System and method for forwarding a message left on a telephone by a

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and method for forwarding a message left by a caller on a telephone to one or more telephone numbers. Prior to activating the message-forwarding feature, the telephone receives input from the user to select one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. Messages left by the callers on the telephone will be forwarded to the one or more pre-selected telephone numbers. If the message-forwarding feature is activated and an incoming telephone call is received from a caller, the telephone answers the telephone call and prompts the caller to leave a message on the telephone. After receiving the message from the caller, the telephone stores the received message in a storage medium. In one embodiment, the storage medium comprises a random access memory. In another embodiment, the storage medium comprises a cassette tape player with playback capabilities. After the caller leaves a message on the telephone, the telephone retrieves the message, the telephone begins the forwarding process. The telephone attempts to deliver the message to all of the telephone numbers that were indicated by the user. If a number is inaccessible, the telephone attempts to deliver the message up to a maximum number of attempts. If the message is not delivered after the maximum number of attempts, the telephone generates an error message indicating the inaccessible telephone numbers.