Network-based multimedia communications and directory system and method of operation

Abstract

A communications system ( ) is provided which comprises a plurality of network hubs ( ), ( ), and ( ). Network hubs ( ), ( ), and ( ) are interconnected through a communications network ( ). The system ( ) interconnects messaging systems ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ) having disparate capabilities and using disparate communications protocols. The network hubs use numbers of connection processors ( ) and ( ) to interact with the messaging systems. A hub database ( ) and message store ( ) are used to store control information and messaging information within the network hubs. A network processor ( ) is used to interact with other hubs within the communications system ( ). A message router ( ), connection manager ( ), data replicator ( ), and an administrative event manager ( ) are used to control the operations of-the hub in processing a message. A management server ( ) and a event processor ( ) are used by communications system ( ) to manage the internal operations of each of the network, hubs. The network center ( ) contains a customer computer interface system ( ) and an interactive voice response system ( ) to allow user interaction with information provider databases ( ), a customer service system ( ), a message tracking system ( ), a billing system ( ), and a HelpLine system ( ). The network center ( ) contains a master database ( ) that is used to synchronize the databases stored in each of the network hubs ( ), ( ), and ( ).