US Patent 7656870 System and method for peer-to-peer hybrid communications

An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method includes retrieving a profile and a routing table from an access server by a first endpoint during an authentication process. The profile identifies at least a second endpoint as an endpoint with which the first endpoint has permission to communicate. The routing table contains address information needed for the first endpoint to communicate directly with the second endpoint. The first endpoint sends a notification message directly to the second endpoint using the address information to inform the second endpoint that the first endpoint is online.