Methods and systems for controlling access to presence information according to a variety of different access permission types
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Abstract
Methods and systems are described for controlling access to presence information using a plurality of different access permission types. Presence information is maintained over a computer network and describes availability of computers and associated users over that network. For example, instant messaging applications often involve maintaining presence information. Users control access to presence information using a number of different access permission types such as the right to view accurate presence information, the right to view any presence information, or the right to act on accessed presence information. By using several different access permission types, the present invention enables finer control over access to presence information.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A server computer system connectable to at least a plurality of client computer systems for which the server computer system maintains presence information and exercises control of access to the presence information using a plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information, the server computer system comprising the following:
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a component that receives a request from a client computer system including an instruction to change an access permission status for at least a subset of the plurality of client computer systems, the access permission corresponding to one of the plurality of access permission types to the presence information;
a component that sets at least an entry in a data field in response to the request, the entry representing the changed access permission status; and
a component that determines whether or not to allow access to the presence information based on the entry in the data field wherein the plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information comprises permission to view any presence information, permission to view only accurate presence information, and permission to restrict the ability to act on presence information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A server computer system connectable to at least a plurality of client computer systems for which the server computer system maintains presence information and exercises control of access to the presence information using a plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information, the server computer system comprising the following:
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a component that receives a request from a client computer system including an instruction to change an access permission status for at least a subset of the plurality of client computer systems, the access permission corresponding to one of the plurality of access permission types to the presence information; and
a component that determines whether or not to allow access to the presence information based on the instruction wherein the plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information comprises permission to view any presence information, permission to view only accurate presence information, and permission to restrict the ability to act on presence information. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A client computer system connectable to a server computer system, the server computer system connectable to at least a plurality of client computer systems for which the server computer system maintains presence information, and exercises control of access to the presence information using a plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information, the client computer system comprising the following:
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a component that creates a request including an instruction to change an access permission status for at least a subset of the plurality of computer systems, the access permission corresponding to one of the plurality of access permission types to the presence information; and
a component that transmits the request to the server computer system wherein the plurality of access permission types used for accessing the presence information comprises permission to view any presence information, permission to view only accurate presence information, and permission to restrict the ability to act on presence information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification