System and method for personalized multimedia messaging

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for providing telecommunications messaging capabilities and, more specifically, to a system and method for providing personalized messaging in a multimedia environment. A method and system for personalized multimedia messaging include multiple communication mode interfaces which enable the system to communicate with multiple types of communication devices. Caller profiles are configured for preselected callers such that each caller profile includes at least one caller identifier representative of data patterns in incoming. calls received over the communication modes. The caller profiles are selectively configured to include personalized messages intended for a subset of the preselected callers and can also include caller identity verification data. A caller identification subsystem monitors the communication modes for incoming calls which include the data patterns. Upon detecting one of the data patterns, a processor accesses a corresponding caller profile and determines if the caller profile includes a personalized message. If a personalized message includes confidential subject matter, the processor can transmit a caller identity verification request to the incoming caller. The processor compares received caller identity verification data to stored caller identity verification data. If the received verification data matches the stored verification data, the messaging system transmits the personalized message to the caller. If no personalized message is associated with the caller profile, a general message is transmitted to the caller, which might include a greeting that directs the caller to leave a message. In a preferred embodiment, the personalized messaging system is included in an IVR system which enables callers to interface with the IVR system through multiple different communication modes based on the same set of personalized caller preferences.