Systems and methods of forwarding communication requests based on handling instructions in an internet protocol environment

Abstract

A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. When a member of a user group sends an outgoing communication from one of the telephony devices associated with the user group, the service obtains communication handling instructions for the user group. The outgoing communication is then processed in accordance with the handling instructions. This could include sending copies of the outgoing communication to the telephony devices of other members of the user group. This could also include sending the outgoing communication with an origination identifier associated with the user group, rather than an origination identifier associated with the member's telephony device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting messages to members of a messaging group in an Internet Protocol (IP) environment, comprising:
 receiving a message from at least one member of a messaging group that includes a plurality of members, wherein the messaging group is identified by a group identifier;   obtaining predetermined handling instructions, that are registered with an IP telephony service provider, that indicate how messages are distributed to members of the messaging group; and   transmitting the message to a plurality of communication devices based on the predetermined handling instructions, such that the communication devices can display the message on a display screen, each of the communication devices belonging to a member of the messaging group.