Patent ID: 8433797

Claim:
A message system for managing user messages, the message system comprising: a message storage system configured for receiving a plurality of messages of a plurality of different message types through a network connection system and storing the messages and message information associated with the messages in a non-markup language format, the plurality of different message types being selected from a group consisting of: fax messages, text messages, audio messages, video messages, and picture messages; a program server configured for serving, in a non-HyperText Transfer Protocol, at least one media user interface file to at least one client device coupled to the program server by the network connection system, the media user interface file comprising executable computer instructions, the media user interface file for installing and executing on the client device for providing a message user interface (UI) engine on the client device, the message UI engine comprising a plurality of embedded media applications for presenting a plurality of different message types, the plurality of embedded media application being selected from a group consisting of: a fax viewer for viewing fax messages, a text viewer for viewing text messages, an audio player for playing audio messages, a video player for playing video messages, and a picture viewer for viewing picture messages; and a message server configured for: sending a homepage user interface (UI) to the client device, the homepage UI comprising an icon for selecting the message UI engine for executing on the client device; receiving, from the message UI engine of the client device, a plurality of selections of messages of a plurality of different message types; retrieving the plurality of selected messages from the message storage system; and serving, in a non-HyperText Transfer Protocol, the plurality of selected messages of a plurality of different message types to the message UI engine of the client device.