Abstract: A method for initiating a session in a store and forward messaging system, such as a voice/video call answering (VCA) system, is provided. A data storage device stores capability information for subscribers of the messaging system, the capability information including data such as video codecs and audio codecs supported by the subscriber's device. When a session initiation request is received from a guest of the messaging system, the capability information of the device used by the guest is compared to the stored capability information of the device used by the subscriber for whom the guest wishes to deposit a message. If the capability information matches, the system presents to the guest only the matching capability information. The session continues using the matching capability information, thereby eliminating the need to transcode data when the message is retrieved by the subscriber.

Abstract: A method for initiating a session in a store and forward messaging system, such as a voice/video call answering (VCA) system, is provided. A data storage device stores capability information for subscribers of the messaging system, the capability information including data such as video codecs and audio codecs supported by the subscriber's device. When a session initiation request is received from a guest of the messaging system, the capability information of the device used by the guest is compared to the stored capability information of the device used by the subscriber for whom the guest wishes to deposit a message. If the capability information matches, the system presents to the guest only the matching capability information. The session continues using the matching capability information, thereby eliminating the need to transcode data when the message is retrieved by the subscriber.