Dynamic Location-Specific Distribution Lists

• US 20080148276A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: GATZKE, ALAN D., KERR, JIM M., BRAN, CARY A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,876,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first interface arrangement that obtains information from at least one data source. The information is associated with the presence of an entity at a location. The apparatus also comprises a processing arrangement that automatically updates a dynamic distribution list that is associated with the location based on the information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface arrangement, the first interface arrangement being arranged to obtain information from at least one data source, the information being associated with the presence of an entity at a location;

a processing arrangement, the processing arrangement being arranged to automatically update a distribution list based on the information, the distribution list being associated with the location; and

a memory, the memory arranged to store the distribution list.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second interface arrangement, the second interface arrangement being arranged to provide the distribution list to an e-mail system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information is an indication that the entity is detected at the location, and the processing arrangement is arranged to update the distribution list to comprise a reference to the entity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information is an indication that the entity is not detected at the location, the entity previously being associated with the location, and the processing arrangement is arranged to update the distribution list to exclude a reference to the entity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the presence is a virtual presence.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing arrangement is further arranged to store the distribution list in the memory and to retrieve the distribution list from the memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the location is a virtual location.

8. A method comprising:

determining if a first entity is associated with a location, wherein determining if the first entity is associated with the location comprises determining if the first entity is detected at the location;

automatically adding an indicator associated with the first entity to a distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location; and

storing the distribution list.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first entity is a computing device, and determining if the first entity is associated with the location comprises determining if the first entity is detected at the location by an access point.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first entity has a badge with a data strip, and determining if the first entity is associated with the location comprises determining if the badge with the data strip is read by a badge reader at the location.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the first entity is a telephone device, and determining if the first entity is associated with the location comprises determining if the first entity is called into the location.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining if access to the distribution list is requested, wherein automatically adding the indicator associated with the first entity to the distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location occurs if it is determined that access to the distribution list is requested.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

storing information associated with the first entity if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location before automatically adding an indicator associated with the first entity to the distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining if the first entity is disassociated with the location, wherein determining if the first entity is disassociated with the location comprises determining if the first entity is no longer detected at the location; and

automatically excluding the indicator associated with the first entity from the distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is disassociated with the location.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein determining if the first entity is detected at the location comprises determining if the first entity is either physically or virtually present at the location.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first arrangement, the first arrangement being arranged to automatically determine if a change in a status of an entity with respect to a location has occurred;

a second arrangement, the second arrangement being arranged to update a distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the location, wherein the distribution list is associated with the location; and

a third arrangement, the third arrangement being arranged to store the distribution list.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the change in the status of the entity is a detection of the entity at the location, and wherein the second arrangement is arranged to update the distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the location by adding a reference to the entity into the distribution list.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the change in the status of the entity is a deregistration of the entity from the location, and wherein the second arrangement is arranged to update the distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the location by excluding a reference to the entity from the distribution list.

19. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining if a first entity is associated with a location, wherein the means for determining if the first entity is associated with the location comprise means for determining if the first entity is detected at the location;

means for automatically adding an indicator associated with the first entity to a distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location; and

means for storing the distribution list.

20. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

cause a determination of whether a first entity is associated with a location by determining if the first entity is detected at the location;

cause an indicator associated with the first entity to be automatically added to a distribution list if it is determined that the first entity is associated with the location; and

cause the distribution list to be stored.