Use of persistent sessions by a presence access layer

• US 8,103,730 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Rogers, Jeff, So, Sin-Hang, McColgan, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US12/252,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/228, 370/351
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• 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

Abstract

A method for a watcher to receive presence information. The method includes the watcher requesting presence information from a presence access layer and then disconnecting from the presence access layer. The method further includes the presence access layer receiving the requested information through a persistent session with a presence server, storing the requested information, and delivering the requested information to the watcher after the watcher reconnects to the presence access layer.

Claims

1. A method performed by a watcher, the method comprising:

requesting abstracted or simplified presence information directly from a presence access layer (PAL) server that is configured to abstract or simplify presence information from a presence server (PS), the PAL server being distinct from and in direct communication with the PS;

receiving the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server based on the requesting operation, the abstracted or simplified presence information being less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

sending a message directly to the PAL server after the receiving operation, the message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server be suspended, and the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension;

sending, during the indefinite duration, a second message directly to the PAL server, the second message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server is to be resumed; and

receiving, relative to the second message, additional abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message causes the PAL server to collect, aggregate, store or delete presence information from the PS during the indefinite duration indicated by the message.

3. A method performed by a presence access layer (PAL) server that is providing abstracted or simplified presence information to a watcher, the method comprising:

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of the watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended, the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the indefinite duration, a second message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher is to be resumed; and

resuming, relative to the second message, direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the indefinite duration indicated by the message.

5. A device comprising:

a processor executing a watcher agent configured to perform the operations of;

requesting abstracted or simplified presence information directly from a presence access layer (PAL) server that is configured to abstract or simplify presence information from a presence server (PS), the PAL server being distinct from and in direct communication with the PS;

receiving the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server based on the requesting, the abstracted or simplified presence information being less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

sending a message directly to the PAL server after the receiving operation, the message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server be suspended, the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension;

sending, during the indefinite duration, a second message directly to the PAL server, the second message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server is to be resumed; and

receiving, relative to the second message, additional abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the message causes the PAL server to collect, aggregate, store or delete presence information from the PS during the indefinite duration indicated by the message.

7. A network component comprising:

a processor executing a presence access layer (PAL) server configured to perform the operations of;

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of a watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended, the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the indefinite duration, a second message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher is to be resumed; and

resuming, relative to the second message, direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

8. The network component of claim 7 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the indefinite duration indicated by the message.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which cause a network component to execute a presence access layer (PAL) server configured to perform the operations of:

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of a watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended, the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the indefinite duration, a second message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher is to be resumed; and

resuming direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the indefinite duration indicated by the message.

11. A method performed by a watcher, the method comprising:

requesting abstracted or simplified presence information directly from a presence access layer (PAL) server that is configured to abstract or simplify presence information from a presence server (PS), the PAL server being distinct from and in direct communication with the PS;

receiving the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server based on the requesting operation, the abstracted or simplified presence information being less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

sending a message directly to the PAL server after the receiving operation, the message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server be suspended for a finite duration;

automatically receiving, upon expiration of the finite duration, additional abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the message causes the PAL server to collect, aggregate, store or delete presence information from the PS during the finite duration indicated by the message.

13. A method performed by a presence access layer (PAL) server that is providing abstracted or simplified presence information to a watcher, the method comprising:

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of the watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended for a finite duration;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message; and

resuming, upon expiration of the finite duration, direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the finite duration indicated by the message.

15. A device comprising:

a processor executing a watcher agent configured to perform the operations of;

requesting abstracted or simplified presence information directly from a presence access layer (PAL) server that is configured to abstract or simplify presence information from a presence server (PS), the PAL server being distinct from and in direct communication with the PS;

receiving the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server based on the requesting, the abstracted or simplified presence information being less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

sending a message directly to the PAL server after the receiving operation, the message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server be suspended for a finite duration; and

receiving, upon expiration of the finite duration, additional abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the message causes the PAL server to collect, aggregate, store or delete presence information from the PS during the finite duration indicated by the message.

17. A network component comprising:

a processor executing a presence access layer (PAL) server configured to perform the operations of;

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of a watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended for a finite duration;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message; and

resuming, upon expiration of the finite duration, direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

18. The network component of claim 17 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the finite duration indicated by the message.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which cause a network component to execute a presence access layer (PAL) server configured to perform the operations of:

receiving presence information directly from a presence server (PS);

abstracting or simplifying said presence information from the PS for providing, on behalf of a watcher, abstracted or simplified presence information that is less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity;

receiving, directly from the watcher during the abstracting or simplifying operation, a message indicating that direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information from the PAL server to the watcher be suspended for a finite duration;

suspending direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher based on the message; and

resuming, upon expiration of the finite duration, direct communication of abstracted or simplified presence information to the watcher.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein suspending comprises at least one of collecting, aggregating, storing and deleting presence information during the finite duration indicated by the message.