System and method for historical presence map
A telecommunications system includes a network ( 202 ); a plurality of client devices ( 212 ) operably coupled to said network, said plurality of client devices adapted to select one or more of others of said plurality as contacts on a contact list ( 404 ); a presence server ( 204 ) coupled to said network and adapted to monitor presence status of selected ones of said others; wherein said presence server ( 204 ) maintains one or more records of past presence data for said selected ones and is configured to provide said one or more records to a requesting one of said plurality
1 . A telecommunications system, comprising:
a network;
a plurality of client devices operably coupled to said network, said plurality of client devices adapted to select one or more of others of said plurality as contacts on a contact list;
a presence server coupled to said network and adapted to monitor presence status of selected ones of said others;
wherein said presence server maintains one or more records of past presence data for said selected ones and is configured to provide said one or more records to a requesting one of said plurality.
2 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said presence server is adapted to provide said one or more records as one or more presence maps.
3 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said presence server is adapted to provide said one or more presence maps via a browser interface.
4 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said requesting one of said plurality is configured to generate a presence map based on said one or more records.
5 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a requesting one of said plurality is configured to select a time period for which said one or more records are provided.
6 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said map is customizable according to presence state and media.
7 . A telecommunications system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said map is customizable according to presence state and media.
8 . A telecommunications method, comprising:
maintaining a list of users whose presence is monitored;
providing an indication of status presence of a user on said list; and
providing a record of past presence status of said user.
9 . A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said providing a record comprises providing a historical presence map of said past presence status.
10 . A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said providing a historical presence map comprises providing a map customizable according to presence state and media.
11 . A telecommunications method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said providing a historical presence map includes providing a web browser interface.
12 . A telecommunications presence system, comprising:
a network;
a plurality of network clients coupled to the network, said network clients including presence control units configured to maintain contact lists of other clients whose presence status is to be monitored;
a presence server coupled to the network, said presence server including a master presence control unit adapted to receive said contact lists and configured to monitor presence status across a plurality of media and distribute presence information to corresponding ones of said plurality of network clients;
wherein said presence server maintains one or more records of past presence data for said other ones and is configured to provide said one or more records to a requesting one of said plurality.
13 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said presence server is adapted to provide said one or more records as one or more presence maps.
14 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said presence server is adapted to provide said one or more presence maps via a browser interface.
15 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said requesting one of said plurality is configured to generate a presence map based on said one or more records.
16 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 12 , wherein a requesting one of said plurality is configured to select a time period for which said one or more records are provided.
17 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said providing a historical presence map comprises providing a map customizable according to presence state and media.
18 . A telecommunications presence system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said generating a presence map comprises providing a map customizable according to presence state and media.
19 . A presence server, comprising:
a contact list control for receiving contact lists of registered parties;
a presence control unit for monitoring the presence status of parties on the contact lists;
a presence record unit for maintaining a record pf past presence status of parties on the contact lists; and
means for providing said record to a requesting party.
20 . A presence server in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said record providing means comprises means for generating a presence map interface.
21 . A presence server in accordance with claim 20 , wherein said generating means comprises means for providing a map customizable according to presence state and media