Patent ID: 7991126

Claim:
A method comprising (a) in a voice mail system, connecting a first subscriber to a first voice mail box associated with the first subscriber; (b) through the first voice mail box, receiving into the voice mail system from the first subscriber a request for the voice mail system to send a voice mail message to a second voice mail box associated with a second subscriber; and (c) responsive to the request, (i) determining whether voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are allowed by sending a Check Restriction Header Parameter to a SCP (Service Control Point), (ii) granting the first subscriber's request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls are allowed and if the second mailbox exists, and (iii) denying the first subscriber's request to send the voice mail message to the second voice mail box associated with the second subscriber if the voice call restriction data indicates that voice calls between the first subscriber and the second subscriber are not allowed.