Patent ID: 7171191

Claim:
A system for centralized notification of incoming messages between a plurality of electronic communication devices, comprising: a first electronic device for communicating over a first local network and a second provider network, wherein said first electronic device communicates with a first communication service provider utilizing said second provider network; a second electronic device for communicating over said first local network and a third provider network, wherein said second electronic device communicates with a second communication service provider utilizing said third provider network, and wherein said first electronic device and said second electronic device communicate directly with each other utilizing said first local network; and notification control means in said first electronic device and said second electronic device for: allowing a user to select one of said first and second electronic devices as a central notification device for receiving incoming message notifications; and determining whether a centralized notification device has been selected in response to receiving an incoming message; and, if so, sending an incoming message notification over said first network to said centralized notification device.