Methods and apparatus for providing communications from a plurality of network devices to a user

An apparatus for providing communication to a user via one of a plurality of network devices, comprising:

• a network adapted to couple the plurality of network devices;
• and
• a first network device, including at least a portion of a message queue, coupled to the network;
• wherein the first network device is adapted to:
• receive a plurality of communications for the user from one or more of the plurality of network devices in the message queue;
• select a network device based on at least one of respective time thresholds and respective priorities associated with the plurality of network devices;
• and
• determine whether the selected network device can receive a communication from the message queue based on at least one of a profile associated with the user adapted to define how the user receives the communication on one or more of the network devices and a ruleset adapted to define how the communication is handled based on criteria associated with the communication.

A system for providing communication to a user, comprising:

• a network;
• and
• a plurality of network devices coupled to the network;
• wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices includes at least a portion of a message queue and is adapted to:
• receive a plurality of communications for the user from one or more of the plurality of network devices in the message queue;
• select a network device based on at least one of respective time thresholds and respective priorities associated with the plurality of network devices;
• and
• determine whether the selected network device can receive a communication from the message queue based on at least one of a profile associated with the user adapted to define how the user receives the communication on one or more of the network devices and a ruleset adapted to define how the communication is handled based on criteria associated with the communication.

A computer program product for providing communication to a user via one of a plurality of network devices coupled to a network, comprising:

• a medium readable by a computer, the computer readable medium having computer program code adapted to:
• cause at least one of the plurality of network devices to:
• receive a plurality of communications for the user from one or more of the plurality of network devices in a message queue of the at least one of the plurality of network devices;
• select a network device based on at least one of respective time thresholds and respective priorities associated with the plurality of network devices;
• and
• determine whether the selected network device can receive a communication from the message queue based on at least one of a profile associated with the user adapted to define how the user receives the communication on one or more of the network devices and a ruleset adapted to define how the communication is handled based on criteria associated with the communication.