Abstract:
Voicemail systems and methods can provide a user with means for receiving categorized messages from parties. The categories can be independent of the intended recipients of the messages, such that multiple users can receive the same message. A user can subscribe to receive categorized messages within selected categories or from selected parties. A registered party, including a merchant, an organization, a government agency and/or another party, can input messages to selected categories and can input distribution parameters for the messages. Expiration dates can be associated with the messages such that messages can be deleted once expired.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The systems and methods relate to message systems, and more particularly to voice mail systems through which the user can subscribe to selected announcements. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Voice Mail Systems (VMS&#39;s) can allow a user to retrieve messages left by callers. Generally, a caller places a call to the user and the VMS can give the caller the option of leaving a message for the user when the user does not answer the call. However, the user has little control over the message content or over who is leaving a message. More recent VMS&#39;s provide the caller&#39;s identification to the user prior to presenting the message to the user. Thus, such systems can provide an opportunity for the user to screen messages prior to listening to the messages. 
         [0003]    Email systems offer another means by which a message can be left for a user. Current email systems can provide means for a user to categorize incoming messages, such that the user can choose categories of email to view. For example, a filter can be applied to incoming email to detect junk mail and the system can place junk mail in a folder separate from other email, or can delete it entirely if the user so chooses. In addition, users can subscribe to receive emails from selected parties. For example, a user may choose to receive emails for updates to software he has purchased and to receive emails from merchants regarding promotional sales of certain products. A need exists for a voice mail system that can include the organizational and subscription capabilities of email systems, as well as other improved services for the user. A further need exists for a messaging system wherein a party sending a message can categorize the contents of the message and users can choose the categories of messages they wish to retrieve. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Message systems and methods can provide a user with means for receiving categorized messages from parties. The categories can be independent of or unrelated to the intended recipients of the messages, such that multiple users can receive the same message. A user can subscribe to receive categorized messages within selected categories or from selected parties. A registered party, including a merchant, an organization, a government agency and/or another party, can input messages to selected categories and can input distribution parameters for the messages. Expiration dates can be associated with the messages such that messages can be deleted once expired. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a method of message delivery using a message system can include receiving a message from a party and a category designation for the message from the party, storing the message in a storage area of the voice mail system corresponding to the category designation for the message, retrieving messages from the storage area based on a user of the message system choosing the category designation from among a listing of the category designations, and presenting the messages to the user. The user can choose from among a listing of category designations. The category designations can be separate from designation of the intended recipients of the message. The message can be presented to the user in the form of an audio message, a text message, and/or a visual message and can include a text-to-speech and/or a speech-to-text conversion. The user can choose to subscribe to future messages from the party when the message is presented to the user, and the future messages received at the message system from the party can be tagged or otherwise identified as subscribed to messages for the user. The method can provide notifications to the user when the future messages are received. 
         [0006]    The method can also include placing a call from the user to the party based on the user choosing an option to place a call when the message is presented to the user. The method can include matching distribution parameters received for the message with user profile data. Messages can be received with expiration parameters for the message, such that the message can be deleted when the expiration parameter is exceeded. The method can include incrementing a counter to track a number of times the message is retrieved. 
         [0007]    The message system can include a voice mail system. In one aspect, the method can include providing a first choice for the message system to place a call from the user to the party, providing a second choice for the user to subscribe to future messages from the party when the message is presented to said user, and identifying the future messages received at the message system from the party as subscribed to messages for the user, when the user chooses the second choice. Receiving a message can include receiving distribution parameters and expiration parameters for the message, wherein the distribution parameters can be matched with user profile data and the messages can be deleted from the storage areas when the expiration parameter is exceeded. Retrieving a message can include incrementing a counter to track a number of times the message is retrieved. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a method of receiving messages can include accessing a message system having a plurality of messages stored in categorized storage areas, wherein categories of the categorized storage areas are independent of intended recipients of the messages, choosing at least one of the categories to obtain at least one chosen category, retrieving messages from the at least one chosen category, and incrementing counters for the messages when the messages are retrieved, each of the counters associated with one of the messages input to the message system by a party, each of the counters accessible by the party for determining a number of times the one of the messages is retrieved. 
         [0009]    The method can include optionally placing a call to the party when a user of the message system retrieves one of the messages input by the party, optionally subscribing to receive future messages from the party when a user of the message system retrieves one of the messages input by the party, identifying the future messages input by the party as subscribed to messages for the user; and searching each of the categories to retrieve the subscribed to messages for the user when the user chooses a subscribed to category. In one aspect, the method can include optionally subscribing to receive future messages from the party when a user of the message system retrieves one of the messages input by the party, identifying the future messages input by the party as subscribed to messages for the user, forwarding the subscribed to messages to a personal message storage area for the user, and retrieving the subscribed to messages from the personal message storage area when the user chooses a subscribed to category. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the message system can include a voice mail system and retrieving can include optionally placing a call from the user to the party when a user of the message system retrieves one of the messages input by the party and optionally subscribing to receive future messages from the party when a user of the message system retrieves one of the messages input by the party. The method can include searching each of the categories to retrieve said future messages when the user chooses a subscribed to category, or can include forwarding the future messages to a personal message storage area for the user for retrieval from the personal message storage area when the user chooses a subscribed to category. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment a message system for providing message delivery can include an input controller to receive and categorize messages from a subscriber to obtain categorized messages, a plurality of categorized storage areas for storing respectively categorized messages, and an access controller to receive, from a user of the message system, a selection of at least one category to obtain a selected categorized storage area, to retrieve the respectively categorized messages from the selected categorized storage area, and to present the respectively categorized messages to the user. The system can include a voice mail system and at least one of an interactive voice response module and a dual tone multi frequency module for the input controller and the access controller. In addition, the system can include a user database and a subscriber database for storing profiles of the users and subscribers of the message system, respectively. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium can contain instructions for controlling a computer system to deliver messages by receiving a message from a party and a category designation for the message from the party, storing the message in a storage area corresponding to the category designation for the message, retrieving messages from the storage area based on a user choosing the category designation, and presenting the messages to the user. The instructions can control the computer system to present a listing of category designations for selection by the user. The category designation can be separate from designation of the intended recipients of the messages. The instructions can control the computer system to provide a choice for the user to subscribe to future messages from the party when presenting the messages to the user, tag or otherwise identify the future messages received from the party as subscribed to messages for the user, and provide notifications to the user when the future messages are received. The instruction can control the computer to place a call from the user to the party based on the user choosing an option to place a call when presenting the messages to the user. 
         [0013]    The instructions can control the computer system to receive distribution parameters for the message and match the distribution parameters with user profile data when retrieving messages. The instructions can control the computer system to receive an expiration parameter for the message and delete the message from the storage area when the expiration parameter is exceeded. A counter can be incremented for tracking a number of times the message is retrieved. 
         [0014]    In one aspect, the instructions can control a computer system to deliver voice mail messages, to receive distribution parameters for the messages, and to match the distribution parameters with user profile data when retrieving messages. The instructions can include controlling a computer system to receive expiration parameters for the messages and delete the messages from the storage areas when the expiration parameters are exceeded. Additionally, the instructions can control the computer system to increment a counter for tracking a number of times a message is retrieved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The following figures depict certain illustrative embodiments in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative and not as limiting in any way. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a message system having categorized messages; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a method of implementing access to messages in the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a method of implementing inputting messages to the system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    To provide an overall understanding, certain illustrative embodiments will now be described; however, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the systems and methods described herein can be adapted and modified to provide systems and methods for other suitable applications and that other additions and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the systems and methods described herein. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a message system  10 . For the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , system  10  can include a Voice Mail System (VMS)  10  that can provide enhanced features for a user  12  of VMS  10 . User  12  can connect to VMS  10  through a communication device  14 , such as the illustrated land line phone, or a wireless phone, personal computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or other known communication device. Device  14  can connect to VMS  10  in the manner of known communication devices and voice mail systems, e.g., over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless network, Internet and/or other communications network. 
         [0021]    VMS  10  can include access controller  16  for facilitating user access to VMS  10 . In one embodiment, user  12  can access VMS  10  by calling an access number from device  14  and inputting one or more codes and/or passwords to access controller  16 . User  12  can interact with access controller  16  through one or both of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) module  16   a  or a dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) module  16   b , as are known in the art. Controller  16  can compare user  12  inputs with a user database  18  of VMS  10  to verify that user  12  has authority to access messages in VMS  10 . 
         [0022]    VMS  10  can include an input controller  20  that can accept a message for user  12  from calling party  22  for storage in VMS  10 . Interactions of party  22  with input controller  20  via device  24  can be mediated by IVR module  20   a  and/or DTMF module  20   b . Device  24  can include known communications devices, such as the illustrated land line phone, a wireless phone, personal computer, or other known communication device. Device  24  can connect to VMS  10  in the manner of known communication devices and voice mail systems, e.g., over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless network, Internet and/or other communications network. It can be understood that access controller  16  and input controller  20  can provide for user  12  and party  22  interactions with VMS  10  in addition to IVR and DTMF interactions, including Graphical User Interfaces (GUI&#39;s) and/or other interfaces compatible with devices  14  and  24  and their connections to VMS  10 . 
         [0023]    For personal message input and retrieval, VMS  10  can operate in the manner of known voice mail systems. For example, when user  12  does not answer a call from party  22 , party  22  can be directed to VMS  10  and input controller  20  can prompt the party  22  to record a message for user  12 . VMS  10  can store the message in personal message storage area  26  for retrieval by user  12 . Personal message storage area  26  can include a database for storing messages and related message information, e.g., time, date, calling party, etc. In addition to the known voice mail operation described above, VMS  10  can provide enhanced features by which a user can subscribe to receive voice messages within selected categories and/or from selected parties. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a flow chart for a method  100 , which can implement the enhanced features for VMS  10  for user  12 . Method  100  can start when user  12  accesses VMS  10 , as previously described and as indicated at  102 . Access controller  16  can provide the user  12  with an option ( 104 ) to browse message categories or retrieve personal messages. Personal message retrieval, as at  106 , can be implemented by method  100  in the manner of known methods for retrieval of messages from voice mail systems, such as retrieval of messages from personal message storage area  26  of VMS  10 . 
         [0025]    If user  12  chooses to browse message categories, access controller  16  can provide a listing of categories from which user  12  can choose a category to browse, as at  108 . The categories can be related to the contents of the message, though those of skill in the art can contemplate other category relationships, including social and business relationships. It can be understood that the categories can include multiple levels of subcategories and that choosing the category can include choosing from among subcategories. For example, the categories can include a “town” category, the “town” category can include subcategories including a “school” subcategory and the “school” subcategory can include subcategories for specific schools and/or administrative departments. As is known in the art, user  12  can navigate through a series of hierarchal menus or listings to obtain the desired category and/or subcategory. 
         [0026]    VMS  10  can include one or more category message storage areas  28   a - n , and messages within the chosen category can be retrieved ( 110 ) from the corresponding category message storage area for presentation to user  12 . Category message storage areas  28   a - n  can include one or more databases for storing messages and related message information, e.g., time, date, calling party, etc. Message retrieval from category message storage areas  28   a - n  can be implemented by method  100  in the manner of known methods for retrieval of messages from voice mail systems, including saving, skipping and/or deleting messages. It can be understood that presentation of messages can include audio, text and/or visual display, including speech-to-text or text-to-speech conversion. As an example, access controller  16  and input controller  20  can include such conversion capabilities. 
         [0027]    When a message from category message storage areas  28   a - n  is saved by user  12 , a copy of the message can be stored in the personal message storage area for user  12 . When a message from category message storage areas  28   a - n  is deleted by user  12 , the message can remain in the category message storage areas  28   a - n  for retrieval by other users, but retrieval by user  12  can be restricted. Thus, it can be understood that while messages can be available for multiple users, the effects of actions taken by one user  12  with respect to messages in category message storage areas  28   a - n  can be limited to that one user  12 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , user  12  can have options ( 112 ) to take a number of actions with relation to the retrieved message. User  12  can choose to place a call to the party  22  that recorded the message being retrieved by user  12 , as indicated at  114 . When the option to place a call is chosen, VMS  10  can connect with a phone number associated with the message, as is known in the art for voice mail systems. 
         [0029]    In addition, the options at  112  can include an option to subscribe to messages from party  22 , as indicated at  116 . Future messages from party  22  can then be directed to personal message storage area  26  for user  12 . Alternatively, the future messages can be directed to one of the category message storage areas designated for messages subscribed to by user  12 , e.g., category message storage area  28   b  can be so designated. It can be understood that subscribed to messages can be categorized in the manner of other categorized messages. For example, continuing with the exemplary hierarchal scheme described above, the “subscribed to” category can include a “town” subcategory that can include a “school” subcategory, etc. In one embodiment, a user profile in user database  18  can include subscriber data indicating those parties  22  to which user  12  has subscribed. For retrieval of “subscribed to” messages when user  12  chooses the “subscribed to” category at  108 , VMS  10  can search through the category message storage areas  28   a - n  and retrieve messages from parties  22  matching the subscriber data in the user profile. 
         [0030]    Method  100  can continue to retrieve messages from the chosen category, as at  110 , until no unretrieved messages remain in the category, or until user  12  chooses not to retrieve additional messages from the category, as determined at  118 . If no additional messages are to be retrieved, method  100  can provide user  12  with options ( 120 ) including choosing another category by returning to  108 , retrieving personal messages by returning to  106 , as indicated at “A”, or ending access to VMS  10 , as at  122 . It can be understood that placing a call, as at  114 , can also end access to VMS  10 . It can also be understood that after retrieving personal messages, as at  106 , user  12  can have the option ( 124 ) to browse categories, as at  108 , or to end access to VMS  10 , as at  122 . 
         [0031]    It can be understood that accessing VMS  10  at  102  can include user  12  registering with system  10 . During registration, user  12  can input preferences for the operation of VMS  10 . Such preferences can include the designation of the storage area for messages subscribed to, designation of categories for which user  12  can receive messages for browsing, designation of categories and/or parties user  12  does not want to receive messages from and other preferences and/or choices user  12  may implement to help customize the operation of VMS  10  for user  12 . The preferences can also include an expiration time period for categorized messages, such that categorized messages stored longer than the expiration time period will not be included in the messages to be retrieved by user  12 . VMS  10  can include default values for preferences that user  12  does not specifically designate. For example, unless otherwise specified by user  12 , VMS  10  can delete messages after a period of 30 days. The preferences can be included with other user  12  registration information in user database  18 , for example in the user  12  profile. It can be understood that the user can modify such preferences when accessing VMS  10  at  102 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart for a method  200  that can implement the input of messages to VMS  10  by party  22 . Method  200  can start when party  22  accesses VMS  10 , as at  202 . Controller  20  can determine ( 204 ) whether party  22  can input a personal or category type message, depending on how party  22  accessed VMS  10 . Since VMS  10  can function in the manner of known voicemail systems, party  22  can be directed to VMS  10  when user  12  does not answer a call from party  22 , as previously described, and method  200  can implement inputting a personal message ( 206 ) in the manner of known voice mail systems. For example, controller  20  can prompt party  22  to leave a message for user  12 , which can be stored in personal message storage area  26 . 
         [0033]    It can be understood that access by party  22  can include dialing a predetermined access number and inputting one or more passwords and/or codes, in a manner similar to user  12  access to VMS  10 , as previously described. Input controller  20  can compare subscriber  22  inputs with a subscriber database  30  of VMS  10  to verify that user  22  has authority to input messages to VMS  10 . During registration with VMS  10 , party  22  can provide subscriber information that VMS  10  can store in subscriber database  30  of VMS  10 , for example as a subscriber profile. It can be understood that party  22  can modify the subscriber information when accessing VMS  10  at  202 . 
         [0034]    When party  22  accesses VMS  10  in such a manner, i.e., other than by being directed to VMS  10  when user  12  did not answer a call, party  22  can choose one or more categories that the message can be directed to, as at  208 . It can be understood that the categories available to party  22  can be consistent with those identified in the profile for party  22  in subscriber database  30 . 
         [0035]    Optionally, party  22  can indicate distribution and expiration parameters for the message to be input, as indicated at  210  and  212 , respectively. For example, a merchant can be included in multiple categories consistent with each type of merchandise sold by the merchant. The merchant may choose to input messages to only those categories corresponding to merchandise that will be on sale. The sale may be at a particular one of the merchant&#39;s locations for a certain period of time. The merchant can input distribution parameters corresponding to an area near that location and can set the expiration of the message to correspond with the end of the sale period, so that the message can be deleted from the category when the sale is over. When the expiration period set by user  12  is shorter than that provided by party  22 , the message can be flagged after the user  12  set expiration period such that it can be retrieved by other users, but will not be included in the messages to be retrieved by user  12 . 
         [0036]    The distribution parameters can be designated by phone exchange, zip code, or other distribution parameters or combinations of distribution parameters that VMS  10  can match with data in the user profiles in user database  18 , as indicated in phantom at  126  in  FIG. 2 . For example, the message can be distributed to users having a designated area code (XXX), exchange (XXX)-YYY, or zip code ZZZZZ. It can be understood that ranges and/or combinations of distribution designators can be input, e.g., ZZZ* can designate all zip codes beginning with ZZZ, and ZZZ21-ZZZ74 can designate the range of zip codes from ZZZ21 to ZZZ74. It can also be understood that the distribution need not be so limited and that the message can be designated to be retrievable by all users choosing to retrieve messages from the designated category. Thus, it can be understood that category messages can be stored in category messages storage areas  28   a - n  related to the category of the messages and that the category messages storage areas  28   a - n  can be unrelated to, or independent of, the intended recipients of the messages, e.g., the particular users, or groups of users that can receive the messages by accessing the category. 
         [0037]    When prompted, party  22  can record the message, as at  214  and the message can be stored ( 216 ) in the appropriate category message storage areas  28   a - n  of  FIG. 1  for the designated categories, with associated identifiers for distribution and/or expiration. As determined at  218 , party  22  can input additional messages by returning to  208 , or can end inputting messages, as at  220 . It can be recognized that access to VMS  10  can also end ( 220 ) after party  22  inputs a personal message, as at  106 . In one embodiment, the profile for party  22  in subscriber database  30  can include “subscribed to” data indicating those users  12  subscribing to messages from party  22 . When party  22  inputs a message, the distribution can include sending the message to the personal messages storage area  26  and/or the subscriber category message storage area for the users  12  indicated by the “subscribed to” data. 
         [0038]    It can be understood by those of skill in the art, that the distribution of messages can be realized by linking or otherwise relating the user database  18 , the subscriber database  30  and the category message storage areas  28   a - n  of  FIG. 1 . For example, a message can include a zip-code tag or identification such that only users with a zip code matching the tag can retrieve the message. Similarly, VMS  10  can track received messages, e.g., in the user database  18 , or by attaching a user identifier tag to the message, such that the user  12  need only retrieve a message once. In this manner, storage requirements for the personal and category message storage areas of VMS  10  can be optimized. 
         [0039]    Optionally, retrieval of a message by user  12 , as indicated at  110  of  FIG. 2 , can cause access controller  16  to increment a counter for the message, as indicated in phantom at  128  of  FIG. 2 . The count can be associated and stored with the related message in storage areas  28   a - n . In the case where user  12  deletes or skips a retrieved message for a category, the message can remain in category storage areas  28   a - n , as previously noted, and be marked and/or tagged as retrieved by the user without incrementing the count. It can be understood that Party  22  can be provided an option, indicated in phantom at  222  of  FIG. 3 , to check the count by retrieving the count for the message, as indicated in phantom at  224  of  FIG. 3 . The count can provide party  22  with an indication as to the number of users that have retrieved the message. Once the counts are retrieved, party  22 , via  218 , can return to choose more categories at  208 , or can end access to VMS  10 , at  220 . 
         [0040]    VMS  10  and the methods described herein can provide user  12  with the ability to browse and subscribe to categories of messages that can have content other than personal messages for user  12 . For example, the content can include promotional announcements by local merchants, announcements by local authorities (town offices, police), newsletters, new product announcements, product update notices and other types of content. An example interaction of a user  12  with VMS  10  is described below. In the example, user  12  entries are enclosed in brackets [ ], VMS  10  prompts are italicized and message content is underlined. 
         [0041]    Press 8 or say Content to browse content categories [8]
       Enter the category number or say the category name if known or Press # [#]
           Press 0 or say Town to listen to messages in the Town category   Press 1 or say News to listen to messages in the Local News category   Press 2 or say Discounts to listen to messages in the Discounts category [2]
               Press 0 or say Restaurants to listen to messages in the Restaurant   Discounts category [0]
                   First message from Tony&#39;s Pizza Order 1 large pizza, get the second half price. Use voicemail coupon code “DISC001” when ordering. Offer valid till February 28th   
                   Press 0 to Save, 1 to Skip, 2 to call Tony&#39;s Pizza, 3 to subscribe to messages from Tony&#39;s Pizza [3]
                   Second message from Mex Roadhouse [1]   No more messages in the Restaurant Discounts category. Press 1 for more categories or # to end [#]   
                   
               
               
 
         [0052]    In the above example, user  12  pressed ‘3’ to subscribe to messages from Tony&#39;s Pizza. Future messages from Tony&#39;s Pizza can be placed in the message storage area designated in the user  12  profile in user database  18 . The categories presented to the user  12  can include a “subscribed to” category. For example, the prompts provided by VMS  10  can include a prompt such as: Press 8 or say Subscriptions to listen to messages in the Subscribed To category. 
         [0053]    Depending on the preferences chosen by user  12 , the Subscribed To category can include subcategories, such as the Discounts and Restaurants categories above that the user  12  can be prompted to choose. In one example, the Subscribed To category can simply include the messages by party, such as Tony&#39;s Pizza, wherein the user  12  can be prompted to choose the party, or wherein the messages are simply presented to the user  12  when the Subscribed To category is chosen. Other user preferences can include having or not having a “new voicemail” dial tone indicator activated for subscribed to messages. 
         [0054]    Billing for the services offered by VMS  10  can be implemented in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, billing can include monthly fees charged to users  12 , e.g., as an additional fee added to a user&#39;s personal voice mail system fee. Alternatively or additionally, parties  22  can be charged a monthly fee for access to VMS  10 , or can be charged a fee based on the number of messages input, or based on the count of messages retrieved. It can be understood that other billing schemes can be employed, including combinations of the above. 
         [0055]    The systems and implementations thereof described herein may not be limited to particular components or configurations. For example, VMS  10  can include a single controller that can include access controller  16  and input controller  20 . The single controller can determine whether to operate in the access or input mode based on the access number and/or code used to connect to VMS  10 . Also, one or more of user database  18 , subscriber database  30  and message storage areas  26  and  28   a - n  can reside in computer memory that can be separate from VMS  10 . One or more of the databases and/or message storage areas can be combined, or can be configured for multiple users  12 . In addition, the systems and methods described herein can be readily adapted for use with other message systems including email messaging and/or paging systems. 
         [0056]    VMS  10  can include processors, e.g., controllers  16 ,  20 , volatile memory and non-volatile memory for storing messages, user data, subscriber data and other data corresponding to input and output values and other intermediate computations for the methods  100  and  200 . The memory can include instructions for executing the methods  100  and  200 , which can be transferred, in the course of operation, from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory and to the processor for execution. 
         [0057]    Additionally, the flow charts in  FIGS. 2 and 3  can illustrate an exemplary implementation of the enhanced features of VMS  10  and other configurations can be contemplated and/or other actions, decisions, menus and the like can be included. For example, after inputting a personal message at  206  of  FIG. 3 , method  200  can include an option  206   a , shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 , for party  22  to input category messages. In another example, the categories presented to user  12  at  108  of  FIG. 2  can include a “personal” category. For user  12  in this example, the browse option at  104  of  FIG. 2  can be incorporated into the category selection of  108  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0058]    The systems and methods described herein may not be limited to a particular hardware or software configuration; they may find applicability in many computing or processing environments. They can be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the methods  100  and  200  can be implemented in computer programs running in one or more processors. Implementation languages for the computer programs can include high level procedural languages, object oriented programming languages, assembly and/or machine language for communication with a computer system. 
         [0059]    The computer programs can be stored on a storage media and/or one or more devices (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk, or magnetic disk) that are readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. The system and methods can also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured can cause a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner. 
         [0060]    References to “microprocessor” and/or “processor” can be understood to include one or more microprocessors that can communicate in a stand-alone and/or a distributed environment(s), and can thus can be configured to communicate via wired or wireless communications with other processors, where such processor can be configured to operate on one or more processor-controlled devices that can be similar or different devices. Furthermore, references to memory, unless otherwise specified, can include one or more processor-readable and accessible memory elements and/or components that can be internal to the processor-controlled device, external to the processor-controlled device, and can be accessed via a wired or wireless network using a variety of communications protocols, and unless otherwise specified, can be arranged to include a combination of external and internal memory devices, where such memory can be contiguous and/or partitioned based on the application. Accordingly, references to a database can be understood to include one or more memory associations, where such references can include commercially available database products (e.g., SQL, Informix, Oracle) and also proprietary databases, and may also include other structures for associating memory such as links, queues, graphs, trees, with such structures provided for illustration and not limitation. 
         [0061]    While the method and systems have been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Those with ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the arrangement and connectivity of the components shown in the figures are merely for illustrative purposes, and can be varied accordingly and components may be combined or otherwise reconfigured without departing from the scope of the disclosed systems and methods. 
         [0062]    Accordingly, many additional changes in the details and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, can be made by those skilled in the art. It will thus be understood that the following claims are not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, can include practices otherwise than specifically described, and are to be interpreted as broadly as allowed under the law.