Patent ID: 7756258
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a communications system in which a first user can elect to send an audio-visual communication directly to a mailbox of a second user, the method comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining a store associated with the second user, the store comprising entries indicating a plurality of other users who are allowed or not allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; (b) upon sending of a communication from the second user to any destination user, automatedly performing a store modification procedure with respect to the entry associated with the destination user; (c) upon receiving a request from the first user desiring to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user: checking the store to determine whether the first user is a user who has previously received a communication from said second user to determine if the first user is allowed to send an audio-visual communication directly to the mailbox of the second user; and accordingly allowing or not allowing the communication to the mailbox.