Method and apparatus for processing messages based on originator and recipient priorities
First Claim
1. A method for processing a message based on originator priority and recipient priority, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving a message from an originating party, wherein the message includes an identity of a receiving party, content, and the originator priority;
b) retrieving the recipient priority of the receiving party;
c) merging the originator priority and the recipient priority to produce a message priority;
d) generating a recipient index that identifies an address for retrieval of the message; and
e) providing, based on the message priority, notice of the message and the recipient index to the receiving party.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus that process messages within a wireless communications system based on originator priority and recipient priority is accomplished when a server (12, 52) receives a message from an originating party (50). The message includes identity of the receiving party (54), originator priority information, and message content. Upon identifying the receiving party, the server retrieves recipient priority information of the receiving party. The server then merges the originator priority information with the recipient priority information to produce a message priority. In addition, the server generates a recipient index, which identifies an address for subsequent retrieval of the message content. Next, the server provides notice of the message to the receiving party based on the message priority. The notice of the message may be sent to the receiving party'"'"'s pager, cellular telephone, e-mail account, facsimile machine, wireline telephone, or answering service.
195 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for processing a message based on originator priority and recipient priority, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) receiving a message from an originating party, wherein the message includes an identity of a receiving party, content, and the originator priority; b) retrieving the recipient priority of the receiving party; c) merging the originator priority and the recipient priority to produce a message priority; d) generating a recipient index that identifies an address for retrieval of the message; and e) providing, based on the message priority, notice of the message and the recipient index to the receiving party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for processing a message based on originator priority and recipient priority, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) receiving a message from an originating party, wherein the message includes identity of the receiving party, identity of an originating party, and the originator priority; b) accessing a priority matrix based on the originator priority and the recipient priority of the receiving party to retrieve a message priority; and c) providing the message to the receiving party based on the message priority. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A communication server comprising:
-
a processing unit; and a memory operably coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to;
(a) receive a message from an originating party, wherein the message includes an identity of a receiving party, content, and the originator priority;
(b) retrieve the recipient priority of the receiving party;
(c) merge the originator priority and the recipient priority to produce a message priority;
(d) generate a recipient index that identifies an address for retrieval of the message; and
(e) provide, based on the message priority, notice of the message and the recipient index to the receiving party. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A communication server comprising:
-
a processing unit; and a memory operably coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when read by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to;
(a) receive a message from an originating party, wherein the message includes identity of the receiving party, identity of an originating party, and the originator priority;
(b) access a priority matrix based on the originator priority and the recipient priority of the receiving party to retrieve a message priority; and
(c) provide the message to the receiving party based on the message priority. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving, by a communication server, a first message from an originating party, wherein the first message includes an identity of a receiving party, content, and an originator priority; retrieving a recipient priority of the receiving party; merging the originator priority and the recipient priority to produce a message priority of the first message; determining, based on the message priority of the first message, a selected terminal device from among a plurality of terminal devices associated with the receiving party; and sending, by the communication server, a second message to the selected terminal device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification