Unlisted address messaging system

• US 6,161,129 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rochkind, Mark Meier
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, ALMARI ROMERO
• Application Number:
  US08/941,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A messaging system is arranged to substitute an alias address for the real address of a messaging subscriber with an unlisted address thereby allowing the subscriber to be known and yet to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the unlisted address while enabling the subscriber to a) transmit messages to targeted recipients, b) receive reply messages and other types of messages from these recipients, and c) receive spontaneous messages from others with knowledge of the alias address. The messaging system, which may be communicatively coupled to a communications carrier network, comprises a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database to manage the use of alias addresses.

Claims

1. In a messaging system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, comprising a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database containing a routing table, a method of providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, comprising the steps of:

generating, in the messaging system, an alias address, responsive to instructions from a first party with an unlisted address;

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

responsive to receiving a message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions comprise the origination of a message containing the unlisted address addressed to a recipient and the method further comprises the steps of:

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message; and

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructions comprise a request for an alias address and the method further comprises the steps of:

communicating the alias address to the first party.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

5. In a messaging system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, comprising a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database containing a routing table, a method of providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, comprising the steps of:

generating, in the messaging system, an alias address, responsive to origination of a message addressed to a recipient from a first party with an unlisted address, the message containing the unlisted address;

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient;

responsive to receiving a reply message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

7. In a messaging system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, comprising a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database containing a routing table, a method of providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, comprising the steps of:

generating, in the messaging system, an alias address responsive to a request for an alias address from a first party with an unlisted address;

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

communicating the alias address to the first part;

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient;

responsive to receiving a reply message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

9. In a messaging system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, comprising a mailbox system for transmitting and receiving messages and a routing database containing a routing table, a method of providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, comprising the steps of:

responsive to determining that a message originated by a first party with an unlisted address is forwardable;

generating an alias address in the messaging system;

entering the alias address, its corresponding unlisted address and an indication that the message is forwardable in a routing table;

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message to a first recipient;

delivering the message to a second recipient, responsive to a forwarding of the message by the first recipient;

responsive to receiving a message addressed to the alias address from the second recipient, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

communicating the alias address to the first party.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

responsive to determining that a message originated by a first party with an unlisted address is not forwardable;

generating an alias address in the messaging system;

entering the alias address, its corresponding unlisted address and an indication that the message is not forwardable in a routing table;

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message to a first recipient; and

blocking delivery of the message to a second recipient, responsive to a forwarding of the message by the first recipient.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

delivering the message to the unlisted address.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

14. A messaging system comprising:

a routing database containing a routing table; and

a mailbox system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, performing the steps of;

generating an alias address, responsive to instructions from a first party with an unlisted address

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in the routing table;

responsive to receiving a message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions comprise the origination of a message containing the unlisted address addressed to a recipient and the mailbox system further performs the steps of:

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message; and

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions comprise a request for an alias address and the mailbox system further performs the steps of:

communicating the alias address to the first party.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

18. A messaging system comprising:

a routing database containing a routing table; and

a mailbox system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, performing the steps of

generating an alias address, responsive to origination of a message addressed to a recipient from a first party with an unlisted address, the message containing the unlisted address;

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient;

responsive to receiving a reply message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

20. A messaging system comprising:

a routing database containing a routing table; and

a mailbox system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, performing the steps of

generating an alias address responsive to a request for an alias address from a first party with an unlisted address;

entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

communicating the alias address to the first party;

delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient;

responsive to receiving a reply message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

22. A messaging system comprising:

a routing database containing a routing table; and

a mailbox system, communicatively coupled to a communication carrier network, responsive to determining that a message originated by a first party with an unlisted address is forwardable performing the steps of;

generating an alias address;

entering the alias address, its corresponding unlisted address and an indication that the message is forwardable in a routing table.

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message to a first recipient;

delivering the message to a second recipients, responsive to a forwarding of the message by the first recipient;

responsive to receiving a message addressed to the alias address from the second recipient, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mailbox system further performs the step of:

communicating the alias address to the first party.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the mailbox system, responsive to determining that a message originated by a first party with an unlisted address is not forwardable, further performs the steps of:

generating an alias address in the messaging system;

entering the alias address, its corresponding unlisted address and an indication that the message is not forwardable in a routing table;

substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

delivering the message to a first recipient; and

blocking delivery of the message to a second recipient, responsive to a forwarding of the message by the first recipient.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the mailbox system further performs the step of:

delivering the message to the unlisted address.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the message is selected from a group of messages which include a voice message, a data message, a facsimile message and a video message.

27. A system for providing messaging services to subscribers comprising:

a plurality of local mailbox systems arranged to transmit and receive messages via a communication carrier network;

a routing database which contains a routing table and which is coupled to said mailbox systems;

means responsive to receiving a message which is originated by a first subscriber with an unlisted address and which is destined for one or more recipients, for querying said database to determine whether said first party wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced to said one or more recipients;

means for generating a unique message ID and for substituting said unique message ID for the unlisted address upon ascertaining that said first subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced;

means for storing said unique message ID in said routing table; and

means for delivering the message to said one or more recipients with the unique message ID as the originating address wherein the unique message ID is used one-time.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for receiving within one of said local mailbox systems one or more responses for said message from said one or more of said recipients;

means for mapping said unique message ID to said unlisted address;

means for delivering said response to said first party; and

means for deleting said unique message ID from said first subscriber so that no further response can be delivered to said first subscriber.

29. The system of claim 27 further comprising

means for blocking delivery of responses received from parties who are not recipients of said message.

30. A method of providing messaging services to subscribers comprising the steps of:

receiving at one of a plurality local mailbox systems, a message which is originated by a subscriber with an unlisted address and which is destined for one or more recipients;

querying a routing database which is coupled to said mailbox systems to determine whether said subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced to said one or more recipients;

generating a unique message ID for substituting said unique message ID for the unlisted address upon ascertaining that said subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced;

storing said unique message ID in said routing table; and

delivering the message to said one or more recipients with the unique message ID as the originating address wherein the unique message ID is used one-time.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the steps of:

receiving within one of said local mailbox systems one or more responses for said message originated from said one or more of said recipients and destined for said subscriber;

mapping said unique message ID to said unlisted address in a header of said one or more responses;

delivering said one or more responses to said subscriber; and

deleting said unique message ID from said first subscriber so that no further response can be delivered to said subscriber.

32. The system of claim 30 further comprising the step of:

blocking delivery of responses received from parties who are not recipients of said message.

33. An article of manufacture:

a program medium executable in a computer system for transmitting and receiving messages in a mailbox system providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, the program medium comprising;

program instructions for generating, in the messaging system, an alias address, responsive to instructions from a first party with an unlisted address;

program instruction for entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

program instructions responsive to receiving a message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

program instructions for delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

34. An article of manufacturing:

a program medium executable in a computer system for transmitting and receiving messages in a mailbox system providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, the program medium comprising;

program instructions for generating, in the messaging system, an alias address, responsive to origination of a message addressed to a recipient from a first party with an unlisted address, the message containing the unlisted address;

program instructions for entering the alias address and its corresponding unlisted address in a routing table;

program instructions for substituting the alias address for the unlisted address in the message;

program instructions for delivering the message containing the alias address to the recipient;

program instructions responsive to receiving a reply message addressed to the alias address, looking up the alias address in the routing table to obtain the unlisted address; and

program instructions for delivering the message addressed to the alias address to the unlisted address wherein said alias address is unique and used one-time.

35. A program medium executable in a computer system for transmitting and receiving messages in a mailbox system providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, the program medium comprising:

program instructions responsive to receiving a message which is originated by a first subscriber with an unlisted address and which is destined for one or more recipients, for querying a database to determine whether said first party wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced to said one or more recipients;

program instructions for generating a unique message ID and for substituting said unique message ID for the unlisted address upon ascertaining that said first subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced;

program instructions for storing said unique message ID in said routing table; and

program instructions for delivering the message to said one or more recipients with the unique message ID as the originating address wherein the unique message ID is used one-time.

36. A program medium executable in a computer system for transmitting and receiving messages in a mailbox system providing messaging services to unlisted addresses, the program medium comprising:

program instructions for receiving at one of a plurality local mailbox systems, a message which is originated by a subscriber with an unlisted address and which is destined for one or more recipients;

program instructions for querying a routing database which is coupled to said mailbox systems to determine whether said subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced to said one or more recipients;

program instructions for generating a unique message ID for substituting said unique message ID for the unlisted address upon ascertaining that said subscriber wishes to keep the unlisted address unannounced;

program instructions for storing said unique message ID in said routing table; and

program instructions for delivering the message to said one or more recipients with the unique message ID as the originating address wherein the unique message ID is used one-time.