Region-wide messaging system and methods including validation of transactions

• US 7,646,856 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Braudes, Robert E., McLaughlin, Ann V., Gilmartin, Neil, Varney, Doug, Patel, Navneet, Leonard, Gary J., Lamothe, Gary, Adamczyk, Maria, Brand, Joel, Blackburn, Alan R., Bedingfield, James Carlton, Hill, N. Peter, Barstow, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US10/369,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,519 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/88.25, 379/88.18
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed that allow for the exchange of voice mail messages between different VMSs of different service providers and/or in different networks by the transmission of such messages through a data network using a standard protocol of the data network.

Methods and systems also are disclosed that validate message transactions among subscribers receiving regional messaging services over the PSTN. The subscribers are located in different geographic areas and may be provided their voice, facsimile or data messaging services by different companies. The present invention validates passing messages (data) among customers of potentially different companies located in different areas by assessing the validity of the transaction in light of a number of conditions, including applicable regulatory or business conditions.

Claims

1. A regional messaging directory configured to provide messaging services to a plurality of users, the regional messaging directory comprising:

a memory component that stores at least the following;

logic configured to cause a computer to receive a first address associated with a first user;

logic configured to cause a computer to receive a second address associated with a second user;

logic configured to cause a computer to associate the received first address with a first voicemail server that is configured to serve the first user, the first voicemail server having a first geographical location;

logic configured to cause a computer to associate the received second address with a second voicemail server that is configured to serve the second user, the second voicemail server having a second geographical location;

logic configured to cause a computer to determine whether at least one constraint is configured to restrict a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server, and logic configured to cause a computer to, in response to a determination that at least one constraint restricts a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server, determine whether an agreement has been reached to overcome the constraint,

wherein the constraint is associated with a relationship between the first geographical location and the second geographical location.

2. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, wherein the constraint includes at least one of the following:

a regulatory constraint and a business constraint.

3. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, the memory further storing logic configured to cause a computer to determine the first geographic location.

4. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, the memory further storing logic configured to cause a computer to determine the second geographic location.

5. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, the memory further storing logic configured to cause a computer to determine a service provider associated with the first voicemail server.

6. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, the memory further storing logic configured to cause a computer to determine a service provider associated with the second voicemail server.

7. The regional messaging directory of claim 1, wherein the logic configured to cause a computer to determine at least one constraint includes logic configured to cause a computer to access at least one table.

8. The regional messaging directory of claim 7, wherein the at least one table includes data related to at least one of the following:

a voicemail identifier associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, a reason for restriction, a jurisdictional state associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, and a service provider associated with at least one of the voicemail servers.

9. The regional messaging directory of claim 7, wherein the first address is a telephone number.

10. The regional messaging directory of claim 7, wherein the second address is a telephone number.

11. A method for providing messaging services to a plurality of users, the method comprising:

receiving a first address associated with a first user;

receiving a second address associated with a second user;

associating the received first address with a first voicemail server that is configured to serve the first user, the first voicemail server having a first geographical location;

associating the received second address with a second voicemail server that is configured to serve the second user, the second voicemail server having a second geographical location;

determining whether at least one constraint is configured to restrict a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server, and

in response to a determination that at least one constraint restricts a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server. determining whether an agreement has been reached to overcome the constraint,

wherein the constraint is associated with a relationship between the first geographical location and the second geographical location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the constraint includes at least one of the following:

a regulatory constraint and a business constraint.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the first geographic location.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the second geographic location.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a service provider associated with the first voicemail server.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a service provider associated with the second voicemail server.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein determining at least one constraint includes accessing at least one table.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one table includes data related to at least one of the following:

a voicemail identifier associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, a reason for restriction, a jurisdictional state associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, and a service provider associated with at least one of the voicemail servers.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first address is a telephone number.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the second address is a telephone number.

21. A computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program for providing messaging services to a plurality of users, that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform at least the following:

receive a first address associated with a first user;

receive a second address associated with a second user;

associate the received first address with a first voicemail server that is configured to serve the first user, the first voicemail server having a first geographical location;

associate the received second address with second voicemail server that is configured to serve the second user, the second voicemail server having a second geographical location;

determine whether at least one constraint is configured to restrict a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server, and

in response to a determination that at least one constraint restricts a messaging transaction between the first voicemail server and the second voicemail server, determine whether an agreement has been reached to overcome the constraint,

wherein the constraint is associated with a relationship between the first geographical location and the second geographical location.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the constraint includes at least one of the following:

a regulatory constraint and a business constraint.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, the program further causing the computer to determine the first geographic location.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, the program further causing the computer to determine the second geographic location.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, the program further causing the computer to determine a service provider associated with the first voicemail server.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, the program further causing the computer to determine a service provider associated with the second voicemail server.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein determining at least one constraint includes accessing at least one table.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one table includes data related to at least one of the following:

a voicemail identifier associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, a reason for restriction, a jurisdictional state associated with at least one of the voicemail servers, and a service provider associated with at least one of the voicemail servers.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the first address is a telephone number.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the second address is a telephone number.