Method, system, and storage medium for validating users of communications services and messages transmitted

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for validating users of communications services, said storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

• generating records for communications service users by at least one service provider, said records store information relating to said communications service users including:
• legal liability information;
• an originator type code;
• and a validation code assigned to selected originator type codes, said validation code operable for facilitating validation of said communications service users;
• and
• storing said records in a subscriber classification database;
• wherein said originator type code classifies said communications service users according to at least one of:
• nature of use;
• communications type;
• business type;
• geography;
• and
• age;
• receiving a communication from an originating communications service user and retrieving an associated record;
• if said associated record contains said validation code, appending said originator type code to said communication;
• and
• transmitting said communication to a recipient communications service user along with said originator type code;
• wherein said originator type code is presented to said recipient communications service user before establishing a communications session with said originating communications service user.

A system for validating users of communications services, comprising:

• an originating communications device in communication with a first service provider;
• a recipient communications device in communication with a second service provider, said second service provider in communication with said first service provider via a communications network;
• and
• a certified communications system executing over said communications network, said certified communications system comprising:
• a subscriber classification database storing records of said users of communications devices, said records storing information relating to said communications device users including:
• legal liability information;
• an originator type code comprising at least one of:
• nature of use;
• communications type;
• business type;
• geography;
• and
• age;
• and
• a validation code assigned to selected originator type codes, said validation code operable for facilitating validation of said communications device users, the validation code including an encrypted key that is to be decrypted by the second service provider to validate authenticity of the first service provider;
• wherein said certified communications system performs:
• receiving a communication from an originating communications device user by said first service provider and retrieving an associated record;
• if said associated record contains said validation code, appending said originator type code to said communication;
• and
• transmitting said communication to a recipient communications device user via said second service provider along with said originator type code.

A communications device for validating a sender of a communication, said communications device in communication with a service provider via a network, said communications device comprising:

• a communication initiated by an originating communications device;
• means for assigning a purpose to said communication;
• means for conveying a validation status associated with said communication, said validation status comprising at least one of:
• valid;
• and
• invalid;
• wherein said validation status is operable for assigning accountability to a sender of said communication
• a link to a service validator;
• and
• a link to a record storing information relating to said sender of said communication, said record including:
• legal liability information;
• an originator type code associated with said user operable for identifying said purpose of a communication, said originator type code comprising at least one of:
• nature of use;
• communications type;
• business type;
• geography;
• and
• age;
• and
• a validation code assigned to selected originator type codes, said validation code operable for facilitating said validation status of said sender;
• wherein upon initiation of said communication by said originating communications device, said service validator performs:
• retrieving said record;
• and
• if said record contains said validation code, appending said originator type code to said communication;
• and
• alerting said recipient communications device of said communication.