Method of providing access to presence related information

Abstract

Presence information for a user is stored and made accessible using a conventional client server or peer to peer Presence model. The identity of any entity that requests or accesses this Presence information is however logged and then automatically provided to a wireless information device operated by the user. This enables the device to display the identity of the entity that requested or accessed the Presence information and hence (a) can prompt a user to contact the entity that sought his Presence information and (b) inhibits inappropriate accessing of Presence information.

1 . A method of providing access to Presence information comprising the following steps: 
 (a) storing Presence information for a user and making that information accessible to others;    (b) logging the identity of any entity that requests or accesses the Presence information;    (c) automatically providing data to a wireless information device operated by the user to enable that device to display the identity of the entity that requested or accessed the Presence information.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which Presence information is stored at a server remote from the device and the time of request or access is logged at the server and then automatically provided by the server to the device by being sent to the device for display on the device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  in which Presence information is stored on the device, the time of request or access is logged on the device and then provided internally within the device for display on the device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the kind of Presence information requested or accessed is logged and automatically provided to the device for display on the device (i) instantly when an entity requests or accesses Presence information; (ii) at regular times; (iii) at pre-defined times; or (iv) when requested to do so by the device.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of storing and logging Presence information takes places at a server based database, programmed to automatically send some or all of the logged information to the wireless information device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the step of providing an entity accessing Presence information with the option of leaving a message to be sent to the user.  
   
   
       7 . A wireless information device programmed to: 
 (a) receive data defining the identity of any entity that has requested or accessed Presence information relating to the user of the device;    (b) display that identity together with an indication that Presence information has been sought or accessed.    
   
   
       8 . The wireless information device of  claim 7  programmed to: 
 (a) receive data defining the time at which Presence information was requested or accessed;    (b) display that time.    
   
   
       9 . The wireless information device of  claim 7  programmed to: 
 (a) receive data defining the kind of Presence information that was requested or accessed;    (b) display the kind of Presence information accessed.    
   
   
       10 . The wireless information device of  claim 7  in which the identity of the entity that has requested or accessed the Presence information is displayed on the wireless information device together with a user selectable option to contact that entity using voice or message based communication.  
   
   
       11 . The wireless information device of  claim 7  programmed to display user selectable options defining when the data is to be received from a server.  
   
   
       12 . The wireless information device of  claim 11  programmed to display some or all of the following options defining when the data is to be received from a server: (i) instantly when an entity requests or accesses Presence information; (ii) at regular times; (iii) at pre-defined times; or (iv) when requested to do so by the device.  
   
   
       13 . Computer software which, when running on a wireless information device, enables the device to: 
 (a) receive data defining the identity of any entity that has requested or accessed Presence information relating to the user of the device;    (b) display that identity together with an indication that Presence information has been sought or accessed.    
   
   
       14 . The computer software of  claim 13  which, when running on a wireless information device, enables the device to operate as a device claimed in  claim 8.