AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

Ann V McLaughlin

James Carl Bedingfield, Sr

Navneet Patel

Robert E Braudes

Maria Adamczyk

Alan Blackburn

N Peter Hill

Neil Gilmartin

Joel Brand

Gary J Leonard

Gary Lamothe

Donald H Barstow

Doug Varney

Emily A Candell

Janice C Chung

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.

Region-wide messaging system and methods including validation of transactions

Methods and systems to send a message from a sending party to a recipient without the message revealing an identity of the sending party. The identity may be the name of the sending party, a calling line number associated with a calling line of the sending party, or an e-mail address of the sending party. The message may be a reply to a previous message or a forwarding message of an earlier message. In response to a message being received, a check is made to determine whether an anonymity feature is enabled for all messages received from the sending party, or whether the anonymity feature is enabled for the message. In response to finding the anonymity feature enabled for all messages or for the message, an anonymity indicator is included with the message. The presence of the anonymity indicator has the effect of withholding the identity of the sending party when the message is made available to or retrieved by the recipient. Despite the withholding of the identity of the sending party, the recipient may reply to the message. An embodiment provides that a message including an anonymity indicator may be rejected instead of routed to the recipient.

Methods and systems to provide a message in a messaging system without revealing an identity of the sending party

Growing community of inventors

Watertown, MA, United States of America

Ann V McLaughlin