PROVIDER PRESENCE INFORMATION

• US 20110082929A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mic Bowman, Paul Brett, Robert Adams, Robert Knauerhase
• Original Assignee: Mic Bowman, Paul Brett, Robert Adams, Robert Knauerhase
• Inventors: Bowman, Mic, Brett, Paul, Knauerhase, Robert, Adams, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

In some embodiments, a client computer includes a memory, a client presence program adapted to be located in the memory, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and is adapted to execute the client presence program to receive provider presence information from an instant messaging (IM) server and to store the provider presence information in the memory. The provider presence information includes at least a provider status for at least one service provider.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An article comprising a machine-readable storage medium that contains instructions of a server, which when executed, cause the server to perform operations comprising:

receiving client presence information from a first presence module regarding at least one presentity client;

receiving service provider presence information from a second presence module regarding at least one service provider, with the service provider presence information including at least a dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider; and

distributing at least one of the client presence information and the service provider presence information to at least one requester.

22. The article of claim 21 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes at least one service instance associated with the at least one service provider.

23. The article of claim 22 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes one or more service qualifying characteristics associated with the at least one service instance.

24. The article of claim 23 wherein

the service qualifying characteristics include a selected one of a hosting environment element, a service interface, a location and a capability.

25. The article of claim 21 wherein

receiving the service provider presence information comprises receiving the service provider presence information on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.

26. The article of claim 21 wherein

the dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider comprises a status of the at least one service provider.

27. The article of claim 21 wherein

distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to at least one requester comprises distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to the at least one requester via a network interface on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.

28. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving client presence information from a first presence module regarding at least one presentity client;

receiving service provider presence information from a second presence module regarding at least one service provider, with the service provider presence information including at least a dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider; and

distributing at least one of the client presence information and the service provider presence information to at least one requester.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 28 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes at least one service instance associated with the at least one service provider.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes one or more service qualifying characteristics associated with the at least one service instance.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30 wherein

the service qualifying characteristics include a selected one of a hosting environment element, a service interface, a location and a capability.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 28 wherein

receiving the service provider presence information comprises receiving the service provider presence information on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 28 wherein

the dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider comprises a status of the at least one service provider.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 28 wherein

distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to at least one requester comprises distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to the at least one requester via a network interface on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.

35. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions of a server, which when executed, cause the server to perform operations comprising;

receiving client presence information from a first presence module regarding at least one presentity client;

receiving service provider presence information from a second presence module regarding at least one service provider, with the service provider presence information including at least a dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider; and

distributing at least one of the client presence information and the service provider presence information to at least one requester.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes at least one service instance associated with the at least one service provider.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein

the service provider presence information further includes one or more service qualifying characteristics associated with the at least one service instance.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein

the service qualifying characteristics include a selected one of a hosting environment element, a service interface, a location and a capability.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein

receiving the service provider presence information comprises receiving the service provider presence information on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein

the dynamic characteristic of the at least one service provider comprises a status of the at least one service provider.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein

distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to at least one requester comprises distributing the at least one of the client presence information or the service provider presence information to the at least one requester via a network interface on a selected one of a solicitation basis or a notification basis.