Dynamic location-specific distribution lists

• US 9,876,749 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kerr, Jim M., Gatzke, Alan D., Bran, Cary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Jung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilcox, James J
• Application Number:
  US11/612,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20080148276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first interface arrangement that obtains information from at least one data source. The information is associated with the presence of an entity at a location. The apparatus also comprises a processing arrangement that automatically updates a dynamic distribution list that is associated with the location based on the information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first arrangement, the first arrangement being arranged to automatically determine if a change in a status of a first entity with respect to a location has occurred, wherein the location is associated with a meeting to which a plurality of entities has been invited, wherein the first entity is one of the plurality of entities;

a second arrangement, the second arrangement being arranged to update a first distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the first entity with respect to the location in response to a request for the first distribution list, wherein the first distribution list is associated with the location, the second arrangement further being arranged to maintain a second distribution list, the second distribution list being arranged to identify at least one entity of the plurality of entities that is absent from the location but has been invited to the meeting, the first distribution list being arranged to identify actual meeting attendees, the second distribution list being arranged to identify meeting invitees; and

a third arrangement, the third arrangement being arranged to store the first distribution list, wherein the third arrangement includes a memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the change in the status of the entity is a detection of the entity at the location, and wherein the second arrangement is arranged to update the first distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the location by adding a reference to the entity into the first distribution list, the location being a first location associated with a second location, the second arrangement further being arranged to identify a third distribution list that is a parent distribution list to the first distribution list and to update the third distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the second location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the change in the status of the entity is a deregistration of the entity from the location, and wherein the second arrangement is arranged to update the first distribution list to reflect the change in the status of the entity with respect to the location by excluding a reference to the entity from the first distribution list.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface arrangement, the first interface arrangement being arranged to obtain a request for a distribution list, the first interface arrangement further being arranged to obtain information from at least one data source in response to the request, the information being associated with the presence of an entity at a location;

a processing arrangement, the processing arrangement including a processor, the processing arrangement being arranged to automatically update the distribution list based on the information, the distribution list being associated with the location, wherein the distribution list includes a plurality of e-mail addresses including an e-mail address associated with the entity; and

a memory, the memory arranged to store the distribution list, wherein the distribution list is an existing distribution list that exists prior to the first interface arrangement obtaining the information from the at least one data source, and wherein the processing arrangement is arranged to automatically updating the existing distribution list based on the information, and wherein the entity is a manager, the manager having a plurality of individuals who report to the manager but are not present at the location, the distribution list being arranged to be automatically updated to include at least one e-mail address associated with the plurality of individuals.