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

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.