UNIFIED MESSAGING SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention relates to coordinating, accessing, retrieving, and managing messages from multiple, independent multimedia communications services/systems - e.g., voice mail, facsimile, e-mail, online automated information, pagers, beepers, wireless devices, hand-held devices, stand-alone answering machines, and the like - from a single point of access. Such services/systems can be associated with home, work or mobile phones, computer or Internet, personal accounts, or online public information. Telephone services can include voice mail, fax mail, or answering machines attached to wired or wireless phones. Computer or Internet services can include e-mail, Web sites, or information/content services. The invention also supports access to personal account information - e.g., bank by phone, credit card balances, and the like - as well as access to online public information - e.g., stocks, news, sports, weather, and the like. The invention provides access to such services/systems from a single point of access, wherein a user connects to the single point of access via a conventional telephone, a wireless device, or an Internet Access Device. The notification of new incoming messages is integrated through a single (or multiple) access-notification device(s), such as a pager, beeper, e-mail, or short message over a mobile telephone.