Patent ID: 8150002

Claim:
A method for controlling unsolicited messaging in a real time messaging (RTM) network, the method comprising: receiving a call initiation request from a first terminal device coupled to the RTM network; marking the call initiation request on behalf of the first terminal device to identify an origination characteristic of the initiation request, generating a marked call initiation request; and wherein the marking comprises applying a digital signature to the call initiation request; and, wherein the applying a digital signature to the call initiation request comprises: creating a message digest of the call initiation request; applying a private key of a public/private key pair to the message digest to generate the digital signature; and providing a public key of the public/private key pair for verifying the digital signature; verifying the marked call initiation request on behalf of at least one of the second terminal devices to determine the origination characteristics of the marked call initiation request; determining a delivery action in response to the verifying; and delivering the marked call initiation request in accordance with the delivery action, wherein the delivery action comprises transmitting the marked call initiation request on the RTM network for delivery to one or more second terminal devices coupled to the RTM network.