Abstract: A numbering plan-independent directory structure for telecommunications applications is described. Common directory services permit users to easily and transparently use telecommunications services such as sending multimedia messages to recipients on different multimedia messaging systems, using the recipients preferred supported capabilities. For example, sending messages may be difficult if the sender does not have an address or other profile information of the recipient. A sub-tree structure which is numbering plan-independent provides a mechanism to eliminate global searching for telecommunications information. A sub-tree is defined in the directory, the sub-tree having a structure in which each alphanumeric character of the unique identifier comprises a separate node in the sub-tree. The advantage is the enablement of information location where information can be retrieved without a search given a known unique identifier such as a telephone number.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing translation services to telecommunications processes for mapping from a unique identifier for an object, such as a telephone number, to an electronic address for the object, such as an electronic mail address. The apparatus and method permit telecommunication application processes to send multimedia messages created in one delivery method over the Internet in another delivery method without supporting directory standards. The advantage is the ability to develop less complicated application processes in less time and therefore get more quickly to market.