Communications method providing alternative links between subscribers

摘要

A computer-implemented method for establishing a communications link between a source and a target comprises:

a) receiving, at a server, data identifying the source and the target; (e.g. via e-mail);

b) for each of the source and the target, retrieving a respective communication profile (Fig. 7) identifying one or more communications systems by which the respective one of the source or target may be communicated with;

c) comparing the profiles to identify one or more common communications systems; and

d) opening a communications link between the source and the target using one or more of the common communication systems. The system enables a subscriber to be contacted via alternative modes of communication if his preferred choice (e.g. e-mail) is unavailable.