METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MESSAGES BASED ON ORIGINATOR AND RECIPIENT PRIORITIES

A method and apparatus that process messages within a wireless communications system based on originator priority and recipient priority is accomplished when a server (12, 52) receives a message from an originating party (50). The message includes identity of the receiving party (54), originator priority information, and message content. Upon identifying the receiving party, the server retrieves recipient priority information of the receiving party. The server then merges the originator priority information with the recipient priority information to produce a message priority. In addition, the server generates a recipient index, which identifies an address for subsequent retrieval of the message content. Next, the server provides notice of the message to the receiving party based on the message priority. The notice of the message may be sent to the receiving party's pager, cellular telephone, e-mail account, facsimile machine, wireline telephone, or answering service.