WO2001024463A1

WO2001024463A1 - Method and device for unified messaging

Info

Publication number: WO2001024463A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000605
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aaron Tzadikov; Alon Marom; Lyor Goldstein; Erez Marom; Benny Matityahu; Yoram Naim
Original assignee: Cti Squared Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-09-27
Filing date: 2000-09-27
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: AU7552100A; WO2001024378A3; AU7552200A; WO2001024378A2

Abstract

Method and apparatus for remote accessing of and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL. The method is operated through a user terminal interfacing between a user and the multi-layered communication management platform, allowing different types of multimedia messages received through the platform, generated by at least one information source and received from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through the user terminal. In accordance with the invention, the user terminal is configured to use a JavaTM pager applet for connecting to the communication management platform, and to use the pager applet to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through the user terminal respective types of textual and multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR UNIFIED MESSAGING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to multi-media computerized communication systems supporting unified messaging services, and more particularly, to systems and methods supporting through advanced man-machine interfaces the practical implementation of computer means required for supporting the user's access, interaction and management of all message types. It also relates to the use of communication devices and accessories for use with such systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proliferation of avenues of communication between different locations has been growing significantly with the fast increase in the use and applications of

Internet communications and cellular telephone networks. These emerging new applications are in addition to existing and commonly used computer e-mail services, and fax and voice messaging systems. One of the most important aspects in the efficient use of this broad range of communication services and channels, is the ability to easy access messages from any user location. Users would like to have the ability to use for efficient data access any communication devices and accessory available, whether it is a telephone, a fax, a computer, a PDA device, or any combination of these. The accessibility and ability to provide simplified multi-media multi-source message management and handling, is an essential tool in the modern business environment, where users are often traveling or working from home and need to stay in constant contact with their back-office. This fast growing demand has created a long time search for the development and implementation of Unified Message System (UMS) tools that, once solved, will enable the smooth conduct of on-site as well remote business communication. The UMS tools will support transactions, allow informed decision-making and generally enable the user to benefit from the multi-source communications environment anywhere and at any time. The virtual office concept is now within reach, and all the necessary infrastructure is in place. There remains the need to further develop the aspects of simple and efficient UMS handling and management methods, the related UMS supporting user interaction devices and the manner of their interaction with the UMS management systems. Such interaction should be geared for optimized handling, managing and providing the user with multi-media communication capabilities and related data message solutions, and the preferred solutions should operate in all working environments and user's communication capabilities with the UMS situations. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a multi-message, multi-source message handling solution, to be operated through a dedicated user interface, communicating with the related UMS data management systems and methods, supporting a large variety of messages types and communication environments. The new solutions should be readily available and easily accessible to the various types of users, operating from a large selection of data terminals and for a large spectrum and different types of communication systems. The required solution would preferably provide advanced multi-media message management and automatic selectable forwarding. It should also preferably enable database content research, followed by the prompt delivery of the searched information to the specific inquiring user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide users with such a multi-message, multi-source message handling and recall solution for operating through a dedicated user interface, communicating with the related UMS data management systems and supporting a large variety of messages types, users' data terminals and communication environments.

This objective is realized in accordance with a first aspect of the invention by a method for remote accessing of and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system (UMS). The UMS is operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL. The method is operated through a user terminal interfacing between a user and the UMS platform, allowing different types of multimedia messages, generated by at least one information source and received through said platform from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through the user terminal. The method comprises the following steps, all carried out by the user terminal:

(a) using a Java pager applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform, and

(b) using the pager applet to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of said multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.

The general method supports the use of any user terminal that has an embedded Java pager applet to create a communication session with the UMS platform server. Further to establishing the communication session, the embedded applet supports the data streaming capabilities required for further retrieving and providing the user with any kind of textual and multimedia messages stored in the

UMS platform database which are related to the specific user data forwarding parameters. In another embodiment of the present invention the method further includes an initial phase wherein the Java ™ applet is first loaded to the user terminal, there being included the further steps of:

(c) using a Java supported browser software for communicating through the Internet and communicating between a web server and the user terminal, and

(d) downloading the pager applet from the web server.

A preferred solution for the user interfacing with the UMS systems is a simplified, multi-purpose, multi-task virtual apparatus, embedded in the user's terminal. A suitable apparatus for implementing the solution operates under a related supporting data and multi-media UMS communication and control system, continuously available for its operator and forwarding any required data from any selected source, directly to the user's communication terminal.

According to the present invention there is provided a pager apparatus for remote access of and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL. The apparatus operates through a user terminal interfacing between a user and said platform for allowing different types of multimedia messages generated by at least one information source and received through the platform from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through the user terminal. The apparatus comprises: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor and being adapted to store therein a Java pager applet adapted to present to the user on a display of the user terminal a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of the multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options; a communication port coupled to the processor for connecting to the communication management platform under control of the Java pager applet; and a plurality of output ports each coupled to the processor and configured to output a request for downloading a respective message type under control of the pager applet.

Such an apparatus supports the user interaction with a multiple of data sources such as; voice mail, video and still image messages, fax, E-mail, fax server data output and the receipt of IP Telephony voice messages. The apparatus allows multimedia messages to be retrieved, accessed and handled by the user. Received messages are transmitted from the server to the apparatus through the Internet, Intranet and other communication networks, supporting user-interfacing with a large variety of terminals, such as standard and dedicated computer terminals, PDA's, regular and cellular telephones and fax machines. The method and the related apparatus according to the present invention provide a unified messaging access and management solution, combining a unified messaging collection and delivery mailbox with integrated Internet and Intranet access capabilities.

The UMS server platform enabling and supporting the operation of the apparatus of the present invention is designed and structured in four layers:

1. An access layer, enabling and supporting through the user terminal a total solution interfacing flexibility, enabling data transfer through various popular communication networks, such as the cellular, PSTN, Internet, Intranet and, wireless and cable environments: 2. A protocol conversion layer, allowing any communication device to access and/or to activate services provided by the system; 3. A media conversion layer, performing media conversion between voice, fax, video and e-mail based on the requirements of communication devices used, enabling conversion from e-mail to voice for example, allowing the user to hear an e-mail message through a voice player, or through a telephone, using text-to-speech conversion technology; and

4. A database link layer, creating links to enable access to any type of database.

The apparatus according to the present invention gives the user a single virtual configuration visual mailbox, servicing all incoming message types.

Messages can be accessed and managed using such an apparatus over any communication environment - Internet, Intranet, Cellular, wireless or cables. Users can receive through the UMS server their messages by using most common communication device, including phones and fax machines, desktop or network computers, PDAs, Java ™ machines, or pagers. Users can use the apparatus, connected through a UMS server, to read or to hear their e-mails converted from text to speech, hear their telephone messages using the UMS server Java client unique voice streaming capabilities, or to use the UMS server Java client to view faxes. Further applications of the apparatus according to the present invention enable performance upgrading, by the receipt and display of multimedia sources combining audio with streaming video, 2D and 3D high resolution animated graphic images and motion sequences.

The UMS server may also provide automated message forwarding to ensure efficient message flow. With rules defined by the subscriber, messages are redirected and delivered, and notifications of message arrivals are provided to any communication device. Upon arrival of a new message to the server, a specified message or message notification is delivered to the Java applet pager. The user can tell the UMS server to call him on his cellular phone every time he receives an e-mail message from a specific client. The UMS server based system can notify the user that a new message has arrived, later it can display or in a case of a voice message, replay to the user the message, through a customized pager apparatus.

Another feature of the present invention apparatus is the provision of an Internet Telephony interface, thus supporting the functionality of a desktop smart message-receiving machine on the Internet. Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a content researcher, which retrieves content from selected databases on the Internet according to user-defined rules, and forwards the content in real time to the user through the apparatus of the present invention. E-commerce information from web databases can be searched routinely by the UMS server and provided to the user through the apparatus according to pre-defined parameters.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for remote accessing and data retrieving from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL, the method operated through a user terminal interfacing between a user and said platform, allowing different types of multimedia messages received through said platform, generated by at least one information source and received from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through said user terminal, the method comprising the following steps: (a) using a Java applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform; and (b) using the pager applet to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving, displaying text and data messages and replaying voice messages or through the user terminal respective types of the multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.

According to the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for remote access and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL, the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code for causing the computer to use a Java applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform, and computer readable program code for causing the computer to use the pager applet in order to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of said multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing functionally a pager according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a flow-chart of showing the principal operating steps carried out by a Java pager HTTP activation protocol;

Figure 3 shows pictorially a first embodiment of the Java applet pager in a virtual shape of a console displayed on a user display terminal;

Figure 4 shows pictorially a second embodiment of the Java applet pager in a different console shape, as displayed on the user display terminal;

Figure 5 is a table summarizing the features and the related key icons of the operational buttons of one embodiment the Java applet pager, as displayed on user's terminal screen;

Figure 6 is a pictorial representation of a computer-generated image of an office environment desktop, enabling tools selection; Figure 7 is a sequence-chart showing schematically a communication sequence between the user and the pager, covering a scenario of a user activating the pager and retrieving a voice message; and

Figure 8 is a sequence-chart showing schematically a scenario of a user activating the pager and retrieving a fax.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a remote data accessing method to UMS systems. A multiple source and multi-media data provision method is supported by the present invention Java Applet Pager based apparatus. The virtual look-alike pager supports communicating with a UMS management platform and enables subscribers to retrieve from the UMS system their multi-media messages. It is used for receiving messages and provides the user with a notification of the receipt of any message. The virtual pager display is a window image on the device screen and it has a selection capability for the type of messages to be received. The present invention remote accessing method and the related apparatus requires no prior installation and can be activated from any computer terminal or from other communication devices having web-based browsers. The Java Applet software creating and operating the pager apparatus requires only a limited memory size, typical to hand-held or desktop compact size devices, such as Palm Pilot or Windows CE™ driven PDA's. By virtue of the login name and password, the web server can be accessed from any physical location and the Java virtual pager will be downloaded from the UMS web server to the user terminal at that location.

The Java applet that creates a connection to the UMS system through the Internet may use any Java supporting browser, and also enables connection to the UMS system through other intermediate communication paths using remote web servers. Current Internet browsers are equipped with Java capability and a web site having a Java applet has the advantage that the program can be resident on the web site and not on a user terminal. Only when a communication session is required between the user and the UMS web server, the program is loaded and starts running on the user terminal which should support Java

The virtual pager can run in a separate window from the presented HTML page or it can be embedded within the HTML page. The virtual pager has the "look and feel" of a pager and the functions of mailbox can be selected, such as the viewing of e-mail, displaying a fax, or hearing voice mail. Voice mail is converted to audio from compressed digitized voice message files, such digital data packages being stored previously in the storage of the UMS web server. To start the virtual pager, the client reaches a web site using a browser and the UMS web server downloads the pager applet on to the client machine. In practice, the pager communicates with a Java server within the UMS platform and the web server serves only to operate the hook up stage.

The Java pager uses a dedicated protocol to communicate with the Java server which takes the database's stored messages, be they voice, e-mail or fax and handles them for display or playback on the pager through voice streaming, fax viewing or e-mail viewing communication modes. This protocol is a transparent firewall design and is disguised as an HTTP protocol.

Voice messages retrieved through the Internet are heard using the UMS server voice player or Java player (when using the Java applet pager Client as the interfacing solution between the user and the UMS platform.). The Voice Player supports voice-streaming technology.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing functionally a pager 200 having three main layers: a Graphic layer 202, a Control layer 203 and a Communication layer 204. The graphic layer 202 acts as the client application skin, generating the entire image that will materialize and visualize the pager on the user's terminal screen. Associated with the pager graphic layer 202 is a property file that holds the following data types: a. The names of graphical images that will be used in the pager (i.e. the name of a "play" button). b. The dimensions of the images and the corresponding coordinates of their screen locations. c. Used fonts- type and size. d. Words that are used in the pager in different languages. e. Pager's colors.

The Control layer 203 is the controlling software package of the pager 200. The Communication layer 204 handles the connection with the Java server component of the unified message server. The Client/Server protocol used is client request/command and server reply, wherein the command contains a command's name and relevant data, and the server's reply comprises a command's result and its relevant data. The connection with the server can be made in two ways:

1. A direct TCP/IP socket from communication layer 204 TCP output port to a communication layer 210 of the Java ™ server 209, the server being on any defined port;

2. Through a tunneling HTTP socket from communication layer 204 HTTP port, through Servlets 205 HTTP port 206, through translator 207 to TCP port 208 and from there to the communication layer 210 of the Java Server 209. The Pager operation starts with a direct connection with the server and if it fails, owing to firewall or proxy setting, it tries the tunneling through HTTP socket 206, 207, 208. The Servlets 205 are located together with the web server and any tunneling HTTP socket request 206 is redirected through the translator 207 to the UMS Java ™ Server 209. The communication layer 210 in the UMS Java ™ Server unit 209 is connected and communicates with the pager 200 through a communication layer 204 in the pager 200. The UMS Java Server 209 interprets the specific user data request from the UMS system through a command/request layer 211 in the Java ™ Server 209. The Java Native interface layer 212 is an intermediate data exchange interfacing layer between the command/request layer of the Java Sever 209 and the UMS sever access layers, not shown in the figure.

In Fig. 2, showing the Java ™ pager HTTP protocol flow-chart, the first step begins with block 2, in which the client accesses a web-site using a computer terminal having an Internet browser. In block 4, the Java Pager desktop selection image is displayed as an HTML page, and upon selection the Java pager applet is downloaded to the client computer terminal. In block 6, the Java pager software generating package is started, by requesting a login code from the user of the Java pager, and in block 8 the pager display appears on the client computer terminal and is ready for operation. The user requests operation of the pager by pressing the pager selected button for the message headers, and receives a table of message headers.

Through command parameters entered into the pager client, the Java server responds with a result - whether it did, or did not perform the task and gets the requested data. The command parameters include login, logout, obtain and display message headers, since the message headers are basic information stripped out of the message itself. The transmitted message is pre-formatted so as to allow extraction of the message header information, such as who sent the message, the time, the date, etc. The message can then be selected for display, or if it is voice, sent through the terminal voice generator unit for vocalization, whereafter the Java server then sends the message. A feature of the Java server is that the on-line notification continues during receipt of new messages.

Figure 3 shows pictorially one possible embodiment of the pager apparatus as it appears on the user's terminal screen. Button 12 is a software enabled pushbutton on the pager visualized image which enables the user to click forward and get the next message from the UMS server. Button 14 has a similar function and upon the user activation by pressing the button the user gets through the pager the previous message stored on the UMS server. Button 16 enables a delete function for the current message. Button 20 enables a stop function on voice information received through the pager. Button 18 is the main "power" activation button of the present invention pager, enabling the user start of operation, or stop of operation, of the present invention pager. Button 22 enables a play/view function on the information received through the pager. Screen 24 is a visual computer generated image of a pager screen, enabling the display to the apparatus's user of the pager received textual, graphic and image massages. The screen also supports the display requirements of textual and graphic data related to the control by the user of the received data communication contents and the control of communication and receipt of status from the UMS server. Typically such information can be the ID details of the sender of the present message, date and time of message, subject of message and data on additional waiting messages from the present sender. Button 28 enables the pager operation in an email mode, thus enabling the receipt of emails by the user through the pager apparatus.

Button 30 the pager enables the pager operation in a fax mode, thus enabling the receipt of fax messages by the user through the pager apparatus. Button 32 enables the pager operation in a voice message mode, thus enabling the receipt of voice messages, by or from the user, through the pager. Button 34 enables the user selection of the pager operation in a Multi-media message mode, thus enabling and supporting the receipt of all possible incoming and outgoing data packages. Activation of this button enables managing multi-media data files, composed of voice, email and fax messages received or sent by the user, through the pager. Indicator 36 enables the pager to notify the user when a new message arrives. An audio notification could also be activated and heard by the user, when a message arrives. Figure 4 shows pictorially the pager according to another embodiment of invention where the same operational buttons are arranged in a slightly different set of locations and have different shapes and sizes on the apparatus computerized image. Some of the icons on the apparatus buttons are also slightly different than those used in the embodiment described above and shown in Figure 3. Button 44 has the function of deleting the last message received through the pager. Indication light 52 gives a blinking indication and changes color when a message arrives to the pager from the UMS server. Indication light 62 gives to a user of the pager a positive indication that the Java ™ pager applet is activated and is ready for operation (pager "on" position). All other buttons, display elements and indications marked 40, 42, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56, 58, 60, are identical in their function and similar in their position and look on the pager image front panel, to the corresponding buttons and indications of the pager shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 summarizes in tabular form all the functions and indications included in some of the possible embodiments of the pager according to the invention. Line 70 describes the two indication graphic items in the virtual pager image having the shape of an illuminated LED colored light, appearing on the pager front panel image whenever required. One yellow blinking LED shape image indicates that the Message pager in ON and in communication with the UMS server. The other red blinking LED shape image indicates to the user of the pager that one or more new message have arrived. Line 72 describes the power button which has an integral red light power on indication Led image indicating that the pager in ON. By pressing the power button, the pager is switched OFF and the communication with the UMS server is terminated. Line 74 describes the email operation button when operated enables viewing the arriving email messages. Line 76 describes the fax operation button, which when clicked enables viewing any fax messages that have arrived. Line 78 describes the voice operation button, which when clicked enables listening to the arriving voice messages. Line 80 describes the all messages operation button, which when clicked enables listening to and reading all the user received messages be they email, fax or voice. Line 82 enables the user selection of the next message in the incoming message Queue of the pager. Line 84 enables the user selection of the previous message in the incoming message Queue of the pager. Line 86 describes the button operation related to supporting the user ability to stop at any moment the playing of an incoming voice message. Line 88 describes the button operation related to supporting the user ability to play at any moment the pager incoming voice message, or to display for the pager user data for reading on the pager visualized screen, regarding the contents of incoming emails and faxes. Figure 6 is a suggested embodiment of a computer-generated image of an office environment desktop, enabling tools selection. The figure is the image of the Internet URL page that the remote user will use to access and load the present invention Java pager apparatus. By accessing the UMS server web site entrance address page (URL), the user can select between operating the pager, by clicking on the pager image 92, or selecting other functions he or she would prefer to operate from his or her terminal, such as using HTML mail client by clicking on the computer terminal image 96, or using a default email client by clicking on the computer terminal image 94, or using Java client by clicking on one of the computer terminals image 90. These same clients can be used to enable the user to start a multi-media video message related data stream, or to receive a sequence of high definition animated images.

Figure 7 is a visualized presentation of one embodiment of a communication sequence between the user and the pager, described by a sequence chart displaying in a step-by-step process, a simple scenario of a user activating the pager and retrieving a voice message. The schematic drawing of figure 7 shows the sequence of the related pager operation regarding data communication between the user terminal side 100 and the UMS server side 102. The first step 104 shows the user command URL, to access the Internet network address of the UMS server. The next step 106 indicates the data returning to the user terminal 100 from the UMS WEB server 102. This data is a WEB page in HTML format of the UMS server requested URL page file that includes the Java applet code. When it is received it activates the pager image and controls. The pager is operational 124 and its related display status functions through the user's terminal and its display unit. Step 108 covers the intermediate security requirement step where the user is required by the Java ™ applet to identify and to fill in the user name (user ID) and the password in order to get access permission to the user secured messages data hosted in the UMS server database.

After an authentication certificate is generated by the UMS server in step 110, an access is granted to the user to operate the pager. The pager requests the Inbox headers 112 and gets the message headers in a message 114 returned from the UMS server. Step 114 depicts the process of the Server transmitting to the user side the inbox headers. Essentially, these headers effect the initiation of the pager visual display on the user's terminal display, and also enable the further step 116, when the user presses a button that activates the user's terminal message command for retrieval and transfer from the UMS server memory to the user's terminal of the relevant selected files. These files can be either the user's incoming box of voice messages, as demonstrated at step 118, as well as other optional data sources including the user's personal collected and stored emails, or the user's collected and stored incoming faxes. Step 120 covers the command generated by the pager applet to activate the data streaming process related to the transfer in the following step 122, of the recorded voice mail messages from the UMS server to the user terminal. The initiation of the voice mail data transfer is activated by the user's operational activities, triggered by pressing the specific present invention pager mission dedicated buttons.

Figure 8 is a sequence-chart showing schematically a scenario of a user activating the pager and retrieving a fax in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The figure demonstrates in a graphic format the process of incoming fax message handling and the related data communication between the user terminal side 148 and the UMS server side 130. The first step 132 shows the user terminal initiating communication and establishing connection with the UMS server 130, similar to the process described in Figure 7. After the transmission and receipt of this data file from the server to the user terminal, a Java applet is downloaded and runs 150 on the user's terminal to enable the operation of the pager thereon. The next step 134 indicates the data request generated by the user terminal and transmitted to the server 130. The server acknowledges the request 136 and the client initiates a fax stream request to the server 130. Step 139 describes the operation when the sever 130 is retrieving and transferring from the UMS server storage to the user's terminal the relevant selected fax data files. These files are the user's personal collected and stored faxes. Step 140 covers the command generated by the pager applet to update the Inbox folder and the related response from the server 130 with the requested folder data 142. The following step is the user's inbox new message header request followed by step 144 of transmitting to the user terminal 148 of the requested Inbox headers, and the information returned from the server at step 146.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. It will also be understood that the system according to the invention may be a suitably programmed computer. Likewise, the invention contemplates a computer program being readable by a computer for executing the method of the invention. The invention further contemplates a machine-readable memory tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for executing the method of the invention.

In the method claims that follow, alphabetic characters used to designate claim steps are provided for convenience only and do not imply any particular order of performing the steps.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for remote accessing of and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL, the method operated through a user terminal interfacing between a user and said platform, allowing different types of multimedia messages generated by at least one information source and received through said platform from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through said user terminal, the method comprising the following steps all carried out by the user terminal: (a) using a Java pager applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform, and

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

(c) using a Java supported browser software for communicating through the Internet and communicating between a web server and said user terminal, and (d) downloading the pager applet from the web server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said types of multimedia messages include voice mail, fax, e-mail, fax server file, Internet data file, WAP enabled file and IP Telephony voice message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one information source is selected from the group including at least a regular telephone, a wireless telephone, a computer and a fax machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is selected from the group including at least the Internet, an Intranet network, and other communication networks using wired or wireless telecommunication infrastructure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said user terminal is selected from the group including at least a computer terminal, a PDA, a telephone having a display, a fax machine having a display and low memory capacity accessories and devices running under Windows CE ™.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said visual user interface includes at least one graphic functional image selected from the group including a message display information area, display mode buttons, message scroll buttons, message playback and viewing buttons and light indications for arriving messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said received message contains at least one information detail selected from the group including sender name, date of receipt, type of message, message subject and message contents.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the Java applet supports outputting of said messages via multiple output devices each associated with a respective one of said message types.

10. An apparatus (200) for remote accessing of and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform (210) having a URL, the apparatus operating through a user terminal interfacing between a user and said platform for allowing different types of multimedia messages generated by at least one information source and received through said platform from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through said user terminal, said apparatus comprising: a processor (203), a memory coupled to the processor and being adapted to store therein a

Java pager applet adapted to present to the user on a display of the user terminal a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of said multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options, a communication port (204) coupled to the processor for connecting to said communication management platform under control of the Java pager applet, and a plurality of output ports each coupled to the processor and configured to output a respective message type under control of the pager applet.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further including: a Java supported browser software coupled to the processor for communicating through the Internet and communicating between a web server and said user terminal, and allowing the pager applet to be downloaded from the web server.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said types of multimedia messages include voice mail, fax, e-mail, fax server file, Internet data file, WAP enabled file and IP Telephony voice message.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one information source is selected from the group including at least a regular telephone, a wireless telephone, a computer and a fax machine.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said communication network is selected from the group including at least the Internet, an Intranet network, and other communication networks using wired or wireless telecommunication infrastructure.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said user terminal is selected from the group including at least a computer terminal, a PDA, a telephone having a display, a fax machine having a display and low memory capacity accessories and devices running under Windows CE ™.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said visual user interface includes at least one graphic functional image selected from the group including a message display information area, display mode buttons, message scroll buttons, message playback and viewing buttons and light indications for arriving messages.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said received message contains at least one information detail selected from the group including sender name, date of receipt, type of message, message subject and message contents.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the Java applet supports outputting of said messages via multiple output devices each associated with a respective one of said message types.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said multimedia messages are selected from the group including at least a voice mail, a fax, an e-mail, a graphic file, an image file, a 2D video file, a 3D video file, Internet pages data file, WAP enabled file and an IP Telephony voice message.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message type includes an e-mail message that is configured to provide any combination of multimedia information selected from the group including text, graphics, voice and video.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said information source generating multimedia messages is selected from the group including at least a regular telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a video phone, a computer, a fax machine, a WAP supporting device, a SMS supporting device, a XML supporting device, a HTML supporting device, an IP telephony supporting device, a video images generation device, a PDA, a Windows CE ™ based device and an Internet access device.

22. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one communication network is selected from the group including at least the Internet, an Intranet network, a controlled IP network, communication networks using wiring infrastructure (PSTN), wireless and cellular telecommunication networks, satellite telecommunication networks and Cable TV networks.

23. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said visual user interface is adapted to display a menu of items for allowing at least one of said items to be selected by a selection device coupled to the processor.

24. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for remote accessing and data retrieving from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL, the method operated through a user terminal interfacing between a user and said platform, allowing different types of multimedia messages received through said platform, generated by at least one information source and received from at least one communication network, to be locally and remotely accessed through said user terminal, the method comprising the following steps: (a) using a Java applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform, and (b) using the pager applet to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of said multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for remote access and data retrieval from a Unified Message data management system operated under a multi-layered communication management platform having a URL, the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code for causing the computer to us a Java applet at said user terminal for connecting to said communication management platform, and computer readable program code for causing the computer to us the pager applet to present to the user a visual user interface including a plurality of data access options for retrieving and replaying through said user terminal respective types of said multimedia messages by selecting and operating at least one of the data access options.