Patent Publication Number: US-11647365-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for managing communication inquiries

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/123,577 filed Sep. 6, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/279,960 filed May 16, 2014, (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,091,626), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/307,127 filed Nov. 30, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,769,090). All sections of the aforementioned application(s) and/or patent(s) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to communications and more specifically to managing communication inquiries in a communication system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Users have access to numerous communication devices for accessing information and communicating with other users. As communication technology continues to develop, the number of these types of devices and their compatibility continues to grow. 
     The selection of a device to be utilized by a user is often determined by practical considerations, such as which device is closest to the user. The selection process can also be based on user preferences, such as a user who prefers to engage in voice communications over text messages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 - 2    depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide communication services; 
         FIG.  3    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal for interacting with the communication systems of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ; 
         FIG.  4    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device utilized in the communication systems of  FIGS.  1 - 2   ; 
         FIGS.  5 - 6    depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems that provide communication services; 
         FIGS.  7 - 10    depict illustrative embodiments of methods operating in portions of the systems described in  FIGS.  1 - 6   ; and 
         FIG.  11    is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments for utilizing communications management agents to manage inquiry messages being exchanged between communication devices of various entities or parties. The agents can be implemented using computer instructions executed by one or more servers in communication with communication devices over a network. The inquiry message exchange can be based on monitored information associated with the entities, including presence and scheduling data, as well as other information, such as biometric data. The communications management agents can receive inquiry commands from communication devices and can determine, based on various criteria associated with the sending communication devices and the receiving communication devices, suitable standard inquiry messages, levels of importance, and inquiry indicators for the inquiry. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first server of a group of servers, where the first server includes a memory and a controller circuit coupled to the memory. The controller circuit can perform a method that includes receiving an inquiry command from a first communication device of a first user. The inquiry command can be captured by the first communication device and can be directed to obtaining a response from a second user. The controller circuit can also obtain behavior information associated with the second user from a second server of the group of servers that is executing computer instructions for a communications management agent that is associated with the second user. The controller circuit can further analyze content of the received inquiry command to determine a standard inquiry message and an urgency level. The controller circuit can determine an importance rating of the inquiry message according to the urgency level and the obtained behavior information. In turn, the controller circuit can provide the inquiry message and the importance rating to the communications management agent of the second user that determines a time and message format for receipt of the inquiry message by a second communication device of the second user based on the importance rating. The controller circuit can also receive the response to the inquiry message from the communications management agent of the second user. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure is a system that includes at least one server executing computer instructions to enable a first communications management agent associated with a first user and executing the computer instructions to enable a second communications management agent associated with a second user. The at least one server, when executing the computer instructions, can perform a method that includes receiving an inquiry command from a first communication device of a first user. The inquiry command can be captured by the first communication device and can be directed to obtaining a response from a second user. The at least one server can determine a standard inquiry message and an urgency level according to content of the received inquiry command and first behavior information associated with the first user. The at least one server can further determine an importance rating of the inquiry message according to the urgency level and second behavior information associated with the second user. In turn, the at least one server can provide the inquiry message and the importance rating to the communications management agent of the second user that determines a time and message format for receipt of the inquiry message by a second communication device of the second user based on the importance rating. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions which when executed by at least one processor can cause the at least one processor to perform a method that includes determining a standard inquiry message from an inquiry command captured at a first communication device from a first user. The standard inquiry message is associated with an importance rating based on an urgency of the inquiry command and on behavior information associate with the first user. The computer instructions can also cause the at least one processor to determine an inquiry indicator according to the first user. The computer instructions can further cause the at least one processor to deliver the inquiry message and the importance rating to a communications management agent associated with a second communication device. The inquiry indicator can accompany the delivery of the inquiry message at the second communication device. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication system  100  for providing communication services that can include delivering messages and/or content to various communications devices. The communication system  100  can manage the delivery of communications (e.g., via a digital agent(s)) to one or more users based on various criteria, including monitored behavior of the sender and/or the recipient, importance ratings of the communications, analysis of the content of the communications, and so forth. The system  100  can provide for feedback on the importance ratings in order to improve the accuracy of ratings being generated. The exemplary embodiments herein refer to outgoing inquiry messages, which can include any type of incoming communications, including voice communications, text messages, email messages, video conferencing, voice mail messages, social network posts, M2M alerts, calendar requests/management, content generally posted that may be of interest to the user, advertisements, and so forth. 
     The system  100  can provide for generating, adjusting and otherwise managing virtual task lists  163  for a group of users. Task requests can be exchanged between users based on various criteria, including scheduling data and presence data of the users. The task requests can also be generated based on prior interaction data representing prior tasks that were performed on behalf of other users. 
     The communication system  100  can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)  110  with at least one super headend office server (SHS)  111  which receives content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the present context, content can represent in whole or in part, for example, messages, text, audio, moving images such as  2 D or  3 D videos, video games, virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server  111  can forward packets associated with the media content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS)  114  via a network of video head-end offices (VHO)  112  according to a common multicast communication protocol. 
     The VHS  114  can distribute multimedia content, including messages and/or broadcast content, via an access network  118  to commercial and/or residential buildings  102  housing a gateway  104  (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The access network  118  can represent a group of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service area interface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links or copper twisted pairs  119  to buildings  102 . The gateway  104  can use common communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media processors  106  such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast channels to media devices  108  such as computers or television sets managed in some instances by a media controller  107  (such as an infrared or RF remote control). Other data can be distributed to the media processors  106  via the gateway, including voice messages, text messages, voice communications, video conferencing and combinations thereof. Other techniques and/or components can be utilized for delivering communications, such as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/307,473, entitled “Method And Apparatus For Managing Communication Exchanges” filed on Nov. 30, 2011, by Tardelli et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     The gateway  104 , the media processors  106 , and/or media devices  108  can utilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerline or phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocol such as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present or next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invoked between the media processors  106  and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services. 
     A satellite broadcast television system  129  can also be used in the system of  FIG.  1   . The satellite broadcast television system can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite  115  carrying media content can be received by a satellite dish receiver  131  coupled to the building  102 . Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver  131  can be transferred to the media processors  106  for demodulating, decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices  108 . The media processors  106  can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network  132  to enable interactive services such as VoD and EPG as described above. 
     In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcast distribution system such as cable TV system  133  can be overlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satellite TV system as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . In this embodiment, the cable TV system  133  can also provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure can apply to other over-the-air and/or landline media content services system. 
     Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices  130 , a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing web portal services over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  132  to wireline and/or wireless devices, including media devices  108  and/or portable communication devices  116 . 
     Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices over landline technologies in communication system  100  such as through the devices and/or techniques described above. Additionally, media services can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless access base station  117  operating according to common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other present and next generation wide area wireless network technologies are contemplated by the present disclosure. 
     Communication system  100  can also provide for all or a portion of the computing devices  130  to function as a communications management server (herein referred to as server  130 ). The server  130  can use common computing and communication technology to perform function  162 , which can include among things, implementing a communications management agent for one or more users of system  100  to manage communications associated with the user(s), including incoming communications and outgoing communications. The exemplary embodiments can utilize any number of servers  130  which can implement any number of communications management agents  162 . The agents  162  can be executed for each user individually or can be shared amongst users, such as amongst a related group (e.g., family members). 
     In one or more embodiments, the server  130  can enable different communications management agents  162  to interact with each other as an intermediary in a process for delivering messages, including inquiry messages, between users that are associated with the particular agents. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can monitor behavior or otherwise obtain behavior information for a corresponding user with which the agent is associated. For instance, communication devices can have software for providing behavior information to the agent  162 , such as gateway  104 , media processors  106 , media devices  108  and/or mobile devices  116  having software  164  for providing information, including presence data, scheduling data and/or biometric data, to the communications management agent  162 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can actively monitor for devices of the user from which information associated with the user can be retrieved. The active monitoring can include numerous techniques such as interaction with the user to request input as to various devices that the user utilizes. For instance, a user can identify devices and software applications (e.g., social networks) that the user utilizes, and the communications management agents  162  can then communicate with those identified devices and software to establish a dataflow. The provisioning of the communications management agent  162  with the potential sources of information can be done through use of a provisioning GUI that can provide questions and input fields for the user. The provisioning can be done via other methods, including detection of devices in proximity to the user (e.g., detecting wireless signal) and determining whether the device can be used for obtaining information associated with the user. 
     The active monitoring of the communications management agent  162  can also include analyzing other information associated with the user to determine whether new devices or software are being utilized by the user. For example, electronic billing of a user can be analyzed to determine that an electronic device or software has recently been purchased which may be able to provide behavior information. The provisioning process can include determining the potential sources and communicating with the potential sources to establish a dataflow so that the information or monitored behavior can be received from the various devices by the communications management agent  162 . 
     In one or more embodiments, communications management agents  162  enable processing of incoming communications (e.g., voice or text messages and/or voice communications) to determine how the incoming communications are to be processed such as according to dynamic handling rules that are being adjusted based on various information, including the monitored behavior information of the recipient and/or the sender. The dynamic handling rules enable the server  130  to manage the delivery of messages to users based on all or a portion of information available that is related to the recipient of the messages and/or the sender of the messages. The dynamic handling rules can determine timing of processing messages including processing it immediately, delaying the processing such as based on a prioritization determined by the communications management agent  162  and so forth. The dynamic handling rules can enable delegating the processing to another device or system and/or delaying processing by providing an immediate response that indicates that the communications management agent  162  will process the information for a delivery determination at a later time. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can utilize scheduling data and/or presence data to process the incoming messages, such as updating a user&#39;s calendar automatically with the incoming messages or determining a user is present in a car and adjusting a navigation system of the car based on incoming messages. In one or more embodiments, the messages can be analyzed, including via parsing engines and/or natural language engines, to determine a subject matter of the messages and/or summarize the messages. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can analyze the incoming messages and respond to the sender prior to delivering the incoming messages to the recipient, such as sending a response that requests additional information from the sender based on a determination that the recipient will need more information to make a decision associated with the incoming message. 
     The monitored behavior or other information associated with the recipient and/or the user for making determinations as to processing of the incoming messages can vary and can be obtained in a number of different ways, including in real-time or in an offline process. For example, the communications management agents  162  can obtain biometric data associated with the recipient and/or sender. For instance, the biometric data can be data associated with heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and so forth. This biometric data can be used in a number of different ways by the communications management agents  162 , such as determining whether a user is engaged in a vigorous activity which may render them less likely to desire to receive an incoming message. On the other hand, similar information can be indicative of the user feeling concerned or anxious about an event which may render them more likely to desire to receive an incoming message. The biometric data can be used alone or with other information (e.g., scheduling and/or presence data) to estimate or predict an activity that the user may be engaged in which can then be used as part of the determination as to delivering an incoming message to the user. The biometric data can be obtained from a variety of sources, including wirelessly from sensors connected to or otherwise in communication with the user. As an example, the user may be exercising utilizing a wireless heart rate monitor. Wireless signals from the heart rate monitor can be monitored by a communication device of the user, such as a mobile phone, and transmitted to the communications management agent  162 . 
     The monitored information can be associated with time and/or location data of the user, including scheduling data and/or presence data. For example, the communication management data  162  can actively monitor a calendar of the user for scheduling data and can actively monitor electronic billing information of the user to detect purchases that are indicative of time or location commitments of the user. For instance, a credit card bill may indicate that the user has purchased tickets to a football game in Kansas City. The communications management agent  162  can determine the time of the football game and estimate that the user will need to travel to Kansas City during a particular time frame. The particular time frame for travel can be further estimated based on other time and/or location commitments for the user, such as based on a calendar notice that the user has a meeting in Chicago on the day before the football game. The communications management agents  162  can also interact with the user to verify or otherwise determine the estimated time frame for travel. In one embodiment, the communications management agent  162  can determine an estimated time frame for travel prior to requesting a verification of the travel schedule from the user. By knowing that the user is travelling during a particular time period, the communications management agent  162  can apply handling rules so that incoming messages are processed as desired by the user during travel, such as a user who desires only to receive emails when travelling or a user that desires only to receive voice mail messages limited to family. 
     The monitored information can be associated with a measure of the value of the relationship between the sender and the recipient. This measure can be an adjustable or otherwise changing measurement, such as based on increased positive interaction between the user and sender which results in an increase in the value or an increased negative interaction between the user and sender which results in a decrease in the value. The communications management agent  162  can determine the increase in positive interaction or determine the increase in negative interaction in a number of different ways, including monitoring the number of communications between the parties, analyzing the content of communications between parties to determine if the communications are positive or negative (e.g., determining a subject matter for a message that is indicative of a problem arising between the parties), determining social interaction between the parties such as detecting that the parties attended a baseball game together, determining an avoidance by one of the parties towards the other such as from cancelling social interaction events between the parties, and so forth. In one or more embodiments, the relationship value can be adjusted by the user. For instance, the communications management agent  162  can determine a relationship value based on information such as social interaction, number of communications between the parties and content of communications. The relationship value can then be presented to the user to verify or otherwise adjust the value. 
     In one or more embodiments, the relationship value can be a confidential value that is known by the communications management agent  162  and the user, but is not shared with the other user. In other embodiments, the relationship value can be shared with the other users and their corresponding communications management agents, including sharing changes in the relationship values as they occur so that a deterioration of or an improvement of a relationship between users can be indicated. The relationship value can also be determined based on other factors, such as whether the other user is a family or friend, or whether the other user is a work colleague. 
     The determination of processing of the messages can be based on other factors, including a mindshare associated with the user that is indicative of a preferred time to talk to the user, the sender&#39;s social connectivity, a balance sheet with the sender (e.g., the sender has an obligation to me), sender assigned metadata, reputation of the sender, determined nature of the content (e.g., humorous, urgent, etc.), size of content, a content novelty index, supplementary sender-based agent information (e.g., subject matter or urgency), and/or the message spoken explicitly by the sender. 
     The monitored information can be utilized in combination with the virtual task list  163  of the user which is maintained by the server  130  and/or the communications management agent  162 . The virtual task list  163  can be a list of tasks that need to be performed and which are associated with the particular user. The virtual task list  163  can be adjusted based on the monitored information and/or incoming communications. For instance, the communications management agent  162  can analyze incoming communications to determine if the communications request or require the recipient to perform a task. In one or more embodiments, the task can be any type of task, including buying milk on the way home from work or picking up a family member before going to work. 
     The virtual task list  163  can be adjusted based on the ability of the user to perform the task. For example, if the communications management agent  162  receives a message from the user&#39;s family requesting that the user buy milk on the way home from work but the communications management agent  162  determines that the user is working overtime past the store closing time then the user can be deemed unavailable for performing the task. The communications management agent  162  can utilize the monitored behavior information to determine that the user is scheduled to work overtime, such as an analysis of the content of a message from the user&#39;s supervisor requesting the overtime work and/or determining that the user has accepted the request (e.g., via an email or voice mail message provided by the user to the supervisor). In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can send a notice to the user to remind the user that he is unable to perform the task and/or can send a message to the user&#39;s family (e.g., via another communications management agent associated with the family) advising the family of the user&#39;s unavailability to perform the task. As described above, the various monitored information of the user can be utilized in determining whether a task should be added to the virtual task list  163  of the user, including scheduling data, presence data, relationship value associated with the other user requesting the task, and so forth. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can determine a time, a message format and at least one first communication device for delivering a message and/or a summary of the message to the user based on the monitored behavior information and/or an analysis of the content of the message. The communications management agent  162  can then adjust the virtual task list  163  for the user based on the analysis of the content. Other behavior information associated with another user can then be obtained, such as presence data, scheduling data and/or prior interaction data (e.g., information associated with tasks from a virtual task list  163  of the other user that were performed by the user). In this example, a task message can be sent to the communications management agent  162  of the other user according to the obtained other behavior information. The task message can request performance by the other user of the task from the user&#39;s virtual task list  163 . In this way, users can perform tasks for one another that are established and coordinated between the communications management agents  162  and where the coordination of the tasks can be based on a history of each party performing the tasks so that a balance of task performance between parties can be achieved and maintained. 
     In one or more embodiments, the assignment of a task can require verification by one or both of the requestor and the party assigned the task. In other embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can refuse to accept a request for a task assignment from another communications management agent (e.g., because of an imbalance in the number of tasks that have been performed by the requestor upon behalf of the potential assignee). In this example, the communications management agent  162  that refuses the task assignment can respond by advising of the imbalance in the distribution of tasks, can respond with no reason for the refusal to accept the task and/or can respond with an alternative reason for refusal to accept the task. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can monitor for the performance of the task by the other user and can adjust the prior interaction data according to a completion of the task. The monitoring of the completion of the task can be based on various types of information, including information obtained from other sources that are associated with the task. For instance, presence data can be obtained for a first co-worker where the task of taking the first co-worker to work was assigned from the user&#39;s virtual task list  163  to a second co-worker. 
     In one or more embodiments, the virtual task list  163  can be co-managed between the user and the communications management agent  162  and/or between two or more communications management agents for associated users (e.g., a family virtual task list that is co-managed by communications management agents  162  that correspond to the members of the family). In this example, the co-management can be subject to conflict rules, such as prioritization of tasks originated by the parents over tasks originated by the child or prioritization based on a subject matter of the task (e.g., a task to pick up the child from school is a higher priority than a task to buy milk from the store). 
     In one or more embodiments, the virtual task list  163  can be utilized in the determination of processing incoming messages. For instance, a length of a virtual task list  163  or the importance of tasks on the virtual task list may be indicative of a desire by the user not to immediately receive messages (e.g., no voice calls) other than high priority messages from family or friends. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can analyze the content of the tasks and determine incoming messages that are necessary or helpful to completing one or more of the tasks in order to determine whether the incoming messages should be immediately delivered to the user, such as via a voice call or text message, or should be stored for later access by the user, such as via a voice mail message or an email message. In one or more embodiments, the expected time to do a task from the virtual task list as compared to the actual time can be considered in the determination of processing incoming images. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents can provide a platform for exchanging monitored information of the users or a portion thereof. The exchange of such information can be a limited or negotiated process, such as a first user agreeing to provide only presence data in exchange for the presence data of a second user. In other embodiments, the exchange can be unlimited, such as including all information for both the first and second users in the information exchange. The information exchange can be a one-time event or recurring event each time a message is to be delivered between the parties or the information exchange can be a continuous event, such as periodically exchanging all or selected portions of the monitored information according to a pre-determined schedule. The negotiation can be performed between the communications management agents  162  and/or between the users. 
     In one or more embodiments, portions of the monitored information can be filtered by the communications management agent  162  based on quality. For instance, presence data can be compared by the communications management agent  162  to scheduling data to detect conflicts, and other information can be obtained or otherwise analyzed to determine the accuracy of the data, such as analyzing content data from messages or the communications management agent requesting verification from the user. 
     In one or more embodiments, filtering of the monitored behavior information can be performed by any number of devices, including devices other than server  130  such as the portable communication devices, an STB, and so forth. The filtering can be performed based on various techniques, including comparison of similar data received from different sources (e.g., presence data from two different devices indicating a conflict in presence), statistical and/or historical analysis of the monitored behavior information to determine accuracy, and so forth. 
     In one embodiment, the software functions  164  can be executed in one communication device  116  retrieving monitored information from another communication device, and providing the monitored information to the communications management agent  162  of the server  130 . In this example, the communications management agent  130  does not need to be directly receiving the monitored information from each of the devices associated with the user, but rather can be in communication with a first portion of devices associated with a user that are themselves in communication with a second portion of devices associated with a user. In this manner, the efficiency of the dataflow between the devices associated with the user and the communications management agent  162  can be improved. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can enable processing of incoming communications (e.g., voice or text messages and/or voice communications) in the form of inquiry commands from one communication device, such as a mobile device  116  or a media processor device  106 , to another communication device. The inquiry commands can be brief communication requests where a first user at a first communication device requests for a response from a second user at a second communication device. The inquiry commands can be “whisper” messages that are intended to communicate to the second user in a manner that is inconspicuous to others and that will tend to elicit an immediate response, if possible. 
     In one or more embodiments, the sending user can initiate an inquiry command at a communication device  116 . For example, the sending user can enter a text command, “Herman, can you call me,” into the communication device. The communication device can capture and interpret this text entry as an inquiry command event, whereby the user desires to contact Herman, electronically, and ask Herman to call the user. In this example, Herman is a receiving user that the sending user has explicitly specified to receive the inquiry. The communication device  116  can transmit an inquiry command to a server  130  hosting the communications management agent  162 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can analyze a received inquiry command to determine how it is to be processed. The communications management agent  162  can apply static or dynamic handling rules, or combinations thereof. For example, dynamic handling rules can be adjusted based on various pieces of information, including monitored behavior information of the sender user or the receiving user. The dynamic handling rules enable the server  130  to manage the delivery of the inquiry message to the receiving user based on all or a portion of information available that is related to the receiving user of the message and/or the sending user of the message. The dynamic handling rules can determine timing of processing messages including processing it immediately, delaying the processing such as based on a prioritization determined by the communications management agent  162  and so forth. The dynamic handling rules can enable delegating the processing to another device or system and/or delaying processing by providing an immediate response that indicates that the communications management agent  162  will process the information for a delivery determination at a later time. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can utilize scheduling data and/or presence data to process the inquiry command, such as determining a user is present in a car and adjusting a navigation system of the car based on incoming messages. In one or more embodiments, the inquiry command can be analyzed, including via parsing engines and/or natural language engines, to determine a receiving user and/or a subject matter and/or to determine a standard inquiry message that can be substituted for the inquiry command. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162  can also analyze the inquiry command and determine an importance rating for the inquiry command. The importance rating can be included with the inquiry command, or with a substituted standard inquiry message, to provide priority information to the receiving user, or to communications management agent  162  associated with the receiving user and acting on behalf of the receiving user. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  associated with the sending user can obtain and user monitored behavior or other information associated to make determinations as to processing of the inquiry command or any standard inquiry messages derived therefrom. The monitoring information can be varied and can be obtained in a number of different ways, including in real-time or in an offline process. For example, the communications management agents  162  can obtain biometric data associated with the receiving and/or sending users. For instance, the biometric data can be data associated with heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and so forth. This biometric data can be used in a number of different ways by the communications management agents  162 , such as determining whether a receiving user is engaged in a vigorous activity which may render them less likely to desire to receive an incoming message. Conversely, biometric-based monitoring information can be indicative of the receiving user feeling concerned or anxious about an event which may render them more likely to desire to receive an incoming message. Similarly, biometric data can be used to determine if a sending user likely intends an inquiry command to be urgent or to be lax. The biometric data can be used alone or with other information (e.g., scheduling and/or presence data) to estimate or predict an activity that the user may be engaged in which can then be used as part of the determination as to delivering an inquiry command to the user. The biometric data can be obtained from a variety of sources, including wirelessly from sensors connected to or otherwise in communication with the user. As an example, the user may be exercising utilizing a wireless heart rate monitor. Wireless signals from the heart rate monitor can be monitored by a communication device of the user, such as a mobile phone, and transmitted to the communications management agent  162 . 
       FIG.  2    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system  200  employing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switched systems. Communication system  200  can be overlaid or operably coupled with communication system  100  as another representative embodiment of communication system  100 . 
     The communication system  200  can provide for the gathering by the communications management agents  162  of the monitored information associated with each of the users and the determination of the processing of incoming messages, included inquiry commands, based on the monitored information. Communication system  200  enables exchange of the monitored information and/or the incoming messages via packet-switched and/or circuit-switched communication technologies. 
     Communication system  200  can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)  240 , a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server  230 , and other common network elements of an IMS network  250 . The IMS network  250  can establish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs)  201 ,  202 , Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs  203 ,  205 , and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)  220  coupled to a PSTN network  260 . The MGCF  220  need not be used when a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. A communication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize the MGCF  220 . 
     IMS CDs  201 ,  202  can register with the IMS network  250  by contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS  240 . To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD  201  can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF  204  which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF  206 . The originating S-CSCF  206  can submit the SIP INVITE message to one or more application servers (ASs)  217  that can provide a variety of services to IMS subscribers. 
     For example, the application servers  217  can be used to perform originating call feature treatment functions on the calling party number received by the originating S-CSCF  206  in the SIP INVITE message. Originating treatment functions can include determining whether the calling party number has international calling services, call ID blocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initial filter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call originating feature services. 
     Additionally, the originating S-CSCF  206  can submit queries to the ENUM system  230  to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITE message to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminating communication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)  207  to submit a query to the HSS  240  to identify a terminating S-CSCF  214  associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference  202 . Once identified, the I-CSCF  207  can submit the SIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF  214 . The terminating S-CSCF  214  can then identify a terminating P-CSCF  216  associated with the terminating CD  202 . The P-CSCF  216  may then signal the CD  202  to establish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services, thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile, one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various call terminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb, music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc. 
     In some instances the aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” in  FIG.  2    may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system  200  can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition, communication system  200  can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs  201 ,  202  with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system  100  of  FIG.  1   , including the monitored information gathered from various devices associated with the user. It is further contemplated that the CDs of  FIG.  2    can operate as wireline and/or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of  FIG.  2    can be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station  117  such as shown in  FIG.  1   , a femtocell (not shown), a WiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMS network  250  of  FIG.  2   . 
     If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD  203  or CD  205  (in instances where the cellular phone only supports circuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system  230  can respond with an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF  206  to forward the call to the MGCF  220  via a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF)  219 . The MGCF  220  can then initiate the call to the terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network  260  to enable the calling and called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications. 
     It is further appreciated that the CDs of  FIG.  2    can operate as wireline or wireless devices. Although not shown, the CDs of  FIG.  2    can be communicatively coupled to a cellular base station  221 , a femtocell, a WiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establish communications with the IMS network  250  of  FIG.  2   . The cellular access base station  121  can operate according to common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability for Microwave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and so on. Other wireless network technologies can be utilized by the present disclosure. Accordingly, multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies are usable with the CDs of  FIG.  2   . 
     It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communications and thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular base station  221  may communicate directly with the IMS network  250 . 
     Communication system  200  can include or otherwise be coupled with server  130  of  FIG.  1    for purposes similar to those described above. It is further contemplated by the present disclosure that the communications management agents  162  can communicate with one or more components of system  200 , including the HSS  240  and the S-CSCF  206 , for gathering at least a portion of the monitored behavior information (e.g., presence data). It is further contemplated that the server  130  can be an integral part of the application server(s)  217 . 
       FIG.  3    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal  302  which can be hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices  130  of the communication system  100  illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The web portal  302  can be used for managing services of communication systems  100 - 200 . A web page of the web portal  302  can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft&#39;s Internet Explorer™, Mozilla&#39;s Firefox™, Apple&#39;s Safari™, or Google&#39;s Chrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as those described in  FIGS.  1 - 2   . The web portal  302  can be configured, for example, to access a media processor  106  and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the media processor  106 . The web portal  302  can also be used for provisioning the communications management agents  162  with devices, software and other sources that can be monitored for obtaining the monitored information upon which the dynamic message handling rules are maintained and revised. The web portal  302  can also be used for provisioning IMS services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning cellular phone services, and so on. 
     It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the web portal  302  can further be utilized to manage and provision software applications  162 - 164  of the devices of  FIGS.  1 - 2   , respectively, as described earlier. In one or more embodiments, the web portal  302  can be used for interaction between a user and the user&#39;s communications management agent  162 . For instance, a user can adjust a virtual task list, set user preferences to be utilized in combination with the dynamic message handling rules, update a relationship value, or provide user feedback on an accuracy rating provided by another communications management agent via the web portal  302 . 
       FIG.  4    depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device  400 . Communication device  400  can serve in whole or in part as an illustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in  FIGS.  1 - 2   . The communication device  400  can comprise a wireline and/or wireless transceiver  402  (herein transceiver  402 ), a user interface (UI)  404 , a power supply  414 , a location receiver  416 , and a controller  406  for managing operations thereof. The transceiver  402  can support short-range or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA- 1 X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver  402  can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     The UI  404  can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad  408  with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or a navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device  400 . The keypad  408  can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the communication device  400  or an independent device operably coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad  408  can represent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a Qwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI  404  can further include a display  410  such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology for conveying images to an end user of the communication device  400 . In an embodiment where the display  410  is touch-sensitive, a portion or all of the keypad  408  can be presented by way of the display  410  with navigation features. 
     The UI  404  can also include an audio system  412  that utilizes common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system  412  can further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audio system  412  can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI  404  can further include an image sensor  413  such as a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images. 
     The power supply  414  can utilize common power management technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy to the components of the communication device  400  to facilitate long-range or short-range portable applications. The location receiver  416  can utilize common location technology such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of the communication device  400  based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation. 
     The communication device  400  can use the transceiver  402  to also determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless access points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or time of flight (TOF). The controller  406  can utilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  is adapted to detect and/or communicate with a sensor device  475  which generates user data, such as biometric data of a user. The communication between device  400  and device  475  can utilize wired and/or wireless communication. 
     The communication device  400  can be adapted to perform the functions  162 - 164  of the server  130 , media processor  106 , the media devices  108 , and/or the portable communication devices  116  of  FIG.  1   , as well as the IMS CDs  201 - 202  and/or PSTN CDs  203 - 205  of  FIG.  2   . It will be appreciated that the communication device  400  can also represent other common devices that can operate in communication systems  100 - 200  of  FIGS.  1 - 2    such as a gaming console and a media player. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  can obtain and store monitored information from other communication devices associated with the user. The stored monitored information, as well as monitored information generated by the device  400  can then be provided to the communications management agent  162  for the user associated with the device  400 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  can capture inquiry command events that can be initiated by a user of the communication device  400  in any of several ways. In one embodiment, the communication device  400  can receive entry of an inquiry command event at a user interface, such as a keypad  408 , keyboard, or touch screen. For example, a user can key in a text message, such as “Herman, can you call me.” For example, the user can select an element from a graphical user interface where the element is defined in the communication device  400  as a means for contacting someone. The graphical user interface can have a specific element labeled, “Contact Herman.” In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  capture audio inputs, such as voice commands, intended as inquiry command events. To illustrate from the previous example, the user could say, “Please have Herman call me.” A microphone at or communicatively coupled to the communication device  400  can capture the voice command for processing at the audio system  412 . 
     In one or embodiments, the communication device  400  can capture gestures of a user, where the gestures are intended as a complete or partial inquiry command event. For example, an image sensor  413  at or coupled to the communication device  400  can capture video images of the user for processing and storage in the communication device  400 . To continue the illustrative example, the user can pantomime a “call me” sign while saying the name, “Herman.” The communication device  400  can capture the combination of video image and audio speech as an inquiry command event, “Have Herman call me” or “Herman, please call me.” 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  can detect and interpret a user touch of a user interface device as an inquiry command event. For example, the user can be wearing headset device that is communicatively coupled to the communication device  400  by way of a Bluetooth link supported, for example, by a transceiver  402  on the communication device  400 . A touch by the user of the headset, or a particular area of the headset, can cause a signal to be transmitted to the communication device  400 . The communication device  400  can define this signal as a user-initiation of an inquiry command event. In one embodiment, the received “headset touch” signal can cause the communication device to capture all audio data for the subsequent five seconds as an intended inquiry command. For example, the user can touch the Bluetooth headset and then say, “Ask Herman to call me.” The communication device can use the headset touch as a trigger to capture the inquiry voice command event. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  can monitor and capture various user acts—inputs, sounds, and/or gestures—and interpret these as inquiry command events. Where a captured user action indicates an inquiry command event, the communication device  400  can flag this inquiry command event. In one or more embodiments, two or more types of user acts can be combined to derive a single inquiry command event. For example, the communication device  400  can be configured to monitor for a particular word or phrase defined as a “triggering” word for the inquiry command event. For example, the communication device  400  can be configured to detect a user statement of the phrase, “open contact” as a triggering word. Any time the phrase “open contact” is detected, the communication device can automatically interpret any subsequently provided words, phrases, or selections as part of a single inquiry command event. The communication device  400  can be configured to capture the subsequently provided words, phrases, or selections for a set period of time and/or until a subsequent closing word or phrase or action is received. For example, the phrase, “close contact” could be used to end capture of the inquiry command event. In another example, a user gesture of touching a device (e.g., the headset) could be used as a trigger to begin and/or end capture of an inquiry command event. In one or more embodiments, the communication device  400  can capture audio data, such as the spoken request, “Have Herman call me,” and can perform a voice-to-text conversion on the audio data. The exemplary embodiments further contemplate combinations of these input events, such as a gesture with a voice command. 
     Illustrative embodiments of methods that can operate in portions of the communication device of  FIG.  4    are described below. 
       FIG.  5    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system  500  for managing the delivery of incoming messages, including inquiry commands. System  500  can be overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems  100 - 200  as another representative embodiment of communication systems  100 - 200 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, a user  501  has various communication devices including media processor  506 , media device  508  and portable device  516 . The user  501  has a communications management agent  162  implemented on a server  530  within network  518  that obtains monitored behavior information  525  associated with the user  501 . The monitored behavior information can be various forms of data, such as the data described with respect to system  100  of  FIG.  1   , and can include presence data, scheduling data, biometric data, communications history data, relationship value data with respect to other users, length and urgency of presently pending virtual task lists, and so forth. The communications management agent  162  also maintains a virtual task list  163  that is associated with the user  501 . System  500  also includes a user  502  having various communication devices including media processor  506 ′, media device  508 ′ and portable device  516 ′. The user  502  has a communications management agent  162 ′ implemented on a server  530 ′ within network  518  that obtains monitored behavior information  525 ′ associated with the user  502 . The communications management agent  162 ′ also maintains a virtual task list  163 ′ that is associated with the user  502 . It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any number of users, servers, communications managements agents, media processors, media devices and/or portable devices can be utilized, which can be in other configurations, including sharing of servers and/or sharing of communications management agents. It should be further understood that other types of devices can be utilized in system  500 , including other devices associated with the users  501 ,  502  for obtaining monitored behavior information and/or for delivering incoming messages, including inquiry commands, as well as other types of network elements for facilitating communications between the various devices and through the network  518 , including routers, switches, DSLAMs, and so forth. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, a message  550 A can be originated by the user  502 , such as at a portable communication device  516 ′ or other communication device, where the message is directed to user  501 . The message  550 A can be of various formats as previously described herein, including but not limited to voice communications, emails, text messages, video message and so forth. The message  550 A can also be an indirect communication such as a posting on a website that is directly intended for user  501  (e.g., posting on a social network page of the user  501  or posting on a website with information indicative of the posting being directed to user  501 ). In one embodiment, the message  550 A can be a posting on a website that is indirectly intended for the user  501 , such as posting information that would be of interest to the user  501 , where the communications management agent  162 ′ and/or the communications management agent  162  monitors for such postings (e.g., based on the posters, the website and/or the content posted) and determines whether the posting or a message representative of the posting should be delivered or otherwise directed to the user  501 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the message  550 A can be originated without a designation of a recipient communication device and/or without a designation of a message format. For instance, the user  502  can input a voice recording into the portable device  516 ′ and identification information associated with the user  501  can be utilized by the communications management agent  162 ′ for selecting a recipient communication device of the user  501  and/or a format for the message. In one or more embodiments, the message  550 A without a designation of the recipient communication device and/or without the designation of the message format can be provided from the communications management agent  162 ′ to the communications management agent  162  for the communications management agent  162  (i.e., the agent for the recipient user  501 ) to determine the recipient communication device and/or the message format. The identification information can be directly provided by the user  502  such as a voice input of the name of user  501  in response to a prompt for the intended recipient, or can be indirectly provided by the user  502  such as determined by the communications management agent  162 ′ from an analysis of the content of the message. 
     In one or more embodiments, the sender&#39;s communications management agent  162 ′ can designate a recipient communication device and/or designate a message format, which may or may not be the recipient device and/or message format that are utilized in the delivery of the message  550 A to the user  502 . For example, the designation of the recipient device and/or message format can be a suggestion. In another example, one or both of the designation of the recipient device and the message format can be contingent designations where the user  502  intends on the message  550 A being delivered only if the designated recipient device and/or the message format are utilized in the delivery. 
     In one or more embodiments, the message  550 A provided by the communications management agent  162 ′ to the communications management agent  162  can be representative of the originated communication from the user  502 . For example, the user  502  can input a voice recording into portable device  516 ′ that is intended for delivery to user  501 . The communications management agent can generate a message which is representative of the voice recording. In one or more embodiments, the representative message can be a summary of the voice recording, such as based on a content analysis of the voice recording performed by the communications management agent  162 ′ using voice recognition, natural language engines and/or parsing engines. In one or more embodiments, the representative message can be an enhanced version of the recording which includes all of the content of the voice recording and includes additional information generated by the communications management agent  162 ′, such as subject matter headings, links to content referenced in the voice recording, identification information for individuals referenced in the voice recordings, and so forth. The additional information can be generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ using various techniques, including analysis of the content of the voice recording (e.g., using voice recognition, natural language engines and/or parsing engines), analysis of other communications that are determined to be associated with the voice recording, and/or a determination (e.g., by the communications management agent  162 ′) of expectations of the user  501  as to information that should be included in the message. For instance, the communications management agent  162 ′ can determine based on previous communications exchanged between the users  501 ,  502  via the communications agents  162 ,  162 ′, that the user  501  desires messages to include email addresses for any individual identified in a message. This determination can be made by the communications management agent  162 ′ based on a history of message exchanges in which the communications management agent  162  requested such information. It should be further understood that while the example describes use of a voice recording, the messages can be originated in various forms, including text, video and so forth. 
     In one or more embodiments, the message  550 A can be an inquiry command originated by the user  502  as an inquiry command event  580 ′ captured at a communications device, such as a portable communication device  516 ′, media display device  508 ′, or a media processor device  506 ′. The inquiry command  550 A can be of various formats as previously described herein, including but not limited to voice communications, emails, text messages, video message and so forth. In one or more embodiments, the inquiry command  550 A can be originated without a designation of a recipient communication device and/or without a designation of a message format for the command  550 A. For instance, the user  502  can input a voice recording into the portable device  516 ′ and identification information associated with a user  501  can be utilized by the communications management agent  162 ′ for selecting a communication device of an identified receiving user  501  and/or a format for the command. 
     In one or more embodiments, the inquiry command  550 A without a designation of the receiving user&#39;s communication device and/or without the designation of the message format can be provided from the communications management agent  162 ′ to the communications management agent  162  for the communications management agent  162  (i.e., the agent for the intended, but unnamed, receiving user  501 ) to determine the receiving user&#39;s communication device and/or the message format of the command  550 A. The identification information can be directly provided by the user  502  such as a voice input of the name of receiving user  501  in response to a prompt for the intended recipient, or can be indirectly provided by the user  502  such as determined by the communications management agent  162 ′ from an analysis of the content of the command. 
     In one or more embodiments, the sender&#39;s communications management agent  162 ′ can designate a recipient communication device and/or designate a message format for the inquiry command  550 A, which may or may not be the recipient device and/or message format that can be utilized in the delivery of the message  550 A to the user  501 . For example, the designation of the recipient device and/or message format can be a suggestion. In another example, one or both of the designation of the recipient device and the message format can be contingent designations where the user  502  intends on the inquiry command  550 A being delivered only if the designated recipient device and/or the message format are utilized in the delivery. 
     In one or more embodiments, the inquiry command  550 A provided by the communications management agent  162 ′ to the communications management agent  162  can be representative of the originated communication from the user  502 . For example, the user  502  can input a voice message into portable device  516 ′ that is intended for delivery to user  501 . In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162 ′ can replaced the inquiry command  550 A with a standard inquiry message  550 B that can be sent to a communications management agent  162  for the receiving user  501 . The standard inquiry message  550 B can be determined based on content of the original voice message, such as based on a content analysis of the text performed by the communications management agent  162 ′ using voice recognition, natural language engines and/or parsing engines. For example, an original inquiry command of “Have Herman call me as soon as possible,” can be analyzed by the communications management agent  162 ′ and a standard inquiry message of “Please call &lt;Sending User&#39;s Name&gt; at &lt;Sending User&#39;s Number&gt;—Urgent” can be determined to be the best standard representation of the inquiry command based on a combination of the original inquiry command, monitored behavior information, and the urgency indicators included in the original inquiry command. In one or more embodiments, a list of standard inquiry messages is available to the communications management agent  162 ′. The standard inquiry messages can be used by the communications management agent  162 ′ to provide efficient and consistent messages of inquiry. 
     In one of more embodiments, the communications management agent  162 ′ can determine an inquiry indicator to accompany the standard inquiry message  550 B. For example, the inquiry indicator can be a special ring tone for a mobile communication device  516  that indicates to the receiving user  501  that the sending user  502  is making an inquiry. The inquiry indicator can be a tone, a graphical element on a graphical user interface, a vibration, or other signature notification that can be uniquely adapted to identify the sending user  502  or to identify a type of inquiry from the sending user  502 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the inquiry indicator and the standard inquiry messages  550 B server as “whisper” invitations for the receiving user  501  to respond. For example, the sending user can initiate an inquiry command for “Herman to call me as soon as he can” that will be received and processed by the communications management agent  162 ′. The communications management agent  162 ′ can select the appropriate standard inquiry message and can determine an importance rating of “urgent” based on the content of the inquiry command and on behavioral information associated with the sending user  502 . For example, the communications management agent  162 ′ can determine that a text message of “Please call &lt;Sending User&#39;s Name&gt; at &lt;Sending User&#39;s Number&gt;—Urgent” will be sent to Herman&#39;s mobile phone  516 . The communications management agent  162 ′ can then determine that an inquiry indicator of a special series of beeps or of a special series of vibrations will accompany the message that has been sent to Herman&#39;s mobile phone  516 . This indicator can be known to Herman as identifying text messages from the sending user  502  and/or as identifying messages of special importance. 
     In one or more embodiments, a representative message can be an enhanced version of the recording which includes all of the content of the voice recording and includes additional information generated by the communications management agent  162 ′, such as subject matter headings, links to content referenced in the voice recording, identification information for individuals referenced in the voice recordings, and so forth. The additional information can be generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ using various techniques, including analysis of the content of the voice recording (e.g., using voice recognition, natural language engines and/or parsing engines), analysis of other communications that are determined to be associated with the voice recording, and/or a determination (e.g., by the communications management agent  162 ′) of expectations of the user  501  as to information that should be included in the message. For instance, the communications management agent  162 ′ can determine based on previous communications exchanged between the users  501 ,  502  via the communications agents  162 ,  162 ′, that the user  501  desires messages to include email addresses for any individual identified in a message. This determination can be made by the communications management agent  162 ′ based on a history of message exchanges in which the communications management agent  162  requested such information. It should be further understood that while the example describes use of a voice recording, the messages can be originated in various forms, including text, video and so forth. 
     In system  500 , the original message  550 A, a representative message generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ and/or other communications can be exchanged between the communications management agent  162 ′ and the communications management agent  162 , as indicated by arrow  550 B. In one or more embodiments, a portion of the communications exchange  550 B between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ can be performed to obtain a revised version of the message and/or to obtain data (indicated by arrow  575 B) that is used by one or both of the agents  162 ,  162 ′ for processing the dynamic message handling rules and/or for revising or otherwise reformatting the message. 
     As indicated by arrows  575 A, data can be provided to or otherwise obtained by the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ for processing the dynamic message handling rules. In one or more embodiments, all or a portion of the communications exchange  550 B can be performed automatically between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ without user intervention. The amount and type of data exchanged between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′, including the amount and type of the monitored behavior information  525  can vary. In one or more embodiments, no information, limited information or all information from the monitored behavior information  525  can be exchanged between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′. The determination of the amount and type of the monitored behavior information  525  can be based on a number of factors, as well as different decision makers. For example, a user may designate information which can and cannot be shared with other communications management agents. In another embodiment, the sharing of the monitored behavior information can be determined by one of the communications management agents based on a prior history of sharing with another communications management agent and/or a prior history by the other communications management agent maintaining the confidentiality of the shared information. 
     In one or more embodiments, the exchange of the monitored behavior information  525  and/or  525 ′ can be performed with controls on the distribution of the information, such as permitting use of the monitored information by the two communications management agents  162  and  162 ′ that have exchanged all or a portion of the information but prohibiting further distribution of the information to other communications management agents. In one or more embodiments, the negotiation for the exchange of monitored information can be based on future or past exchanges of such information. For instance, the communications management agent  162  can agree to presently provide the monitored behavior information  525  of the user  501  to the communications management agent  162 ′ if the communications management agent  162 ′ agrees to exchange monitored information in the future (in the event that the user  501  seeks to send a message to the user  502 ′ in the future). 
     In system  500 , the communications management agent  162  can receive the message  550 A or a representative message generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ and can apply the dynamic message handling rules to determine a process for delivery of the message to the user  501 , including timing, message format, and/or recipient communication device. The dynamic message handling rules can be applied by the communications management agent  162  utilizing the monitored behavior information  525 , all or a portion of the monitored behavior information  525 ′ and/or other factors. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can analyze the content of the message and can utilize that analysis (e.g., a determination of a subject matter of the content) for applying the dynamic message handling rules, including in combination with the monitored behavior information. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can determine or otherwise predict the particular activity that the user  501  is currently engaged in based on the monitored behavior information  525  and can determine whether the user  501  would desire to receive a message  550 C that pertains to the determined subject matter. The message  550 C can be the message that was received from the communications management agent  162 ′ or can be a message representative of the received message, including a summarized version (e.g., based on the content analysis performed by agent  162 ) or an enhanced version that includes additional information that the communications management agent has determined the user  501  would desire to be included in the message. In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can determine a message format (e.g., text, voice, or video) and/or a recipient communication device based on the monitored behavior information  525 ,  525 ′ and/or the content analysis. 
     As an example, the communications management agent  162  can receive a message from communications management agent  162 ′ which is in the form of a video conference message and that includes a subject heading entitled business proposal. The communications management agent  162  can analyze the content of the message to determine that the message pertains to an offer to retain a first entity to perform a landscaping contract. The communications management agent  162  can access the monitored behavior information  525  which includes scheduling data from a calendar of user  501  that indicates that the user  501  is presently in a meeting and the subject heading for the meeting is landscape work. The communications management agent  162  can access other data of the monitored behavior information, such as presence data of other individuals, content analysis of previous messages received by the user  501  that are associated with the landscape contract and so forth, to determine that the user  501  is presently meeting with a second entity regarding the landscaping contract. Based on this information, the communications management agent  162  can determine that the user  501  would desire to receive the message that includes the offer from the first entity and would desire to receive it in a format that is subtle, such as a summary text message, in order to have the information in-hand during the discussions with the competitor second entity. In this example, the communications management agent  162  can determine details of the current activity of the user  501 , reformat the message from a video conference message to a text message that summarizes the offer from the first entity, and deliver the text message to the portable device  516  of the user  501 . For instance, the communications management agent  162  can determine that the user  501  desires only to see the details of the first entity&#39;s offer such as a text message reading: “$25,000 annual contract bid by the first entity.” 
     In one or more embodiments, importance ratings can be generated and assigned to messages by either or both of the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′. The agent importance ratings can be included with importance ratings provided by the user  502  that originated the message or the recipient user  502  that is forwarding the message to another user. The use of importance ratings generated by the communications management agents  162  and/or  162 ′ enables a credibility system to be implemented so that agents and their users can have a better understanding of the accuracy of the importance ratings. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162 ′ can receive the message  550 A and can perform a content analysis (e.g., using voice recognition, parsing engines and/or natural language engines) to determine a first importance rating for the message. The determination of the first importance ratings can be based on other information including the monitored behavior information  525 ′ of the user  502 . 
     As an example, the communications management agent  162 ′ can determine from the content analysis and the monitored behavior information  525 ′ (e.g., scheduling data, presence data, prior message content, biometric data and so forth) that the user  502  desires to receive a response to the message which is an invitation to meet before the end of the day to finalize the landscape contract described above with respect to the earlier example. For the user  502 , it is important to receive the response before the end of the day because the user  502  is scheduled to begin work on another landscaping bid the following day with another potential client and which the user  502  will not be bidding for if the offer to user  501  is agreed upon. The communications management agent  162 ′ may place a high priority importance rating on message  550 A and provide it to the communications management agent  162 . The particular scale and indicia of the importance rating can vary and can be a numerical scale (e.g., 1 to 10) or a verbal scale (e.g., low, medium, high, very high, read immediately). 
     Continuing with this example, the communications management agent  162  can utilize the first importance rating in its application of the dynamic message handling rules in combination with other criteria, including the monitored behavior information  525 , any monitored behavior information  525 ′ that was received from the agent  162 ′, an analysis of the content of the message performed by the agent  162 , and so forth. Based on the first importance rating, the monitored behavior information  525 ,  525 ′, and/or the content analysis, the communications management agent  162  can determine a time, format and/or recipient communication device for delivery of message  550 C to the user  501 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agent  162  can generate a second importance rating for the received message or a derivative message thereof that is intended to be sent to another party. For example, the message may need to be forwarded to co-workers of the user  501  to keep a record of the negotiation process but the urgency of delivery of the message is lower so the second importance rating may be designated as low. 
     As an example of a second importance rating for a derivative message and continuing with the landscaping contract example described above, the communications management agent  162  can receive the message from the communications management agent  162 ′ with an importance rating of a high priority. The communications management agent  162 ′ may agree that the message, as it pertains to delivery to the user  501  and based on other criteria including the content analysis and the monitored information  525  and/or  525 ′, is of high priority so that the message is processed by the agent  162 ′ for delivery to the user  501  accordingly (e.g., a text message delivered immediately to the user  501  via the portable device  516  with periodic follow-up reminders in the absence of a response from the user  501 ). The communications management agent  162 ′ may also determine from the content analysis of the message and scheduling data of the user  501  that the user was scheduled to buy milk at the store when leaving work that evening per the request of the family of the user  501 . The communications management agent  162  can determine that the family of the user  501  is a party related to the message and should be notified that the user  501  will be buying the milk at a later than expected time due to the potential meeting to finalize the contract. The communications management agent  162  can further determine the second importance rating for the derivative message to be delivered to one or more communications devices of the family of the user  501  (e.g., via a family communications management agent). The second importance rating can be determined by the communications management agent  162  to be of lower priority because the user  501  will still have time to purchase the milk but at a later time so the derivative message provided by the communications management agent  162  can include a medium priority rating. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ can maintain and adjust virtual task lists  163  for the users  501 ,  502 , respectively. Adjustment of the virtual task lists can be based on a number of factors including the monitored behavior information  525 ,  525 ′, content analysis of incoming messages, user interactions with the communications management agents, user preferences and so forth. The virtual task lists  163  can also be used by the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ for delegating or otherwise requesting other users to perform tasks. In one or more embodiments, interaction data associated with the users that pertains to a prior history of tasks performed for each other, the timeliness of the completion of the tasks, the quality of performance of the task and so forth may be utilized to manage the virtual task list  163  and/or to provide requests to other users for performance of a task. 
     As an example, the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ can utilize monitored behavior  525  and/or  525 ′ to generate or otherwise determine task requests. Scheduling data and/or presence data of the monitored behavior  525 ,  525 ′ can facilitate generating task requests, such as allowing communications management agent  162  to know that user  502  is presently located within a short distance of a grocery store and that scheduling data of the calendar of user  502  indicates that user  502  is not scheduled for anything this evening. In this example, the communications management agent  162  can determine from monitored behavior  525  (e.g., scheduling data and content analysis of messages related to work that needs to be performed by user  501  that evening) that it would be difficult for the user  501  to pick up milk on the way home, which is a task on virtual task list  163 , because the user  501  will be leaving work very late. The communications management agent  162  can suggest to the user  501  that a task request be sent to user  502  via communications management agent  162 ′ due in part to interaction data that indicates that the user  501  has recently performed several tasks on behalf of the user  502 . In this example, upon approval of the task request by the user  501 , the communications management agent  162  can forward the task request to the communications management agent  162 ′. Upon completion of the task, which can be monitored by the communications management agent  162 , the virtual task list  163  can be adjusted to remove the task of purchasing milk. 
       FIG.  6    depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system  600  for managing the delivery of incoming messages utilizing an importance rating system. System  600  can be overlaid or operably coupled to communication systems  100 ,  200  and/or  500  as another representative embodiment of communication systems  100 ,  200  and/or  500 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ can be implemented on the servers  530 ,  530 ′ within the network  518 . Importance ratings can be generated as described with respect to system  500  of  FIG.  5   , including by the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ based on content analysis, monitored behavior information, and so forth. 
     Communications exchanges  550  can occur between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′, including transmitting messages, transmitting task requests, transmitting queries for further information, transmitting importance ratings, and so forth. Data exchange  575  including all or a portion of monitored behavior information can occur between the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′, which is used by one or both of the agents  162 ,  162 ′ for processing the dynamic message handling rules and/or for revising or otherwise reformatting the message. 
     In one or more embodiments, rating feedback information  650 ,  650 ′ can be maintained by the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′. The rating feedback information  650 ,  650 ′ can be generated based on determinations, made by communications management agents and/or users, of the accuracy of importance ratings generated by other communications management agents. The rating feedback information can then be utilized in assessing the accuracy of a particular importance rating and including the accuracy determination as part of the application of the dynamic message handling rules to process delivery of the message, such as a time, format and recipient communication device for delivery of the message. 
     As an example, communications management agent  162  can receive a message from communications management agent  162 ′ that includes an importance rating of a high priority. A content analysis of the message performed by the communications management agent  162  can indicate that the subject matter of the message is attending a baseball game that is scheduled more than eight months away. The rating feedback information  650  can include one or more first accuracy determinations made by the communications management agent  162  for one or more past importance ratings generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ for messages received by the agent  162  that may or may not be related to the present message. The rating feedback information  650  can include one or more second accuracy determinations made by other communications management agents for one or more past importance ratings generated by the communications management agent  162 ′ for messages received by the other communications management agents that may or may not be related to the present message. The communications management agent can analyze the first and/or second accuracy determinations to determine or otherwise predict the accuracy of the presently received importance rating for the presently received message. In one or more embodiments, the analysis of the first and/or second accuracy determinations can include correlating accuracy determinations with subject matter of particular messages to detect patterns, such as detecting a tendency for the communications management agent  162 ′ to generate a high importance rating for messages related to attending social events. In this example, the communications management agent  162  can deem the accuracy of the “high priority” importance rating to be of poor accuracy based on the analysis described above, which may be performed in combination with other techniques, including the content analysis, review of monitored behavior of the user sending the message and so forth. The poor accuracy determination can be based on input from the recipient user, which may be used in addition to or in place of the accuracy determination made by the communications management agent  162 . 
     The poor accuracy determination can be added to the rating feedback information  650  for future accuracy determinations associated with future messages and importance ratings received from the communications management agent  162 ′. In one or more embodiments, the poor accuracy determination by the communications management agent  162  can be forwarded to other communications management agents (e.g., corresponding to friends, family, co-workers, and so forth) for storage in their corresponding rating feedback information so that the other communications management agents can utilize the poor accuracy determination in their own accuracy determinations for importance ratings for future messages received from the communications management agent  162 ′. 
     In one or more embodiments, disputes over accuracy determinations can be resolved utilizing a ratings arbitrator  635  implemented using computer instructions executed by a server  630 . The ratings arbitrator  635  can receive (as indicated by dataflow  675 ) pertinent accuracy information from the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ that are involved in the dispute over the accuracy of the importance rating. The pertinent accuracy information can include the importance rating, rating feedback information, content analysis, monitored behavior of either or both of the users associated with communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′, and so forth. In one or more embodiments, explanations as to why the importance rating is or is not accurate can be received from the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′ (e.g., generated by the users and/or generated by the agents  162 ,  162 ′) and can be analyzed by the ratings arbitrator  635  (e.g., using parsing and/or natural language engines). The ratings arbitrator  635  can determine whether or not the importance rating was accurate and can issue a notice to the communications management agents  162 ,  162 ′, as well as other communications management agents that have received an indication that the agent  162 ′ issued an inaccurate importance rating. The notice can include information, such as a determination of the accuracy and/or a more accurate importance rating that should have been used. 
     Continuing with the example described above for the “high priority” importance rating for the message to attend a baseball game that was deemed as of poor accuracy, the ratings arbitrator  635  may receive pertinent accuracy information from the communications management agent  162 ′ indicating that tickets for the baseball game are almost sold out. This information may not have been available to the communications management agent  162  when it determined that the “high priority” importance rating was of poor accuracy. The ratings arbitrator  635  may determine from this pertinent accuracy information that the importance rating assigned to the message by the communications management agent  162 ′ was warranted because the tickets would be sold out and the recipient user associated with the communications management agent had a strong desire to attend the baseball game. 
     In one or more embodiments, the ratings arbitrator can be another communications management agent(s) that is requested to act a neutral party to determine the accuracy of the importance rating. 
       FIG.  7    depicts an illustrative method  700  that operates in portions of the devices, systems and/or methods of  FIGS.  1 - 6   . Method  700  can begin at  702  in which a message is received or otherwise obtained by a communications management agent associated with the sender of the message. At  704 , monitored behavior information can be obtained or otherwise accessed. The monitored behavior information can be associated with the sender of the message and/or the intended recipient of the message. At  706 , the content of the message can be analyzed, such as through use of parsing engines, natural language engines, rhetorical libraries and/or other components and techniques to automatically analyze a message to determine a subject matter and details of the message. 
     At  708 , an importance rating for the message can be determined based on the monitored behavior information and the content analysis. At  710 , the message and the importance rating can be provided to another communications management agent that is associated with the intended recipient of the message. The message provided to the other communications management agent can be in the same format as was originated by the user (e.g., a text message) or can be in a converted format (e.g., a digital voice message that summarizes the original message). The reformatting can be performed by the communications management agent based on the monitored behavior information and/or the content analysis. While one or more of the exemplary embodiments describe agent-to-agent communications as a means for delivering user-to-user communications, the exemplary embodiments can also include use of a single communications management agent that delivers messages between users, such as where a recipient user does not have a communications management agent. 
       FIG.  8    depicts an illustrative method  800  that operates in portions of the devices, systems and/or methods of  FIGS.  1 - 7   . Method  800  can begin at  802  in which a message and an importance rating are received from another communications management agent. At  804 , the monitored behavior information can be obtained or otherwise accessed. The monitored behavior information can be associated with the sender of the message and/or the intended recipient of the message. At  806 , the content of the message can be analyzed, such as through use of parsing engines, natural language engines, rhetorical libraries and/or other components and techniques to automatically analyze a message to determine a subject matter and details of the message. 
     At  808 , rating feedback information that is associated with the communications management agent that generated the importance rating can be obtained or otherwise accessed. At  810 , an accuracy of the importance rating can be determined based on the rating feedback information, the content analysis and/or the obtained monitored behavior information. 
     At  812 , the message can be processed according to the dynamic message handling rules for delivery to the intended recipient which is the user associated with the communications management agent performing method  800  in whole or in part. The rules can include utilizing the monitored behavior information, the content analysis and/or the importance rating to determine a time, format and recipient communication device for delivery of the message. 
       FIG.  9    depicts an illustrative method  900  that operates in portions of the devices, systems and/or methods of  FIGS.  1 - 8   . Method  900  can begin at  902  in which a message is received or otherwise obtained by a communications management agent associated with the recipient of the message. At  904 , monitored behavior information can be obtained or otherwise accessed. The monitored behavior information can be associated with the sender of the message and/or the intended recipient of the message. At  906 , the content of the message can be analyzed, such as through use of parsing engines, natural language engines, rhetorical libraries and/or other components and techniques to automatically analyze a message to determine a subject matter and details of the message. 
     At  908 , a virtual task list of the recipient of the message can be adjusted based on the content of the message that indicates the task that needs to be performed. The indication of the ask can be a direct request by the sender for performance of the task or can be the result of a synthesis of the message that results in a determination that the task needs to be completed based on information described in the message. The adjustment of the virtual task list can be performed based on other factors, including the monitored behavior information (e.g., scheduling data, presence data, relationship between task requestor and recipient, and so forth), other tasks on the virtual task list, and so forth 
     At  910 , monitored behavior information can be obtained or otherwise accessed where the information is associated with other users that can potentially perform the task associated with the message. At  912 , a task message or request can be provided to a select one of the other users based on the obtained monitored behavior information. For example, the monitored behavior information including presence data and scheduling data may indicate that the user&#39;s brother is in the vicinity of a grocery store and the task message may be provided to a communications management agent of the user&#39;s brother to purchase milk. 
       FIG.  10    depicts an illustrative method  1000  that operates in portions of the devices, systems and/or methods of  FIGS.  1 - 9   . Method  1000  can begin at  1004  in which an inquiry command originated by a first communication device can be received by a communications management agent associated with the first communication device. The inquiry command can be originated at the first communication device and can be directed to obtaining a response from a second user. At step  1008 , monitored behavior information can be obtained or otherwise accessed. The monitored behavior information can be associated with the second user from a communications management agent that is associated with the second user. The monitored behavior information can be associated with the intended recipient of the message. At step  1012 , the content of the received inquiry command can be analyzed to determine a standard inquiry message and an urgency level. The content can be analyzed, for example, through use of parsing engines, natural language engines, rhetorical libraries and/or other components and techniques to automatically analyze a message to determine a subject matter and details of the message. 
     At step  1016 , an importance rating of the inquiry command can be determined according to the urgency level and the obtained behavior information. At step  1020 , an inquiry indicator associated with the first communication device can be determined. The inquiry indicator can accompany the receipt of the standard inquiry message at the second communication device. At  1024 , the standard inquiry message and the importance rating can be provided to the communications management agent of the second user. The communications management agent for the second user can determine a time and message format for receipt of the inquiry message by a second communication device of the second user based on the importance rating. In one or more embodiments, the standard inquiry message and the importance rating can be broadcast to a group of communication devices. The communication devices can be associated with multiple users and/or multiple communications management agents and/or no communications management agents. 
     At step  1028 , a response to the standard inquiry message can be received from the communications management agent of the second user. At  1032 , a rating feedback can be received based on a determination of an accuracy of the importance rating with the standard inquiry message. The rating feedback can be utilized by at least some of a group of servers in analyzing an accuracy of a second importance rating for a second standard inquiry message originating from the first user. 
     Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. In one or more embodiments, a user can explicitly create an audio file to play as the inquiry indicator ringtone at the receiving communication device when the standard inquiry message originated by the user is received at the receiving communication device. In one or more embodiments, supplemental text can be displayed along with an audio inquiry indicator. In one or more embodiments, a caller identity (ID) message can be displayed at the receiving communication device as the inquiry indicator or in conjunction with another indicator such as an audio tone. In one or more embodiments, a set of graphical representations can be displayed on the receiving communication device to highlight the importance rating associated with the inquiry. 
     In one or more embodiments, advertising can be included with the standard inquiry message. The advertising can be correlated to the monitored behavior associated with the receiving user. For example, if presence information for the receiving user indicates that the he or she is at a baseball game, then the standard inquiry message can be accompanied by an advertisement for a product sold at the concession stand or for a sponsor associated with the ballpark or the team. 
     In one or more embodiments, an accuracy dispute notice associated with a rating feedback can be provided to a ratings accuracy server to initiate a second accuracy determination by the ratings accuracy server for an importance rating of a first message from a first communications management agent, where the second accuracy determination is accessible by at least some of a group of servers in analyzing the accuracy of the second importance rating for a second message provided by the second communications management agent. 
     In one or more embodiments, a determination of the accuracy of an importance rating generated by a first communications management agent associated with a first user can be based in whole or in part on user feedback originated at a second communication device of a second user that is the recipient of the message that includes the importance rating. 
     In one or more embodiments, content of a message can be analyzed to generate message information representative of the message and one or more related parties can be determined based on the analysis of the content. In this example, a second importance rating can be determined for the message. The second message information and the second importance rating can be provided to another communications management agent associated with the one or more related parties for determining a time and/or a message format for delivery of the second message information to a communication device(s) of the one or more related parties. 
     In one or more embodiments, a communications management agent can consider the successful delivery of a past message to a communication device of an intended recipient within a threshold time period, as a factor in applying the dynamic message handling rules (e.g., determining a time, format and/or device for delivery of the message). 
     In one or more embodiments, voice recognition can be utilized by a sender&#39;s communications management agent and/or a recipient&#39;s communications management agent in adjusting a format for delivery of a message. 
     In one or more embodiments, the communications management agents can generate avatars for the interaction with the corresponding user and/or interaction with other users. For example, the avatar can be presented at a communication device of a user to obtain verification of monitored behavior, authorization for assignment of a virtual task, preference for delivery of a message, and so forth. The form of the avatar can vary and can be based on the monitored behavior information, such as providing a humorous avatar when a determination is made that the user would be more receptive to such as avatar. In one or more embodiments, the avatar can develop over time as the user changes, where the changes in the user are determined by the communications management agent based on the monitored behavior information. 
       FIG.  11    depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine or controller circuit in the form of a computer system  1100  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine can operate, for example, as the server  130 ,  530 , the media processor  106 ,  506 , the media device  108 ,  508 , the portable communication devices  116 ,  516 , or combinations thereof as described above. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. 
     The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a communication device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. 
     The computer system  1100  may include a processor  1102  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  1104  and a static memory  1106 , which communicate with each other via a bus  1108 . The computer system  1100  may further include a video display unit  1110  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display. The computer system  1100  may include an input device  1112  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  1114  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  1116 , a signal generation device  1118  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  1120 . 
     The disk drive unit  1116  may include a tangible computer-readable storage medium  1122  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  1124 ) embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  1124  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  1104 , the static memory  1106 , and/or within the processor  1102  during execution thereof by the computer system  1100 . The main memory  1104  and the processor  1102  also may constitute tangible computer-readable storage media. 
     Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein. 
     While the tangible computer-readable storage medium  1122  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall also be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the present disclosure. 
     The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored. 
     Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-time superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g., RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), and long-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA) are contemplated for use by computer system  1100 . 
     The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.