Multimedia access device and system employing the same

A method of establishing a voice communication session between a first endpoint communication device and a second endpoint communication device with a multimedia access device remote from said first and second endpoint communication devices, said first endpoint communication device being an instant messaging based communication device and said second endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device, comprising:

• maintaining a status of said second endpoint communication device;
• providing an indication of availability of said second endpoint communication device to said first endpoint communication device prior to a session request;
• receiving said session request from an instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device including a user identification associated with said second endpoint communication device;
• correlating said user identification to a directory number and routing information for said second endpoint communication device;
• processing instant messaging messages for said second endpoint communication device compatible with said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device based upon said availability of said second endpoint communication device;
• notifying said second endpoint communication device of said session request employing non-instant messaging based signaling in accordance with said routing information;
• receiving an answer indication from said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device in response to an initiation of said voice communication session and providing an acknowledgement thereto;
• and
• establishing a voice path for said voice communication session to and between said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device and said second endpoint communication device after said acknowledgment.

A multimedia communication system, comprising:

• a first endpoint communication device being an instant messaging based communication device;
• a second endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device;
• and
• an apparatus being remote from said first and second endpoint communication devices, comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• memory including computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:
• maintain a status of and provide an indication of availability of said second endpoint communication device to said first endpoint communication device prior to a session request;
• receive said session request from an instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device including a user identification associated with said second endpoint communication device;
• correlate said user identification to a directory number and routing information for said second endpoint communication device;
• process instant messaging messages for said second endpoint communication device compatible with said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device based upon said availability of said second endpoint communication device;
• notify said second endpoint communication device of said session request employing non-instant messaging based signaling in accordance with said routing information;
• receive an answer indication from said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device in response to an initiation of said voice communication session and provide an acknowledgement thereto;
• and
• establish a voice path for a voice communication session to and between said instant messaging client of said first endpoint communication device and said second endpoint communication device after said acknowledgment.

An apparatus adapted to establish a voice communication session between a first endpoint communication device and a second endpoint communication device, said first endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device and said second endpoint communication device being an instant messaging based communication device, said apparatus being remote from said first and second endpoint communication devices, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory including computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:
• maintain a status and availability of said second endpoint communication device prior to a session request;
• receive said session request from said first endpoint communication device including a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device;
• correlate said directory number to a user identification and routing information for said second endpoint communication device;
• process non-instant messaging messages compatible with said first endpoint communication device and instant messaging messages compatible with an instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device based upon said availability of said second endpoint communication device;
• notify said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device employing instant messaging based signaling in accordance with said routing information;
• send an answer indication to said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device in response to an initiation of said voice communication session and receive an acknowledgement therefrom;
• and
• establish a voice path for said voice communication session to and between said first endpoint communication device and said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device after said acknowledgement.

A method of establishing a voice communication session between a first endpoint communication device and a second endpoint communication device with a multimedia access device remote from said first and second endpoint communication devices, said first endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device and said second endpoint communication device being an instant messaging based communication device, comprising:

• maintaining a status and availability of said second endpoint communication device prior to a session request;
• receiving said session request from said first endpoint communication device including a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device;
• correlate said directory number to a user identification and routing information for said second endpoint communication device;
• processing non-instant messaging messages compatible with said first endpoint communication device and instant messaging messages compatible with an instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device based upon said availability of said second endpoint communication device;
• notifying said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device employing instant messaging based signaling in accordance with said routing information;
• sending an answer indication to said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device in response to an initiation of said voice communication session and receiving an acknowledgement therefrom;
• and
• establishing a voice path for said voice communication session to and between said first endpoint communication device and said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device after said acknowledgement.

A multimedia communication system, comprising:

• a first endpoint communication device being a non-instant messaging based communication device;
• a second endpoint communication device being an instant messaging based communication device;
• and
• an apparatus remote from said first and second endpoint communication devices, comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• memory including computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:
• maintain a status and availability of said second endpoint communication device prior to a session request;
• receive said session request from said first endpoint communication device including a directory number associated with said second endpoint communication device;
• correlate said directory number to a user identification and routing information for said second endpoint communication device;
• process non-instant messaging messages compatible with said first endpoint communication device and instant messaging messages compatible with an instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device based upon said availability of said second endpoint communication device;
• notify said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device employing instant messaging based signaling in accordance with said routing information;
• send an answer indication to said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device in response to an initiation of said voice communication session and receive an acknowledgement therefrom;
• and
• establish a voice path for said voice communication session to and between said first endpoint communication device and said instant messaging client of said second endpoint communication device after said acknowledgement.