Method and system for providing entity status information in a communication network

• US 20060129673A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Das, Anurag, Lin, Peter A., Hart, Thomas B., Oprescu-Surcobe, Valentin, Gopikanth, Venkat, Majumdar, Ishita
• Application Number:
  US11/000,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129673A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 presence agent (101) receives a message with a request for a status of one or more entities. The presence agent (101) determines the status of the entities, and transmits a message with the status of the entities. Transmitting the message includes initiating a connection to a communication device (107). A watcher (103) monitors the status of the entities, and provides updated information regarding the status to the users. The watcher (103) receives a request for a status of entities, determines the status of the entities, and transmits, in response to receipt of the request, a response indicating the status. A communication device (107) transmits a message having a request for status of entities. The communication device receives, from a connection initiated by a communication network (105), a message with a status of the entities, and processes the status of the entities, in response thereto.

Claims

1. A server comprising:

a first communication interface, for transmitting and receiving communications when operably connected to a first communication network; and

a processor cooperatively operating with the first communication interface and configured to facilitate;

receiving at least one first message having a request for a status of at least one entity;

determining the status of the at least one entity; and

transmitting, responsive to the determining, at least one second message having the status of the at least one entity, wherein the transmitting further includes initiating a connection to a communication device intended to receive the at least one second message.

2. The server of claim 1, further comprising a second communication interface, for transmitting and receiving communications when operably connected to a second communication network;

wherein the determining includes receiving at least one third message with the status of the at least one entity in accordance with the second communication interface.

3. The server of claim 2, wherein the determining further includes transmitting a request for the status of the at least one entity in accordance with the second communication interface.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one first message further indicates a request to monitor the status.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one second message is transmitted in accordance with a short message system (SMS) protocol to a communication device.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein the at least one first message includes an indication of a plurality of entities including the at least one entity, and a user identifier corresponding thereto.

7. The server of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to change the entities in the plurality of entities, responsive to a third message received in accordance with the first communication interface indicating a change of entities in the plurality of entities.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit, in accordance with the first communication interface, a third message indicating a change in the status, responsive to a determination that the status of the at least one entity has changed.

9. The server of claim 8, further comprising a second communication interface, for transmitting and receiving communications when operably connected to a second communication network;

wherein the determination is responsive to receipt of a fourth message received in accordance with the second communication interface indicating a change in the status of the at least one entity.

10. The server of claim 1, wherein the status indicates a presence of the entity in relation to the first communication network.

17. The communication unit of claim 11, wherein the status indicates a presence of the entity in relation to the communication network.

11. A communication unit, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving signals when operably connected to a communication network; and

a processor cooperatively operable with the transceiver and configured to facilitate;

transmitting at least one first message having a request for a status of at least one entity;

receiving from a connection initiated by the communication network, at least one second message having a status of the at least one entity; and

processing, responsive to the at least one second message, the status of the at least one entity.

12. The communication unit of claim 11, wherein the connection is in accordance with a short message system (SMS) protocol.

13. The communication unit of claim 11, wherein the processing includes updating a display indicating the status of the at least one entity.

14. The communication unit of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate determining at least one plurality of entities including the at least one entity.

15. The communication unit of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate transmitting the at least one plurality of entities in accordance with the transceiver.

16. The communication unit of claim 15, wherein the at least one plurality is transmitted responsive to a change of entities in the at least one plurality.

18. A server, comprising:

a communication interface for receiving communications when operably connected to a communication network;

a processor cooperatively operable with the communication interface and configured to facilitate;

receiving at least one request, indicating a user identifier, for a status of at least one entity;

first determining at least one entity indicated by the user identifier;

second determining the status of the at least one entity; and

transmitting, responsive to receipt of the at least one request, a response indicating the status of the at least one entity.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate detecting a change of the status;

and transmitting, responsive to the change, a message indicating the at least one entity and the corresponding status, in accordance with the communication interface.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the request further indicates a list identifier;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate retrieving a list of a plurality of entities including the at least one entity, the list corresponding to the user identifier and the list identifier; and

determining the plurality of entities on the list.