Systems and methods for managing communications across multiple identities

Abstract

Electronic communications are managed across multiple identities. A user is able to create an account as well as any desired, required, or appropriate number of profiles under the account. Text messages are exchanged between users using specific profiles. For example, some text messages can be exchanged using a personal profile while other text messages need to be exchanged using a professional profile. In some instances, exchanged text messages are saved to a centralized archive. As such, one or both of the users involved in an exchange can request to retrieve some or all of the exchanged messages at a later time.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A system for managing communications across a plurality of identities, the system comprising:
 a messaging server comprising a processor configured to: 
 receive, from a first user, a request to create a first account; 
 create, in response to one or more indications from the first user, a first profile and a second profile associated with the first account, wherein the first profile comprises a temporary profile that expires after a first length of time; 
 receive, from the first user, a plurality of messages, wherein the plurality of messages include a first message from the first user to a second user using the first profile and a second message from the first user to a third user using the second profile; 
 transmit the plurality of messages from the first user, including by transmitting the first message to the second user using the first profile, and the second message to the third user using the second profile; 
 archive the plurality of messages; 
 determine that the first profile has expired after the first length of time; and 
 suspend the expired first profile for a second length of time before the expired first profile can be used by one of the second user, the third user, and a fourth user; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the first message comprises receiving the first message from the second user. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the first user, a selection to use the first profile to communicate the first message. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein communicating the first message comprises sending the first message to the second user. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second profile comprises a permanent profile. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile comprises a group profile. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to communicate messages amongst a plurality of users using the group profile. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile comprises a business profile. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to request, from the first user, information associated with the business profile that includes one or more of the following: an address, an hour of operation, a telephone number, a web address, and a mission statement. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile is accessible by the first user using any one of a plurality of devices. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to register at least one of the plurality of devices for use with the account. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to respond to a request from the first user to retrieve one or more archived messages. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein responding to the request includes transmitting the one or more archived messages to the first user in an email or in a text message. 
     
     
       14. A method for managing communications across a plurality of identities, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first user, a request to create a first account; 
 using a processor to create, in response to one or more indications from the first user, a first profile and a second profile associated with the first account, wherein the first profile comprises a temporary profile that expires after a first length of time; 
 receiving, from the first user, a plurality of messages, wherein the plurality of messages include a first message from the first user to a second user using the first profile, and a second message from the first user to a third user using the second profile; 
 transmitting the plurality of messages from the first user, including by transmitting the first message to the second user using the first profile and the second message to the third user using the second profile; 
 archiving the plurality of messages; 
 determining that the first profile has expired after the first length of time and 
 suspending the expired first profile for a second length of time before the expired first profile can be used by one of the second user, the third user, and a fourth user. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein communicating the first message comprises receiving the first message from the second user. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving, from the first user, a selection to use the first profile to communicate the first message. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein communicating the first message comprises sending the first message to the second user. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein second profile comprises a permanent profile. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile comprises a group profile. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising communicating messages amongst a plurality of users using the group profile. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile comprises a business profile. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising requesting, from the first user, information associated with the business profile that includes one or more of the following: an address, an hour of operation, a telephone number, a web address, and a mission statement. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first profile and the second profile is accessible by the first user using any one of a plurality of devices. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising registering at least one of the plurality of devices for use with the account. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising responding to a request from the first user to retrieve one or more archived messages. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein responding to the request includes transmitting the one or more archived messages to the first user in an email or in a text message.