Server apparatus and client apparatus in presence display system

Abstract

The presence display system of the present invention displays presences and distances between buddies. The mobile station 11 performs poling to the user data section 26 at predetermined time intervals, transmits location information of the mobile station 11 to the presence server 27, receives buddies state information and information indicating the proximity between the user and the buddies, and displays the presence of the buddies by means of an icon with a size that corresponds with the proximity. The buddy list server 28 calculates the distance between the user and the buddies from the location information of the mobile station 11 and the location information of the requested buddies in accordance with the poling by the mobile station 11, determines the proximity by comparing the distance with a threshold value that is set by the user, and transmits the proximity to the mobile station 11.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for registering a buddy, comprising:
 a buddy list configured to register the buddy; and   the apparatus configured to receive relative location information of the registered buddy, wherein the relative location information is based on a distance between the apparatus and a buddy mobile station associated with the registered buddy.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising an address book, wherein the address book comprises the buddy capable of being selected and registered into the buddy list. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising information associated with a selected buddy from the buddy list. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising information indicating a subscriber status of the selected buddy. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising an interface configured to display the buddy list, wherein the buddy is capable of being selected from the buddy list by a user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . A method for registering a buddy, comprising:
 registering the buddy into a buddy list on an owner mobile station; and   receiving relative location information of the registered buddy, wherein the relative location information is based on a distance between the owner mobile station associated with an owner and a buddy mobile station associated with the registered buddy.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising storing an address book, wherein the address book comprises the buddy capable of being selected and registered into the buddy list. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising transmitting information associated with a selected buddy from the buddy list to a server. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising receiving information indicating a subscriber status of the selected buddy from the server. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying the buddy list via an interface, wherein the buddy is capable of being selected from the buddy list by a user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for monitoring information of a registered buddy, comprising:
 the apparatus configured to
 request information from a server at predetermined intervals, wherein the requested information includes at least relative location information of the registered buddy, wherein the relative location information is based on a distance between the apparatus and a buddy mobile station associated with the registered buddy; and 
 receive, from the server, the requested information including at least the relative location information. 
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the requested information further includes absolute presence information of the apparatus and relative presence information of the buddy mobile station. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , the apparatus further configured to transmit location information, buddy presence request setting information, and standby poling interval information to a server. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , the apparatus further configured to display the received absolute presence information, the relative presence information, and the relative location information on the apparatus. 
     
     
         35 . A method for monitoring information of a registered buddy, comprising:
 requesting information from a server at predetermined intervals, wherein the requested information includes at least relative location information of the registered buddy, wherein the relative location information is based on a distance between the apparatus and a buddy mobile station associated with the registered buddy; and   receiving, from the server, the requested information including at least the relative location information.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the requested information further includes absolute presence information of the owner mobile station and relative presence information of the buddy mobile station. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising transmitting location information, buddy presence request setting information, and standby poling interval information to a server. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising displaying the received absolute presence information, the relative presence information, and the relative location information on the owner mobile station. 
     
     
         39 . A method for receiving information associated with at least one buddy, comprising:
 requesting information from a server, wherein the requested information includes at least information indicating the at least one buddy monitoring information associated with the owner mobile station, wherein the monitored information includes relative location information of the owner mobile station, wherein the relative location information is based on a distance between the owner mobile station and a buddy mobile station associated with the at least one buddy; and   receiving, from the server, the requested information including at least the information indicating the at least one buddy monitoring information associated with the owner mobile station.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising denying the at least one buddy from monitoring information associated with the owner mobile station.