Unlisted address messaging system

Claim 2

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.

Claim 3

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.

Claim 4

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.

Claim 5

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.

Claim 6

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.

Claim 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 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.

Claim 8

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.

Claim 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: 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.

Claim 10

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.

Claim 11

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.

Claim 12

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.

Claim 13

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.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: communicating the alias address to the first party.

Claim 15

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.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: delivering the message to the unlisted address.

Claim 17

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.

Claim 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 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.

Claim 19

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.

Claim 20

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.

Claim 21

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.

Claim 22

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.

Claim 23

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.

Claim 24

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.

Claim 25

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.

Claim 26

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.

Claim 27

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.

Claim 28

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.

Claim 29

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.

Claim 30

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.

Claim 31

The system of claim 22, wherein the mailbox system further performs the step of: communicating the alias address to the first party.

Claim 32

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.

Claim 33

The system of claim 24, wherein the mailbox system further performs the step of: delivering the message to the unlisted address.

Claim 34

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.

Claim 37

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.

Claim 38

The system of claim 27 further comprising means for blocking delivery of responses received from parties who are not recipients of said message.

Claim 41

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.

Claim 42

The system of claim 30 further comprising the step of: blocking delivery of responses received from parties who are not recipients of said message.

Claim 43

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.

Claim 44

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.

Claim 45

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.

Claim 46

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.

Claim 47

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.

Claim 48

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.

Claim 49

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.

Claim 50

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.