Patent ID: 7130390

Claim:
A method of using an interactive voice response (IVR) system and a computer server connected to a communications network to support voice messaging between individuals accessible through telephone devices located on the network and individuals accessible through computer devices located on the network, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of voice messages from remote users of devices located on the network, each received voice message including information identifying at least one intended recipient; for each received voice message, accessing a user profile for its intended recipient, said user profile specifying one or more communication devices located on the network by which such intended recipient should receive delivery or notification of voice messages directed to such intended recipient, said communication devices including at least one of a telephone device and a computer device; determining, for each of the intended recipients, a preferred one of the specified communication devices by which such intended recipient should receive delivery or notification of voice messages directed to such intended recipient as a function of a time period during which the voice messages are received and updating the respective user profile accordingly; notifying the intended recipients of the received voice messages at the preferred communication devices according to their respective user profiles, said notifying including notifying the intended recipient of the received voice messages via the preferred device; and delivering the received voice messages to their intended recipients in audio form, including delivering at least one of the received voice messages to its intended recipient in audio form using the IVR system and the preferred communication device specified in the user profile of the intended recipient.