System for integrated electronic communications

• US 6,633,630 B1
• Filed: 09/12/1998
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cranberry Properties, LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cranberry Properties, LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Owens, Stephen J. H., Kitchen, James Arthur, Smith, David Gregory, DeNittis, Leonard A., Brown, Kyle S., Finney, Michael S., Johnson, III, Thomas Francis, Feinstein, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US09/157,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,858 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.15, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 379/100.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.13, 379/88.15, 379/88.12, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/93.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data

Abstract

A system is disclosed for integrating electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail in a universal mailbox. Message receivers may access their messages with a telephone or a computer regardless of the communication medium used by the message sender. Using a telephone, message receivers may playback voice mail, redirect fax mail, and “listen” to e-mail through a text-to-speech conversion process. Using a computer and modem, message receivers may playback voice mail, view fax mail, and read e-mail by accessing the universal mailbox via connection software. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications via the universal mailbox. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.

Claims

1. An electronic communications system comprising:

means for sending messages in accordance with a first communication medium;

means for defining a plurality of rules to apply to said messages, said rules defined by subscribers of an access service;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said plurality of rules upon the sending of at least one of said messages;

means at said access service for applying at least one of said plurality of rules to convert at least one of said messages in accordance with said first communication medium to a message in accordance with a second communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said plurality of rules upon receipt of said first communication medium;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said plurality of rules upon receipt of at least one of said messages;

means for retrieving said converted message in accordance with said second communication medium; and

means for responding immediately to said converted message by sending a reply message in accordance with a third communication medium.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communication medium is selected from the group of voice mail, electronic mail, and fax mail.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second communication medium is selected from the group of voice mail, electronic mail, and fax mail.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rules are defined in accordance with filter and forward options applicable to said messages in accordance with said first communication medium.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising immediate filter and forward options.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising store and forward options.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rules comprise sender and receiver options.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said rules are stored at and applied by an access service.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said third communication medium is selected from the group of voice mail, electronic mail, and fax mail.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the reply message is delivered to a recipient other than the sender of the converted message.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said access service is selected from the group consisting of Internet Service Provider and telecommunications service provider.

12. A method for communicating electronically comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to messages in different communication media, said rules defined by, subscribers of an access service;

composing and sending a plurality of messages in accordance with a first communication medium;

applying at least one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said rule applied upon the sending of at least one of said messages at said access service;

applying at least one of said plurality of rules to convert at least one of said messages in accordance with a first communication medium to a message in accordance with a second communication medium, said rule applied upon receipt of said at least one of said messages at said access service;

applying at least one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said rule applied upon receipt of at least one of said messages at said access service;

retrieving said converted message in accordance with said second communication medium; and

at the option of the recipient of said converted message, responding immediately to said converted message by sending a reply message in accordance with a third communication medium.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first communication medium is selected from the group of electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said second communication medium is selected from the group of electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said plurality of rules comprise filter and forward options applicable to said messages in accordance with said first communication medium.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said filter and forward options comprise immediate filter and forward options.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said filter and forward options comprise store and forward options.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said plurality of rules comprise sender and receiver options.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said third communication medium is selected from the group of voice mail, electronic mail, and fax mail.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the reply message is delivered to a recipient other than the sender of the converted message.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said access service is selected from the group consisting of Internet Service Provider and telecommunications service provider.

22. A cross-media communication system comprising:

an access service for providing information services to a plurality of subscribers

a graphical user interface for use by said subscribers to access and interact with said access service and to define rules to apply to messages sent from and received by said subscribers;

an electronic mail gateway for receiving from a telecommunications service voice mail and fax mail messages addressed to said subscribers of said access service said voice mail and fax mail messages received from said telecommunications service in accordance with said rules applied to said voice mail and tax messages upon receipt at said telecommunications service;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon the sending of at least one of said voice mail and fax mail messages;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon receipt of at least one of said voice mail and fax mail messages;

an audio player for playing said voice mail messages, said audio player accessible from said graphical user interface;

a fax viewer for viewing said fax messages, said fax viewer accessible from said graphical user interface; and

a means for immediately responding to said voice mail messages and said fax messages, via voice mail, electronic mail, or fax.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said rules comprise cross-media notification rules.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said electronic, voice, and fax mail messages are delivered in accordance with said rules.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said telecommunications service forwards inbound voice mail and fax mail messages to an information service mailbox.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising a means for notifying said subscribers when voice mail and fax mail messages addressed to them have been received from said telecommunications service, by sending alerts to any e-mail address, pager, or fax machine of said subscribers.

27. An information access service for rendering voice mail messages accessible to a plurality of subscribers of said access service, said service comprising:

an electronic mail gateway for receiving electronic mail messages from a telecommunications service, mail messages comprising audio files with voice mail messages originating from said telecommunications service and said electronic mail messages received from said telecommunications service in accordance with rules defined by a subscriber applied to said voice mail messages upon receipt at said telecommunications service;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with;

any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon the sending of at least one of said voice mail and fax mail messages;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon receipt of at least one of said voice mail and fax mail messages; and

connection software for use by said subscribers to establish a connection to said information access service, to retrieve said electronic mail messages, to play said audio files, and to respond immediately to said electronic mail messages.

28. An information access service for rendering fax mail messages accessible to a plurality of subscribers of said service, said service comprising:

an electronic mail gateway for receiving electronic mail messages from a telecommunications service, said electronic mail messages comprising files with fax mail messages originating from said telecommunications service and said electronic mall messages received from said telecommunications service in accordance with rules defined by a subscriber applied to said fax mail messages upon receipt at said telecommunications service;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon the sending of at least one of said electronic mail messages;

means at said access service for automatically applying at least one of said rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, said means for applying adapted to apply said at least one of said rules upon receipt of at least one of said electronic mail messages; and

connection software for use by said subscribers to establish a connection to said information access service, to retrieve said electronic mail messages, to view said fax mail message files, and to respond immediately to said fax mail messages via electronic mail or fax.

29. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

providing a plurality of communications lines, the communications lines assigned to the plurality of subscribers;

defining a plurality of rules to apply to fax messages, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

assigning mailboxes at the access service to the plurality of subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium the rule applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to convert the fax message to a data file the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

storing the data file in the mailbox assigned to the access service subscriber for later retrieval by the subscriber; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax message upon such later retrieval.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing the capability for the subscriber to retrieve the data file by dialing in with a telephone.

31. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to fax messages, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to convert the fax message to a data file, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

providing the capability for the access service subscriber to retrieve the data file by dialing in with a telephone; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax message upon such retrieval.

32. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to fax messages, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to convert the fax message to a data file, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

sending the data file to the access service subscriber via email; and

providing the access-service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax message upon receiving the data file.

33. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to fax messages, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to convert the fax message to a data file, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

downloading the data file to the access service subscribers computer access message repository box for later retrieval by the access service subscriber in a subscriber-selected media; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax upon such later retrieval.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving an audio file attached to the fax message; and

downloading the audio file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s computer access message repository box.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving an audio file attached to the fax message; and

sending the data file and the audio file to the access service subscriber via email.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the access service subscriber'"'"'s computer access message repository box is located at an Internet Service Provider which provides Internet access to the access service subscriber.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to a telephone that a fax message is waiting at the computer access message repository box.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to a pager that a fax message is waiting at the computer access message repository box.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to the access service subscriber via email that a fax message is waiting at the computer access message repository box.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

redirecting the fax message to an alternate fax number.

41. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to fax messages, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to annotate the data file with an audio file; and

providing the subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax upon receiving the fax.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

applying a rule to convert the fax message to a data file, the rule applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service; and

sending the data file and the audio file to any specified fax number.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

sending the fax message and the audio file to any specified fax number.

44. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a universal mailbox at the access service, comprising:

providing the capability of defining a set of rules by an access service subscriber to handle received fax messages;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon the sending of a fax message intended for the access service subscriber;

receiving the fax message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to the fax message the rules applied upon receipt of the fax message at the access service; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the fax message upon receiving the fax message.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the set of rules includes storing the fax message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the set of rules includes:

applying the set of rules to convert the fax message to a fax data file; and

downloading the fax data file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the set of rules includes forwarding the fax message to a specified fax number.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to the access service subscriber via email that a fax message is waiting at the subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to the subscriber'"'"'s pager that a fax message is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the set of rules includes converting any attached voice mail into an audio file.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein the providing step includes providing the capability to the access service subscriber via a client software application program.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the client software application program is a web browser.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein the providing step includes providing the capability to the access service subscriber via telephone.

54. A method of providing integrated data services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to email, the rules defined by the access service subscribers;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon the sending of an email message intended for an access service subscriber;

receiving the email at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rule applied upon receipt of the email at the access service;

applying a rule to convert the email to an audio file using text-to-speech conversion, the rule applied upon receipt of the email at the access service, and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the email upon receiving the audio file.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

storing the audio file in a mailbox associated with the access service subscriber for later retrieval.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of applying a rule to convert the email occurs immediately after the email is received at the access service.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of applying a rule to convert the email occurs when a conversion request is received.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the conversion request is received via a telephone line.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the conversion request is received via a web browser.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing the capability to listen to the audio file.

61. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a universal mailbox at the access service, comprising:

providing the capability of defining a set of rules by an access service subscriber to handle received voice messages;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon the sending of a voice message intended for the access service subscriber;

receiving the voice message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to the voice message, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice message at the access service; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the voice message via email, fax, or pager number upon receiving the voice message.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the set of rules includes storing the voice message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the set of rules includes:

converting the voice message into a text data file; and

downloading the text data file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the set of rules includes sending the text data file to a specified fax number.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the set of rules includes sending the text data file to a specified email address.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein the set of rules includes converting the voice message into an audio file.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

sending the audio file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

sending the audio file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s email address.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to the access service subscriber via email that a voice message is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

70. The method of claim 61, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to the access service subscriber'"'"'s pager that a voice message is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox.

71. The method of claim 61, wherein the providing step includes providing the capability to the access service subscriber via a client software application program.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the client software application program is a web browser.

73. The method of claim 61, wherein the providing the capability of defining step includes providing such capability to the access service subscriber via telephone.

74. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a universal mailbox at the access service, comprising:

providing the capability of defining a set of rules by an access service subscriber to handle received voice mail messages;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon the sending of a voice mail message from a caller and intended for the access service subscriber;

receiving the voice mail message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice mail message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to convert the voice mail message into an audio file, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice mail message at the access service;

downloading the audio file to the access service subscribers universal mailbox; and

providing the access service'"'"'subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the voice mail via email, fax, or pager number upon receiving the voice mail.

75. The method of claim 74, further comprising:

sending the audio file to the access service subscriber upon demand by the access service subscriber.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

sending the audio file to the access service subscriber via an email.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the notification message comprises an email to the access service, subscriber to alert the access service subscriber that the voice mail message is waiting at the access service subscribers universal mailbox at the access service.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to a pager that the voice mail is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox at the access service.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to a telephone that the voice mail is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox at the access service.

80. The method of claim 74, wherein the notification message comprises an alert to a fax telephone number that the voice mail message is waiting at the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox at the access service.

81. A method of providing integrated telecommunications services to a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each access service'"'"'subscriber having a universal mailbox at the access service, comprising:

providing the capability of defining a set of rules by an access service subscriber to handle received voice mail messages;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon the sending of voice mail message from a caller and intended for the access service subscriber;

receiving the voice mail message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to send a notification message in accordance with any communication medium, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice mail message at the access service;

applying the set of rules to convert the voice mail message into a text file using speech-to-text conversion, the rules applied upon receipt of the voice mail message at the access service;

downloading the text file to the access service subscriber'"'"'s universal mailbox at the access service; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability to respond immediately to the voice mail message via email, fax, pager number upon receiving the voice mail message.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

sending the text file as an email to the access service subscriber.

83. The method of claim 81, further comprising:

sending the text file as a fax message to any fax number.

84. A method providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a mailbox at the access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message said rules defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving an email intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the email in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service;

applying one of said plurality of rules to send an alert to the access service subscriber via pager, fax, or telephone to notify the access service subscriber that the email has been received; and

providing the access service subscriber with the capability of responding immediately to the email via voice message, email, or fax message.

85. A method of providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a mailbox at the access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message, said rules defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving an email intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the email in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service; and

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a trigger to an alerting mechanism via email, fax message or telephone so that the alerting mechanism can send an alert to the access service subscriber to notify the access service subscriber that the email has been received.

86. A method of providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a mailbox at the access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message, said rule defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving a fax message intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the fax message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service; and

applying one of said plurality of rules to send an alert to the access service subscriber via voice message, email, or fax message to notify the access service subscriber that the fax message has been received.

87. A method of providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a mailbox at the access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message, said rules defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving a fax message intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the fax message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service; and

applying one of said plurality of rules to send a trigger to an alerting mechanism via email, fax message, or telephone so that the alerting mechanism can send an alert to the access service subscriber to notify the access service subscriber that the fax message has been received.

88. A method of providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service, each subscriber having a mailbox at the access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message, said rules defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving a voice mail message intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the voice mail message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service; and

applying one of said plurality of rules to send an alert to the access service subscriber via email, fax message, or telephone to notify the access service subscriber that the voice mail message has been received.

89. A method of providing notification of the receipt of a message for a plurality of subscribers of an access service each subscriber having a mail access service, comprising:

defining a plurality of rules to apply to said message said rules defined by the access service subscriber;

receiving a voice mail message intended for the access service subscriber;

storing the voice mail message in the access service subscriber'"'"'s mailbox at the access service; and

applying one of said plurality of rules to'"'"'send a trigger to an alerting mechanism via email, fax message, or telephone so that the alerting mechanism can send an alert to the access service subscriber to notify the access service subscriber that the voice mail message has been received.