Calendar-enhanced awareness for instant messaging systems and electronic status boards

• US 7,035,865 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sundstrom, Robert J., Kovales, Renee M., Haverstock, Paul W., Doss, J. Smith, Pozefsky, Diane P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/941,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/8, 705/51, 707/104, 707/10, 707/104.1, 709/203, 709/221, 709/202, 715/738
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method, system, and product are disclosed for providing calendar-enhanced awareness/presence information for instant messaging systems and electronic status boards. This invention automates status transitions, enhances and automates status messages, and automates and extends the IM “who can see me” function. Additionally, this invention extends awareness to dimensions other than IM status, to include availability in-person, via telephone, via wireless device or wireless messaging device (e.g., pager).

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for providing dynamic contact information, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a status system, including at least one status server and a plurality of clients;

specifying, for a given client within the plurality of clients, a plurality of subscribed entities for which the given client subscribes to automatically receive an update of dynamic contact information of the plurality of subscribed entities from a dynamic contact information service, wherein the dynamic contact information service dynamically updates the dynamic contact information from a calendar system to indicate current contact information for the plurality of entities, and wherein the dynamic contact information comprises dynamic contact records indicating current statuses and information relating to the current statuses of the plurality of entities;

retrieving a plurality of dynamic contact records for the plurality of entities from the dynamic contact information service, wherein the plurality of entities comprises the plurality of subscribed entities;

sending the plurality of dynamic contact records to the at least one status server;

identifying, at the at least one status server, at least one subscribed dynamic contact record from the plurality of dynamic contact records that corresponds to one of the plurality of subscribed entities;

updating at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record;

automatically sending the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record from the at least one status server to said given client; and

displaying, at the given client, information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record based on display preferences specified by an operator of the given client.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein updating at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record comprising:

analyzing a calendar in the calendar system;

determining a plurality of periods of time;

associating a start time and a stop time with each of said plurality of periods of time; and

associating dynamic contact information with each of said plurality of periods of time, wherein said dynamic contact information is derived from said calendar, preferences, and directory information of the calendar system for one of said plurality of entities.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein each said dynamic contact information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number, a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for one of said plurality of entities associated wit each said dynamic contact information.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a current telephone is busy.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an in-person status and an in-person-status time period, and a physical location for one of said plurality of entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of entities can be currently located.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-message address, and a wireless-messaging time period for one of said plurality of entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless messaging address at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for one of said plurality of entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached via an instant-message service.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an e-mail address and an e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of entities.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an indication of a best current method for contacting said one of said plurality of entities.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic contact information an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of entities.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein updating at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record further comprising:

determining a current time;

determining one of said plurality of periods of time having a start time at or before said current time and a stop time after said current time;

creating a current dynamic contact record using the dynamic contact information associated with said one of said plurality of periods of time; and

updating said status server with said current dynamic contact record.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

filtering fields of the at least one subscribed dynamic information record in accordance with information specifying who may view the given client in the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record and only sending allowed fields to said given client.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number, a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising

displaying said current telephone status at said given client using icons.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is busy.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying the indication of whether the telephone associated with the current telephone status is busy at said given client using icons.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising displaying the indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service at said given client using icons.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises an in-person status, an in-person status time period, and a physical location for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be found.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising

displaying said current in-person status at said given client using icons.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless-messaging address at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising

displaying said current wireless messaging status at said given client using icons.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising

displaying the indication of whether the wireless-messaging device associated with the wireless-messaging address is currently in service at said given client using icons.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached via an instant-messaging service.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising

displaying said current instant messaging status at said given client using icons.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises an e-mail address and e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

30. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises an indication of a best current method for contacting said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

31. The method according to claim 1 wherein said information comprises an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

displaying said information in response to the operator of the given client selecting said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

33. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

hovering a cursor over a name of said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

displaying a full status message.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said full status message comprises an in-person status, in-person status time periods a physical location, an e-mail address, an e-mail checking frequency information, an office telephone number a voice mail checking frequency information, an indication of a best current method for contacting, and an indication of an alternate contact person associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

35. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

hovering a cursor over a phone icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities;

and

displaying a current telephone number, a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone status time period, an office phone number, and a voice mail checking information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

36. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

hovering a cursor over an in-person icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

displaying an in-person status, a physical location, and an in-person-status time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

37. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

hovering a cursor over an instant-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

displaying an instant-messaging user name, an instant-messaging status, and an instant-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

38. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

hovering a cursor over a wireless-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

displaying a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

39. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display preferences comprise displaying portions of said information and portions of entities in said plurality of subscribed entities.

40. The method according to claim 1,

wherein retrieving the plurality of dynamic contact records for the plurality of entities comprises retrieving from a status table of the dynamic contact information service comprising the plurality of dynamic contact records.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the displaying preferences comprise displaying information only for entities whose in-person status, telephone status, wireless-messaging status and instant-messaging status meet criteria specified in the display preferences.

42. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying, at the given client, information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record based on display preferences specified by the given client comprises displaying only portions of said information specified in the display preferences.

43. A computer system for providing dynamic contact information comprising:

at least one status server; and

a plurality of clients;

wherein, for a given client within the plurality of clients a plurality of subscribed entities is specified for which the given client subscribes to automatically receive an update of dynamic contact information of he plurality of subscribed entities from a dynamic contact information service, wherein the dynamic contact information service dynamically updates the dynamic contact information from a calendar system to indicate current contact information for the plurality of entities, and wherein the dynamic contact information comprises dynamic contact records indicating current statuses and information relating to the current statuses of the plurality of entities;

wherein a plurality of dynamic contact records is retrieved for the plurality of entities from the dynamic contact information service, wherein the plurality of entities comprises the plurality of subscribed entities;

wherein the plurality of dynamic contact records are sent provided to the at least one status server;

wherein at least one subscribed dynamic contact record from the plurality of dynamic contact records is identified, at the at least one status server, that corresponds to one of the plurality of subscribed entities;

wherein at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server is updated with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record;

wherein a status server within the at least one status server automatically sends the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record to the given client; and

wherein information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record is displayed at the given client based on display preferences specified by an operator of the given client.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server is updated with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record comprises:

instructions for analyzing a calendar in a calendar system;

instructions far determining a plurality of periods of time;

instructions for associating a start time and a stop time with each of said plurality of periods of time; and

instructions for associating dynamic contact information with each of said plurality of periods of time, said dynamic contact information is derived from said calendar, preferences, and directory information of the calendar system for one of said plurality of entities.

45. The system according to claim 44,

wherein each said dynamic contact information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number, a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for one of said plurality of entities associated with each said dynamic contact information.

46. The system according to claim 45, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a current telephone is busy.

47. The system according to claim 45, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

48. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an in-person-status and an in-person-status time period, and a physical location for one of said plurality of entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of entities can be currently located.

49. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period for one of said plurality of entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless messaging address at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

51. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for one of said plurality of entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached via an instant-message service.

52. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an e-mail address and an e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of entities.

53. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an indication of a best current method for contacting said one of said plurality of entities.

54. The system according to claim 44, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of entities.

55. The system according to claim 44, wherein at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server is updated with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record further comprises:

a current time being determined;

one of said plurality of periods of time having a start time at or before said current time and a stop time after said current time being determined;

a current dynamic contact record being created using the dynamic contact information associated with said one of said plurality of periods of time; and

said status server being updated with said current dynamic contact record.

56. The system according to claim 43, further comprising

instructions for filtering fields of the at least one subscribed dynamic information record in accordance with information specifying who may view the given client in said the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record and only sending allowed fields to said given client.

57. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number, a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

58. The system according to claim 57, further comprising said current telephone status being displayed at said given client using icons.

59. The system according to claim 57, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is busy.

60. The system according to claim 59, further comprising said indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is busy being displayed at said given client using icons.

61. The system according to claim 57, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

62. The system according to claim 61, further comprising said indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service being displayed at said given client using icons.

63. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises an in-person status, an in-person status time period, and a physical location for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be found.

64. The system according to claim 63, further comprising said current in-person status being displayed at said given client using icons.

65. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless-messaging address at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

66. The system according to claim 65, further comprising said current wireless messaging status being displayed at said given client using icons.

67. The system according to claim 65, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

68. The system according to claim 67, further comprising said indication of whether the wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service being displayed at said given client using icons.

69. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached via an instant-messaging service.

70. The system according to claim 69, further comprising said current instant messaging status being displayed at said given client using icons.

71. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises an e-mail address and an e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

72. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises an indication of a best current method for contacting said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

73. The system according to claim 43, wherein said information comprises an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

74. The system according to claim 43, further comprising said information being displayed in response to the operator of the given client selecting said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

75. The system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a cursor being hovered over a name of said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

a full status message being displayed.

76. The system according to claim 75, wherein the full status message comprises an in-person status, an in-person status time period, a physical location, an e-mail address, and an e-mail checking frequency information, an office telephone number, a voice mail checking frequency information, an indication of a best current method for contacting, and an indication of an alternate contact person associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

77. The system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a cursor being hovered over a phone icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

a current telephone number, a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone status time period, an office phone number, and a voice mail checking information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities being displayed.

78. The system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a cursor being hovered over an in-person icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

an in-person status, a physical location, and an in-person-status time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities being displayed.

79. The system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a cursor being hovered over an instant-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

an instant-messaging user name, an instant-messaging status, and an instant-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities being displayed.

80. The system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a cursor being hovered over a wireless-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities being displayed.

81. The system according to claim 43, wherein the display preferences comprise displaying portions of said dynamic contact information and portions of entities in said plurality of subscribed entities.

82. The system according to claim 43, wherein the plurality of dynamic contact records is retrieved for a plurality of entities from the dynamic contact information service comprises retrieving from a status table of the dynamic contact information service comprising the plurality of dynamic contact records.

83. The system according to claim 43, wherein the information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record is displayed at the given client based on display preferences specified by the operator comprises displaying only portions of information specified in the display preferences.

84. The system according to claim 43, wherein the displaying preferences comprise displaying information only for entities whose in-person status, telephone status, wireless-messaging status, and instant-messaging status meet criteria specified in the display preferences.

85. A computer program product in a computer system for providing dynamic contact information comprising:

computer readable program code configured to establish a status system, including at least one status server and a plurality of clients;

computer readable program code configured to specify for a given client within the plurality of clients a plurality of subscribed entities for which the client subscribes to automatically receive an update of dynamic contact information of the plurality of the subscribed entities from a dynamic contact information service, wherein the dynamic contact information service dynamically updates the dynamic contact information from a calendar system to indicate current contact information for the plurality of entities, and wherein the dynamic contact information comprises dynamic contact records indicating current statuses and information relating to the current statuses of the plurality of entities,

computer readable program code configured to retrieve a plurality of dynamic contact records for the plurality of entities from the dynamic contact information service, wherein the plurality of entities comprises the plurality of subscribed entities;

computer readable program code configured to send the plurality dynamic contact records to the at least one status server;

computer readable program code configured to identify, at the at least one status server, at least one subscribed dynamic contact record from the plurality of dynamic contact records that corresponds to one of the plurality of subscribed entities;

computer readable program code configured to update at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record;

computer readable program code configured to automatically send the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record from the at least one status server to said given client; and

computer readable program code configured to display, at the given client, information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record based on display preferences specified by an operator of the even client.

86. The product according to claim 85, wherein the computer readable program code configured to update at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record comprises:

computer readable program code configured to analyze a calendar of the calendar system;

computer readable program code configured to determine a plurality of periods of time;

computer readable program code configured to determine a start time and a stop time with each of said plurality of periods of time; and

computer readable program code configured to associate dynamic contact information with each of said plurality of periods of time, said dynamic contact information is derived from said calendar, preferences, and directory information of the calendar system for one of said plurality of entities.

87. The product according to claim 86, wherein each said dynamic contact information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number, a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for one of said plurality of entities associated with each said dynamic contact information.

88. The product according to claim 87, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with the current telephone status is busy.

89. The product according to claim 87, wherein said current telephone status comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

90. The product according to claim 86, further wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an in-person status and an in-person-status time period, and a physical location for one of said plurality of entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of entities can be currently located.

91. The product according to claim 86, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period for one of said plurality of entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless messaging address at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

92. The product according to claim 91, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

93. The product according to claim 86, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for one of said plurality of entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of entities can be reached via an instant-message service.

94. The product according to claim 86, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an e-mail address and a e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of entities.

95. The product according to claim 86, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an indication of a best current method for contacting said one of said plurality of entities.

96. The product according to claim 86, wherein said dynamic contact information comprises an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of entities.

97. The product according to claim 86, wherein the computer readable program code configured to update at least one dynamic contact record in the at least one status server with the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to determine a current time;

computer readable program code configured to determine one of said plurality of periods of time having a start time at or before said current time and a stop time after said current time;

computer readable program code configured to create a current dynamic contact record using the dynamic contact information associated with said one of said plurality of periods of time; and

computer readable program code configured to create said status server with said current dynamic contact record.

98. The product according to claim 85, further comprising

computer readable program code configured to filter fields of the at least one subscribed dynamic information record in accordance with information specifying who may view the given client in the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record and only sending allowed fields to said given clients.

99. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone number a current telephone status time period, an office telephone number, a voice-mail status, and a voice-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

100. The product according to claim 99, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display said current telephone status at said given client using icons.

101. The product according to claim 99, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is busy.

102. The product according to claim 101, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display the indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is busy at said given client using icons.

103. The product according to claim 99, wherein said information further comprises an indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service.

104. The product according to claim 103, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display the indication of whether a telephone associated with said current telephone status is currently in service at said given using icons.

105. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises an in-person status, an in-person status time period, and a physical location for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said physical location being a location where said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be found.

106. The product according to claim 105, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display said current in-person status at said given client using icons.

107. The product according to claim 85, said information comprises a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period fur said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said wireless-messaging address being a wireless-messaging address at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached by wireless messaging.

108. The product according to claim 107, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display said current wireless messaging status at said given client using icons.

109. The product according to claim 107, wherein said wireless-messaging status comprises an indication of whether a wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service.

110. The product according to claim 108, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display the indication of whether the wireless-messaging device associated with said wireless-messaging address is currently in service at said given client using icons.

111. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises an instant-message user name, an instant-message status, and an instant-message time period for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities, said instant-message user name being an instant-message user name at which said one of said plurality of subscribed entities can be reached via an instant-messaging service.

112. The product according to claim 111, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display said current instant messaging status at said given client using icons.

113. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises an e-mail address and an e-mail checking frequency information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

114. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises an indication of a best current method for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

115. The product according to claim 85, wherein said information comprises an indication of an alternate contact person for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

116. The product according to claim 85, further comprising computer readable program code configured to display said information in response to the operator of the given client selecting said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

117. The product according to claim 85, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to hover a cursor over a name of said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

computer readable program code configured to display a full status message.

118. The product according to claim 117, wherein said full status message comprises an in-person status, an in-person status time period, a physical location, an e-mail address, an e-mail checking frequency information, an office telephone number, a voice mail checking frequency information, an indication of a best current method for contacting, and an indication of an alternate contact person associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

119. The product according to claim 85, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to hover a cursor over a phone icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

computer readable program code configured to display a current telephone number, a current telephone type, a current telephone status, a current telephone status time period, office phone number, and a voice mail checking information for said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

120. The product according to claim 85, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to hover a cursor over an in-person icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

instructions for displaying an in-person status, a physical location, and an in-person-status time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

121. The product according to claim 85, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to hover a cursor over an instant-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

computer readable program code configured to display an instant-messaging user name, an instant-messaging status, and an instant-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

122. The product according to claim 85, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to hover a cursor over a wireless-messaging icon associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities; and

computer readable program code configured to display a wireless-messaging status, a wireless-messaging address, and a wireless-messaging time period associated with said one of said plurality of subscribed entities.

123. The product according to claim 85, wherein the display preferences comprise displaying portions of said dynamic contact information and portions of entities in said plurality of subscribed entities.

124. The product according to claim 85, further comprising wherein the computer readable program code configured to retrieve a plurality of dynamic contact records for a plurality of entities from the dynamic contact information service comprises computer readable program code configured to retrieve from a status table of the dynamic contact information service comprising the plurality of dynamic contact records.

125. The product according to claim 85, wherein the computer readable program code configured to display, at the given client, information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record based on display preferences specified by the operator comprises computer readable program code configured to display only portions of said information specified in the display preferences.

126. The product according to claim 85, wherein the computer readable program code configured to display, at the given client, information for one of the plurality of subscribed entities from the at least one subscribed dynamic contact record based on display preferences specified bit the operator comprises computer readable program code configured to display information only for entities whose in-person status, telephone status, wireless-messaging status and instant-messaging status meet criteria specified in the display preferences.