Abstract: A method for more effectively accessing message attachments that is particularly applicable in a telephone voicemail or e-mail system. The system provides users with the ability to selectively process attachments to a main or originating message and to designate messages as able to be forwarded only once and/or be reviewed only once. Among other benefits, the time required for handling attachments and/or for listening to attachments is reduced. Various embodiments of the invention include the use of telephone keypad input control, push-button, voice recognition and computer control.

Abstract: A port card employable in a cell switch including a host computer having a processor and a bus for interconnecting a plurality of port cards and a method of switching cells in the cell switch. The port card includes: (1) bus master circuitry for gaining control of the bus to allow the port card to place cells to be switched in the cell switch on the bus and (2) interface circuitry, coupled to the local memory and the bus master circuitry, that places the cells on the bus when the bus master circuitry has gained control of the bus, the cells communicated directly from the interface circuitry to another port card in the cell switch via the bus. The processor (or, more generally, the host computer) is relieved of having to participate directly in switching the cells.

Abstract: A multi-media messaging system enables a user to select the communication format for communications between the system and the user. This enables the user to direct the system to convert the communication format of a stored message for the user from a first format (e.g. video) to a second format (e.g. audio). Another feature enables a user to change the language of the outputted message to be different from the language of the stored message. The system also enables a user to input a message in a first language and have the system translate it to a second language and then store it at a user selected location in memory.