Patent ID: 8571011

Claim:
A method for providing communication services, the method comprising: storing one or more user identifiers and an associated directory number in a centralized data store; storing, in the centralized data store, routing information including one or more communication paths corresponding to the user identifier, wherein the routing information includes a data path or a circuit-switched path for establishing a call to the user; storing, in the centralized data store, credential information corresponding to the user, wherein the credential information provides for authentication of the user and supports communication with a media server configured to establish a connection behind a network address translator or firewall within a private domain; retrieving the routing information in response to a request for establishing the call to the directory number; storing, in the centralized data store, other credential information corresponding to the user, wherein the other credential information supports communication with a proxy server configured to initiate setup of the call according to a media signaling protocol; and responsive to both the routing information and a credential pair, the credential pair comprising the credential information and the other credential information, establishing the call to the user behind the network address translator or firewall within the private domain.