Abstract

A system and method for selectively establishing a user information path over an information transport network between first and second endpoints of first and second private network partitions, respectively. The system comprises: (1) signalling circuitry, associated with the first and second private network partitions, adapted to establish a signalling channel adapted to communicate signalling messages between the first and second private network partitions, the signalling channel allowing: (a) the first private network partition to initiate a call request to the second private network partition to request initiation of a call from the first endpoint to the second endpoint and (b) the second private network partition to initiate a response to said call request of the first private network partition to acknowledge that the second endpoint is able to receive the call from the first endpoint and (2) switching circuitry, associated with the first and second private network partitions, adapted to establish a user information path over the information transport network only after the first private network partition receives the response to the call request the user information path adapted to allow point-to-point communication of user information between the first and second endpoints, the user information path never established if the second endpoint is unable to receive the call from the first endpoint.