Utilizing information of a local network for determining presence state

Abstract

Utilizing information of a local network for determining presence state involves coupling a mobile device to a local, ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network. State information of a data-processing device of the network is determined using the mobile device. A presence state is formed at the mobile device based on the state information of the data-processing device. The presence state indicates conditions under which the mobile device may be contacted. In one configuration, a connection request for user communications may be received at the mobile device. The mobile device may respond to the connection request based on the presence state of the mobile device.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining state information of a data-processing device via a local network using a mobile device that is coupled to the local network; and   determining, at the mobile device, a presence state of the mobile device based on the state information of the data-processing device,
 wherein determining the state information of the data-processing device includes determining the state information based on one or more control actions initiated via the mobile device to the data-processing device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the mobile communications network, a connection request for user communications at the mobile device;   determining to respond to the connection request via the mobile device based on the presence state of the mobile device;   determining one or more activities of the data-processing device by receiving a state of change message to signal an activity; and   updating the state information of the data-processing device based on the state of change message.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the state information is associated with a function performed by the data-processing device,   wherein the function includes a response by the data-processing device to receiving a connection request associated with an action performed by the data-processing device,   wherein the response is associated with a command directed to the data-processing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining to respond to the connection request based on the presence state of the mobile device comprises determining to reject the connection request, to send a predetermined busy message to an originator of the connection request or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining to respond to the connection request via the mobile device based on the presence state of the mobile device comprises determining to change a user alert associated with the connection request. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining to change the user alert associated with the connection request comprises determining to redirect the user alert to a device of the mobile communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the connection request for user communications at the mobile device comprises receiving a request for at least one of a phone call, a text message, a calendar notification, and a device status notification. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining to control the data-processing device via the mobile device, and wherein determining the state information of the data-processing device comprises determining the state information based on the one or more control actions initiated via the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data-processing device comprises a media playback device, and wherein determining the state information based on the one or more control actions initiated via the mobile device comprises determining the state information based on a playback state of the media playback device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining to couple the mobile device to the local network comprises determining to couple the mobile device to a Universal Plug and Play network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a media playback device, a digital camera, a global position satellite navigation unit, and a game device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data-processing device comprises at least one of a television, a gaming console, a personal computer, a server, a data storage device, a video camera, an audio playback device, and a video playback device. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first network interface configured to communicate via a mobile communications network;   a second network interface configured to communicate via a local network;   a processor coupled to the first and second network interfaces; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions operable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
 determine to connect a data-processing device on the local network to control the data-processing device to change a state of the data-processing device, 
 determine to receive a verification of the control from the data-processing device, 
 determine a state information of the data-processing device based on the verification, 
 determine based on the state information of the data-processing device, a presence state of the apparatus on the mobile communication network or the local network. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further operable by the processor to cause the apparatus to,
 determine, via the second network interface, the state information of a data-processing device of the local network, wherein the state information includes a function being performed by the data-processing device,   determine, based on the state information of the data-processing device, the presence state of the apparatus that indicates conditions under which the apparatus is contacted via the mobile communication network,   receive a connection request for user communications via the first network interface,   determine to respond to the connection request via the first network interface based on the presence state,   determine one or more activities of the data-processing device by receiving a state of change message to signal an activity, and   update the state information of the data-processing device based on the state of change message.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein receiving the connection request for user communications via the first network interface comprises receiving a request for at least one of a phone call, a text message, a calendar notification, and a device status notification,
 wherein the state information is associated with a function performed by the data-processing device,   wherein the function includes a response by the data-processing device to receiving a connection request associated with an action performed by the data-processing device,   wherein the response is associated with a command directed to the data-processing device.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a control module configured for controlling the data-processing device via an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer network protocol of the local network, and wherein the instructions are further operable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine the state information of the data-processing device based on control actions initiated via the control module. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the data-processing device comprises a media playback device, and wherein the instructions are further operable by the processor to cause the apparatus to determine the state information based on a playback state of the media playback device. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:
 determining state information of the data-processing device via a local network using a mobile device that is coupled to the local network; and   determining, at the mobile device, a presence state of the mobile device based on the state information of the data-processing device,
 wherein determining the state information of the data-processing device includes determining the state information based on one or more control actions initiated via the mobile device to the data-processing device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 receiving, via the mobile communications network, a connection request for user communications at the mobile device;   determining to respond to the connection request via the mobile device based on the presence state of the mobile device;   determining one or more activities of the data-processing device by receiving a state of change message to signal an activity; and   updating the state information of the data-processing device based on the state of change message.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 receiving, via the mobile communications network, a connection request for user communications at the mobile device;   determining to respond to the connection request via the mobile device based on the presence state of the mobile device;   determining one or more activities of the data-processing device by receiving a state of change message to signal an activity; and   updating the state information of the data-processing device based on the state of change message.