Determining a time to permit a communications session to be conducted

A method for routing communications in a packet switched communication system between a first participant device associated with a first participant, and a second participant device associated with a second participant, the method comprising:

• in response a communication being initiated from the first participant device to the second participant device, receiving, by at least one processor, a second participant identifier associated with the second participant device;
• causing the at least one processor to load a plurality of first participant attributes obtained from a user profile for the first participant into at least one memory;
• comparing at least a portion of the second participant identifier with at least one of the plurality of first participant attributes obtained from the user profile for the first participant, using the at least one processor, to produce a device identifier for use in identifying availability of a route whereby the communication may be routed to the second participant device;
• identifying at least a portion of the route whereby the communication may be routed to the second participant device by causing a database of records to be searched to locate a Direct-Inward-Dial (DID) record associating a public telephone number with said second participant device, wherein if said DID record is found, identifying the at least one portion of the route to carry the communication to the second participant device using the first communication network, and wherein if said DID record is not found, identifying the at least portion of the route to carry the communication to the second participant device using the second communication network;
• causing a message to be produced comprising route information identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the at least a portion of the route to cause the communication to be established to the second participant device, wherein the route information is associated with either the first communication network or the second communication network;
• wherein, when the at least a portion of the route is associated with the first communication network, the Internet Protocol (IP) address is used by a communication controller to cause the communication to be established to the second participant device using the first communication network;
• and
• wherein, when the at least a portion of the route is associated with a second communication network, the Internet Protocol (IP) address is used by the communication controller to cause the communication to be established to the second participant device through a gateway to the second communication network.

A system for routing a communication between a first participant device associated with a first participant, and a second participant device associated with a second participant, the system comprising:

• means for receiving a second participant identifier associated with the second participant device, in response to initiation of the communication by the first participant device;
• means for causing a user profile to be accessed in at least one memory, the user profile being specific to the first participant and associated with a plurality of first participant attributes;
• at least one processor for comparing at least a portion of the second participant identifier with at least one of the plurality of first participant attributes associated with the user profile of the first participant, to produce a second participant device identifier or identify a username associated with the second participant;
• means for identifying at least one route to the second participant device, based on the second participant device identifier or username, whereby the communication may be routed to the second participant device on a first communication network or a second communication network, the means for identifying at least one route to the second participant device comprising at least one system subscriber database for identifying subscribers and at least one route database for providing route information comprising at least one of an Internet protocol (IP) address or domain name associated with the at least one route to the second participant device;
• and
• at least one server causing a message comprising the route information to be produced, the route information identifying the at least one route on the first communication network, associated with the second participant device, when the at least one route is associated with a subscriber of the system, the message comprising the route information causing the communication to be carried to the second participant device using the first communication network;
• and
• the at least one server causing a message comprising the route information to be produced identifying the at least one route to a gateway to the second communication network, when the at least one route is associated with a non-subscriber of the system, the message comprising the route information causing the communication to be carried to the second participant device using the gateway to the second communication network.

An apparatus for routing communications in a packet switched communication system between a first participant device associated with a first participant and a second participant device associated with a second participant, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one controller comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory storing processor readable instructions, the at least one processor being operably configured by the processor readable instructions to:
• in response to initiation of a communication to the second participant device, receive a second participant identifier;
• access at least one first participant profile in the at least one memory to locate at least one first participant attribute associated with the first participant;
• compare at least a portion of the second participant identifier with the at least one first participant attribute to identify a second participant device identifier associated with at least one route whereby the communication may be routed to the second participant device;
• and
• cause a message to be produced comprising route information, based on the second participant device identifier, said route information identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the at least a portion of the route to cause the communication to be established to the second participant device;
• when the at least a portion of the route is associated with a first communication network, causing the Internet Protocol (IP) address to identify a network element on the first communication network to establish the communication to the second participant device;
• and
• when the at least a portion of the route is associated with a second communication network, causing the Internet Protocol (IP) address to identify a gateway to the second communication network to establish the communication to the second participant device.