Distributing presence information

• US 20100064014A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. A method according claim 1, further comprising the step of searching the storage means for schedule data prior to the step of analysing.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving schedule data entered into a calendar application executed at the first user terminal from the user of the first user terminal; and

the calendar application storing the schedule data on the storage means.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of updating a user interface of the communication client to display the selected availability setting.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of accessing, analysing and mapping are performed periodically.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mapping comprises the steps of:

determining if the current status of the user is busy, and if so selecting an availability setting which prevents the user from being notified of incoming communication events; and

determining if the current status of the user is free, and if so selecting an availability setting which permits the user to be notified of incoming communication events.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mapping comprises the step of:

determining if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user is scheduled to change within a predefined time period, and if so selecting an availability status which permits the user to be notified of incoming communication events and indicates limited availability of the user of the first user terminal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mapping comprises the step of:

determining if the schedule data indicates that the current status of the user has changed within a predefined time period, and if so selecting an availability status which permits the user to be notified of incoming communication events and indicates limited availability of the user of the first user terminal.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of the communication client generating text data to augment the selected availability setting, and wherein the message transmitted to the at least one further user terminal further comprises the text data.

10. A method according claim 9, wherein the text data comprises a time at which the current status of the user is next scheduled to change.

11. A method according claim 9, wherein the text data comprises a time at which the current status of the user has changed.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of analysing the schedule data to determine a classification of the current status of the user, and wherein the text data further comprises the classification.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting is performed responsive to a request message received from the at least one further user terminal.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting is performed at periodic intervals.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is a packet-based communication network.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is a voice over internet protocol network.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is an instant messaging network.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the communication network is a peer-to-peer communication network.

19. A computer program product comprising program code means which, when executed by a computer implement the steps of:

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.

20. A user terminal comprising:

a storage means; and

a processor configured to execute a communication client, wherein the communication client is programmed so as when executed to allow a user of the user terminal to establish communications with at least one further user terminal via a packet-based communication network; and

wherein the communication client is arranged to 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 to the at least one further user terminal.