Computer-implemented system and method for delivery of group messages

1. A computer-implemented system for delivering group messages, comprising:

a monitor module to track users that are signed-on to and signed-off from one or more discussion groups;

a voice message received from one of the users signed-on to one of the discussion groups;

a list of users associated with the discussion group;

a sublist of signed-on users comprising those users from the list that are signed-on to the discussion group;

a delivery module to provide the voice message to the signed-on users of the discussion group; and

a database to store a copy of the voice message for later access by the users in the discussion group that are signed-off.

2. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a stored message delivery module to provide the stored copy of the voice message to the users that are signed-off upon signing in to the discussion group.

3. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a communication module to identify a personal communication device associated with the signed-on users in the discussion group; and

the delivery module to deliver the voice message to the personal communication device of the signed-on users of the discussion group.

4. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a message receipt module to receive from one of the signed-on users, a voice message in reply to the provided voice message.

5. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a group identification module to identify additional discussion groups in which the signed-on user is also signed-on;

an instruction module to receive instructions from the signed-on user identifying the discussion group as the active discussion group; and

the delivery module to provide the voice message to only the signed-on users in the discussion group identified as active.

6. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a data module to associate one or more of a user identification, a discussion group identification, a message identification, and a time-stamp with the voice message.

7. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an encryption module to encrypt the voice message prior to providing the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group.

8. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a group identification module to obtain an identification of the discussion group to which the voice message is provided upon receiving the voice message from the signed-on user; and

a queue module to deliver the voice message to a queue of the discussion group associated with the obtained identification.

9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein the delivery module delivers the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group when the voice message is at a top of the queue.

10. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a prior message module to obtain voice messages for one or more of the signed-on users that were delivered to the discussion group prior to sign-on by the one or more signed-on users; and

the delivery module to deliver the obtained messages to the one or more signed-on users.

11. A computer-implemented method for delivering group messages, comprising:

tracking users that are signed-on to and signed-off from one or more discussion groups;

receiving a voice message from one of the users signed-on to one of the discussion groups;

obtaining a list of users associated with the discussion group;

building a sublist of signed-on users comprising those users from the list that are signed-on to the discussion group;

providing the voice message to the signed-on users of the discussion group; and

storing a copy of the voice message for later access by the users in the discussion group that are signed-off.

12. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

providing the stored copy of the voice message to the users that are signed-off upon signing in to the discussion group.

13. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying a personal communication device associated with each of the signed-on and signed-off users; and

delivering the voice message to the personal communication device of the signed-on users of the discussion group.

14. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving from one of the signed-on users, a voice message in reply to the provided voice message.

15. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying additional discussion groups in which the signed-on user is also signed-on;

receiving instructions from the signed-on user identifying the discussion group as the active discussion group; and

providing the voice message to only the signed-on users in the discussion group identified as active.

16. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

associating one or more of a user identification, a discussion group identification, a message identification, and a time-stamp with the voice message.

17. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

encrypting the voice message prior to providing the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group.

18. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

upon receiving the voice message from the signed-on user, obtaining an identification of the discussion group to which the voice message is to be provided; and

delivering the voice message to a queue of the discussion group associated with the obtained identification.

19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising:

delivering the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group when the voice message is at a top of the queue.

20. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

for one or more of the signed-on users, obtaining voice messages delivered to the discussion group prior to sign-on by the one or more signed-on users; and

delivering the obtained messages to the one or more signed-on users.