Controlling publication of presence information

• US 20040193686A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reasor, Sterling M., Andrews, Donna B., Butcher, Angela K., Oreizy, Peyman, Kabir, Ahsan S., Blagsvedt, Sean O., Palman, Hilary K., van Dok, Cornelius K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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]

Abstract

A user interface is configured to identify and display each of the one or more service providers servicing the user'"'"'s computing system. The interface also identifies the presence information that is being supplied to the service providers by the user'"'"'s computing system for publication. The presence information that is provided to the service providers can include, but is not limited to, the name, alias, location, and network status of the user. A user can make global or discrete customized changes to the presence information that is provided to each of the service providers through the user interface. Modifications made to the presence information can also be made automatically to reflect a new condition or status in the user'"'"'s presence on a network that is provided by a service provider.

Claims

1. In a computing system that provides presence information to one or more service providers that are configured to provide the computing system access to one or more networks, the presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks, a method for enabling the user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising:

an act of displaying presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks;

an act of enabling the user to edit the displayed presence information without affecting the user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks;

providing the displayed presence information to the one or more service providers for publication.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presence information includes a user network status indicating whether the user is logged onto the one or more networks.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presence information includes a computing system network status indicating whether the computing system is currently connected over a connection with the one or more networks.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presence information includes at least one of a name, location and image associated with the user.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of receiving user input editing the displayed presence information.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein receiving user input editing the displayed presence information is received without causing a change in the user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of displaying the one or more service providers with the displayed presence information.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein different displayed presence information is provided to each of the one or more service providers.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further including an act of updating the displayed presence information to reflect a change in the user'"'"'s actual presence on the network.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displayed presence information is actually published by the one or more service providers.

11. In a computing system that provides presence information to one or more service providers that are configured to provide the computing system access to one or more networks, the presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks, a method for enabling the user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising:

an act of displaying a computing system network status, the computing system network status indicating whether the computing system is currently connected over a connection with at least one network by the one or more service providers;

an act of enabling the user to edit the displayed computing system network status without affecting the connection between the computing system and the one or more service providers;

an act of displaying a user network status, the user network status indicating whether the user is logged onto the network;

an act of enabling the user to edit the displayed user network status without affecting whether the user is logged onto the network;

providing the displayed computing system network status and the displayed user network status to the one or more service providers for publication by the one or more service providers.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the displayed computing system network status and the displayed user network status are published by the one or more service providers.

13. In a computing system that provides presence information to one or more service providers that are configured to provide the computing system access to one or more networks, the presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks, a method for enabling the user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising:

an act of identifying one or more service providers providing service to the computing system;

an act of identifying presence information being published by the one or more service providers;

an act of providing an interface for displaying the presence information to be published by the one or more service providers; and

an act of providing customized presence information to the one or more service providers for publication, the customized presence information being generated at the interface in response to user input.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the customized presence information is generated without causing a change in a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the customized presence information is actually published by the one or more service providers.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the customized presence information inaccurately reflects a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, further including an act of automatically changing the customized presence information in response to a change in a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the presence information includes a user network status indicating whether the user is logged onto the one or more networks.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the presence information includes a computing system network status indicating whether the computing system is currently connected over a connection with the one or more networks.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the presence information includes at least one of a name, location and image associated with the user.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, further including an act of receiving user input editing the presence information with at least one of a type-in line and a pull-down menu.

22. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein different customized presence information is provided to at least two service providers.

23. In a computing system that provides presence information to one or more service providers that are configured to provide the computing system access to one or more networks, the presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks, a method for enabling the user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising:

an act of identifying a service provider providing service to the computing system, the service provider obtaining and publishing presence information about a user; and

a step for enabling the user to customize the presence information that is published by the service provider.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the user customizes the presence information published by the service provider without causing any change in the actual presence of the user with the service provider.

25. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the step for enabling the user to customize the presence information includes:

an act of identifying presence information being published by the service provider;

an act of providing an interface for displaying the presence information to be published by the service provider; and

an act of providing customized presence information to the service provider for publication, the customized presence information being generated at the interface in response to user input.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the customized presence information is published by the service provider.

27. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the presence information includes a user network status indicating whether the user is logged onto the one or more networks.

28. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the presence information includes a computing system network status indicating whether the computing system is currently connected over a connection with the one or more networks.

29. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the presence information includes at least one of a name, location and image associated with the user.

30. A computer program product for use in a computing system that provides presence information to one or more service providers that are configured to provide the computing system access to one or more networks, the presence information corresponding with a user'"'"'s actual presence on the one or more networks, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for enabling the user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising;

an act of identifying one or more service providers providing service to the computing system;

an act of identifying presence information being published by the one or more service providers;

an act of providing an interface for displaying the presence information to be published by the one or more service providers; and

an act of providing customized presence information to the one or more service providers for publication, the customized presence information being generated at the interface in response to user input.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the customized presence information is generated without causing a change in a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

32. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the customized presence information is actually published by the one or more service providers.

33. A computer program product as recited in claim 32, wherein the customized presence information inaccurately reflects a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

34. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, further including an act of automatically changing the customized presence information in response to a change in a user'"'"'s actual presence with the one or more service providers.

35. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the presence information includes a user network status indicating whether the user is logged onto the one or more networks.

36. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the presence information includes a computing system network status indicating whether the computing system is currently connected over a connection with the one or more networks.

37. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the presence information includes at least one of a name, location and image associated with the user.

38. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, further including an act of receiving user input editing the presence information with at least one of a type-in line and a pull-down menu.

39. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein different customized presence information is provided to at least two service providers.

40. In a computing system having one or more presence aware applications that provide presence information to one or more service providers for publication over one or more networks, a method for enabling a user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the method comprising:

an act of identifying presence information being gathered from one or more presence aware applications for publication by one or more service providers;

an act of providing an interface for displaying the presence information to be published, prior to providing the presence information to the one or more service providers for publication; and

an act of providing controls at the interface for controlling what presence information is actually provided to the one or more service providers for publication; and

an act of providing presence information, as designated at the user interface, to the one or more service providers.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the presence information corresponds with a user'"'"'s activity on the one or more presence aware applications.

42. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the one or more presence aware applications includes a gaming application.

43. A computing device having one or more presence aware applications that provide presence information to one or more service providers for publication over one or more networks, the computing device being configured to enable a user to control the presence information that is provided to the one or more service providers for publication, the computing device comprising:

computer-executable instructions for identifying presence information being gathered from one or more presence aware applications for publication by one or more service providers;

computer-executable instructions for providing an interface for displaying the presence information to be published, prior to providing the presence information to the one or more service providers for publication; and

computer-executable instructions for providing controls at the interface for controlling what presence information is actually provided to the one or more service providers for publication; and

computer-executable instructions for providing presence information, as designated at the user interface, to the one or more service providers.