Methods and systems for providing application level presence information in wireless communication

• US 20020083127A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Anuraag
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for determining and maintaining user presence information include capturing user presence data with an application presence server. The application presence server can be configured to update user presence data as a user initiates or exits an application. Applications associated with user presence data are configured to query an application proxy client concerning user presence data of a selected user and, based on a returned user status, deliver, discard, or redirect a message intended for the user. User presence data is stored in a user presence repository and can be provided via Internet-based or other connections to applications executed on external networks. User activity status can be used to select or update user presence data. In some examples, an application server of an external network is configured to receive user presence data from the presence server.

Claims

1. A network, comprising:

an application server configured to communicate with a first client; and

a presence server configured to receive application presence data associated with the first client from the application server.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the application server is configured to communicate with a second client based on the application presence data associated with the first client.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the application server is configured to deliver a message from th e second client to the first client based on the application presence data associated with the first client.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first client and the second client is a mobile client.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the application server is configured to provide application presence data to an external application server.

6. The network of claim 1, further comprising an activity repository configured to receive activity data associated with the first client from the application server.

7. An application server, comprising:

a processor configured to execute a selected application; and

a memory configured to receive user presence data associated with usage of the selected application by at least one user.

8. The application server of claim 7, further comprising a memory configured to receive user activity data associated with usage of the selected application.

9. The application server of claim 7, wherein the selected application is a communication application.

10. The application server of claim 7, wherein the selected application is an instant messaging application.

11. The application server of claim 10, wherein the user presence data associated with indicates a user availability.

13. The messaging system of claim 12, wherein user presence data is provided to members of a user defined list of messaging system users.

14. The messaging system of claim 12, wherein the messaging application server is configured to provide user activity data to a predetermined set of messaging system users.

16. The network gateway of claim 15, further comprising an interconnection configured to deliver user presence data to an application server.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising obtaining the presence data from a presence repository.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising, obtaining the presence data from an application server.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising delivering the message to the user if the evaluation indicates that the recipient is available.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising discarding the message if the evaluation indicates that the recipient is unavailable.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising directing the message to a destination selected based on the evaluation.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising displaying a message preparation indicator associated with at least one recipient, wherein the message preparation indicator is associated with message preparation by the at least one recipient.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein if the mobile station does not reply to the notification message, determining the status of the mobile communication unit to be inactive.

29. The communication system of claim 28, further comprising an application presence server configured to determine user presence data with respect to the selected application.

30. The communication system of claim 29, wherein the presence data can be determined based on the user activity status.

12. A messaging system, comprising a messaging application server configured to provide user presence data to a predetermined set of messaging system users.

15. A network gateway, comprising:

an input connection configured to receive a message for delivery to a recipient;

an output configured to deliver a user presence query, wherein the message is processed based on the user presence query.

17. A messaging method, comprising:

selecting a message for delivery to at least one selected recipient;

evaluating application presence data associated with the recipient; and

processing the message based on the evaluation.

23. A messaging method, comprising:

displaying user presence data for a list of recipients; and

delivering a message based on the displayed user presence data.

25. An instant messaging method, comprising:

means for obtaining user presence data from at least one user; and

means for delivering a message to the at least one user based on the user presence data.

26. A method for determining presence information for an application associated with a mobile network system, comprising:

determining if a first time period has expired since a status of a mobile station was captured;

upon expiration of the first period of time, transmitting a notification message to the mobile station; and

if the mobile station replies to the notification message, determining the status of the mobile communication unit to be active.

28. A communication system, comprising:

an application server in communication with a client and configured to provide a selected application; and

an activity repository configured to retain a user activity status associated with interaction of the client with the selected application.