session from a remote device as media messages;
• and
• sending or receiving media data within a second media session responsive to a control command received within said first media session.

A media device comprising:

• a signaling agent to establish concurrent media sessions with one or more remote devices;
• a media agent for managing media connections to said remote devices and for receiving control commands from a first remote device encapsulated in media messages in the context of a first media session;
• and
• an application to extract said control commands from said media message and to send or receive media data in the context of a second media session responsive to said control commands.