Adaptable method and system for message delivery

Claim 2

An adaptable method for delivering a message to a user, the method comprising: providing a mailbox capable of receiving a plurality of messages for the user, the plurality of messages having a plurality of types; preselecting prior to receipt of a message by the mailbox, based on a first user designated parameter, one of a plurality of destinations associated with the user for a message received by the mailbox, the plurality of destinations having a plurality of types, wherein the first user designated parameter is the type of the message received by the mailbox; converting the type of the message received by the mailbox to the type of the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and transmitting the converted message received by the mailbox to the user at the one of the plurality of destinations preselected.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of types of messages includes facsimile transmissions, pages, voice mail, video mail and electronic mail.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of types of destinations includes facsimile machines, pagers, telephones, video mail terminals, and electronic mail terminals.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for a message received by the mailbox further depends on a second user designated parameter, wherein the second user designated parameter is the time of receipt of the message by the mailbox.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further comprising: preselecting a time for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and storing the message for transmission at the preselected time.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the type of the message received.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the time of receipt of the message.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 further comprising: preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for an indicator of the message; and transmitting the indicator to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected upon receipt of the message.

Claim 10

An adaptable system for delivering a message to a user, the system comprising: a mailbox capable of receiving a plurality of messages for the user, the plurality of messages having a plurality of types; a controller for preselecting prior to receipt of a message by the mailbox, based on a first user designated parameter, one of a plurality of destinations associated with the user for a message received by the mailbox, the plurality of destinations having a plurality of types, wherein the first user designated parameter is the type of the message received by the mailbox and; means for converting the type of the message received by the mailbox to the type of the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and means for transmitting the converted message received by the mailbox to the user at the one of the plurality of destinations preselected.

Claim 11

An adaptable system for delivering a message to a user, the system comprising: a mailbox capable of receiving a plurality of messages for the user, the plurality of messages having a plurality of types; a controller for preselecting prior to receipt of a message by the mailbox, based on a first user designated parameter, one of a plurality of destinations associated with the user for a message received by the mailbox, the plurality of destinations having a plurality of types, wherein the first user designated parameter is the type of the message received by the mailbox and; means for converting the type of the message received by the mailbox to the type of the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and means for transmitting the converted message received by the mailbox to the user at the one of the plurality of destinations preselected.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of types of messages includes facsimile transmissions, pages, voice mail and electronic mail.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of types of destinations includes facsimile machines, pagers, telephones and electronic mail terminals.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9 wherein preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for a message received by the mailbox further depends on a second user designated parameter, wherein the second user designated parameter is the time of receipt of the message by the mailbox.

Claim 15

The system of claim 9 further comprising: means for preselecting a time for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and means for storing the message for transmission at the preselected time.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the type of the message received.

Claim 17

The system of claim 13 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the time of receipt of the message.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 further comprising: means for preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for an indicator of the message; and means for transmitting the indicator to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected upon receipt of the message.