Communications switching architecture

An apparatus for integrated media switching comprising:

• a packet interface communicatively coupled with a packet network;
• a call management controller communicatively coupled with a first addressable communication terminal and a second addressable communication terminal via the packet interface, the call management controller operable to establish a communication session between the first and second addressable communication terminals by inserting a network address of the apparatus into signals exchanged between the first and second addressable communication terminals and to then route data packet flows from each of the first and second packet telephone terminals through the apparatus, wherein each said addressable communication terminal is not provided the address of the other said addressable communication terminal.

A method performed by a network switch in facilitating communication between a first addressable communication terminal and a second addressable communication terminal, the method comprising:

• receiving a message from the first addressable communication terminal, the message initiating a real-time communication session from the first addressable communication terminal to the second addressable communication terminal;
• inserting a network address of the network switch into the message, wherein the first and second addressable communication terminals are not provided each other's addresses for establishing the real-time communication session;
• in accordance with the inserting, provisioning the first and second addressable communication terminals to route their respective real-time communication packet streams during said session through the network switch.