Patent ID: 7698433

Claim:
In a communications system, a method for controlling the establishment of a communication session with a party comprising: receiving a first user identification symbol specifying the party, the party being associated with at least one second user identification symbol, the at least one second user identification symbol being different than the first user identification symbol; mapping the first user identification symbol to an index identifying user profile information corresponding to the party; using the index, accessing the user profile information; specifying a period of time for enabling the first user identification symbol to be used for communication sessions, specifying the first user identification symbol, with the party; enabling the establishment of the communication session, specifying the first user identification symbol, as a function of the user profile information corresponding to the party, during the period of time; and disabling the establishment of another communication session, specifying the first user identification symbol, with the party, after an expiration of the period of time, communication sessions continuing to be enabled for the at least one second user identification symbol.