Communications Systems And Methods For Exchanging Messages Between Users

Abstract

A communications system exchanges messages between users. A messaging store stores the messages. A messaging server accesses and manages messages of the message store. A plurality of servers interface between the messaging server and different networks of the users. Processes employing dynamic mailboxes and for selectively retrieving messages are also provided.

1 . A process for retrieving messages from a communication system, comprising the steps of:
 receiving at the communication system a call to retrieve a message;   obtaining from the call caller identification information, ANI information, and a message identification (ID) corresponding to the message;   verifying that the caller identification information matches the ANI information; and   after the step of verifying, playing the message corresponding to the message ID.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising initiating the call from a mobile phone by dialing a callback number included in a short message service (SMS) notification text message received by the mobile phone. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , the message ID being included in the SMS notification text message, and the step of initiating the call further comprising obtaining the message ID from the SMS notification text message and associating the message ID with the call. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising initiating the call using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , the message ID being selected by a user. 
     
     
         6 . A process for retrieving messages from a communication system, comprising the steps of:
 receiving at the communication system a call to retrieve a message;   obtaining from the call caller identification information and called number (ANI) information;   verifying that the caller identification information matches the ANI information;   providing to a user a notification of pending messages in the communication system, the notification including at least one of a caller identification information associated with at least one of the pending messages, a date of the at least one of the pending messages, a time of the at least one of the pending messages, and a length of the at least one of the pending messages;   receiving a user selection identifying one of the pending messages as a selected message; and   performing one of the following steps: playing the selected message, deleting the selected message, and forwarding the selected message.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , the notification comprising a short message service (SMS) notification text message. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6 , the notification comprising a visual notification.