Caller ID messaging

A communications system for providing a caller ID messaging functionality, the system comprising:

• a switch operable to receive a caller identification messaging signal from a calling party communications device having a caller identification messaging device, the caller identification messaging signal comprising a message accepted from a calling party and at least one of (i) an identifier for the calling party, (ii) an identifier of a destination communications address, or (iii) an identifier of the calling party communications device;
• and
• a communications network for associating the caller identification messaging signal with an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal, and capable of transmitting the caller identification messaging signal by displacing the ICLID signal to the destination communications address;
• wherein the destination communications address is associated with a destination communications messaging device, the destination communications messaging device transmitting a response caller identification messaging signal comprising at least one of (i) a response caller identification message, (ii) an identifier of a receiving party, (iii) an identifier of a response communications address, or (iv) an identifier of the destination communications messaging device;
• the communications network providing a caller identification profile associating one or more caller identification messaging services with the calling party and an originating communications address, a type identifier associated with a type or category of communications device used at the destination communications address, and one or more caller identification messaging default service parameters;
• and providing instructions in the caller identification profile for at least one of:
• billing for caller identification messaging signals;
• enabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• disabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• blocking caller identification messaging;
• and providing configuration and formatting preferences for each of a plurality of communication devices used at the originating communications address.

A method for caller identification messaging, comprising:

• receiving a caller identification messaging signal from an intelligent communications switch in a communications network, the caller identification messaging signal comprising a message received from a calling party and at least one of a (i) an identifier for the calling party, (ii) an identifier of a destination communications address, or (iii) an identifier of an originating communications address;
• associating an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal with the caller identification messaging signal;
• determining whether to supplant the ICLID signal with the caller identification messaging signal to the destination communications address such that a database of stored communications addresses is accessed and compared with the destination communications address to determine at least one of the following (i) whether the destination communications address accepts the caller identification messaging signal, or (ii) presentation capabilities associated with at least one of the destination communications address and a destination communications device;
• if transmission of the caller identification messaging signal is initiated, then formatting the caller identification messaging signal for presentation to the destination communications address, and transmitting the caller identification messaging signal to the destination communications address,
• if transmission of the caller identification message is not initiated, then retrieving a caller identification messaging delivery failure notification and transmitting the message delivery failure notification to a communications address of the calling party,
• providing a caller identification profile associating one or more caller identification messaging services with at the calling party and an originating communications address, a type identifier associated with a type or category of communications device used at the destination communications address, and one or more caller identification messaging default service parameters;
• and
• providing instructions in the caller identification profile for at least one of:
• billing for caller identification messaging signals;
• enabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• disabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• blocking caller identification messaging;
• and providing configuration and formatting preferences for each of a plurality of communication devices used at the originating communications address.

A method of configuring a caller identification message, the method comprising:

• receiving a caller identification messaging signal from an intelligent communications switch in a communications network, the caller identification messaging signal comprising a message received from a calling party and at least one of a an identifier for the calling party, (ii) an identifier of a destination communications address, or (iii) an identifier of an originating communications address;
• associating an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal with the caller identification messaging signal;
• determining whether to supplant the ICLID signal with the caller identification messaging signal to the destination communications address such that a database of stored communications addresses is accessed and compared with the destination communications address to determine at least one of the following U) whether the destination communications address accepts the caller identification messaging signal, or (ii) presentation capabilities associated with at least one of the destination communications address and a destination communications device;
• providing a caller identification profile associating one or more caller identification messaging services with at the calling party and an originating communications address, a type identifier associated with a type or category of communications device used at the destination communications address, and one or more caller identification messaging default service parameters;
• and providing instructions in the caller identification profile for at least one of:
• billing for caller identification messaging signals;
• enabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• disabling caller identification messaging based upon times of day and days of the week;
• blocking caller identification messaging;
• and providing configuration and formatting preferences for each of a plurality of communication devices used at the originating communications address.
• identifying one or more capabilities of a receiving device for receiving the caller identification message;
• formatting the caller identification message for presentation by the receiving device wherein, if transmission of the caller identification messaging signal is initiated, then formatting the caller identification messaging signal for presentation to the destination communications address, and transmitting the caller identification messaging signal to the destination communications address, and
• if transmission of the caller identification message is not initiated, then retrieving a caller identification messaging delivery failure notification and transmitting the message delivery failure notification to a communications address of the calling party.