A method for communicating packet multimedia data between a source
endpoint and a destination endpoint is disclosed, wherein at least the
source endpoint is within a virtual private network, and comprises the
steps of receiving, at a signaling controller, a first signaling packet
from the source endpoint, wherein the source endpoint is within a virtual
private network; determining whether the source endpoint and destination
endpoint may communicate directly over the same virtual private network;
when the source endpoint and destination endpoint cannot communicate
directly over the same virtual private network, associating a unique
identifier of the source endpoint with a virtual private network
identification marker; when the source endpoint and destination endpoint
can communicate directly over the same virtual private network,
instructing the source endpoint and destination endpoint to communicate
media packets directly.