| 主权项 |
1. A method for utilizing a messaging assistant, the method comprising:
said messaging assistant updating a contact list by periodically polling a plurality of servers, including a plurality of servers associated with different online services, retrieving one or more contact lists from each of the servers, and integrating the contact lists from each of the servers into the updated contact list; said messaging assistant receiving preferences for one or more modes of communicating with contacts on said updated contact list, said one or more modes including at least voice, text message, electronic mail, and video, said preferences including, for at least one of the one or more modes, a backup communication method to use if messages sent by the at least one mode are undeliverable and criteria specifying, for the at least one mode, when messages should be considered undeliverable; said messaging assistant receiving a message made by a user that includes substantive information other than said contact list and said preferences, said message to be sent to a group listed in said updated contact list including one or more contacts, at a predetermined time specified by said user and provided by said user to said messaging assistant; and sending said user-determined message, including the substantive information to the group at said predetermined time specified by said user based on the preferences. |
