Abstract: A message delivery sequence coordinates the scheduling and delivery of messages. When a user desires to send a message, the user contacts the message delivery system. An automated voice response unit prompts the user for message delivery information, including a delivery time and other delivery options and also prompts the user for the message itself. The message is stored in a message database and an access record corresponding to the message and containing message delivery information is stored in an access database. A delivery time is determined for the message and an event is stored in a scheduling database indicating the delivery time. At the scheduled delivery time, the message delivery system instructs a network control processor to start delivery of the message. The network control processor notifies the automated voice response unit that the message is to be delivered.

Abstract: A distributed voice system and method provides voice scripting and voice messaging to a call processing system. According to this system and method, audio voice is recorded in frames and the frames encapsulated into data packets. The data packets are stored in a database as voice scripts or voice messages. To play back a voice script or voice message, its packets are sequentially retrieved from the database. As soon as the first packet is retrieved, the data are extracted therefrom and playback can begin. As the voice is being played back to a user 106, subsequent packets are retrieved, the data extracted therefrom, and the data buffered for playback. In this manner, a voice script or a voice message can be played back without interruption.