Method and system for routing incoming communications in a communications network

A method for limiting access to communications services in a communications network comprising a plurality of network elements and in which an addressable number is associated with a plurality of communications devices, each of said plurality of communications devices having a unique identifier associated therewith, said method comprising:

• receiving from a first one of said plurality of network elements, at a discrete network element separate from said plurality of network elements, a request for access to a communication service from one of said plurality of communications devices associated with said addressable number;
• determining, at said discrete network element, a status of said plurality of communications devices associated with said addressable number and a status of communications services currently being used thereby via a plurality of queries transmitted from said discrete network element to one or more of said plurality of network elements using each said unique identifier;
• and
• one of granting or denying said communication service for which access was requested, said granting and said denying dependent on said status,
• wherein said status of said plurality of communications devices and said communication services currently used thereby are determined using:
• current registration information for said plurality of communications devices;
• traffic information relating to one of establishment and termination of communications sessions by said plurality of communications devices;
• and
• interrogation of a state of a mobile communications device wherein said state of the mobile communications device is ambiguous based on said current registration information and said traffic information.