Patent ID: 7286650

Claim:
A unified messaging system for copying voice-mails and synchronizing status between a voice-mail system and an e-mail system, said unified messaging system comprising: identifier means for identifying a corresponding user's e-mail box of an e-mail system with a voice mail-box of a voice-mail system; a connector component configured as an event handler and includes a universal e-mail box that for at least one message event for the voice-mail box, said connector component uses the identifier means to identify the corresponding user's e-mail box and causes at least one message transaction sent by the universal e-mail box to the corresponding user's e-mail box such that said corresponding user's e-mail box has at least one message transaction having as a counterpart a voice-mail message in the voice-mail box; receiver means including a master in-box of the e-mail system for receiving at least one transaction receipt for a message transaction sent from the user's e-mail box, said message transaction referencing the counterpart voice-mail message in the voice-mail box, said receiver means determines a status of the message transaction from the at least one transaction receipt; and a poller component configured to poll the master in-box of the e-mail system for the at least one transaction receipt generated by the e-mail system for the at least one transaction receipt generated from operating the user's e-mail box, to use the identifier means to identify the counterpart voice-mail message in the voice-mail box that is referenced by the at least one transaction receipt generated from the user's e-mail box, and to cause at least one action in the voice-mail box so as to synchronize a status of the counterpart voice-mail message in the voice-mail box with a status indicated in the at least one transaction receipt generated from operating the user's e-mail box, wherein said unified message system comprises a hybrid system in which on one side, the e-mail system is poll-driven to poll the master in-box for the at least one transaction receipt, whereas on the other side, the voice-mail system is fully event driven to deliver messages via said connector component through the universal e-mail box.