Presence information method and system

• US 20010053214A1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kleinoder, Wolfgang B., Duponchel, Yann, Truong, Hong Linh, Graf, Marcel, Heusler, Lucas S., Dermler, Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 6,700,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A method of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T₁ . . . T₁₀), at least some (T₁, T₂) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said method including:

(a) continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T₁, T₂) for a change of a call status of said subscriber terminal from the presence of a call to the absence of a call;

(b) generating a first or “high availability” signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call into said absence of a call;

(c) monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal;

(d) generating a second or “availability unknown” signal after a predetermined time period τ within said interval; and

(e) making said availability signals accessible to any interconnected presence system.

Claims

1. A method comprising operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T₁ . . . T₁₀), at least some (T₁, T₂) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, including the steps of:

(a) continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T₁, T₂) for a change of a call status of said subscriber terminal from the presence of a call to the absence of a call;

(b) generating a first or “

high availability”

signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call into said absence of a call;

(c) monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal;

(d) generating a second or “

availability unknown”

signal after a predetermined time period τ

within said interval; and

(e) making said availability signals accessible to any interconnected presence system.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said legacy telephone system is connected with the at least one presence system by means of a gateway, said method further including

(f) said gateway accepting telephone calls from said subscriber terminals;

and

(g) generating said first or “

high availability”

signal when receiving a telephone call from said subscriber terminal.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said legacy telephone system is connected with said at least one presence system by means of a gateway, said method including

(h) said gateway accepting telephone calls and receiving DTMF signals from said subscriber terminals;

(i) generating said first or “

high availability”

signal when receiving a telephone call and a subscriber identification code in the form of DTMF signals from said subscriber terminal;

.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said legacy telephone system is connected with said at least one presence system by means of a gateway, said method including

(j) said gateway accepting SMS messages from said subscriber terminals;

(k) generating said first or “

high availability”

signal when receiving an SMS message from said subscriber terminal.

5. The method of any of

claim 1

, wherein a subscribed user of said legacy telephone system defines said predetermined time period τ

within said interval.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing operation of an availability service in a telecommunication system, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of

claim 1

.

6. A system for of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T₁ . . . T₁₀), at least some (T₁, T₂) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said system including:

(A) first means for continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T₁, T₂) for a change of a call status of said subscriber terminal from presence of a call into absence of a call;

(B) second means for generating a first or “

high availability”

signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call status into said absence of a call status;

(C) third means for monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal;

(D) fourth means for generating a second or “

unknown availability”

signal after a predetermined time period τ

within said interval; and

(E) fifth means for making said availability signal accessible to any interconnected presence system.

7. The system of

claim 6

, comprising at least one gateway for interconnecting said legacy telephone system with any interconnected presence system.

8. The system of

claim 6

, wherein at least one gateway is provided for connecting said legacy telephone system with any interconnected presence system.

9. The system of

claim 8

, wherein said gateway includes a program for implementing said availability service.

10. An availability service program for implementing operation of an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T₁ . . . T₁₀), at least some (T₁, T₂) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said program being designed to continuously monitor the presence or absence of a call for each subscriber terminal (T₁, T₂), to generate a “

high availability”

signal when a call terminates and to generate a “

unknown availability”

signal at the end of a predetermined period of time τ

.

11. A module for operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T₁ . . . T₁₀), at least some (T₁, T₂) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said module including:

(A) first means for continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T₁, T₂) for a change of call status of said subscriber terminal from the presence of a call into the absence of a call;

(B) second means for generating a first or “

high availability”

signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call status into said absence of a call status;

(C) third means for monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal; and

(D) fourth means for generating a second or “

unknown availability”

signal after a predetermined time period τ

within said interval.