System and method for harmonizing changes in user activities, device capabilities and presence information

• US 20060030264A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Swift Creek Systems LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• 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

Abstract

A method and system utilizes presence information in a device. The method and system include detecting at least one of a change in the status for the user or a change in an activity associated with a capability of the device. The detection of the activity change includes a second device communicating the activity change with a presence service. The method and system also include automatically altering the capability of the device if the change in the status is detected or automatically altering the status if the change in the activity is detected.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing presence information with a device comprising:

detecting at least one of a status change in a status for the user and an activity change in an activity associated with a capability of the device, detecting the activity change including a second device communicating the activity change with a presence service; and

at least one of automatically altering the capability of the device if the status change is detected and automatically altering the status if the activity change is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device has a plurality of capabilities including the capability and wherein the method further includes:

allowing the user to specify a portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with a particular status.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the detecting step detects the status change to the particular status and wherein the automatically altering step further includes:

automatically enabling or disabling a first portion of the plurality of capabilities such that the portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with the particular status.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes:

allowing a user to specify the status associated with each of a plurality of activities.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a request to a presence service to update the status of the user.

6. A method for utilizing presence information with a device having a plurality of capabilities comprising:

allowing a user to specify a first portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with a particular status;

detecting a change in the status for the user, the change in status indicating that the particular status is a current status of the user; and

automatically enabling or disabling a second portion of a plurality of capabilities of the device such that the first portion of the plurality of capabilities is active if the change in the status is detected.

7. A method for utilizing presence information with a device comprising:

optionally allowing a user to specify a particular status associated with at least one activity;

detecting a change to or initiation of a particular activity of the at least one activity, the detecting the change to or the initiation of the particular activity including a second device communicating the change or the initiation with a presence service;

determining the particular status associated with the particular activity; and

allowing a status for the user to be updated based on the particular activity.

8. A computer-readable medium containing a program for utilizing presence information with a device, the program including instructions for:

detecting at least one of a status change in a status for the user or an activity change in an activity associated with a capability of the device, detecting the activity change including a second device communicating the activity change with a presence service; and

at least one of automatically altering the capability of the device if the status change is detected and automatically altering the status if the activity change is detected.

9. The computer-readable medium method of claim 8 wherein the device has a plurality of capabilities including the capability and wherein the program further includes instructions for:

allowing the user to specify a portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with a particular status.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the detecting instructions detect the status change to the particular status and wherein the automatically altering instructions further includes:

automatically enabling or disabling a first portion of the plurality of capabilities such that the portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with the particular status.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the program further includes instructions for:

allowing a user to specify the status associated with each of a plurality of activities.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions further include:

sending a request to a presence service to update the status of the user.

13. A system for allowing a device to utilize presence information comprising:

presence user agent for communicating with a user and for communicating on behalf of the user;

a capability monitor for detecting at least one of a status change in a status for the user or an activity change in an activity associated with a capability of the device and for automatically altering the capability of the device if the change in the status is detected or automatically altering the status if the change in the activity is detected, detecting the activity change including a second device communicating the activity change with a presence service; and

a watcher user agent for obtaining the presence information for the user.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the device has a plurality of capabilities including the capability and wherein the capability monitor further allows the user to specify a portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with a particular status.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the capability monitor detects the status change by detecting the status change to the particular status and automatically alters by automatically enabling or disabling a first portion of the plurality of capabilities such that the portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with the particular status.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the capability monitor further allows a user to specify the status associated with each of a plurality of activities.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the presence user agent further sends a request to a presence service to update the status of the user.

18. A system for utilizing presence information with a device having a plurality of capabilities comprising:

presence user agent for communicating with a user and for communicating on behalf of the user;

a capability monitor for allowing a user to specify a first portion of the plurality of capabilities associated with a particular status, for detecting a change in the status for the user, the change in status indicating that the particular status is a current status of the user, and for automatically enabling or disabling a second portion of a plurality of capabilities of the device such that the first portion of the plurality of capabilities is active if the change in the status is detected; and

a watcher user agent for obtaining the presence information for the user.

19. A system for utilizing presence information with a device comprising:

presence user agent for communicating with a user and for communicating on behalf of the user;

a capability monitor for optionally allowing a user to specify a particular status associated with a each of at least one activity, for detecting a change to or initiation of a particular activity of the at least one activity, for determining the particular status associated with the particular activity, and for allowing a status for the user to be updated based on the particular activity, detecting the change to or the initiation of the particular activity including a second device communicating the activity change with a presence service; and

a watcher user agent for obtaining the presence information for the user.