Method for restricting mailbox-to-mailbox message transfers
First Claim
1. A method comprising(a) in a voice mail system, connecting a first subscriber to a first voice mail box associated with the first subscriber;
- (b) through the first voice mail box, receiving into the voice mail system from the first subscriber a request for the voice mail system to send a voice mail message to a second voice mail box associated with a second subscriber; and
(c) responsive to the request, (i) determining whether voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are allowed by sending a Check Restriction Header Parameter to a SCP (Service Control Point), (ii) granting the first subscriber'"'"'s request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are allowed and if the second mailbox exists, and (iii) denying the first subscriber'"'"'s request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are not allowed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for use of voice call restriction data to restrict mailbox-to-mailbox message transfers. When a subscriber logs into his or her voice mail box and seeks to send a voice mail message to another subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box, reference will be made to voice call restriction data that indicates whether voice calls are allowed between the subscriber and the other subscriber. If the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are allowed between the subscribers, then the voice mail system will allow the requested mailbox-to-mailbox message transfer. On the other hand, if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are not allowed between the subscribers, then the voice mail system will not allow the mailbox-to-mailbox message transfer.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising
(a) in a voice mail system, connecting a first subscriber to a first voice mail box associated with the first subscriber; -
(b) through the first voice mail box, receiving into the voice mail system from the first subscriber a request for the voice mail system to send a voice mail message to a second voice mail box associated with a second subscriber; and (c) responsive to the request, (i) determining whether voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are allowed by sending a Check Restriction Header Parameter to a SCP (Service Control Point), (ii) granting the first subscriber'"'"'s request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are allowed and if the second mailbox exists, and (iii) denying the first subscriber'"'"'s request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are not allowed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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maintaining, for a first voice mail platform, profile data indicating respectively for each of a plurality of subscribers whether the subscriber subscribes to a mailbox transfer restriction service; receiving into the first voice mail platform from a first subscriber a request to send a voice message to a second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box served by a second voice mail platform; responsive to the request, the first voice mail platform referencing the profile data to determine whether at least one of the first subscriber and the second subscriber subscribes to the mailbox transfer restriction service; in response to a determination that the first subscriber subscribes to the mailbox transfer restriction service, the first voice mail server sending a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message over a packet-switched network to a Service Control Point (SCP) that manages call restriction data and including in the first SIP message a Check Restriction header parameter; the SCP receiving the first SIP message, detecting the Check Restriction header parameter and, responsive to detecting the Check Restriction header parameter, checking the call restriction data to make a determination of whether to allow the requested sending of the voice message to the second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box, wherein the determination is to allow the requested sending of the voice message to the second subscriber'"'"'s mailbox only when the call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first and second subscriber are allowed; and if the determination is to allow the requested sending of the voice message to the second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box, then (i) the SCP sending to the first voice mail platform a second SIP message indicating that the sending is allowed, (ii) the first voice mail platform receiving the second SIP message and responsively communicating with the second voice mail platform to determine whether the second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box exists, and (iii) in response to a determination that the second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box exists, prompting the first subscriber to speak the voice message, receiving and recording the voice message, and sending the recorded voice message to the second voice mail platform for storage in the second subscriber'"'"'s voice mail box. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification