United States Patent [19J
`Bartholomew et al.
`
`[54] MESSAGE COMMUNICATION VIA
`COMMON SIGNALING CHANNEL
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Dale L. Bartholomew, Vienna; Robert
`D. Farris, Sterling, both of Va.
`
`[73] Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.,
`Arlington, Va.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 557,749
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Nov. 13, 1995
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[ 63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 353,281, Dec. 5, 1994, Pat.
`No. 5,680,442, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 371,
`906, Jan. 12, 1995, Pat. No. 5,631,948, which is a continu(cid:173)
`ation-in-part of Ser. No. 353,281, Dec. 5, 1994, Pat. No.
`5,680,442, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 539,
`952, Oct. 6, 1995, Pat. No. 5,661,782.
`Int. Cl.6
`.............................. H04M 3/50; H04M 7/06
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ....................... 379/89; 379/100.08; 379/207;
`379/230
`[58] Field of Search ................................ 379/89, 230, 67,
`379/88, 207, 100.08, 100.12; 370/356,
`354
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,310,727
`4,313,036
`4,371,752
`4,585,906
`4,602,129
`4,609,778
`4,625,081
`4,652,700
`4,766,604
`4,790,003
`4,932,042
`5,008,926
`5,012,511
`5,018,191
`5,029,199
`5,029,200
`5,034,975
`
`1/1982 Lawser .................................... 379/207
`1/1982 Jabara ..................................... 379/207
`2/1983 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`4/1986 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`7/1986 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`9/1986 Franklin et al. ........................ 379/246
`11/1986 Lotito et al. .............................. 379/88
`3/1987 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/67
`8/1988 Axberg ...................................... 379/67
`12/1988 Kepley et al. ............................ 379/88
`6/1990 Baral et al. ............................... 379/67
`4/1991 Misholi ..................................... 379/89
`4/1991 Hanle et al.
`........................... 379/21.1
`5/1991 Catron et al. ........................... 379/100
`7/1991 Jones et al. ............................... 379/67
`7 /1991 Haas .......................................... 379/89
`7/1991 Grimes ...................................... 379/67
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US005812639A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,812,639
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`5,089,954
`5,095,480
`5,134,647
`5,163,080
`5,193,110
`5,195,128
`5,199,062
`5,237,604
`5,260,986
`5,263,080
`5,274,696
`5,278,897
`5,289,468
`5,309,437
`5,333,266
`5,353,331
`5,361,399
`5,367,566
`5,375,159
`5,377,186
`5,381,465
`5,386,467
`5,400,393
`
`2/1992 Rago ................................... 379/229 X
`3/1992 Fenner .................................. 379/22 X
`7/1992 Pugh et al. ................................ 379/88
`11/1992 Amoroso ................................... 379/89
`3/1993 Jones et al. ............................... 379/89
`3/1993 Knit! ......................................... 379/88
`3/1993 VonMeister et al.
`..................... 379/89
`8/1993 Ryan ....................................... 379/220
`11/1993 Pershan ................................. 379/67 X
`11/1993 Jones et al. ............................... 379/88
`12/1993 Perelman .................................. 379/89
`1/1994 Mowery et al.
`........................ 379/212
`2/1994 Yoshida ................................... 370/401
`5/1994 Perlman .................................. 370/401
`7/1994 Boaz ....................................... 395/200
`10/1994 Emery et al. ............................. 379/58
`11/1994 Linquist et al.
`....................... 455/56.1
`11/1994 Moe et al.
`.............................. 379/243
`12/1994 Williams ................................... 379/23
`12/1994 Wegner et al.
`..................... 379/201 X
`1/1995 Carter et al. .............................. 379/67
`1/1995 Ahmad .................................... 379/220
`3/1995 Knuth ........................................ 379/88
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Audio Messaging Interchange Specification (AMIS)-Ana(cid:173)
`log Protocol, Version 1, Issue 2, Feb. 1992.
`Common Channel Signalling System No. 7 for ISDN &
`Intelligent Networks. Jabbari, B. 8078 Proceedings IEEE 79
`(1991) No. 2.
`
`Primary Examiner-Thomas W. Brown
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McDermott, Will & Emery
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method of effecting transfer of message
`information of varied types from one centralized messaging
`system to another messaging device in a switched commu(cid:173)
`nications network having a plurality of central offices con(cid:173)
`nected to subscriber terminals and connected together by
`trunks wherein the transfer of the message is effected
`through a common channel signaling network without using
`the trunks.
`
`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`368
`
`370
`
`372
`
`Page 1 of 48
`
`

`

`United States Patent [19J
`Bartholomew et al.
`
`[54] MESSAGE COMMUNICATION VIA
`COMMON SIGNALING CHANNEL
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Dale L. Bartholomew, Vienna; Robert
`D. Farris, Sterling, both of Va.
`
`[73] Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.,
`Arlington, Va.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 557,749
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Nov. 13, 1995
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[ 63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 353,281, Dec. 5, 1994, Pat.
`No. 5,680,442, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 371,
`906, Jan. 12, 1995, Pat. No. 5,631,948, which is a continu(cid:173)
`ation-in-part of Ser. No. 353,281, Dec. 5, 1994, Pat. No.
`5,680,442, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 539,
`952, Oct. 6, 1995, Pat. No. 5,661,782.
`Int. Cl.6
`.............................. H04M 3/50; H04M 7/06
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. ....................... 379/89; 379/100.08; 379/207;
`379/230
`[58] Field of Search ................................ 379/89, 230, 67,
`379/88, 207, 100.08, 100.12; 370/356,
`354
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,310,727
`4,313,036
`4,371,752
`4,585,906
`4,602,129
`4,609,778
`4,625,081
`4,652,700
`4,766,604
`4,790,003
`4,932,042
`5,008,926
`5,012,511
`5,018,191
`5,029,199
`5,029,200
`5,034,975
`
`1/1982 Lawser .................................... 379/207
`1/1982 Jabara ..................................... 379/207
`2/1983 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`4/1986 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`7/1986 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/89
`9/1986 Franklin et al. ........................ 379/246
`11/1986 Lotito et al. .............................. 379/88
`3/1987 Matthews et al. ........................ 379/67
`8/1988 Axberg ...................................... 379/67
`12/1988 Kepley et al. ............................ 379/88
`6/1990 Baral et al. ............................... 379/67
`4/1991 Misholi ..................................... 379/89
`4/1991 Hanle et al.
`........................... 379/21.1
`5/1991 Catron et al. ........................... 379/100
`7/1991 Jones et al. ............................... 379/67
`7 /1991 Haas .......................................... 379/89
`7/1991 Grimes ...................................... 379/67
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US005812639A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,812,639
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`5,089,954
`5,095,480
`5,134,647
`5,163,080
`5,193,110
`5,195,128
`5,199,062
`5,237,604
`5,260,986
`5,263,080
`5,274,696
`5,278,897
`5,289,468
`5,309,437
`5,333,266
`5,353,331
`5,361,399
`5,367,566
`5,375,159
`5,377,186
`5,381,465
`5,386,467
`5,400,393
`
`2/1992 Rago ................................... 379/229 X
`3/1992 Fenner .................................. 379/22 X
`7/1992 Pugh et al. ................................ 379/88
`11/1992 Amoroso ................................... 379/89
`3/1993 Jones et al. ............................... 379/89
`3/1993 Knit! ......................................... 379/88
`3/1993 VonMeister et al.
`..................... 379/89
`8/1993 Ryan ....................................... 379/220
`11/1993 Pershan ................................. 379/67 X
`11/1993 Jones et al. ............................... 379/88
`12/1993 Perelman .................................. 379/89
`1/1994 Mowery et al.
`........................ 379/212
`2/1994 Yoshida ................................... 370/401
`5/1994 Perlman .................................. 370/401
`7/1994 Boaz ....................................... 395/200
`10/1994 Emery et al. ............................. 379/58
`11/1994 Linquist et al.
`....................... 455/56.1
`11/1994 Moe et al.
`.............................. 379/243
`12/1994 Williams ................................... 379/23
`12/1994 Wegner et al.
`..................... 379/201 X
`1/1995 Carter et al. .............................. 379/67
`1/1995 Ahmad .................................... 379/220
`3/1995 Knuth ........................................ 379/88
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Audio Messaging Interchange Specification (AMIS)-Ana(cid:173)
`log Protocol, Version 1, Issue 2, Feb. 1992.
`Common Channel Signalling System No. 7 for ISDN &
`Intelligent Networks. Jabbari, B. 8078 Proceedings IEEE 79
`(1991) No. 2.
`
`Primary Examiner-Thomas W. Brown
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McDermott, Will & Emery
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method of effecting transfer of message
`information of varied types from one centralized messaging
`system to another messaging device in a switched commu(cid:173)
`nications network having a plurality of central offices con(cid:173)
`nected to subscriber terminals and connected together by
`trunks wherein the transfer of the message is effected
`through a common channel signaling network without using
`the trunks.
`
`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`368
`
`370
`
`372
`
`Page 1 of 48
`
`

`

`5,812,639
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,406,557
`5,418,844
`5,420,916
`5,436,957
`5,442,690
`5,454,030
`
`4/1995 Baudoin .............................. 379/207 X
`5/1995 Morrisey et al. ....................... 379/207
`5/1995 Sekiguchi ................................ 379/230
`7/1995 McConnell .............................. 379/230
`8/1995 Nazif et al. ............................. 379/207
`................. 379/88 X
`9/1995 de Oliveira et al.
`
`5,473,677
`5,475,732
`5,475,737
`5,481,601
`5,519,770
`5,550,914
`5,631,948
`
`12/1995
`12/1995
`12/1995
`1/1996
`5/1996
`8/1996
`5/1997
`
`D' Amato et al. ....................... 379/112
`Pester ........................................ 379/34
`Garner et al. ............................. 379/67
`Nazif et al. ............................. 379/207
`Stein ....................................... 379/201
`Clark et al. ............................. 379/230
`Bartholomew et al. .................. 379/67
`
`Page 2 of 48
`
`

`

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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`68
`
`-246-20~015 -SS7 NETWORK
`
`-
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`-
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`
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`
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`
`Page 3 of 48
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`

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`
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`
`FIG. 3
`
`ROUTING LABEL
`
`0
`
`l
`
`I LENGTH INDICATOR
`
`OCP -NETWORK ID
`OP( -CLUSTER
`OPC -MEMBER
`DPC -NETWORK ID
`DPC -CLUSTER
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`SERVICE INFORMATION OCTET
`SPARE
`FIB
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`7 6 5 4 3 2
`
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`BSN
`
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`
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`OCTETS
`
`DIRECTION OF TRANSMISSION
`
`-~
`
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`74
`
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`
`FIG. 2
`
`FLAG
`CRC
`
`OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
`
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`
`MANDATORY PARAMETERS
`
`15 -N
`
`FIXED PARAMETERS
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Page 4 of 48
`
`

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`FIG. 4
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`MSP I RC MAC '
`
`vv, 3 212
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`Page 5 of 48
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`

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`Page 6 of 48
`
`

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`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 7 of 48
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 17
`
`5,812,639
`
`FLAG
`
`ROUTING LABEL
`
`I
`
`SLS
`CIC
`MESSAGE TYPE
`
`DIGITAL
`MESSAGE
`INFORMATION
`
`I----'" 386
`
`CRC
`FLAG
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Page 8 of 48
`
`

`

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`
`~
`
`END OF( I
`
`SP
`
`421_...,
`
`\
`\
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`\
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 of 17
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`5,812,639
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`Page 11 of 48
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 17
`Sheet 10 of 17
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`5,812,639
`5,812,639
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 14 of 17
`Sheet 14 of 17
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`5,812,639
`5,812,639
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`

`

`5,812,639
`
`1
`MESSAGE COMMUNICATION VIA
`COMMON SIGNALING CHANNEL
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of application
`Ser. No. 08/353,281, Voice Mail Communication With Call
`Blocking, filed Dec. 5, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,442,
`issued Oct. 21, 1997, and application Ser. No. 08/371,906,
`Voice Mail Communication With Call Blocking, filed Jan.
`12, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,948, issued May 20, 1997 and
`application Ser. No. 08/539,952, Voice Mail Communication
`With Call Blocking, filed Oct. 6, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.
`5,661,782, issued Aug. 20, 1997, which is a continuation(cid:173)
`in-part of application Ser. No. 08/353,281 filed Dec. 5, 1994,
`now U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,442, issued Oct. 21, 1997.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to switched com(cid:173)
`munications networks and providing voice mail services and
`more particularly relates to a system and method for pro(cid:173)
`viding communication between mailboxes in multiple mail(cid:173)
`box systems using Common Channel Signaling (CCS)
`facilities.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Voice mail has become commonplace not only in business
`usage but also on an individual telephone service subscriber
`basis through Centrex service from a central office. A voice
`mail system is a specialized computer that stores messages
`in digital form on a fixed disk. The voice is generally
`digitized, usually at a much slower rate than the 64 Kb/s
`signal the central office uses in its switching network. The
`digitized voice is compressed and stored on a hard disk that
`maintains the voice mail operating system, system prompts, 35
`and greetings, and the messages themselves. A processor
`controls the compressing, storing, retrieving, forwarding and
`purging of files. A form of early system is described in
`Matthews et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,752 (hereinafter the
`Matthews '752 Patent), issued in February, 1983, and sev- 40
`eral related patents.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,906 (hereinafter the Matthews '906
`Patent), issued Apr. 29, 1986 to Gordon H. Matthews et al.
`The Matthews '906 Patent is a continuation-in-part of the
`Matthews '752 Patent.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,129 (hereinafter the Matthews '129
`Patent), issued Jul. 22, 1986 to Gordon H. Matthews et al.
`The Matthews '129 Patent is a continuation-in-part of the
`'752 Matthews Patent.
`The three Matthews Patents each describe a voice mail(cid:173)
`box type system using digital storage and programmed
`control to offer a wide variety of message storage, forward(cid:173)
`ing and delivery type services. The system architecture is
`essentially the same in each patent disclosure. With refer(cid:173)
`ence to FIG. 3 of the '752 Patent, the voice message system
`(VMS) 10 includes an administrative subsystem 60, a num(cid:173)
`ber of call processor subsystems shown as 62A-62C, and a
`digital data storage subsystem 64.
`The call processor subsystems each include a micropro(cid:173)
`cessor based single board computer 70, a memory 72 having
`for example 64K of RAM, a communication port interface
`74, two disk adapters 76, 78 communicating with the storage
`subsystem via two storage buses and a block transfer inter(cid:173)
`face 80 which communicates with the administrative sub(cid:173)
`system (FIG. 4). The communication port interface 74
`provides communication to and from the telephone lines via
`
`45
`
`10
`
`15
`
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`communication port driver modules 90A-B, each of which
`includes port drivers 92, CODECS 96 and voice connection
`arrangements 98 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 6 of the '752
`Patent, the administrative subsystem 60 includes a micro-
`s processor based single board computer 100, a memory 110,
`a non-volatile memory 112, two disk adapters 114, 116
`communicating with the storage subsystem via two storage
`buses and a block transfer interface 118 which communi-
`cates with the call processor subsystems.
`In the '752 system, a message router program is informed
`of each occurrence of a new incoming message stored in the
`system. This program creates a message control block on
`disc for each message, and the message is thereby queued to
`each of the addresses selected by the person sending the
`message (see the '752 Patent, Column 29, lines 5-16). As
`disclosed in the '752 Patent, to deposit a message (FIG. 11),
`a user calls the VMS. The VMS answers the call and
`transmits an initial prompt message to the caller. The caller
`then inputs a unique authorization code identifying that
`20 person as a subscriber to the VMS service. Upon receipt of
`a valid authorization code, the VMS transmits a short
`progress tone and accepts a series of dialed digits represent(cid:173)
`ing an address input from the subscriber. Typically, an
`address is a single telephone number. The '752 system also
`25 offers the subscriber the option to select a previously estab(cid:173)
`lished distribution list including a number of such addresses.
`After entry of all necessary address information identifying
`one or more destinations, the user inputs a "1" to initiate
`voice recording and then transmits a voice message. The
`30 VMS stores the voice message in one of the digital disc
`storage units 120 within the data storage subsystem 64 (FIG.
`7). The user is then given the option to deposit another
`message, inquire about messages stored for the subscriber or
`terminate the session by hanging up.
`To retrieve and replay stored messages, a subscriber
`initiates a routine referred to in the '752 Patent as the
`INQUIRY feature (see FIG. 21). A user can enter this routine
`after completion of message deposit as discussed above, or
`the user can initiate an inquiry by calling the VMS. Again,
`the VMS initially answers the call and transmits the opening
`prompt message to the caller. The caller inputs his or her
`unique authorization code which is verified by the VMS.
`The caller then enters a special function code (SFC) for an
`INQUIRY. The VMS determines whether or not any mes-
`sages have been recorded for this subscriber. If there are no
`messages, the VMS plays a canned prompt so informing the
`subscriber. However, if there are messages recorded for the
`current caller, the VMS provides another canned message,
`and the person initiates playback by dialing a "2" (Column
`so 26, lines 42-61). The caller can control the replay of the
`messages using additional dialed digit inputs, for example to
`repeat all or a segment of a message or to skip all or a
`segment of a message (table bridging Columns 23 and 24).
`The VMS system disclosed in the '752 Patent will also
`ss automatically deliver messages to the identified addressees.
`In the DELIVERY routine (FIG. 15), the VMS calls the
`addressed recipient by dialing that person's telephone num(cid:173)
`ber. If the call is answered, the VMS plays a canned
`announcement which includes a request for the person
`60 answering the call to enter her unique authorization code. If
`there is no answer, the line is busy or the answering person
`does not enter the correct authorization code, the VMS will
`attempt to deliver the message again after a specified time
`period. When the answering party has responded by entering
`65 a valid authorization code, the VMS emits an idle tone, and
`the person can initiate playback by dialing a "2". The person
`listening to message playback can control the replay using
`
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`additional dialed digit inputs, as discussed above (see Col(cid:173)
`umn 23, lines 30-65). The user is then given the option to
`redirect the message to another destination, deposit a reply
`message, save the message, or file the message for long term
`storage.
`In the reply routine, the user records a message for the
`sender of the message just replayed. In the redirect routine,
`the user enters a new address, and if desired, records a new
`message. The new message is appended to the original
`message already held in digital storage, and both messages 10
`are delivered to the new addressee using the DELIVERY
`routine discussed above ('752 Patent, Column 25, lines
`41-59, and FIG. 18).
`The file function disclosed in the '752 Patent transfers a
`message to a "verbal file folder" for long term storage and
`later retrieval (Column 26, lines 11-18).
`The '906 and '129 Patents include the subject matter of
`the parent '752 Patent discussed in detail above. The '906
`and '129 Patents, however, add a number of message
`processing features. For example, these Patents add a deliv-
`ery option. referred to as "TIME-1.D. VALIDITY", which
`allows the user to specify a recipient and a date and time for
`delivery of a stored message.
`The '906 and '129 Patents also expressly describe storing
`messages for an identified subscriber in terms of depositing 25
`messages "in the user's address". For example, one feature
`added in these Patents is a "Priority Hold" feature. As
`described, if the deposited message meets certain priority
`conditions, the "VMS would automatically dial the user's
`telephone rather than deposit the message in the user's 30
`address, thereby forcing delivery" ('906 Patent, Column 58,
`lines 4--12). Similarly, these Patents describe depositing
`messages "in the user owner's RO message address", as will
`be discussed in more detail below (see, e.g., '906 Patent,
`Column 70, lines 51-53). Such references to depositing 35
`messages in a "user's address" indication that the addressing
`of messages for each subscriber in the Matthews et al.
`system defines "message baskets."
`The '906 and '129 Patents also disclose several features
`which permit access by non-subscribers. For example, a
`subscriber can be assigned a receive only (RO) message
`address. To receive messages from a subscriber by using this
`address, a non-subscriber may call the VMS using a direct
`inward dial line (DID). In the specific example given in the
`Patents, the subscriber might activate a call forwarding
`feature in the TELCO network whereby calls to her home
`telephone number are automatically forwarded to the DID/
`RO number into the VMS. When such a DID call comes in,
`whether forwarded or connected directly in response to
`dialing the DID number, the TELCO network will forward
`the last three or four digits of the DID number to the VMS
`system. The VMS uses the received digits to identify the RO
`address. If the subscriber prestored any messages in the RO
`address, the VMS will play those messages to the caller,
`otherwise the VMS will play a canned prompt indicating that 55
`the subscriber is not in ('906 Patent, Column 69, lines
`27-62).
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,081, issued Nov. 25, 1986, to
`Lawrence A. Lotito, et al (hereinafter referred to as the
`"Lotito Patent"). Referring to FIG. 1, the patent describes an 60
`automated telephone voice service system 100 which pro(cid:173)
`vides automatic recording and editing of voice messages as
`well as forwarding of recorded