Method and Apparatus for Maintaining Continuous Connections for Audio/Visual Communications

A method and apparatus is provided for maintaining a continuous connection for the instantaneous transmission of audio/visual content between end points on a packet-based network. After a communication link is initially established between two end points connected to the network, the communication link is maintained on a continuous basis so that audio/visual content can be instantaneously transmitted from a source end point to a destination end point or end points when a user desires to communicate with the destination end point. The communication link is continuously maintained by various methods including across the packet-based network by transmitting signaling information between the end points that signifies that the communication link should be kept open and alive.