Method and apparatus for deriving presence information using message traffic analysis

1. A method for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, the method comprising:

analyzing a message sent from the mobile device to determine whether a message type is interactive or non-interactive, the message type being interactive when message generation is user-initiated and the message type being non-interactive when the message is automatically generated by the mobile device, the message including a time value indicating an amount of time since the mobile device was actively used, the message including added information, the added information being a single bit to indicate if the message is interactive or not interactive;

assigning a connected state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be a non-interactive message and when the time value indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mobile device was actively used, the connected state indicating that the mobile device is currently connected to the wireless system but has not been actively used for at least the predetermined amount of time;

assigning an active state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be an interactive message; and

assigning a disconnected state to the mobile device when no messages are sent from the mobile device during a timeout period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message further includes a state as determined at the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a timer value in a timer when assigning a state; and

at the expiration of the timer, reallocating the state of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presence node is a presence server.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presence node is a presence consuming server.

6. A computer-implemented system for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, comprising:

means for analyzing a message sent from the mobile device to determine whether a message type is interactive or non-interactive, the message type being interactive when message generation is user-initiated and the message type being non-interactive when the message is automatically generated by the mobile device, the message including a time value indicating an amount of time since the mobile device was actively used, the message including added information, the added information being a single bit to indicate if the message is interactive or not interactive;

means for assigning a connected state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be a non-interactive message and when the time value indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mobile device was actively used, connected state indicating that the mobile device is currently connected to the wireless system but has not been actively used for at least the predetermined amount of time;

means for assigning an active state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be an interactive message; and

means for assigning a disconnected state to the mobile device when no messages are sent from the mobile device during a timeout period.

7. A system for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, comprising:

a data processor;

computer readable memory encoded with instructions which, when executed, cause the data processor to execute steps comprising:

analyze a message sent from the mobile device to determine whether a message type is interactive or non-interactive, the message type being interactive when message generation is user-initiated and the message type being non-interactive when the message is automatically generated by the mobile device, the message including a time value indicating an amount of time since the mobile device was actively used, the message including added information, the added information being a single bit to indicate if the message is interactive or not interactive;

assign a connected state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be a non-interactive message and when the time value indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mobile device was actively used, the connected state indicating that the mobile device is currently connected to the wireless system but has not been actively used for at least the predetermined amount of time;

assign an active state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be an interactive message; and

assign a disconnected state to the mobile device when no messages are sent from the mobile device during a timeout period.

8. A method for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, the method comprising:

analyzing a message sent from the mobile device to determine whether a message type is interactive or non-interactive, the message type being interactive when message generation is user-initiated and the message type being non-interactive when the message is automatically generated by the mobile device, the message including a time value indicating an amount of time since the mobile device was actively used, the message including added information to indicate if the message is interactive or not interactive;

assigning a connected state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be a non-interactive message and when the time value indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mobile device was actively used, the connected state indicating that the mobile device is currently connected to the wireless system but has not been actively used for at least the predetermined amount of time;

assigning an active state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be an interactive message; and

assigning a disconnected state to the mobile device when no messages are sent from the mobile device during a timeout period.

9. A system for deriving presence information of a mobile device at a presence node in a wireless system, comprising:

a data processor;

computer readable memory encoded with instructions which, when executed, cause the data processor to execute steps comprising:

analyze a message sent from the mobile device to determine whether a message type is interactive or non-interactive, the message type being interactive when message generation is user-initiated and the message type being non-interactive when the message is automatically generated by the mobile device, the message including a time value indicating an amount of time since the mobile device was actively used, the message including added information to indicate if the message is interactive or not interactive;

assign a connected state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be a non-interactive message and when the time value indicates that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mobile device was actively used, the connected state indicating that the mobile device is currently connected to the wireless system but has not been actively used for at least the predetermined amount of time;

assign an active state to the mobile device when the message sent from the mobile device is determined to be an interactive message; and

assign a disconnected state to the mobile device when no messages are sent from the mobile device during a timeout period.