Aggregated perceived presence

• US 7,769,154 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Yakulis, Ross E., Craft, Ricardo D., Hiatt, Cynthia Ann, Johnson, Erik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/147,355
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.12
• US Class Current: 379/207.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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: 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system for controlling the presence of a user perceived by contacts is provided. In particular, a rules engine receives a number of inputs related to the desired accessibility of the user, and from such inputs generates a perceived presence for the user that can be used to control how the user is notified of an incoming communication. Inputs may include an accessibility rating assigned to a contact, the physical presence of the user, the user selected desired accessibility level, and environmental factors. The system allows a user to limit distractions from unimportant contacts or while the user is engaged in other tasks, while allowing more important contacts to have immediate access to the user.

Claims

1. A method for managing access to a user, comprising:

receiving a selection of a first availability level from a first user, wherein said first availability level is selected from a plurality of availability levels;

receiving a first communication associated with a first contact, wherein said first communication is addressed to said first user;

determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on;

said selected first availability level,

a contact accessibility rating of said first contact,

a first physical presence of said first user, wherein said first physical presence of said first user is determined from at least one of a status of a communication device associated with said first user, and a location of a device associated with said first user, and

a first environmental factor associated with said first user, wherein said first environmental factor is obtained from at least one of a calendar application associated with said first user and first user schedule information; and

based on said determined level of presence, selecting a first mode of handling said first communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second communication associated with said first contact, wherein said second communication is addressed to said first user;

detecting a change in said environmental factor associated with said first user from said first environmental factor to a second environmental factor;

determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said second communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on said selected first availability level, a contact accessibility rating of said first contact, and said second environmental factor associated with said first user; and

based on said determined level of presence, selecting a second mode of handling said second communication.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said environmental factor comprises user schedule information and at least one of a time of day, a day of the week, and a status of a day as a holiday or regular work day.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second communication associated with said first contact, wherein said second communication is addressed to said first user;

detecting a change in a physical presence of said first user from said first physical presence to a second physical presence;

determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said second communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on said selected first availability level, a contact accessibility rating of said first contact, and said second physical presence of said first user; and

based on said determined level of presence, selecting a second mode of handling said first communication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said detecting a change in a physical presence of said first user comprises detecting a change in a location of a device associated with said first user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said detecting a change in a physical presence of said first user comprises detecting a change in an availability of a communication channel of a communication device associated with said first user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first mode of handling said first communication comprises notifying said first user that said first communication is being directed to a message repository, and providing said first user an opportunity to answer said first communication in real-time.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said first mode of handling said first communication comprises allowing a communication device to which said first communication is addressed to ring normally, and wherein said second mode of handling said second communication comprises suppressing an audible ring by a communication device to which said second communication is addressed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compiling a list of contacts associated with said first user; and

associating a first contact accessibility rating with each contact within said list of contacts.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from said first user a selected accessibility rating for a contact.

11. A computational component for performing a method, the method comprising:

detecting a first incoming communication;

retrieving a desired user accessibility associated with a first user;

obtaining;

     1) a contact accessibility rating for a first contact associated with said incoming communication;

     2) first physical location information associated with said first user, wherein said first physical location information is determined from at least one of a communication status of a communication device associated with said first user, and a location of a communication device associated with said first user; and

     3) environmental factor information associated with said first user, wherein said environmental factor information is obtained from at least one of a calendar application associated with said first user and first user schedule information;

applying said retrieved desired user accessibility and said contact accessibility rating for said first contact, first physical location information associated with said first user, and environmental factor information associated with said first user to a rules engine to determine a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication;

in response to determining a first level of presence, applying a first mode of handling said first communication; and

in response to determining a second level of presence, applying a second mode of handling said first communication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said contact accessibility rating for a first contact is obtained, and wherein said obtained contact accessibility rating for said first contact is applied to determine a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said obtaining said environmental factor information includes:

accessing a calendar associated with said first user; and

determining a scheduled status of said first user, wherein said availability of said first user includes a scheduled status of said first user.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving from said first user an association of a first accessibility rating with a first contact, and

receiving from said first user an association of a second accessibility rating with respect to a second contact, wherein at said first accessibility level a communication from said first contact over a first communication channel is immediately forwarded to said first user, and wherein at said first accessibility level a communication from said second contact over said first communication channel is not immediately forwarded to said first user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein an association of an accessibility rating with respect to a third contact is not received from said first user, and wherein said second accessibility rating is associated with said third contact with respect to a communication received from said third contact.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said computational component comprises a computer readable storage medium containing instructions for performing the method.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said computational component comprises a logic circuit.

18. An apparatus for filtering communication channels, comprising:

first means for providing communications associated with a user;

means for detecting a first communication from a first contact addressed to said first means for providing communications;

means for determining from a plurality of inputs a perceived presence for application in response to said first communication, said inputs including;

a) an accessibility rating of said first contact;

b) a physical presence of said user, wherein said physical presence includes at least one of a status of a user communication device and a location of a user communication device;

c) a desired accessibility of said user;

d) an environmental factor associated with said user, wherein said environmental factor includes a scheduled status of said user;

wherein in response to a first perceived presence a first notification method is applied.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for maintaining a schedule, wherein an input to said means for determining includes an environmental factor associated with said first user, and wherein said environmental factor includes a scheduled status as indicated by said means for maintaining a schedule.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for determining a physical location of a user communication device of said first user, wherein an input to said means for determining includes a physical location of said user communication device of said first user.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for maintaining accessibility ratings for contacts, wherein an input to said means for determining includes an accessibility rating of said first contact.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for maintaining a desired accessibility of said user, wherein an input to said means for determining includes a desired accessibility of said user.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

second means for providing communications associated with said user, wherein said first notification method comprises notifying said user of said incoming communication through said first means for providing communications and said second means for providing communications.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

second means for providing communications associated with said user, wherein said first communication is addressed to said first means for providing communications, and wherein said first notification method comprises notifying said user of said incoming communication through said second means for providing communications only.

25. An apparatus for establishing a perceived communications presence of a user, comprising:

a rules engine;

a first set of information input to said rules engine, including a contact accessibility rating, wherein said first contact accessibility rating is selected from a set of at least three different contact accessibility rating levels, a physical presence of a first user, wherein said physical presence of said first user is provided by at least one of a status of a communication device associated with said first user and a location of a communication device associated with the first user, a desired accessibility selected by said first user, and an environmental factor associated with said first user, wherein said environmental factor is associated with at least one of a calendar application and schedule information associated with said first user;

an output from said rules engine, wherein a perceived presence for use in connection with a communication addressed to said first user is determined by said rules engine.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a computing platform wherein said rules engine runs on said computing platform.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a first communication device associated with said first user, wherein said output from said rules engine controls at least a first operating parameter of said first communication device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least a first operating parameter of said first communication device comprises operation of a device for notifying said first user of an incoming communication.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a second communication device associated with said first user, wherein said output from said rules engine controls at least a first operating parameter of said second communication device.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said rules engine is running on said first communication device.

31. A method for managing access to a user, comprising:

receiving a selection of a first availability level from a first user;

receiving a first communication associated with a first contact, wherein said first communication is addressed to said first user;

determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on said selected first availability level, a contact accessibility rating of said first contact, and at least one of a first physical presence of said first user and a first environmental factor associated with said first user;

based on said determined level of presence, selecting a first mode of handling said first communication;

monitoring communications addressed to said first user over a first communication channel;

monitoring communications addressed to said first user over a second communication channel;

presenting to said first user a list contacts associated with said monitored communications; and

receiving from said first user a selected contact accessibility rating for association with at least some of said listed contacts.

32. A method for managing access to a user, comprising:

receiving a selection of a first availability level from a first user;

receiving a first communication associated with a first contact, wherein said first communication is addressed to said first user;

determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on said selected first availability level, a contact accessibility rating of said first contact, and at least one of a first physical presence of said first user and a first environmental factor associated with said first user;

based on said determined level of presence, selecting a first mode of handling said first communication;

monitoring communications addressed to said first user over a first communication channel;

compiling a list of contacts associated with said monitored communications;

associating a first contact accessibility rating with contacts associated with a first number of communications with said first user that result in real-time communications; and

associating a second contact accessibility rating with contacts associated with less than said first number of communications with said first user that result in real-time communications.