Method and telecommunication system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 5,982,859 A
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Meek, William Harvey, Meek, Jeffrey James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/119,102
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/93.14, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.05-100.09, 379/100.12, 379/100.14-100.15, 379/201, 379/210 , 379/211, 379/220, 379/230, 358/400, 358/434, 358/440, 358/442, 358/407
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32765 Initiating a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting a facsimile message uses a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunication network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages. The initiation of a telephone call to a destination is detected, the content of the call including the facsimile message. If the destination is available at a first time to receive a telephone call, the facsimile message is transmitted. The facsimile message may be stored on the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time, or every time a telephone call is initiated by the originating party. The method also provides for situations where a telephone call is redirected, where an inter-NPA seven digit dialing case has occurred, and where "busy" or "no_-- answer" triggers are implemented. If the facsimile message was stored, the facsimile message is transmitted at a second time if the destination is available.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a facsimile message using a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunications network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to a destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message, the originating party having an originating NPA, and the destination having a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA;

(b) determining if the destination is able to receive the telephone call at a first time;

(c) if the destination was able to receive the telephone call at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message to the destination;

(d) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(e) if the telephone call was determined to be not initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, proceeding directly to step (i);

(f) if the telephone call was determined to be initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA;

(g) if the originating NPA was determined to be different from the destination NPA, prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(h) if the originating NPA was determined to be not different than the destination NPA, prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(i) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, determining if the destination is able to receive the telephone call at a later time;

(j) if the destination was able to receive the telephone call at the later time, transmitting the facsimile message to the destination; and

(k) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the later time, returning to step (i).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA includes using a lookup table comprised of a plurality of elements, and performing a linear search on the elements of the lookup table.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of performing the linear search on the elements of the lookup table includes creating an NPA/NXX search string by prepending the originating NPA to an NXX corresponding to the destination.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of comparing the NPA/NXX search string with the elements of a first column of the lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number include utilizing a memory location, the contents of the memory location consisting of a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a lookup table to the memory location.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the destination includes the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message to the messaging platform.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein if the facsimile message was stored to the messaging platform,

(i) determining that the destination is available at the later time;

and

(ii) transmitting the facsimile message to the destination if the destination is available at the later time.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the destination is available to receive a telephone call includes determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, modifying an identification of the originating party.

14. A system for transmitting a facsimile message using a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunications network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, the system comprising:

a detector for detecting the initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to a destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message, the originating party having an originating NPA, and the destination having a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA, and for determining if the destination is available to receive the telephone call;

means, coupled to the detector, for determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, and if so, for determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, for prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA, and for routing the facsimile messaging to the messaging platform; and

a messaging platform, in communication with the detector, for receiving and storing a routed facsimile message;

wherein, if the facsimile message was routed to the messaging platform, the messaging platform transmits the facsimile message to the final destination.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number to an NPA different from the originating NPA includes means for using a lookup table comprising of a plurality of elements, and for performing a linear search on the elements of the lookup table.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the means for performing the linear search on the elements of the lookup table includes means for creating an NPA/NXX search string, wherein the NPA/NXX search string is created by prepending the originating NPA to an NXX of the telephone number corresponding to the destination party.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for comparing the NPA/NXX search string with the elements of the first column of the lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of a first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes means for storing a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination into a memory location.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes means for prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a lookup table to the memory location.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone includes means for prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for routing the facsimile message to the messaging platform includes transmitting and storing the facsimile message to the messaging platform.

23. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for routing the facsimile message to the messaging platform includes means for transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at a first time.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform further comprises means for storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means, if the facsimile message was stored on the messaging platform, for the messaging platform

(i) determining that the destination is available at a second time, the second time later than the first time, and

(ii) transmiting the facsimile message to the destination if the destination is available at the second time.

26. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for determining if the destination is available to receive a telephone call includes means for determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, for modifying an identification of the originating party.

27. A method of transmitting a facsimile message from a line of an originating party to a destination using an advanced intelligent telecommunication network having a plurality of service switching points including an originating service switching point, at least one service control point, and a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to the destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message, wherein the originating party has an originating NPA, and the destination has a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA;

determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time;

suspending the telephone call and launching an information message from the originating service switching point to the at least one service control point if a busy or no_-- answer condition is detected;

determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, and if so, determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, wherein;

if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number; and

if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA, prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time; and

if the facsimile message was routed to the messaging platform,

(i) storing the routed facsimile message on the messaging platform;

(ii) determining a destination condition for the destination at a second time, the second time later than the first time; and

(iii) transmitting the facsimile message to the destination if the destination condition is "answer" at the second time.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number to an NPA different from the originating NPA includes using a first lookup table comprising of a plurality of elements, and performing a linear search on the elements of the first lookup table.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of performing the linear search on the elements of the first lookup table includes creating an NPA/NXX search string by prepending the originating NPA to an NXX of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of comparing the NPA/NXX search string with the elements of a first column of the first lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of the first column of the first lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the first lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the steps of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number include utilizing a memory location, the contents of the memory location consisting of a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a first lookup table to the memory location.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform, to which the facsimile message is to be routed.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of returning the routing message includes determining the telephone number corresponding to the message platform using a second lookup-table that is indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the calling party.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of sending a close call message from a destination service switching point to the at least one service control point if the call is completed.

38. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of sending a close call message from the originating service switching point to the at least one service control point if the telephone call is abandoned prior to receiving a routing message from the at least one service control point.

39. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of aborting the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination for receiving a facsimile.

41. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform occurs only if a busy or no_-- answer condition is detected.

42. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of determining a destination condition for the destination includes determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, modifying an identification of the originating party.

43. A telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message from a line of an originating party to a destination using an advanced intelligent telecommunications network, the system comprising:

an originating service switching point for detecting an initiation of a telephone call on the telecommunications network from an originating party to a destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message, wherein the originating party has an originating NPA, and the destination has a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA, for determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time, and for launching an information message if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time;

a service control point, in communication with the originating service switching point, for receiving the information messages from the originating service switching point, for determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, and if so, for determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, for prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA, and for returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time; and

a messaging platform, in communication with the originating service switching point and capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, for receiving and storing a routed facsimile message;

wherein if the facsimile message was routed to the messaging platform, the messaging platform determines a destination condition at a second time, the second time later than the first time, and the messaging platform transmits the facsimile message to the final destination if the destination condition was "answer" at the second time.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the service controlpoint determines if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number to an NPA different from the originating NPA by using a first lookup table comprising of a plurality of elements, and by performing a linear search on the elements of the first lookup table.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the first lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the service control point performs the linear search on the elements of the first lookup table by creating an NPA/NXX search string, wherein the NPA/NXX search string is created by prepending the originating NPA to an NXX of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

47. The system of claim 46 further comprising the service control point comparing the NPA/NXX search string with the elements of a first column of the first lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of the first column of the first lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the first lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the service control point prepends the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepends the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number by utilizing a memory location, the contents of the memory location consisting of a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the service control point prepends the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA by prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a first lookup table to the memory location.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein the service control point prepends the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA by prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

51. The system of claim 43 wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform, to which the facsimile message is to be routed.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the service control point determines the telephone number corresponding to the message platform using a second lookup-table that is indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the calling party.

53. The system of claim 43 wherein a destination service switching point sends a close call message from the destination service switching point to the at least one service control point if the call is completed.

54. The system of claim 43 wherein the originating service switching point sends a close call message to the at least one service control point if the telephone call is abandoned prior to receiving a routing message from the at least one service control point.

55. The system of claim 43 wherein the service control point is capable of determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the service control point aborts the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination for receiving a facsimile message.

57. The system of claim 43 wherein the service control point returns the routing message to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform only if a busy or no_-- answer trigger is detected.

58. The system of claim 43 wherein the service control point determines a destination condition for the destination by determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, the service control point modifies an identification of the originating party.

59. A method of transmitting a data message using a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunications network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of data messages, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to a destination, the content of the telephone call including the data message, the originating party having an originating NPA, and the destination having a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA;

(b) determining if the destination is able to receive the telephone call at a first time;

(c) if the destination was able to receive the telephone call at the first time, transmitting the data message to the destination;

(d) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(e) if the telephone call was determined to be not initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, proceeding directly to step (i);

(f) if the telephone call was determined to be initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA;

(g) if the originating NPA was determined to be different from the destination NPA, prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(h) if the originating NPA was determined to be not different than the destination NPA, prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number;

(i) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, determining if the destination is able to receive the telephone call at a later time;

(j) if the destination was able to receive the telephone call at the later time, transmitting the data message to the destination; and

(k) if the destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the later time, returning to step (i).

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number to an NPA different from the originating NPA includes using a lookup table comprising of a plurality of elements, and performing a linear search on the elements of the lookup table.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the step of performing the linear search on the elements of the lookup table includes creating an NPA/NXX search string by prepending the originating NPA to a destination NXX.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of comparing the NPA/NXX search string with the elements of a first column of the lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the steps of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number include utilizing a memory location, the contents of the memory location consisting of a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a lookup table to the memory location.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

67. The method of claim 59 further comprising the step of storing the data message on the messaging platform.

68. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of transmitting the data message to the destination includes the step of transmitting the data message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at a first time.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising the step of storing the data message to the messaging platform.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein if the data message was stored to the messaging platform,

(i) determining that the destination is available at the later time;

and

(ii) transmitting the data message to the destination if the destination is available at the later time.

71. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of determining if the destination is available to receive a telephone call includes determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, modifying an identification of the originating party.

72. A system for transmitting a data message using a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunications network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of data messages, the system comprising:

a detector for detecting the initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to an original destination, the content of the telephone call including the data message, the originating party having an originating NPA, and the destination having a corresponding telephone number and a destination NPA, and for determining if the destination is available to receive the telephone call;

means, coupled to the detector, for determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number, and if so, means for determining whether the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA, and

for prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA;

a messaging platform, in communication with the detector, for receiving and storing a routed data message; and

wherein, if the data message was routed to the messaging platform, the messaging platform transmits the data message to the destination.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the means for determining if the telephone call was initiated using a seven digit direct dialed telephone number to an NPA different from the originating NPA includes means for using a lookup table comprising of a plurality of elements, and by performing a linear search on the elements of the lookup table.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the lookup table is comprised of at least two columns, a first column consisting of impermissible NPA/NXX combinations of seven digit direct dialed telephone numbers between NPAs, and a second column which corresponds to the first column, the second column consisting of correct NPA/NXX combinations for the impermissible NPA/NXX combinations listed in the first column.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for performing the linear search on the elements of the lookup table include means for creating an NPA/NXX search string, wherein the NPA/NXX search string is created by prepending the originating NPA to an NXX of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

76. The system of claim 75 further comprising means for comparing the NPA/ NXX search string with the elements of a first column of the lookup table, wherein

a match between the NPA/NXX search string and an element of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in different NPAs, and

no match between the NPA/NXX search string and the elements of the first column of the lookup table indicates that the originating party and the destination are located in the same NPA.

77. The system of claim 72, wherein the means for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number and prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number includes means for utilizing a memory location, the contents of the memory location consisting of a final four digits of the telephone number corresponding to the destination.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein the means for prepending the destination NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is different from the destination NPA includes means for prepending a correct NPA/NXX combination from a second column of a lookup table to the memory location.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein the means for prepending the originating NPA to the seven digit direct dialed telephone number if the originating NPA is the same as the destination NPA includes means for prepending an NPA/NXX search string to the memory location.

80. The system of claim 72 wherein the means for routing the data message to the messaging platform includes transmitting and storing the data message to the messaging platform.

81. The system of claim 72 wherein the means for routing the data message to the messaging platform includes means for transmitting the data message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at a first time.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein the means for transmitting the data message to the messaging platform further comprises means for storing the data message on the messaging platform.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein if the data message was stored to the messaging platform, the messaging platform

(i) determines that the destination is available at a second time, the second time later than the first time;

and

(ii) transmits the data message to the destination if the destination is available at the second time.

84. The system of claim 72 wherein the means for determining if the destination is available to receive a call includes means for determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and if so, for modifying an identification of the originating party.