Automatically updating presence information

• US 20030104819A1
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Knauerhase, Robert C., Deshpande, Nikhil M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing media for determining a presence rule for a mobile device and updating presence information for the mobile device when the presence rule is met. The presence rule may have a condition and a corresponding state. When the condition is met, the corresponding state is saved in the presence information. The presence information may also contain reachability information for the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining at least one presence rule, wherein the presence rule comprises a condition and a state;

determining whether the condition is met; and

when the condition is met, updating presence information for a mobile device with the state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is based on time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition is based on a location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location is determined using a Global Positioning System.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the location is determined using a cell-based radio network.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the location is determined using a hotspot with which the mobile device communicates.

7. A server, comprising:

presence information; and

a controller to determine a presence rule for a mobile device, wherein the presence rule comprises a condition and a corresponding state, and to update the presence information with the corresponding state when the condition is met.

8. The server of claim 7, wherein the condition is based on a calendar.

9. The server of claim 7, wherein the controller is to determine the location of the mobile device.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the condition is based on the location.

11. The server of claim 7, wherein the server further uses the presence information in an instant-messaging system.

12. A mobile device, comprising:

a controller to determine a location of the mobile device, to update presence information based on the location, and to send the presence information to a server.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the controller further is to update the presence information based on a condition and a corresponding state, wherein the condition comprises the location.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further to update the presence information with the corresponding state when the condition is met.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the presence information comprises reachability information.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the reachability information comprises an identification of an instant-messaging system to which the mobile device is connected.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the reachability information comprises an identification of a cellular network to which the mobile device is connected.

18. A signal-bearing medium comprising instructions, wherein the instructions when read and executed by a processor comprise:

determining a presence rule for a mobile device, wherein the presence rule comprises a condition and a corresponding state;

determining when the condition is met; and

sending the corresponding state to a presence server when the condition is met.

19. The signal-bearing medium of claim 18, wherein determining the presence rule further comprises querying a user of the mobile device for the presence rule.

20. The signal-bearing medium of claim 18, wherein determining the presence rule further comprises loading the presence rule from a server.

21. The signal-bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the corresponding state is selected from a group consisting of available, not available, busy, and do not disturb.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a presence server, comprising;

presence information,

a location database comprising locations of a plurality of mobile devices, and

a controller to find the locations of the plurality of mobile devices, to determine a plurality of presence rules for the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the presence rules comprises respective conditions and respective corresponding states, and to update the presence information with the respective corresponding states when the respective conditions are met.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the controller is further to obtain the locations from the mobile devices.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the controller is further to obtain the locations from hotspot-access points to which the mobile devices are connected.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the location database further comprises a mapping of coordinates to locations of the plurality of mobile devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the presence information further comprises reachability information for the mobile device.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising the plurality of mobile devices.