U.S. patent application number 15/040272 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for updating of presence information assigned to a user of a communication service.
The applicant listed for this patent is Unify GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Karl Klug, Thomas Lederer, Harald Muller.
Application Number | 20160197864 15/040272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33547210 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160197864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klug; Karl ; et al. |
July 7, 2016 |
Updating of Presence Information Assigned to a User of a
Communication Service
Abstract
Data characterizing the presence state of a user registered to
use a communication service is sent to a server for the management
of presence data in order to update presence data allocated to the
user of a communication service. The data sent to the server is
stored as presence data allocated to the user and is made available
for predefinable other users. Authorization to change presence data
is given to another selected user upon user release
Inventors: |
Klug; Karl; (Miesbach,
DE) ; Lederer; Thomas; (Herrsching, DE) ;
Muller; Harald; (Gilching, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Unify GmbH & Co. KG |
Munich |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
33547210 |
Appl. No.: |
15/040272 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10570008 |
Feb 28, 2006 |
9288076 |
|
|
PCT/EP2004/051876 |
Aug 23, 2004 |
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15040272 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/043 20130101;
H04L 67/24 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/58 20060101
H04L012/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2003 |
DE |
10340386.8 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A method for updating presence information assigned to a first
user of a communication service, comprising: a server receiving
information from a terminal device identifying a presence status of
the first user registered to use the communication service, the
server having non-transitory memory that has a control program
stored thereon that is processed by the server; the server storing
the sent information identifying the presence status of the first
user in non-transitory computer readable medium; the server
providing information identifying the presence status of the first
user stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium to a
terminal of a defined user of a list of defined users assigned to
the first user, the defined users defined by the first user; the
server monitoring communication connections for the service between
the first user and the defined users defined by the first user; the
server receiving proxy information authorizing a second user as a
proxy on behalf of the first user in connection with presence
status information of the first user; and the server changing the
presence status of the first user stored in the non-transitory
computer readable medium based on information received from a
terminal of the proxy identifying a change in the presence status
information of the first user after the second user was authorized
as the proxy on behalf of the first user.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication service is an
instant messaging communication service or a substantially realtime
instant messaging communication service.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the server monitoring
communication connections for the service between the first user
and the defined users defined by the first user comprises
monitoring of bandwidth for the communication connections.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the server monitoring
communication connections for the service between the first user
and the defined users defined by the first user comprises
monitoring of quality of service for the communication
connections.
11. The method of claim 7, comprising: a terminal of the first user
sending proxy information to the server authorizing the second user
to be the proxy.
12. The method of claim 7, comprising: the terminal of the second
user retrieving the information identifying the change in the
presence status information of the first user and subsequently
sending that information identifying the change in the presence
status information of the first user to the server after the second
user is authorized as the proxy.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the information received from
the terminal of the proxy identifying the change in the presence
status information of the first user after the second user was
authorized as the proxy on behalf of the first user is presence
information within a message the terminal of the proxy sent to the
server.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein the proxy information
authorizing the second user as the proxy is provided via a message
sent by the terminal of the first user to the server that
identifies the second user as having permission to change the
presence status information of the first user.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer
program stored thereon such that the computer program is
processable by a computing device to execute a method defined by
the computer program, the method comprising: storing information
identifying a presence status of the first user registered to use a
communication service received from a terminal of the first user;
providing the information to a defined user of a list of defined
users defined by the first user in a buddy list assigned to the
first user; monitoring communication connections between the first
user and defined users defined by the first user; receiving proxy
information by the first user authorizing a second user as a proxy
on behalf of the first user in connection with the presence status
of the first user; updating of the presence status of the first
user based on presence information received from a terminal of the
proxy after the second user is authorized as the proxy.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the method also comprises: communicating a change in
presence status of the first user to the defined users based on the
updating of the presence status of the first user.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the monitoring of communication connections between the
first user and defined users defined by the first user comprises
monitoring of bandwidth for the communication connections.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the monitoring of communication connections between the
first user and defined users defined by the first user comprises
monitoring of quality of service for the communication
connections.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the communication service is an instant message
service.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the communication service is a substantially realtime
instant message service.
21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15,
wherein the method also comprises: controlling the communication
connections.
22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein
the method also comprises: responding to a query from a terminal of
one of the defined users to provide information identifying a
current presence status of the first user in response to the
query.
23. A communication system, comprising: a server for managing
presence information relating to a first user of a communication
service, non-transitory memory having presence information of the
first user that is accessible to the server; the server configured
to provide a presence status of the first user to a plurality of
defined users of a list of defined users, the defined users defined
by the first user; the server configured to monitor communication
connections between the first user and defined users defined by the
first user; the server configured to receive proxy information from
a terminal of the first user to authorize a second user as a proxy
on behalf of the first user in connection with the presence
information of the first user and is configured to receive
information from the terminal of the proxy to update presence
information of the first user after the second user is authorized
as the proxy for the first user, and the server is configured to
update the presence information of the first user based on presence
status change information received from the terminal of the proxy
and communicate a change in presence status of the first user made
based on the presence status change information received from the
proxy to terminals of the defined users.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication service is an
instant message service or a substantially realtime instant message
service.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the server is configured to
control the communication connections.
26. The system of claim 23 wherein the server is also configured to
respond to a query from a terminal of one of the defined users to
provide information identifying a current presence status of the
first user in response to the query.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the US National Stage of International
Application No. PCT/EP2004/051876, filed Aug. 23, 2004 and claims
the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the
benefits of German application No. 10340386.8 DE filed Aug. 29,
2003, both of the applications are incorporated by reference herein
in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for updating
presence information assigned to a user of a communication service,
to a communication system and to a control program.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] Internet-based instant messaging applications for exchanging
information within selected user groups without the familiar time
delays of conventional e-mail applications are growing increasingly
popular. Typical instant messaging applications enable a user to
prepare a message to members of a selected user group, also
referred to as a "buddy list", and to send the message for
essentially immediate receipt. Messages sent by members of the
selected user group in the opposite direction are received by the
user analogously.
[0004] WO 02/43351 discloses a communication system in which a
first server is provided to make available program applications and
to exchange data with a first client, and a second server is
provided to receive and to manage presence information assigned to
the first client. Presence information indicates whether a user is
currently obtainable at a specified terminal in the communication
system. The first server is also provided in order to exchange data
with a second client on the basis of the presence information
assigned to the first client.
[0005] The presence information in the communication system
described in WO 02/43351 can additionally be linked with a program
application. If, for example, a user accesses a program application
via a terminal, the program application assigns the presence
information "active" to the user and monitors the activity of the
user at the terminal. If no user activity is detected for a certain
period of time, the program application triggers the sending of a
check message to the terminal. If the user confirms the check
message at the terminal, the presence information "active"
continues to be assigned to the user. If the user fails to confirm
the check message at the terminal, the presence information
"inactive" or a similar appropriate value is assigned to the user.
The presence information assigned to the user can also influence
the delivery of messages from other users. Such a message is only
delivered, for example, if the presence information "active" is
actually assigned to the user at the time. If the presence
information "active" is not assigned to the user at the time, the
message is either deleted or forwarded to a different destination
identified by the presence information.
[0006] It is a fundamental principle of instant messaging systems
that the potential addressee of a message be obtainable. Delays in
the sending and answering of messages are usual in e-mail systems,
but it is generally undesirable in instant messaging systems to
send a message to an addressee who will only receive the message
hours or days later. Precautionary measures to determine exact
presence information assigned to users in a communication system
are consequently very important.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is accordingly to specify
an efficient method for updating presence information assigned to a
user of a communication service and suitable means for implementing
the method.
[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a
method, a communication system and a control program having the
features disclosed in the claims. Advantageous developments of the
present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0009] One important aspect of the present invention is that a
selected other user is granted permission to change presence
information subject to authorization by a user registered to use a
communication service. The presence information identifies a
presence status of the user and is sent to a server for managing
presence information, where it is stored and made available to
definable other users. The introduction of a proxy-like permission
to change presence information relating to a user yields benefits
in terms of the fast and precise acquisition and provision of the
presence information, which is no longer necessarily exclusively
the task of the user.
[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present
invention, the communication service is an instant messaging
service. This enables real-time communication or communication in
near real time.
[0011] The presence information is advantageously made available so
that it can be retrieved by the definable other users or sent to
the definable other users by means of a multicast message. This
enables efficient sending or distribution of the presence
information.
[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, the permission to change the presence
information is granted by means of a message sent by the user to
the server in which the selected other user is identified. This
makes it possible to implement the granting of a permission with
minimal overhead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention is explained in more detail below with
reference to an exemplary embodiment and to the drawing, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an application environment for the present
invention in which a server provides an instant messaging service
and manages presence information and in which a plurality of
clients use the instant messaging service.
[0015] FIG. 2 presents a diagram showing the exchange of messages
between the clients and the server when an instant messaging
application starts and when presence information is changed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0016] The application environment shown in FIG. 1 includes a
server 101 by means of which an instant message service is provided
for use at multiple clients 104 to 107. The clients 104 to 107 are
connected to the server 101 by a data network 103, for example the
interne. Real-time communication connections between clients, at
each of which a user has started an instant messaging application,
are set up by the instant messaging service via the server 101. The
server 101 is responsible here in particular for controlling and
monitoring the communication connections between the clients 104 to
107. This also includes, by way of example, the monitoring of the
bandwidth and quality of service necessary for provision of the
instant messaging service.
[0017] As well as providing the instant messaging service, the
server 101 has the task of managing presence information relating
to users of the instant messaging service. Such presence
information is advantageously acquired by the server 101 in
response to a request from a user for provision of an instant
messaging application when an instant messaging application is
started at one of the clients 104 to 107. A database 102 assigned
to the server 101 is provided to store the presence information.
The server 101 is also responsible for sending presence information
for a user currently using an instant messaging service to
definable other users. The definable other users may for example be
members of a configured user group such as a "buddy list".
[0018] Presence information can be sent to the definable other
users by means of a multicast message, for example. Alternatively,
it is possible to make the presence information available for
retrieval by the definable other users in such a way that only the
definable other users have permission to query the presence
information. The server 101 is also provided to grant a permission
to a selected other user, for example a proxy, to change the
presence information assigned to a user. This permission is only
granted if the user to whom the presence information relates has
authorized such a procedure.
[0019] Installed on the server 101 to carry out the tasks described
is a control program 111 that can be loaded into a working memory
112 of the server 101 and whose code sections can be executed by a
processor 113 of the server 101. Execution of the control program
111 triggers the sending of information that identifies a presence
status of a user registered to use the instant messaging service to
the server 101 for managing presence information. When the control
program 111 is executed, moreover, the information sent to the
server 101 is stored as presence information assigned to the user
and is made available to definable other users. Furthermore, a
permission to change the presence information is granted to a
selected other user subject to user authorization. These steps are
carried out when the control program 111 runs on the server
101.
[0020] The diagram presented in FIG. 2 shows an exchange of
messages between the clients 104 to 107 and the server 101 when an
instant messaging application starts and when presence information
is changed. When a user at a first client 104 starts an instant
messaging application, a message 201 containing a request for the
starting of an instant messaging application is sent to the server
101. The server 101 verifies the user's authority to start an
instant messaging application and retrieves a user profile. The
user profile specifies a configured user group, for example, the
members of which have assigned each other a reciprocal permission
to make presence information available to other members of the user
group.
[0021] It is assumed in the following description that the user at
the first client 104 is the first user in the user group to start
an instant messaging application and is consequently the first user
to be assigned the presence information "active". Being the first
user, the user at the first client 104 is initially not informed
about the presence statuses of other users in the user group. This
does not happen until another member of the user group starts an
instant messaging application at a second client 105.
[0022] When the instant messaging application is started at the
second client, here too a message 202 containing a request for the
starting of an instant messaging application is initially sent to
the server 101 and then verified and processed by the server 101.
If the outcome of the verification of the request by the server 101
is positive, the instant messaging application is provided at the
second client 105. The user at the first client 104 is moreover
informed of the new presence status of the other member of the user
group by means of a message 203. The other member of the user group
at the second client 105 is also informed analogously of the
presence status of the user by means of a message 204.
[0023] If the user at the first client 104 wishes, for example, to
delegate the updating of his or her presence status to a proxy at a
third client 106, the user at the first client 104 sends a message
205 containing a request for the setting of a proxy to the server
101 This message 205 identifies the proxy at the third client 106
as a user permitted to change the presence information assigned to
the user at the first client 104. The server 101 responds to this
user authorization by granting the proxy at the third client 106
the requested permission. If, for example, the presence status of
the user at the first client 104 then changes but the said user
does not cause the presence information assigned to him or her to
be updated, the proxy at the third client 106 can cause this to
happen by means of a message 206 containing a request for the
presence information assigned to the user of the first client 104
to be changed. If the necessary permission has been granted, the
server 101 responds by changing the presence status of the user at
the first client 104 and sends a message 207 about a change in the
presence status of the user at the first client 104 to the
additional member of the user group at the second client 105. A
typical exemplary application is the updating of presence
information for a user during a lunch break by a team assistant
assigned to the user.
[0024] The application of the present invention is not limited to
the exemplary embodiment described here.
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