A method and related apparatus for connecting first and second user-terminals
to
one another over a network (e.g., the internet) containing a plurality of user-terminals
and a plurality of respective network access servers. When the second user-terminal
connects to its respective network access server, this network access server sends
connection information to the subscriber data server which updates its database
with this connection information. The subscriber data server handles an incoming
call request, from a first user-terminal connected to a first virtual private network,
to establish a connection between the first user-terminal and the second user-terminal
that is connected to a second virtual private network. The subscriber data server
at first searches in its database for connection information of the second user-terminal
and then determines the respective network access server that is connected to the
second user-terminal based on the determined connection information. Then the second
user-terminal is notified about the request for communication by the first user-terminal,
and then initiates and controls a switch-over of the connection of the second user-terminal
from the second virtual private network to the first virtual private network. The
respective network access server of the second user-terminal switches the connection
of the second user-terminal from the second virtual private network to the first
virtual private network. Then at the switch-over of the connection of the second
user-terminal from the second virtual private network to the first virtual private
network there is also connection information sent by the adjacent respective network
access server to the subscriber data server.