Instant message notification application

Abstract

A more efficient message notification system utilizing technology found in Instant Messaging Services. The more efficient system is achieved by first registering a Message Notification Application with an Instant Messaging Service. A user logs onto the Instant Messaging Service and indicates to the Message Notification Application that the user would like to be notified when new messages arrive. The Message Notification Application then adds the user to its own buddy list. The user is notified by the Message Notification Application through the Instant Messaging Service when a message is received. The user can then retrieve messages through an internet appliance with sound capabilities, or by utilizing the voice-to-text conversion capabilities of the application from the voice messaging or unified messaging server, or by more traditional methods such as a telephone.

1 . A method of providing message notification for a user comprising the steps of: 
 a. coupling a message notification application to a server, wherein the server stores messages for the user,    b. registering the message notification application to at least one instant messaging service, wherein the message notification application maintains a buddy list corresponding to each registered instant messaging service;    c. accessing a first of the at least one instant messaging service by the user,    d. signing the user onto the message notification application by adding the user to a first buddy list of corresponding to the first instant messaging service, thereby associating the user to the first instant messaging service; and    e. sending an instant message notification from the message notification application via the first instant messaging service to the user when a message arrives on the server for the user.    
   
   
       2 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of retrieving the message by accessing the server.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the server is one of an application, a voice messaging and a unified messaging server.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising the step of accessing the server by one of sending a request to the message notification application and using a telephone.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising the step of retrieving messages from the server by an internet appliance.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising the step of deleting a message using an internet appliance without retrieving the message from the server.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for providing message notification and allowing a user to instantly review new messages comprising: 
 a. at least one instant messaging service;    b. a message notification application registered to the at least one instant messaging service, wherein the message notification application maintains a buddy list corresponding to each registered instant messaging service such that accessing a first instant messaging service by the user adds the user to a first buddy list maintained by the message notification application thereby associating the user to the first instant message service;    c. a server for storing messages and providing a medium for the message notification application to operate; and    d. an internet appliance to access the server and receive an instant message notification from the message notification application via the first instant messaging service the instant message notification indicates that a new message is stored on the server for the user.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising means for automatically adding the user to the buddy list of the message notification application in response to the user signing up to receive messages with the message notification application.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the message notification application comprises means for sending the user the instant message notification through the first instant messaging service when a message arrives for the user while the user is using the first instant messaging service.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising means for retrieving the message from the server by one of sending a request to the message notification application and using a telephone.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the server is one of an application, a voice messaging and a unified messaging server.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising means for deleting the message using the internet appliance without retrieving the message from the server.  
   
   
       14 . A message notification system that allows the user to instantly review new messages comprising: 
 a. at least one instant messaging service;    b. a message notification application registered to the at least one instant messaging service wherein the message notification application maintains a buddy list corresponding to each registered instant messaging service such that accessing a first instant messaging service by the user adds the user to a first buddy list maintained by the message notification application, thereby associating the user to the first instant message service;    c. a server for storing messages and providing a medium for the message notification application to operate; and    d. an internet appliance to access the server and receive an instant message notification from the message notification application via the first instant messaging service the instant message notification indicates that a new message is stored on the server for the user.    
   
   
       15 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising means for automatically adding the user to the buddy list of the message notification application in response to the user signing up to receive messages with the message notification application.  
   
   
       16 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the message notification application comprises means for sending the user the instant message notification through the first instant messaging service when a message arrives for the user while the user is using the first instant messaging service.  
   
   
       17 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising means for retrieving the message from the server by one of sending a request to the message notification application and using a telephone.  
   
   
       18 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the server is one of an application, a voice messaging and a unified messaging server.  
   
   
       19 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising means for deleting the message using the internet appliance without retrieving the message from the server.  
   
   
       20 . A message notification system for a user comprising: 
 a. means for coupling a message notification application to a server, wherein the server stores messages for the user,    b. means for registering the message notification application to at least one instant messaging service, wherein the message notification application maintains a buddy list corresponding to each registered instant messaging service;    c. means for accessing a first of the at least one instant messaging service by the user;    d. means for signing the user onto the message notification application by adding the user to a first buddy list of the message notification application corresponding to the first instant messaging service, thereby associating the user to the first instant messaging service; and    e. means for sending an instant message notification from the message notification application via the first instant messaging service to the user when a message arrives on the server for the user.    
   
   
       21 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising means for the user to retrieve the message by accessing the server.  
   
   
       23 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the server is one of an application, a voice messaging and a unified messaging server.  
   
   
       24 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the user accesses the server by one of sending a request to the message notification application and using a telephone.  
   
   
       25 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the message is retrieved from the server by an internet appliance.  
   
   
       26 . The message notification system as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising the step of deleting the message using the internet appliance without retrieving the message from the server.  
   
   
       27 . A method of providing a voice messaging notification application for a user in an instant messaging system comprising the steps of: 
 a. coupling a message notification application to a server, wherein the server stores messages for the user;    b. registering the message notification application to at least one instant messaging service, wherein the message notification application maintains a buddy list corresponding to each registered instant messaging service;    c. accessing a first of the at least one instant messaging services by the user:    d. adding the user to a first buddy list corresponding to the first instant messaging service, thereby associating the user to the first instant messaging service;    e. sending an instant message notification to the user from the message notification application via the first instant messaging service when a message arrives on the server for the user; and    f. allowing the user access to the server to access the message by one of using an internet appliance and using a telephone.