Method, system and apparatus for causing a communication client to join a media-over-packet communication session

A network element connectable to at least one communication client via a communication network, the network element configured to:

• receive from a communication client a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message indicative of a desire of said communication client to establish a communication session, said communication client being registered in association with a user account;
• determine if there exists at least one active communication session in progress with at least one other communication client registered in association with the user account;
• and
• solicit from a participant of said at least one active communication session an indication of permission for said at least one communication client to join said at least one active communication session, wherein said soliciting comprises at least one of:
• soliciting said indication via said at least one active communication session;
• transmitting an instant message to solicit said indication;
• sending a short text message to solicit said indication;
• and
• sending an electronic message to solicit said indication;
• and
• cause said communication client to join said at least one of said at least one active communication session in response to determining that there does exist at least one active communication session, wherein said causing said communication client to join at least one of said at least one active communication session is executed only in response to determining that there does exist at least one active communication session and receiving said indication of permission.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code which, when executed by a computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus:

• to receive from said at last one communication client a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message of a desire of said at least one communication client to establish a communication session via said communication network, said at least one communication client being registered in association with a user account;
• to determine if there exists at least one active communication session in progress with at least one other communication client registered in association with the user account;
• to solicit from a participant of said at least one active communication session an indication of permission for said communication client to join said at least one active communication session, wherein said soliciting comprises at least one of:
• soliciting said indication via said at least one active communication session;
• transmitting an instant message to solicit said indication;
• sending a short text message to solicit said indication;
• and
• sending an electronic message to solicit said indication;
• and
• to cause said at least one communication client to join said at least one of said at least one active communication session when it is determined that there does exist at least one active communication session, wherein said causing said communication client to join at least one of said at least one active communication session is executed only in response to determining that there does exist at least one active communication session and receiving said indication of permission.