METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION RESOURCE MANAGER

1 . A method for managing communications of a user, comprising:

communicating with a telecommunications (telecom) manager in a telecommunications network and with a gateway in a data network regarding communications of a user;

receiving data on communications received for the user from the telecom manager or the gateway;

making the data and the received communications available to the user pursuant to preferences of the user and through the telecom manager or through the gateway; and

causing information related to the data and the received communications to be made available to the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information related to the data on the received communications is obtained through the telecom manager or the gateway.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing identity information about the user,

monitoring the gateway and telecom manager for new identity information about the user or changed identity information about the user, and

in response to the new or the changed identity information, retrieving and storing the new or the changed identity information in addition to or in place of the identity information.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

keeping a directory;

in response to receipt of data on a received communication for the user, checking the data on the received communication against the directory; and

if the data on the received communication is not included in the directory, then adding the data on the received communication to the directory.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user with a standard response to the communication.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user

by indicating the receipt of the data to the user, and

by providing the user with an option of sending a standard response or an option of sending a selected response to the communication; and

in response to receipt of instructions on the options from the user, sending the standard response or the selected response based on the instructions.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein providing the user with the option of sending the selected response comprises allowing the user to create the selected response or allowing the user to choose from canned information as the selected response.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a message log including entries corresponding respectively to communications of the user and with each entry including a name or address associated with the communication.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein creating the message log comprises creating an entry from data received with respect to a communication received for the user.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the received communication comprises a telephone call, a call from a wireless unit, a voice mail message, a page, a facsimile transmission, an electronic mail message, an instant message, or a chat room message.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the received communication comprises an unanswered telephone call or an unanswered call from a wireless unit.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein creating the message log comprises creating an entry with respect to a communication made by the user with the entry comprising a name or an address related to the communication made by the user.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

treating an entry in the message log as related information to data on a received communication when the data includes a name or an address in common with the name or the address in the entry.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving data on a communication received for the user, the data including a name or an address in common with an entry in the message log; and

causing the entry in the message log to be made available to the user as information related to the received communication.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

keeping a calendar including scheduled activities of the user;

in response to receiving data on a received communication, checking the data against the calendar; and

if the data matches a scheduled activity in the calendar, then causing the scheduled activity to be made available to the user as information related to the received communication.

16 . A method for managing communications of a user, comprising:

providing a communications manager operative to communicate with a telecommunications (telecom) manager in a telecommunications network and with a gateway in a data network;

configuring the telecom manager to receive data on communications received for the user through the telecommunications network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the gateway to receive data on communications received for the user through the data network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the communications manager to receive the data on the received communications from the telecom manager and from the gateway;

causing the communications manager to make the data and the received communications available to the user pursuant to the preferences of the user through the telecom manager or the gateway; and

further configuring the communications manager to make information relating to the received communications available to the user pursuant to preferences of the user.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

configuring the communications manager

to store identity information about the user,

to monitor the gateway and telecom manager for new identity information about the user or changed identity information about the user, and

in response to finding the new or changed identity information, to retrieve and store the new or changed identity information, respectively, in addition to or in place of the identity information.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

configuring the communications manager

to include a directory,

in response to receiving data on a received communication, to check the data on the received communication against the directory,

if the data on the received communication is not included in the directory, then to add the data on the received communication to the directory.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

configuring the communications manager to respond to receipt of data about a communication received for the user with a standard response to the communication.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

configuring the communications manager to respond to receipt of data about a communication received for the user

by indicating the receipt of the data to the user, and

by providing the user with an option of sending a standard response or an option of sending a selected response; and

further configuring the communications manager, in response to receipt of instructions on the options from the user, sending the standard response or the selected response based on the instructions.