Promoting interoperability of presence-based systems through the use of ubiquitous online identities

Abstract

A client system is configured to submit a request to a first instant messaging system for access to the first instant messaging service The request includes an online identity that is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service associated with the second instant messaging system. The second instant messaging system is configured to send a message to the first instant messaging system that indicates the online identity is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service associated with the second instant messaging system. The first instant messaging system maintains a profile that is updated to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the first instant messaging service and, in response to the message, the profile is also updated to indicate that the online identity is currently begin used to access the second instant messaging service.

What is claimed is; 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 allowing access to a first instant messaging service using an online identity;   accessing a profile associated with the online identity;   updating the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the first instant messaging service;   receiving, at the first instant messaging service and from another instant messaging service, a message indicating that the online identity is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service; and   in response to the message, updating the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the second instant messaging service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein allowing access to the first instant messaging service using the online identity comprises:
 receiving a request to access the first instant messaging service, the request including the online identity; 
 determining that the online identity is associated with the second instant messaging service; and 
 communicating with the second instant messaging service to authenticate the online identity. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the online identity is associated with the first instant messaging system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the online identity is associated with the second instant messaging system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the online identity is expressed using a combination of a username and a domain name. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein updating the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the second instant messaging service includes updating a table to include an identity of the second instant messaging system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising updating the table to include an identity of a client device accessing the second instant messaging service using the online identity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising updating the table to include the duration of time the online identity has been used to access the second instant messaging service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the other instant messaging service include the second instant messaging service. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein updating the profile includes updating a counter that indicates the number of times the online identity is used to access one or more instant messaging services. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein updating the profile includes decrementing the counter if it is determined that the online identity has logged off from either the first instant messaging service or the second instant messaging service. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 identifying a particular instant messaging service from which the online identity has logged off; and 
 notifying the one or more instant messaging service that the online identity has logged off the particular instant messaging service. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 identifying a client device from which the online identity has logged off; and 
 notifying the one or more instant messaging service that the online identity has logged off the client device. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining whether a value of the counter is equal to zero; and 
 if it is determined that the value of the counter is equal to zero, notifying the one or more instant messaging service of the online identity's complete loss of presence. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of claim I wherein accessing the profile includes accessing a profile maintained by the first instant messaging service. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-usable medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions for:
 allowing access to a first instant messaging service using an online identity;   accessing a profile associated with the online identity;   updating the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the first instant messaging service;   receiving, at the first instant messaging service and from another instant messaging service, a message indicating that the online identity is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service; and   in response to the message, updating the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the second instant messaging service.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein, to allow access to the first instant messaging service using the online identity, the instructions include instructions for:
 receiving a request to access the first instant messaging service, the request including the online identity; 
 determining that the online identity is associated with the second instant messaging service; and 
 communicating with the second instant messaging service to authenticate the online identity. 
 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein the online identity is associated with the first instant messaging system. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein the online identity is associated with the second instant messaging system. 
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein the online identity is expressed using a combination of a username and a domain name. 
     
     
         21 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein to update the profile to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the second instant messaging service the instructions include instructions for updating a table to include an identity of the second instant messaging system. 
     
     
         22 . The medium of  claim 21  further comprising instructions for updating the table to include an identity of a client device accessing the second instant messaging service using the online identity. 
     
     
         23 . The medium of  claim 22  further comprising instructions for updating the table to include the duration of time the online identity has been used to access the second instant messaging service. 
     
     
         24 . The medium of  claim 16  wherein to update the profile the instructions include instructions for updating a counter that indicates the number of times the online identity is used to access one or more instant messaging services. 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising:
 a first instant messaging system configured to receive a request for access to a first instant messaging service associated with the first instant messaging system;   a client system configured to submit a request to the first instant messaging system for access to the first instant messaging service, wherein the request includes an online identity; and   a second instant messaging system configured to send a message to the first instant messaging system that indicates the online identity is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service associated with the second instant messaging system, wherein:   the first instant messaging system maintains a profile that is updated to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the first instant messaging service; and   in response to the message, the profile is also updated to indicate that the online identity is currently begin used to access the second instant messaging service.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the online identity is expressed using a combination of a username and a domain.