Systems and methods for remotely controlling a media server via a network

A system that communicates via a network with a client and with a media server that is configured to process media content, the system comprising:

• a message server configured to communicate with the media server via the network using a pre-existing persistent connection that was established as an outgoing connection from the media server to the message server;
• and
• a guide server that is separate from the message server, wherein the guide server is configured to receive a request for a connection to the media server from the client via the network, to direct the message server to contact the media server via the pre-existing persistent connection in response to the request so that the media server is directed to establish an outgoing session from the media server to the guide server via the network, to receive information about the media content via the session, to provide the information about the media content to the client, to receive an instruction from the client to control the media server, and, in response to the instruction received from the client, to direct the media server via the session to execute the instruction, wherein the media server establishes the pre-existing persistent connection to the message server before the guide server receives the request from the client and wherein the outgoing session from the media server to the guide server is established in response to the request received from the client.

A method executable by a host communicating via a network with a client and with a media recorder having stored media content, wherein the media recorder is separated from the client and the host by a firewall, the method comprising:

• receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network, wherein the first message identifies the media recorder;
• in response to the first message, transmitting a second message from the host to a message server having a pre-existing connection with the identified media recorder via the network, the pre-existing connection being established as an outgoing connection through the firewall from the identified media recorder to the message server before the host receives the first message from the client that persists over time, the second message initiating an instruction to the media recorder to establish a session with the host via the network, wherein the session is established as an outgoing session from the media recorder to the host through the firewall;
• providing program guide information from the host to the client via the network;
• receiving an instruction to record a program identified in the program guide information from the client at the host;
• and
• in response to receiving the instruction at the host, directing the media recorder to record the identified program via the session established from the media recorder to the host through the firewall.