Network-based multimedia communications and directory system and method of operation

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems,at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system; and

the network center comprises a message tracking system operable to store status information associated with messages being processed by the system, the message tracking system operable to report the status of messages being processed by the system and further operable to stop the delivery of messages at the request of the sender of the message.

2. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system;

the network center comprises a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center;

the network center comprises an interface system operable to allow users of the communications system to access the central access and control system to interact with the system; and

the interface system comprises a customer computer interface system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system operating a computer terminal in communication with the customer computer interface system to alter user profile information associated with the particular user.

3. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system;

the network center comprises a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center; and

the network center comprises an interactive voice response system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system to access the central access and control system to interact with the system using a telephone to alter user profile information associated with the particular user.

4. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system;

the network center comprises a message tracking system operable to store status information associated with messages being processed by the system, the message tracking system operable to report the status of a message being processed by the system and further operable to stop the delivery of the message at the request of the sender of the message;

a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center; and

a customer computer interface system operable to allow users of the communications system operating computer terminals to access the central access and control system to interact with the system, the customer computer interface system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system operating a computer terminal in communication with the customer computer interface system to receive reports on the status of messages being processed by the system and to stop the delivery of messages sent by the particular user and not yet delivered by the system.

5. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems, interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system,

the network center comprises a message tracking system operable to store status information associated with messages being processed by the system, the message tracking system operable to report the status of a message being processed by the system and further operable to stop the delivery of the message at the request of the sender of the message;

a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center and the interaction of the network center with the network system; and

an interactive voice response system operable to allow users of the communications system to access the central access and control system to interact with the system using telephones, the interactive voice response system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system using a telephone in communication with the interactive voice response system to receive reports on the status of messages being processed by the system and to stop the delivery of messages sent by the particular user and not yet delivered by the system.

6. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system;

the network center comprises a billing system operable to store and accumulate accounts associated with users of the system and to report the status of the accounts;

a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center; and

an interactive voice response system operable to allow users of the communications system to access the billing system through the central access and control system to interact with the billing system using telephones, the interactive voice response system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system using a telephone in communication with the interactive voice response system to receive reports on the status of the account associated with the particular user.

7. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems,at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system,

the network center comprises a billing system operable to store and accumulate accounts associated with users of the communications system and to report the status of the accounts;

a central access and control system operable to manage the interaction of the systems within the network center and the interaction of the network center with the network system; and

a customer computer interface system operable to allow users of the communications system operating computer terminals to access the central access and control system to interact with the system, the customer computer interface system operable to allow a particular user of the communications system operating a computer terminal in communication with the customer computer interface system to receive reports on the status of the account associated with the particular user.

8. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

the network system comprises a network hub system having a plurality of network hubs interconnected by internal data communications paths and where each of the external voice messaging systems is coupled to one of the network hubs; and

each of the network hubs comprises a network processor operable to communicate to other network hubs through the internal data communication paths and where the network processor is operable to receive updated information regarding users of the system and updated information regarding status of messages being processed by the system and is operable to update a database within the network hub system to reflect the updated information received from other network hub systems.

9. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

the network system comprises a network hub system having a plurality of network hubs interconnected by internal data communications paths and where each of the external voice messaging systems is coupled to one of the network hubs;

each network hub comprises a message system database operable to store routing information used to route messages through the system;

an inbound message queue operable to store message records associated with messages received by a particular network hub;

an outbound message queue operable to store message records associated with messages to be transmitted from a particular network hub to another network hub or to an external messaging system; and

a message router operable to access the message system database and the inbound message queue in order to construct the message records placed in the outbound message queue.

10. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

the network system comprises a network hub system having a plurality of network hubs interconnected by internal data communications paths and where each of the external voice messaging systems is coupled to one of the network hubs;

a network center coupled to the network system through an internal data communication path, the network center containing network support systems for the administration, tracking and operation of the communications system and wherein each network hub comprises:

a message system database operable to store routing information used to route messages through the system;

an inbound administrative message queue operable to store message records associated with administrative messages received by a particular hub from another hub, from the network center system, or from an external messaging system;

an outbound administrative message queue operable to store message records associated with administrative messages to be transmitted from a particular hub to another hub, to the network center, or to an external messaging system; and

an administrative event manager operable to access the message system database and the inbound administrative message queue in order to construct the message records placed in the outbound administrative message queue.

11. The communications system of claim 10 where each network hub further comprises a connection manager operable to read the message records in the outbound administrative message queue, to determine the connections required to service the outbound administrative message queue message records, and to construct a connection queue comprising connection records ordering the required connections according to the priority of the administrative messages associated with the connections.

12. The communications system of claim 10 where the network center comprises a master database comprising directory information for users of the system and where each network hub comprises:

a data replicator operable to communicate with the master database and to receive database changes in order to update databases of user directory information and message system information stored within the network hub.

13. The communications system of claim 10 where each network hub comprises a management processor operable to allow the network hub to interact with the network center and to process requests from the network center for status information and for information associated with external messaging systems connected to the network hub.

14. The communications system of claim 13 where each network hub comprises an alarms database comprising a list of records specifying past events in the operation of the network hub and where the management processor is operable to manage the alarms database.

15. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications protocols;

database storage resident within the network system operable to store user profile information associated with users of the communications system connected through at least two of the external voice messaging systems, the user profile information comprising routing information for particular users of the communications system specifying the routing of messages according to the contents of the messages and the external messaging systems available to the particular users;

the network system comprises a network hub system having a plurality of network hubs interconnected by internal data communications paths and where each of the external voice messaging systems is coupled to one of the network hubs; and

each network hub comprises a media translator comprising a plurality of transformation and translation modules, the media translator operable to sequentially use selected ones of the transformation and translation modules to selectively change messages processed by the network hub.

16. The communications system of claim 15 where the media translator is operable to selectively translate the media of a message, transform the protocol of a message and translate the language of a message.

17. A communications system, comprising:

a network system operable to be connected to external voice messaging systems;

interface systems resident in the network system and operable to be coupled to the external voice messaging systems, the network system operable to receive communications traffic through the interface systems from the external voice messaging systems, at least two of the external voice messaging systems communicating with the network system using disparate communications