Patent ID: 7620735

Claim:
A distributed notification system for delivering selected communications in real time to a recipient in an alternate communication format and/or via an alternate communication network, the system comprising; a communication server for receiving and storing an initial communication in a first format intended for a first destination over a first communication network; a selection module that screens said initial communication pursuant to a first set of rules defined by the recipient to determine whether said initial communication should be identified as a selected communication for alternate delivery; a rules database that stores recipient state information and a second set of rules, which are at least in part defined by the recipient, for application to said selected communication wherein said second set of rules, in conjunction with said recipient state information, determine said alternate communication format and/or said alternate communication network for delivery of said selected communication; a rules module that queries said rules database for said recipient state information and said second set of rules and instantiates an instruction application based on said recipient state information and said second set of rules to direct further processing of said selected communication; a service module that is invoked by said instruction application and that converts said selected communication from said first format to a second format; and a delivery module that automatically delivers said selected communication in said second format to a second destination directed by the instruction application according to said recipient state information and said second set of rules.