ITB Journal-May-2003 - Institute of Technology Blanchardstown

ITB Journal
Unified Internet Messaging
Paul Healy and Declan Barber,
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
Paul.Healy@itb.ie
Declan.Barber@itb.ie
Abstract
As telephony services, mobile services and internet services continue to converge, the
prospect of providing Unified Messaging and even Unified Communications becomes
increasingly achievable. This paper discusses the growing importance of IP-based
networks to Unified Messaging developments and examines some of the key services
and protocols that are likely to make Unified Messaging more widely available. In this
initial paper, we limit ourselves initially to the unification of text-based messaging using
SMS and Email. The approach we make is based on the existing Internet Email
framework but will take cognisance of the need to add voice and other non-text based
messaging and communications at a later stage. Ultimately, the research project aims to
build a working prototype of a generic messaging model that works for both non realtime
and real-time communications. This model will provide a framework into which
existing and future messaging protocols can be plugged. This paper originated from an
applied research project which examined the integration possibilities for various
messaging and communications protocols
1. Introduction
As traditional telephony services, mobile services and Internet services continue to converge,
the prospect of providing true Unified Messaging (UM) and even Unified Communications
(UC) becomes increasingly achievable. For the purposes of this paper we will define
Messaging as any non-real time or near-real time message transfer service ( e.g. email,
paging, sms , fax, voicemail) and Communications as any real time, near-real time or non-real
time messaging service (e.g. email, sms, fax, voicemail, telephony, computer telephony, videoconferencing).
We define the minimum set of features in a truly Unified System (US) to
include:
• a unified inbox for each user/profile
• a unified (logical) message store
• a unified directory service
• unified management of either centralised or distributed component architecture
• conversion between different media
• universal access from a broad range of user devices.
Issue Number 7, May 2003 Page 4