Communications system with direct access mailbox
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a communications system in which a first user can elect to send an audio-visual communication directly to a mailbox of a second user, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining a store associated with the second user, the store comprising entries indicating a plurality of other users who are allowed or not allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user;
(b) upon sending of a communication from the second user to any destination user, automatedly performing a store modification procedure with respect to the entry associated with the destination user;
(c) upon receiving a request from the first user desiring to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user;
checking the store to determine whether the first user is a user who has previously received a communication from said second user to determine if the first user is allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; and
accordingly allowing or not allowing the communication to the mailbox.
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Abstract
A communication system (1) in which a user (A) can elect to leave a message directly in the mailbox (11a) of another user (B) without calling or disturbing user (B). A store (database 7) is generated and maintained which identifies those users who are allowed direct access to the mailbox of user (B). The store is automatically updated whenever user (B) sends a communication to other users.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communications system in which a first user can elect to send an audio-visual communication directly to a mailbox of a second user, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) maintaining a store associated with the second user, the store comprising entries indicating a plurality of other users who are allowed or not allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; (b) upon sending of a communication from the second user to any destination user, automatedly performing a store modification procedure with respect to the entry associated with the destination user; (c) upon receiving a request from the first user desiring to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; checking the store to determine whether the first user is a user who has previously received a communication from said second user to determine if the first user is allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; and
accordingly allowing or not allowing the communication to the mailbox. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
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7. A communications system in which a first user can elect to send an audio-visual communication directly to a mailbox of a second user, the system comprising:
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(a) a store associated with the second user, the store comprising entries indicating a plurality of other users who are allowed or not allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; (b) a device associated with the second user, the device being arranged to send a communication from the second user to any destination user, and upon such sending the device being further arranged to automatedly perform a store modification procedure with respect to the entry associated with the destination user; and (c) the system being arranged, upon receiving a request from the first user desiring to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user, to check the store to determine whether the first user is allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; and
the system accordingly allowing or not allowing the communication to the mailbox. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A method of controlling the access a calling party has to the communications message store of a called party, the method comprising the following steps:
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determining the identity of the calling party; determining from one or more stored records of identities associated with the communications store, if the identity of the calling party is an identity entitled to have direct access to the communications message store, wherein each of said one or more stored records is associated automatically with the identity of a party previously called by the called party; and if the identity of the calling party is not associated in any one of said stored records, preventing the calling party from storing a communications message in said communications message store. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification