Distributing presence information
First Claim
1. A method of distributing availability information from a first user terminal for receipt by at least one further user terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising:
- accessing schedule data stored on a storage means relating to a user of the first user terminal;
analysing the schedule data to determine a current status of the user;
mapping the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings, wherein the step of mapping comprises determining if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user is scheduled to change in the future within a predefined time period, and if so, selecting an availability setting for the predefined time period before the scheduled change which indicates an availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and which is different than the current status of the user; and
transmitting a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network for receipt by the at least one further user terminal, the message further including an indication of the availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and an indication of how the current status of the user will change in the future, the indication being configured to be displayed via the at least one further user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of distributing availability information from a first user terminal to at least one further user terminal connected via a communication network, comprising: executing a communication client at the first user terminal; the communication client accessing schedule data stored on a storage means relating to a user of the first user terminal; the communication client analysing the schedule data to determine a current status of the user; mapping the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings at the communication client; and transmitting a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network to the at least one further user terminal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of distributing availability information from a first user terminal for receipt by at least one further user terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising:
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accessing schedule data stored on a storage means relating to a user of the first user terminal; analysing the schedule data to determine a current status of the user; mapping the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings, wherein the step of mapping comprises determining if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user is scheduled to change in the future within a predefined time period, and if so, selecting an availability setting for the predefined time period before the scheduled change which indicates an availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and which is different than the current status of the user; and transmitting a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network for receipt by the at least one further user terminal, the message further including an indication of the availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and an indication of how the current status of the user will change in the future, the indication being configured to be displayed via the at least one further user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product comprising program code means which, when executed by a computer implement steps comprising:
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accessing schedule data stored on a storage means relating to a user of a first user terminal; analysing the schedule data to determine a current status of the user; mapping the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings, wherein the step of mapping comprises determining if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user is scheduled to change in the future within a predefined time period, and if so, selecting an availability setting for the predefined time period before the scheduled change which indicates an availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and which is different than the current status of the user; and transmitting a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network for receipt by at least one further user terminal, the message further including an indication of the availability status of the user of the first user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change and an indication of how the availability status of the user will change in the future, the indication being configured to be displayed via the at least one further user terminal during the predefined time period before the scheduled change.
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19. A user terminal comprising:
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a storage means; and a processor configured to execute a communication client, wherein the communication client is configured to be executed by the processor to; allow a user of the user terminal to establish communications with at least one further user terminal via a packet-based communication network; access schedule data stored on the storage means relating to the user of the user terminal, analyse the schedule data to determine a current status of the user, map the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings, and transmit a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network for receipt by the at least one further user terminal; and determine if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user is scheduled to change in the future within a predefined time period, and if so; select an availability status of the user for the predefined time period which is different than a current status of the user; select a status message for the predefined time period before the scheduled change which includes an indication of how the current status of the user will change in the future; and transmit the availability status and the status message for receipt and display via the at least one further user terminal during the predefined time period. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification