Unified communication services via e-mail

Abstract

A method and system for providing unified messages services to a subscriber. The subscriber utilizes an active interface embedded in an e-mail notification to control delivery of a non-literal, single media or multimedia message to the subscriber. Such a non-literal message includes, but is not limited to, any of a hyperlink-based message, a voicemail message, a facsimile, and a video clip. The active interface provides access to communications-related services as well, including access to stock/options trading and bill payment.

1 . A computer product, comprising: 
 a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to control retrieval of non-literal messages referenced in a notification message, the computer program code mechanism comprising: 
 a first computer code device configured to store a non-literal message sent to a subscriber identified by a unique identifier;  
 a second computer code device configured to generate an e-mail notification with an embedded active interface referencing the non-literal message and for communicating with a remote computer in order to update the interface dynamically;  
 a third computer code device configured to retrieve the non-literal message from the remote computer when requested by the subscriber through the active interface; and  
 a fourth computer code device configured to render the non-literal message in at least one of an audio formal and a visual format.  
   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fourth computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to render the non-literal message in a streaming format  
     
     
         3 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to link to a modifiable version of account and configuration information of the subscriber.  
     
     
         4 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises a voicemail message.  
     
     
         5 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises a facsimile message.  
     
     
         6 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises an active message indicating that an external event registered by the subscriber has occurred.  
     
     
         7 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-literal message comprises an active message including at least one of news information and sports information.  
     
     
         8 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to dynamically update the active interface to display existing overrides of the subscriber.  
     
     
         9 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide interface controls representing short cuts for frequently performed tasks.  
     
     
         10 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the fifth computer code device comprises a sixth computer code device configured to forward stored facsimiles to a selected facsimile machine.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to retrieve the non-literal message using a secure HTML request.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to perform any one of: 
 (1) deliver a stored facsimile to a retrieval device specified by the subscriber;    (2) delete the non-literal message from storage; and    (3) save the non-literal message into storage.    
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fifth computer code device configured to synchronize, plural non-literal message storage systems when the non-literal message is deleted from one of the plural non-literal message storage systems.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to forward the non-literal message to any one of a phone number, a distribution list and an e-mail address.  
     
     
         15 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide two-way teleconferencing.  
     
     
         16 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide a return call interface for controlling a two-way teleconferencing bridge between two parties.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to provide a call originating interface for controlling a two-way teleconferencing bridge between two parties.  
     
     
         18 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to control a telecommunications switch to call the subscriber to play the voice messages of the subscriber over a phone connection.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a sixth computer code device configured to control the telecommunications switch to perform one of stopping a playing voice message, restarting a stopped voice message, fast forwarding a playing voice message and rewinding a playing voice message.  
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the active interface is implemented as a Java applet.