Local time related presence automation and session control
The present invention provides a technique for using local time information associated with a monitored person when determining presence information and controlling communication sessions associated with the monitored person. The local time information is directly or indirectly related to the actual time or a time zone for the location at which the monitored person is located. In a presence system, the local time information for the monitored person is obtained and used to generate presence information. The presence information may be or include information related to the actual time or the time zone for the monitored person. The presence information may also be based on state information provided by monitored entities associated with the monitored person. In a session control system, sessions associated with the monitored person may be controlled in virtually any manner and may also be associated with other communication sessions based on the local time information.
1 . A method comprising:
obtaining local time information associated with a location of a monitored person;
creating presence information for the monitored person based on the local time information; and
providing the presence information to a subscribing entity.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving state information from a monitored entity and wherein creating the presence information is further based on the state information.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information is or provides sufficient information to determine a local time at the location of the monitored person and the presence information comprises the local time at the location of the monitored person, such that the subscribing entity can provide the local time to a subscriber.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information is or provides sufficient information to determine a time zone at the location of the monitored person and the presence information comprises the time zone at the location of the monitored person, such that the subscribing entity can provide the time zone to a subscriber.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information originated from a communication terminal associated with the monitored person.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information originated from an entity in a communication network supporting a communication terminal associated with the monitored person.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information is obtained from a local time information database, which is adapted to receive and store the local time information.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein different local time information is available for the monitored person, further comprising selecting one of the different local time information to be the local time information used to create the presence information based on pre-defined criteria.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the presence information bears on a relative availability of the monitored person to receive communications.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the local time information is last known local time information, the presence information providing the last known local time information for the monitored person to the subscribing entity.
11 . A method comprising:
obtaining local time information associated with a party to a communication session; and
controlling the communication session based on the local time information.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising detecting the communication session.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the communication session comprises redirecting the communication session from an intended destination to another destination.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the communication session comprises associating the communication session with another communication session.
15 . The method of claim 11 wherein controlling the communication session comprises determining whether to allow initiation of the communication session to proceed.
16 . The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a notification to a third party when communications with the party are appropriate.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising determining when communications with the party are appropriate and inappropriate based on the local time information.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a notification to the third party when communications with the party are inappropriate.
19 . A presence system comprising:
a communication interface; and
a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to:
obtain local time information associated with a location of a monitored person;
create presence information for the monitored person based on the local time information; and
provide the presence information to a subscribing entity.
20 . The presence system of claim 19 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive state information from a monitored entity and create the presence information based on the state information.