Method and apparatus for enterprise brokering of user-controlled availability

• US 20060174250A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Klemm, Reinhard P., John, Ajita, Seligmann, Doree D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an availability of a user in an enterprise environment. If an enterprise user requests to change an availability status on one or more media, a determination is made as to whether to grant the request based on one or more predefined criteria associated with the enterprise. For example, the predefined criteria may comprise resource needs or one or more policies of the enterprise. The predefined criteria may be expressed as one or more rules in a rule base.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an availability of a user in an enterprise environment, comprising:

receiving a request to change an availability status of said user on one or more media; and

determining whether to grant said request based on one or more predefined criteria associated with said enterprise.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predefined criteria comprises resource needs of said enterprise.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predefined criteria comprises one or more policies of said enterprise.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more predefined criteria are expressed as one or more rules in a rule base.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is denied if said request violates one or more predefined criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user is prevented from changing said availability status if said request is denied.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said request is queued for reevaluation if said request is denied.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is processed by one or media clients.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is processed by a presence and availability server.

10. An apparatus for controlling an availability of a user in an enterprise environment, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive a request to change an availability status of said user on one or more media; and

determine whether to grant said request based on one or more predefined criteria associated with said enterprise.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more predefined criteria comprises resource needs of said enterprise.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more predefined criteria comprises one or more policies of said enterprise.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more predefined criteria are expressed as one or more rules in a rule base.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said request is denied if said request violates one or more predefined criteria.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said user is prevented from changing said availability status if said request is denied.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said request is queued for reevaluation if said request is denied.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said request is processed by one or media clients.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said request is processed by a presence and availability server.

19. An article of manufacture for controlling an availability of a user in an enterprise environment, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

receiving a request to change an availability status of said user on one or more media; and

determining whether to grant said request based on one or more predefined criteria associated with said enterprise.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said one or more predefined criteria are expressed as one or more rules in a rule base.