Method and system for presence determination of mobile devices

1. A method of determining presence of a mobile station in a mobile network comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a presence indication that said mobile station is active from a presence-based application;

determining if said mobile station is active using a presence query mechanism;

receiving a presence message responsive to said presence query mechanism representing whether said mobile station is active or inactive;

terminating said method if said presence message indicates said mobile station is active;

establishing a notification trigger respective to said mobile station in said mobile network based on said request;

receiving a notification message responsive to said notification trigger from said mobile network, said message representing whether said mobile station is active or inactive; and

providing contents of said notification message to said presence-based application.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, prior to said terminating step: providing contents of said presence message to said presence-based application.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said presence query mechanism is generated according to the SS7 protocol.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said mobile network is based on the Global System for Mobile Communication (“GSM”); and said presence query mechanism is an Any Time Interrogation query initiated to a home location register (“HLR”) within said mobile network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said presence query mechanism is generated according to the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (“SCTP”).

6. A method of determining presence of a mobile station in a mobile network comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a presence indication that said mobile station is active from a presence-based application;

establishing a notification trigger respective to said mobile station in said mobile network based on said request, said establishing a notification trigger being based on short message service (“SMS”), said mobile network being based on GSM, said notification trigger being a Report SM Delivery Status message initiated to a home location register (“HLR”), and said Report SM Delivery Status message including content having formatting that is based, at least in part, on the specification identified as GSM 09.02 and GSM 03.40 as amended from time to time;

receiving a notification message responsive to said notification trigger from said mobile network, said message representing whether said mobile station is active or inactive;

providing contents of said notification message to said presence-based application; and

in association with said notification trigger, populating a Service Center Address parameter with an E.164 compliant number uniquely, such that said notification message will be received from said HLR and addressed to an entity according to said E.164 compliant number.

7. A method of determining presence of a mobile station in a mobile network comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a presence indication that said mobile station is active from a presence-based application;

establishing a notification trigger respective to said mobile station in said mobile network based on said request;

receiving a notification message responsive to said notification trigger from said mobile network, said message representing whether said mobile station is active or inactive, said notification message being based on short message service (“SMS”), said mobile network being based on ANSI-41, said notification message being an SMS Notification message, and said SMS Notification message containing an identifier associated with said mobile station and an SMSADDR parameter indicating that communication with said mobile station has been achieved by said mobile network; and

providing contents of said notification message to said presence-based application.

8. A method of determining presence of a mobile station in a mobile network comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a presence indication that said mobile station is active;

sending a first query into said mobile network based on said request;

receiving a first query response to said first query from said network; and, if said first query response indicates said mobile station is active then: providing said presence indication based on said first query response; if said first query response indicates said mobile station is not active then: sending a second query into said mobile network for establishing a notification trigger, said second query being based on short message service (“SMS”), said SMS being based on at least one of the specifications identified as TIA TR 45.2 IS-841, 3GPP2 N.S0024, GSM 03.40. and GSM 09.02 as amended from time, said mobile network being based on GSM, said second query being a Report SM Delivery Status message initiated to a home location register (“HLR”), and said Report SM Delivery Status message including content having formatting that is based, at least in part, according to the specification identified as GSM 09.02 and GSM 03.40 as amended from time;

receiving a second query response based on said notification trigger; said second query response received from said network and including said presence indication;

providing said presence indication based on said second query response; and

in association with said second query, populating a Service Center Address parameter with an E.1 64 compliant number uniquely, such said second query response will be received from said HLR will be and be addressed to an entity according to said E.164 compliant number.

9. A method of determining presence of a mobile station in a mobile network comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a presence indication that said mobile station is active;

sending a first query into said mobile network based on said request;

receiving a first query response to said first query from said network; and, if said first query response indicates said mobile station is active then: providing said presence indication based on said first query response; if said first query response indicates said mobile station is not active then: sending a second query into said mobile network for establishing a notification trigger;

receiving a second query response based on said notification trigger; said second query response received from said network and including said presence indication, said second query response being based on short message service (“SMS”), said mobile network being based on ANSI-41, said second query response being an SMS Notification message, and

said SMS Notification message containing an identifier associated with said mobile station associated and an SMSADDR parameter indicating that communication with said mobile station has been achieved by said mobile network; and

providing said presence indication based on said second query response.