The present invention relates generally to Internet communications that are managed by presence servers.
To send a message to a recipient, the message must be addressed to the recipient using the protocol of a particular communication or messaging system. For example, email messages require a SMTP, IMAP, or POP address. As part of sending a message, the sender must decide which messaging service is best suited to deliver the message, including determining which service will recognize the recipient. This can require that the recipient be available on the service.
Accordingly, in determining accessibility it is often necessary to have reliable presence information relating to intended recipients. In some systems such as instant messaging systems, presence information is maintained once the user logs onto the service. However, this requires the user to invoke the instant messaging application, which the user might forget to do. Moreover, once logged on, the system has no way of determining whether the user is actually observing the user device terminal and, hence, has no way of knowing whether the user, as opposed to the user device, is actually present unless the user logs off or otherwise indicates that he or she is away. With this in mind, the inventions herein are provided.
A system for managing communication with a user device includes a presence server that receives a message which is automatically generated and transmitted by a user device when the user device has been powered down, and/or when the user device has not been operated for a predetermined period, and/or when the user device receives a power on message. Also, the presence server may receive another type of message that is automatically generated and transmitted by a user device which indicates the user device should remain indicated as being active. The presence server uses the messages to maintain data indicating user devices available for communication.
In another aspect, a user device includes means for registering with a presence server, and means for generating, without user intervention, a message to the presence server indicating that the user device has been inactive for a period longer than a threshold. In addition or alternatively, the user device can generate a message to the presence server indicating that the user device remains available for communication. With this invention, the presence server can indicate the user device as being available for communication.
In yet another aspect, a presence server maintains data indicating what devices are active based on user device messages indicating no activity at the user device for a period at least a great as a threshold, and/or based on user device messages indicating continuing desire to remain designated an active device.
In still another aspect, a method for advertising over the Internet includes accessing information in a presence server indicating active user devices. The method also includes, based on the information, transmitting, over the Internet, at least one advertisement to the active user devices.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
As shown in
At block 36, communication is established between the user device and the presence server 12, which accesses the registration information sent at block 32. That is, the initial registration information exchange can be between the ISP server 16 and user device, or it can be direct between the user device and the presence server 12.
In any case, at block 38 application software for executing the service associated with the presence server 12 is downloaded to the user device. Authentication information can be sent to the presence server 12 at block 40 in accordance with Internet authentication principles known in the art. The user is authenticated at block 42 and as part of the authentication process a cookie or other token may be returned to the user device. Each user device in turn can be registered by sending authentication information from the device to the presence server and receiving back a token for that device.
The present invention recognizes that once a user device is reflected as being present, the user of the device may, at some point, stop using the device without logging off or otherwise indicating that the user himself or herself is no longer monitoring the device. Accordingly,
In contrast, when, for instance, the user device is a mobile computing device, it may be desirable to automatically remove the device from the data structure of active devices unless messages are periodically received from the device. Accordingly, referring now to
The accounting data is based on the advertisements. In one non-limiting embodiment, accounting data is generated only for advertisements sent to users who return acknowledgements of receipt of the advertisement. Or, accounting data can be generated for advertisements sent to active user devices regardless of acknowledgements of receipt. If desired, a user device service charge can be reduced for users agreeing to accept advertisements.
While the particular AUTOMATIC USER DEVICE PRESENCE REGISTRATION SYSTEM as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. It is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with the present specification and file history.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/544,602, filed Feb. 12, 2004.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60544602 | Feb 2004 | US |