System and method for social-networking based presence

• US 20080235349A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RingCentral Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William J., Caspi, Rami
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A telecommunications system includes a network; a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users'"'"' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users; a presence service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria; a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence service format; and a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a network;

a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users'"'"' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users;

a presence and availability service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria;

a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence and availability service format; and

a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria.

2. A telecommunication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the translation unit is a network-based translation unit.

3. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the translation unit is a client-based translation unit.

4. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the translation unit is configured to convert user information from a social networking service into dummy user information in the presence and availability service.

5. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the translation unit is configured to convert a user entry from a social networking service into a user entry in the presence and availability service.

6. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, further including a global positioning system for determining a location of said associated users.

7. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the availability criteria include one or more geographic criteria.

8. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the availability criteria are user input criteria.

9. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said messaging service comprises a text messaging service.

10. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said messaging service comprises an e-mail service.

11. A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1, further including a calendar service and wherein said availability for an event comprises not having another event simultaneously scheduled.

12. A telecommunications method, comprising:

selecting one or more availability criteria on a presence and availability service web page, the availability criteria defining availability of one or more contacts of the selecting user;

selecting an event for which availability is to be determined on a social network system web page;

interfacing the social networking service to the presence and availability service;

identifying one or more contacts who match the availability criteria upon occurrence of the event; and

transmitting a notification message to the identified one or more contacts.

13. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the availability criteria comprise time criteria.

14. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the availability criteria comprise location criteria.

15. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the event comprises an Internet conferencing-type event.

16. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the event comprises a geographic event.

17. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the notification message comprises a text message.

18. A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the notification message comprises an e-mail message.