Patent ID: 8738780

Claim:
A system, comprising: a communication server, which in operation, accepts a first connection with a first endpoint and a second connection with a second endpoint, respectively; enables the first and the second endpoints to establish a communication with each other via the first and the second connections; said first endpoint, which in operation, enables a user to access a service provided remotely by the second endpoint over a network by: establishing said first connection with the communication server; communicating with the second endpoint via the first connection established with the communication server; initiating a process to establish a direct connection with the second endpoint; switching the communication with the second endpoint from the first connection with the communication server to the direct connection with the second endpoint if such direct connection is established, while maintaining the first connection with the communication server; said second endpoint, which in operation, provides the service to the user over the network by: establishing the second connection with the communication server; communicating with the first endpoint via the second connection established with the communication server; collaborating with the first endpoint in the process to establish the direct connection with the first endpoint; and maintaining the second connection with the communication server after the communication with the first endpoint is switched to the direct connection if such direct connection is established; wherein the first connection, second connection, and direct connection are simultaneously maintained if the direct connection is established.