US Patent 7729688 Systems and processes to manage multiple modes of communication

A computer-implemented system and method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, when a person tries to electronically convey a message to the user, the status of the user, the identity of the person, and the urgency of the message can be identified. The access priority of the person can be determined based on the person's identity. Then, the message can be managed using one or more rules and in view of the status of the user, the access priority of the person and the urgency of the message.