Addressing system and method for communicating data

An addressing system to facilitate data communication between a number of user devices linked to a data communications network, comprising:

• first means for uniquely identifying each of the user devices linked to the data communications network, the first means being distinct from a network address on the data communications network of the respective one of the user devices;
• second means for identifying a user associated with each of the user devices, the second means being subject to change;
• and
• third means for linking each of the first means with a respective one of the second means, the third means being stored in a central service device that is in data communication with the user devices, wherein the central service device employs the first means to search a user database for a contact parameter associated with a receiving one of the user devices, the central service device employing the contact parameter to bring the receiving one of the user devices online with the data communications network to communicate with a transmitting one of the user devices.

An addressing method to facilitate a data communication between a number of user devices linked to a data communications network, comprising the steps of:

• associating a number of globally unique identifiers with a corresponding number of the user devices, respectively, the globally unique identifiers being distinct from a network address on the data communications network of the respective one of the user devices;
• associating each one of a number of user names with a respective one of the user devices, the user names being subject to change;
• and
• maintaining a correlation table in a central service device that is in data communication with the user devices, the correlation table linking each of the user names to a corresponding one of the globally unique identifiers;
• identifying one of the globally unique identifiers associated with a receiving one of the user names in the correlation table;
• and
• searching a user database stored in the central service device based upon the identified one of the globally unique identifiers for a contact parameter associated with a receiving one of the user devices that is associated with the receiving one of the user names;
• employing the contact parameter in the central service device to bring the receiving one of the user devices online with the data communications network if the receiving one of the user devices is offline to communicate with a transmitting one of the user devices.