Method and System for Providing Presence Information

• US 20150120850A1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wallrust, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wallrust, Inc.
• Inventors: Patvarczki, Jozsef, Kornafeld, Adam, Tamas, Endre
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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 system and method for a user to send presence information to authorized contacts in her device'"'"'s address book and to receive the presence information of those contacts in her device'"'"'s address book that have authorized her. A user can authorize any contact in her address book. Optionally, a user can only authorize a contact and be authorized by a contact if she is in that contact'"'"'s address book. A local application on the device interacts with and displays the device'"'"'s address book, manages the authorization of contacts, updates the user'"'"'s presence, and receives and displays the presence of contacts. The local application updates the user'"'"'s presence manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Semi-automatic updates involve synchronizing with the device'"'"'s calendar. Automatic updates may involve the use of location data, the device'"'"'s built-in sensors, and augmented reality.

Claims

1. A system for distributing presence information among a plurality of devices operated by a corresponding user, the system comprising:

(a) the plurality of devices operatively connected to each other through a global computer network;

(b) each of the devices having an address book with at least one contact;

(c) each of the devices having a display on which the address book can be viewed by the user;

(d) each of the devices running a local application with access to the address book and the display, the local application including instructions for carrying out a method for distributing the presence information among a plurality of devices, the method comprising the steps of;

(1) accepting a change in authorization for the contact from the user and identifying the contact that is authorized as an authorized contact, verifying that the device is in the contact'"'"'s address book before authorizing the contact, the device having a link with the authorized contact through the global computer network;

(2) updating the presence information of the device;

(3) making the presence information available directly to the authorized contact through the link;

(4) acquiring the presence information from the contact through the link if the device is an authorized contact of the contact; and

(5) including the presence information from the contacts for which the device is an authorized contact when displaying the address book on the display.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information made available by pushing it to the authorized contact.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information is made available by sending it to the authorized contact in response to a query from the authorized contact.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises sending the change in authorization to the contact affected by the change directly through the link.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises sending the change in authorization to the contact affected by the change through a server.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information includes a location of the device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information includes a message describing a situation of the user.