Patent ID: 7330537

Claim:
An integrated messaging system, comprising: a messaging communication server (MCS) coupled to multiple networks of different types; an interface module coupling the messaging communication server to a first type of network, wherein the first type of network includes a groupware application and a directory service, wherein the MCS performs messaging of a second type, including storing and accessing information particular to the second type in the directory service and wherein the messaging of the second type is independent of the first type of network; wherein the first type of network includes an enterprise email network, and wherein the second type of messaging includes voice mail messaging; wherein the information particular to the second type of messaging includes voice mail user attributes and voice mail message information; wherein the voice mail user attributes include data specific to a user of a voice mail system hosted by the MCS, and wherein the user attributes are relatively small and are changed relatively infrequently; wherein the voice mail message information includes data of indefinite length, including stored voice messages and one or more recorded greetings; wherein the voice mail user attributes are stored in the directory service, and are used to access the voice message information that is stored in a database of the groupware application; and wherein the one or more recorded greetings are stored in the email database as an attachment to a specific hidden email message.