Patent ID: 7142646
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for alerting a called party of a voice mail from a calling party via a network comprising a telephone network, a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network, the method comprising: receiving a first message from an SCP in the telephone network at the at least one gateway device, the first message including an identifier of the calling party and the voice mail message; accessing a profile associated with the called party to identify a selected one of a plurality of instant messaging identifiers associated with the called party, the selected instant messaging identifier being selected based on rules for communication forwarding; and providing a second message in an instant messaging format including the calling party identifier and the voice mail message using the selected instant messaging identifier to the called party via the data network.