(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`21 June 2001 (21.06.2001)
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`
`
`
`NO AATA
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 01/45343 A2
`
`(51) International Patent Classification’:
`
`HO4L 29/00
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/GBO00/04512
`
`se
`;
`.
`(22) International Filing Date:
`27 November 2000 (27.1 1.2000)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`Kinglish
`
`.
`(30) Priority Data:
`09/461,654
`
`14 December 1999 (14.12.1999)
`
`US
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US); NORTEL
`NETWORKS LIMITED [CA/CA], World ‘Trade Center
`Of Montreal, 380 St. Antoine Street West, 8th Floor, Mon-
`treal, Québec H2Y 3Y¥4 (CA).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): DAVLES, Elwya,
`B. [GB/GB]; 60 The Butts, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7
`
`5AW (GB). HARKER, Andrew, Newton [GB/GB]; 20A
`Nursery Road, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23
`3HL (GB). STRINGER, David, Robert |GB/GB]; 72
`Broom Grove, Knebworth, Hertfordshire SG3 6BQ (GB).
`PARSONS, Eric, W. [CA/CA], 19 Carlisle Circle RR4,
`ao
`A ere
`RR4, Ashton, Ontario KOA IBO (CA). ARMSTRONG,
`Steven, M. |CA/CA]; 24 Hillview Road, Nepean, Ontario
`K2H 5G5 (CA).
`
`(74) Agent: CUTFORTH,Peter; Nortel Networks. London
`Road, Harlow, Essex CM17 9NA (GB).
`
`(
`
`81) Designated States (national): AL, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ,
`Cee
`ot
`PROT
`og
`;
`$4 858g. BR, BE GARE Ce ERGe DE-DE
`DM, EE, ES, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL,
`IN. 18, JP. KE, KG. KP, KR. KZ, LC, LK. LR. LS, LT. LU,
`LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT,
`RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA,
`UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ. UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, BS, FI, FR, GB, GR, TB,
`
`[Continued on next page]
`
`(54) Titles ANONYMITY IN A PRESENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`12
`
`10
`
`PARTY
`INFORMATION
`
`MULTIPLE ACCESS
`COMMUNICATIONS
`NETWORK
`
`13
` WATCHED
`
`LAYAUAA
`
`43A2
`O01/45
`
`11
`ef (87) Abstract: A presence management system is described whereby connections between watching parties and watched parties in
`a multiple access communications network are managed. When the presence management system receives a contact request from
`— a watching party it determines whether the required watched party is available for contact. The system then provides information
`about this to the watehing party who made the request, The presence management system chooses the best mode of communication
`(e.g. email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and details about the facilities available to the watching party.
`If, the presence management system informs the waiching party that the watchedparty is unavailable, the walching party is able to
`
`= sel up a monitor, In determining whetherthe required watched party is available for contact, the presence management syslem uses
`
`stored information about the watched party, information about the required connection (e.g. size and type) and alsorules.
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 1
`Page 1
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343 A2
`
`—__[IMNMIN) NITION NITROUNIININ
`
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CPF,
`CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW,ML, MR, NE, SN, TD,TG).
`
`Published:
`
`Withou! international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt ofthat report.
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, referto the “Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations" appearing at the begin-
`ning of each regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 2
`Page 2
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOO/U4512
`
`oO:
`
`ITY IN A PRESENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This
`
`invention relates to a presence management
`
`system for
`
`use in a multiple access communications network.
`
`Description of
`
`the
`
`prior art
`
`Telecommunication users of
`
`today are faced with ever
`
`10
`
`increasing choice over how they communicate.
`
`A typical user
`
`has several different kinds of communications
`
`terminal
`
`such
`
`as mobile telephones,
`
`fax machines, personal computers,
`
`lap-
`
`top computers. Also a typical user also often has more that
`
`one of a given type of communications terminal,
`
`for example,
`
`15
`
`more
`
`than on* E-mail account,
`
`or
`
`home
`
`and work
`
`telephone
`
`numbers.
`
`This produces complexity and confusion both for
`
`senders and receivers of communications.
`
`Receivers of communications have to work hard to field
`
`all
`
`incoming communications and such users often find that
`
`20
`
`interruptions
`
`from alerts,
`
`such
`
`as
`
`telephone calls
`
`and
`
`instant messages, are intrusive.
`
`Typically,
`
`receivers
`
`of
`
`communications
`
`have
`
`little
`
`control
`
`over what
`
`communications
`
`are
`
`received,
`
`at which
`
`times, and in which modes.
`
`In face to face communications,
`
`25
`
`humans are able to control
`
`the degree of
`
`interaction which
`
`they allow with particular people or groups.
`
`However, with
`
`today’s communication networks
`
`the degree and resolution of
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 3
`Page 3
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`the control of electronically mediated communications is much
`
`less.
`
`For example,
`
`telephone numbers are often fully public
`
`(in a directory) and are typically issued on demand to others
`
`who explicitly ask and know the full address.
`
`Also,
`
`a
`
`telephone number,
`
`once released to others,
`
`has continuing
`
`validity unless
`
`the telephone number
`
`is changed at great
`
`inconvenience and expense.
`
`Similar problems apply for email
`
`addresses.
`
`This means
`
`that it is easy for others,
`
`such as
`
`salesmen or nuisance callers to contact you more times than
`
`10
`
`desired.
`
`In order to prevent this problem,
`
`telephone numbers
`
`and email
`
`addresses may be withheld but
`
`this gives
`
`the
`
`disadvantage of
`
`isolating the “owner” of the telephone number
`
`or email address.
`
`Senders
`
`of
`
`communications
`
`also
`
`experience
`
`problems
`
`15
`
`bacdupe
`
`they
`
`are
`
`often
`
`unsure
`
`about which mode
`
`of
`
`communication
`
`to use at
`
`a given time
`
`for
`
`a particular
`
`destination.
`
`In order to determine the most appropriate
`
`method of access there are many factors to be considered,
`
`These include factors to do with the sender such as what
`
`they
`
`20
`
`are trying to communicate and factors to do with the receiver
`
`such as where. the intended recipient
`
`is and what
`
`they are
`
`doing at the time.
`
`Two
`
`examples
`
`of
`
`instant messaging services
`
`are now
`
`described:
`
`25
`
`Microsoft Network (MSN) messenger service
`
`MSN messenger service is an instant messaging service
`
`for use on the Internet.
`
`Users are able to identify when
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 4
`Page 4
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/043512
`
`others are online and to send and receive instant messages.
`
`By identifying when others are online it is possible to send
`
`an
`
`instant message
`
`to
`
`other
`
`online
`
`individuals
`
`or
`
`to
`
`communicate with several other online individuals at once.
`
`In this way
`
`the communication and messages are more “real
`
`time”
`
`than conventional email
`
`for example, where an email
`
`message may simply remain in an individual’s email
`
`inbox for
`
`Some time before it is accessed.
`
`The service enables a user
`
`to identify when another party in an internet conversation is
`
`10
`
`typing at
`
`their computer
`
`terminal keyboard.
`
`That
`
`is, using
`
`the instant message service it is possible to “talk” to more
`
`than one person at a time in a similar way to an online chat
`
`session.
`
`The user
`
`is also able to control which other
`
`parties are able to identify or “see” when the user is online
`
`15
`
`and also to control who is able to send messages to the user.
`
`In this respect
`
`the MSN service differs from conventional
`
`online chat programs.
`
`Automatic notification of receipt of
`
`messages
`
`is provided.
`
`However,
`
`instant messages
`
`in MSN
`
`messenger service have a temporary quality. Unless the user
`
`20
`
`deliberately saves
`
`these messages
`
`they are lost when
`
`the
`
`message
`
`service
`
`is
`
`shut down.
`
`This
`
`contrasts with
`
`conventional
`
`email messages
`
`in most
`
`email
`
`systems which
`
`remain until a user actively deletes them.
`
`Information about
`
`MSN messenger
`
`service
`
`is
`
`provided
`
`on
`
`the
`
`Internet
`
`at
`
`25
`
`
`
`Teo ("I seek you”)
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 5
`Page 5
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO00/04512
`
`IcQ is an instant messaging service for internet users.
`
`It is a program that enables users to identify others who are
`
`online and which alerts users when specified individuals log
`
`onto the ICQ service.
`
`This removes the need for a directory
`
`search to be made each time a user wants to communicate with
`
`a specific person.
`
`Using ICQ, messages, files and web pages can be sent
`
`to
`
`other online users of
`
`ICQ in real
`
`time and ICO also supports
`
`chat, voice, message board, data conferencing and internet
`
`10
`
`games. When a new user installs ICQ the user is prompted to
`
`register at a server which is connected to a broad network of
`
`other servers
`
`spanning the internet.
`
`In the registration
`
`Process the user receives a unique ICQ identifier number and
`
`is able to enter personal
`
`information. When the registered
`
`15
`
`user logs onto the Internet
`
`thé ICQ system detects this and
`
`allows other ICO users to recognise that that user has logged
`
`on.
`
`The registered user is able to compile a list of friends
`
`and associates
`
`(these friends and associates must also be
`
`registered with
`
`ICO or
`
`a
`
`compatible
`
`instant messaging
`
`20
`
`service) and the ICO system determines when these individuals
`
`are logged onto the internet. Alerting messages are sent
`
`to
`
`the user
`
`to inform him or her when members of
`
`the list of
`
`friends and associates sign on or off the ICQ system. Users
`
`are also able to control who contacts them and to hide their
`
`25
`
`presence on the internet when this is required.
`
`Information
`
`about
`
`ICQ is given on the Internet at http: //www.ica.com.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 6
`Page 6
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`Some instant messaging services include so called “buddy
`
`jists” which are
`
`lists of other users
`
`of
`
`that
`
`instant
`
`messaging service which have been selected by an individual
`
`user as being those of interest.
`
`The individual user is then
`
`informed whether or not
`
`the members of
`
`the “buddy list” are
`
`currently using and available for contact via the instant
`
`messaging
`
`service.
`
`Such
`
`buddy
`
`lists
`
`are
`
`essentially
`
`attributes of
`
`the owning user and do not have any autonomous
`
`status in the instant messaging system,
`
`thus playing only a
`
`10
`
`passive role therein.
`
`Other
`
`instant messaging systems
`
`such as America On-
`
`line's Instant Messenger
`
`(trade mark) offer broadly similar
`
`capabilities to ICQ.
`
`Known instant messaging systems such as MSN and ICO do
`not deal with multiple aphaee communications networks and are
`
`15
`
`based on the internet only.
`
`This is disadvantageous because
`
`the
`
`functions of
`
`the instant messaging systems
`
`are only
`
`available via the internet.
`
`Unified messaging systems
`
`are known,
`
`such as Nortel
`
`20
`
`Network’s own product CALL PILOT (trade mark).
`
`This enables
`
`fax,
`
`email
`
`and voice mail messages
`
`to be
`
`received via a
`
`Single “in box" and users are able to set up filters to allow
`only certain messages to reach thei
`For example, users are
`
`able
`
`to
`
`listen
`
`to
`
`textual
`
`email messages
`
`converted
`
`25
`
`automatically into speech using their mobile telephone and
`
`are able to filter out non-urgent messages, However,
`
`this is
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 7
`Page 7
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`not
`
`a presence management
`
`system and does not monitor
`
`the
`
`activity of users on a communications network.
`
`Products
`
`are available which act
`
`as
`
`communications
`
`network based “secretaries” to take a user's calls.
`
`For
`
`example,
`
`WILDFIRE
`
`(trade mark)
`
`produced
`
`by Wildfire
`
`communications,
`
`Ince
`
`and PORTICO
`
`(trade mark)
`
`produced by
`
`uses
`speech
`General Magic,
`Inc.
`The WILDFIRE product
`fax and email
`recognition to help Smine manager their phone,
`Commicattons. This product dials outgoing calls, announces
`
`10
`
`callers using a voice recording that
`
`is played back,
`
`records
`
`contact details and is able to route incoming calls to any
`
`telephone specified by a user. However,
`
`this system is not a
`
`presence management
`
`system because it does not obtain and
`
`manage information about
`
`the activities of users and monitor
`
`15
`
`their “presence” on the communications network. Also,
`
`it is
`
`not an instant messaging system and does not enable users who
`
`are trying to contact another user
`
`to- obtain information
`
`about
`
`the best mode and time to do this. Details about
`
`the
`
`WILDFIRE
`
`product
`
`are
`
`available
`
`on
`
`the
`
`Internet
`
`at
`
`20
`
`www.wildfire.com. Details about PORTICO are available on the
`
`Internet at www.generalmagic.com.
`
`PORTICO is
`
`similar
`
`to
`
`WILDFIRE and is limited in the same respects as PORTICO.
`
`It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
`
`provide a presence management
`
`system which overcomes or at
`
`25
`
`least mitigates one or more of the problems noted above.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 8
`Page 8
`
`

`

`WO 0)1/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`:
`
`According
`
`to
`
`the present
`
`invention there
`
`is provided a
`
`presence management
`
`system suitable for use in a multiple
`
`access communications network by watching parties and watched
`
`Parties, said presence management system comprising: -
`
`(1)
`
`an input arranged to access a store of watched party
`
`information;
`
`(ii)
`
`information about connection criteria;
`
`(iii) an input arranged to receive information about events
`
`that
`
`occur
`
`in
`
`said multiple
`
`access
`
`communications
`
`10
`
`network in use; and
`
`(iv)
`
`an input arranged to receive connection requests from
`
`watchers
`
`in use;
`
`and wherein said presence management
`
`system is arranged such that,
`
`in use,
`
`on receipt of
`
`a
`
`request
`
`from a watching party for a connection with a
`
`15
`
`watched party,
`
`a connection address
`
`for
`
`that watched
`
`party is provided under controlled conditions,
`
`said
`
`conditions being determined on the basis of said watched
`
`party information,
`
`said information about
`
`connection
`
`criteria and said input
`
`information about events.
`
`20
`
`A corresponding computer program stored on a computer
`
`readable medium is provided,
`
`said computer program being
`
`adapted
`
`to
`
`control
`
`a
`
`presence management
`
`system,
`
`said
`
`presence management
`
`system being suitable for use
`
`in a
`
`25
`
`multiple access communications network by watched parties and
`
`watching parties,
`
`said computer program being arranged to
`
`control said presence management system such that:-
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 9
`Page 9
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOU/U4512
`
`(i)
`
`a store of watched party information is accessed;
`
`(ii)
`
`information about connection criteria is accessed;
`
`(iii) information about events
`
`that occur
`
`in said multiple
`
`access communications network is received in use via an
`
`input; and
`
`(iv) conmection requests are received from watchers in use;
`
`and on receipt of a request from a watching party for a
`
`connection with a watched party,
`
`a connection address
`
`for
`
`that watched party is provided under controlled
`
`10
`
`conditions,
`
`said conditions being determined on
`
`the
`
`basis
`
`of
`
`said watched
`
`party
`
`information,
`
`said
`
`information about connection criteria and said input
`
`information about events.
`
`15
`
`A corresponding multiple access communications network
`
`is provided comprising a presence management
`
`system,
`
`said
`
`presence management system being for use by watching parties
`
`and watched
`
`parties,
`
`Said
`
`presence management
`
`system
`
`comprising: -
`
`20
`
`(i)
`
`An
`
`input arranged to access a store of watched party
`
`information;
`
`(ii)
`
`information about connection criteria;
`
`(iii) an input arranged to receive information about events
`
`that
`
`occur
`
`in
`
`said multiple
`
`access
`
`communications
`
`25
`
`network in use; and
`
`(iv)
`
`an input arranged to receive connection requests from
`
`watchers
`
`in use;
`
`and wherein said presence management
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 10
`Page 10
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOU/043512
`
`system is arranged such that,
`
`in use, on receipt of a
`
`request
`
`from a watching party for a connection with a
`
`watched party, a connection address
`
`for
`
`that watched
`
`party is provided under controlled conditions,
`
`said
`
`conditions being determined on the basis of said watched
`
`party information,
`
`said information about
`
`connection
`
`criteria and said input information about évents.
`
`A
`
`corresponding method
`
`of
`
`operating
`
`a
`
`presence
`
`Management
`
`system suitable for use
`
`in a multiple access
`
`communications network is provided, said presence management
`system being for uae by watching parties and watched parties,
`
`at least one of said parties being an automated service, said
`
`method comprising the steps of:-
`
`(1)
`
`accessing a store of watched party information;
`
`(ii) accessing information about connection criteria;
`
`(iii) receiving information about events
`
`that occur
`
`in said
`
`multiple access communications network; and
`
`(iv)
`
`on receipt of
`
`a request
`
`from a watching party for a
`
`connection with a watched party,
`
`a connection address
`
`for
`
`that watched party is provided under controlled
`
`conditions,
`
`said conditions being determined on
`
`the
`
`basis
`
`of
`
`said watched
`
`party
`
`information,
`
`said
`
`information about connection criteria and said input
`
`information about events.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 11
`Page 11
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOU/U43512
`
`10
`
`This provides the advantage that a presence management
`
`System provides
`
`a connection address
`
`for
`
`a watched party
`
`under controlled conditions,
`
`thus enabling the watched party
`
`to control access to that connection address by making use of
`
`the presence management
`
`system.
`
`In
`
`one
`
`example,
`
`the
`
`connection address provided is valid only for
`
`a
`
`limited
`
`number of connections or for a limited time.
`
`In this way,
`
`connection addresses can be issued to watching parties such
`
`as sales people whilst at the same time limiting the ability
`
`10
`
`of
`
`that watching party to contact
`
`the watched party.
`
`In
`
`another example,
`
`the connection address provided is used by
`
`the presence management
`
`system to forward the connection
`
`request direct
`
`to the watched party.
`
`This prevents
`
`the
`
`watching party from gaining access
`
`to the watched party's
`
`15
`
`direct address.
`
`Further benefits and advantages of
`become
`apparent
`from a Senatdecation
`
`the invention will
`of
`the
`following
`
`detailed description given with reference to the accompanying
`
`drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the
`
`20
`
`invention.
`
`Brief description of the drawings
`
`Figure 1
`
`is a
`
`schematic diagram of
`
`a presence management
`
`system.
`
`Figure 2
`
`is a schematic diagram of
`
`the presence management
`
`25
`
`system of Figure
`
`1 with a canference call
`
`service as
`
`a
`
`watching party.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 12
`Page 12
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`11
`
`Figure 3
`
`is a schematic diagram of
`
`the presence management
`
`system of Figure 1 with a ticket agency service as a watched
`
`party.
`
`Figure 4
`
`is a schematic diagram of
`
`the presence management
`
`system of Figure 1 with an aggregate of watching parties and
`
`an aggregate of watched parties.
`
`Pigure 5
`
`is a
`
`schematic diagram of
`
`a presence management
`
`system.
`
`Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an event gateway.
`
`10
`
`Figure 7
`
`is a flow diagram for another example of a computer
`
`program for controlling a presence management system.
`
`Figure 8
`
`is
`
`a
`
`schematic diagram illustrating the use of
`
`“partially interpreted event triggers”.
`
`15
`
`Detailed description of the invention
`
`Embodiments of the present
`invention are described below
`by way of example only.
`These examples
`represent
`the best
`
`ways
`
`of putting
`
`the
`
`invention
`
`into practice
`
`that
`
`are
`
`currently known to the Applicant although they are not
`
`the
`
`20
`
`only ways in which this could be achieved.
`
`The
`
`term “multiple access
`
`communications network”
`
`is
`
`used to refer
`
`to a communications network which comprises
`
`several different
`
`types of communications network and which
`
`can be accessed using a plurality of different
`
`types of
`
`25
`
`terminal which also comprise part
`
`of
`
`the
`
`communications
`
`network,
`
`The communications network can be accessed by a
`
`plurality of such terminals at any one time.
`
`For example,
`
`a
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 13
`Page 13
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`12
`
`public switched telephone network that
`
`is
`
`connected to a
`
`mobile telephone network is a multiple access communications
`
`network.
`
`This is because the overall network is made up of
`
`two different types of communications network and the overall
`
`network
`
`can
`
`be
`
`accessed using many different
`
`types
`
`of
`
`terminal
`
`such
`
`aS
`
`a
`
`conventional
`
`telephone
`
`handset,
`
`a
`
`facsimile machine,
`
`a mobile telephone or a modem.
`
`A multiple
`
`access
`
`communications
`
`network
`
`can
`
`be
`
`thought
`
`of
`
`as
`
`a
`
`“federated” network and the component communications networks
`
`10
`
`within a multiple
`
`access
`
`communications metwork
`
`can
`
`be
`
`conmnection-less networks
`
`(e.g.
`
`the Internet) or connection
`
`oriented networks (e.g. public switched telephone networks).
`
`The
`
`term “access
`
`communications network”
`
`is used to
`
`refer
`
`to a communications network which is situated on the
`
`15
`
`edge or periphery of
`
`a
`
`core
`
`communications
`
`network and
`
`through which users. gain access to the core communications
`
`network.
`
`The term “presence management system” is used to refer
`
`to an automated system for use in a communications network
`
`20
`
`which provides a single point of presence for a user of that
`
`communications network.
`
`A point of presence is a source of
`
`information about whether a user is available for contact on
`
`a communications network, where that user is located on the
`
`network,
`
`and in which mode
`
`that user should preferably be
`
`25
`
`contacted in.
`
`A presence management system provides a single
`
`point of presence despite the fact that a user has more than
`
`ene
`
`terminal
`
`for accessing the communications network in
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 14
`Page 14
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO00/04512
`
`13
`
`different
`
`modes
`
`and
`
`possibly
`
`by
`
`different
`
`access
`
`communications networks.
`
`A presence management
`
`system also
`
`provides context
`
`information rather
`
`than just
`
`raw presence.
`
`information.
`
`Raw
`
`presence
`
`information
`
`is
`
`unprocessed
`
`information about
`
`the availability,
`
`location and capability
`
`of
`
`a user
`
`on
`
`the
`
`communications
`
`network.
`
`A presence
`
`Management
`
`system processes
`
`raw
`
`presence
`
`information
`
`according to rules or other pre-specified criteria about
`
`users in order to provide context
`
`information that is simpler
`
`10
`
`and easier for human operators to understand,
`
`Figure 1
`
`illustrates a presence management
`
`system 10
`
`which
`
`is
`
`connected
`
`to
`
`a multiple
`
`access
`
`communications
`
`the multiple
`
`access
`
`network
`
`Ill.
`
`Also
`
`connected
`
`to
`
`communications network 11 are a plurality of watching parties
`
`15
`
`12 and a plurality of watched parties 13.
`
`In Figure 1, each
`
`watching party 12
`
`and each watched party 13
`
`is shown as
`
`having
`
`a
`
`single
`
`connection
`
`to
`
`the multiple
`
`access
`
`communications network 11.
`
`However,
`
`this is not necessarily
`
`the case.
`individual
`
`For
`who
`
`example,
`a watched party 13
`can be
`an
`has
`Specs.
`to
`the multiple
`access
`
`20
`
`communications network via a mobile
`
`telephone,
`
`a
`
`lap-top
`
`computer
`
`and
`
`via
`
`two
`
`different
`
`personal
`
`computers.
`
`Similarly,
`
`a watching party may have more than one connection
`
`to the multiple access communications network.
`
`25
`
`Each watched party 13
`
`registers with the presence
`
`Management
`
`system 10
`
`and
`
`is
`
`given
`
`a
`
`unique
`
`presence
`
`Management.
`
`identifier. During the registration process each
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 15
`Page 15
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOU/04512
`
`14
`
`watched party 13
`
`enters
`
`personal
`
`information which
`
`is
`
`recorded in a store 14 in the presence management system 10.
`
`For example,
`
`this information includes
`
`the watched party's
`
`email address,
`
`telephone number,
`
`and other contact details.
`
`Context
`
`information is also included,
`
`such as
`
`information
`
`about whether
`
`the watched party is
`
`a
`
`home worker or
`
`a
`
`travelling salesman.
`
`Details
`
`about
`
`the watched party's
`
`preferences
`
`are
`
`also
`
`recorded,
`
`such as which modes
`
`of
`
`communication are preferred at which times,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`10
`
`email messages may be permitted at any time, whilst
`
`telephone
`
`calls may only be preferred during work hours.
`
`Some of
`
`this
`
`information is stored in the form of
`
`rules 15 within the
`
`presence management system,
`
`Some rules may be default rules
`
`that are preconfigured and others are entered by watched
`
`15
`
`parties.
`
`However,
`
`it
`
`is
`
`not
`
`essential
`
`to
`
`store
`
`this
`
`information in the form of rules 15.
`
`Any suitable form for
`
`the information may be used.
`
`A first input 16 is provided to the presence management
`
`system 10 from the multiple access communications network 11.
`
`20
`
`This input 16 is termed an events input and may be provided
`
`in the form of an events gateway (described in more detail
`
`below) .
`
`Via this first
`
`input
`
`16
`
`information about events
`
`that occur in the multiple access communications network are
`
`provided to the presence management system 10.
`
`In this way
`
`25
`
`events that are associated with the watched parties 13,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`the event of
`
`a watched party logging onto
`
`the
`
`Internet, are accessed by the presence management system 10.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 16
`Page 16
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`15
`
`Other examples of events include movement of a watched party
`
`between cells of a cellular communications network,
`
`remote
`
`login events, or keyboard presses by a watched party on an
`
`Internet terminal.
`
`Tf
`
`a watching party 12
`
`requires to contact
`
`a watched
`
`party a contact
`
`request
`
`is sent
`
`to the presence management
`
`system 10 by the watching party 12.
`
`The contact
`
`request
`
`reaches the presence management system via a second input 17
`
`which is termed a connection request
`
`input.
`
`These requests
`
`10
`
`may be received via protocols
`
`such as
`
`ICQ,
`
`IMPP
`
`(Instant
`
`messaging and presence protocol(s)), or WAP
`
`(Wireless Access
`
`Protocol,
`
`trade mark).
`
`In order
`
`to make
`
`this request
`
`the
`
`watching party does not need to know any of
`
`the watched
`
`party's direct
`
`contact details;
`
`the presence management
`
`15
`
`system identifier for the watched party is used.
`
`A watching party 12 is also able to make a notification
`
`request
`
`in respect of
`
`a watched party and, optionally,
`
`a
`
`specific event.
`
`In this case the watching party 12
`
`is
`
`requesting to be notified when a particular type of event
`
`20
`
`occurs
`
`rather
`
`than requesting to establish contact with a
`
`Gacenad party, When users enter their preference details to
`
`the
`
`presence
`
`management
`
`system,
`
`these
`
`may
`
`include
`
`notification preferences,
`That
`is, preferences about when,
`how and under what
`‘Miveimebancer notifications
`should be
`
`25
`
`provided or accepted.
`
`When the presence management system receives a contact
`
`request it determines whether
`
`the required watched party is
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 17
`Page 17
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`16
`
`available for contact and provides information about
`
`this to
`
`the watching party who made the request.
`
`For example,
`
`the
`
`presence management
`
`system may
`
`respond
`
`by providing
`
`particular contact detail
`
`for
`
`the watched party such as
`
`a
`
`a
`
`telephone number.
`
`In doing this,
`
`the presence management
`
`system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g. cellular
`
`phone,
`
`email or
`
`fax) after taking into account
`
`the watched
`
`parties preferences as explained by the rules and identityof
`
`the watching party. Alternatively,
`
`the presence management
`
`10
`
`system may inform the watching party that
`
`the watched party
`
`is unavailable.
`
`The watching party is able to set up a monitor by which
`
`the presence management
`
`system informs
`
`the watching party
`
`once
`
`the watched party becomes available.
`
`That
`
`is,
`
`the
`
`15
`
`presence management
`
`system is
`
`arranged such
`
`that when
`
`a
`
`change of state of
`a watched party occurs, notifications
`about
`that change of state are sent
`to watcbing parties who
`
`have lodged an interest in that watched party.
`
`In determining whether
`
`the required watched party is
`
`20
`
`available for contact,
`
`the presence management
`
`system uses
`
`the
`
`stored
`
`information
`
`14
`
`about
`
`the watched
`
`party,
`
`information about
`
`the
`
`required connection
`
`(e.g.
`
`size and
`
`type) and also the rules 15.
`
`In addition,
`
`information about
`
`events
`
`from the multiple access network 11
`
`is used.
`
`For
`
`25
`
`example,
`
`a request to send an instant message at 10 pm may be
`
`made,
`
`If the watched party is online but has configured
`
`rules 15 such that no instant messages
`
`should be accepted
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 18
`Page 18
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`17
`
`after 9 pm then the presence management system refuses the
`
`request. However,
`
`the watched party may have set preferences
`
`to allow family members to send instant messages at any time.
`
`In this case,
`
`the request could be granted.
`
`The presence management
`
`system allows watching parties
`
`to send messages and communications
`
`to watched parties even
`
`when those watched parties are not “present” or available on
`
`the communications network.
`
`For
`
`example, when
`
`a watched
`
`party is not
`logged onto the internet he or she may allow the
`presence management
`system to forward email messages
`ana
`
`10
`
`faxes.
`
`In this
`
`respect
`
`the presence management
`
`system
`
`differs from an instant messaging system.
`
`Services
`
`15
`
`One or more watched parties
`
`13 may be
`
`services
`
`and
`
`similarly one or more watching parties 12 may be services.
`
`For example, as shown in Figure 2 a watching party may be a
`
`conference call service 20.
`
`The
`
`term “service” is used to refer
`
`to an automated
`
`20
`
`service which is operable without human intervention.
`
`For
`
`example,
`
`a computerised cinema ticket service.
`
`By allowing
`
`watching parties or watched parties to be such services it is
`
`possible for users of
`
`a presence management
`
`system to be
`
`notified of conditions or availability of goods or services
`without the intervention of a human operator.
`.
`
`25
`
`Referring to Figure 2,
`
`the conference call service 20 is
`
`able to send connection requests to the presence management
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 19
`Page 19
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBO0/04512
`
`18
`
`system in the same way that any other watching party 12 may,
`
`as described above.
`
`If
`
`the
`
`conference call
`
`service is
`
`required to set up a conference call between three or more
`
`watched parties
`
`13,
`
`it
`
`subscribes with
`
`the
`
`presence
`
`Management system 10 in order to be notified when changes in
`
`the
`
`state of
`
`the
`
`required watched parties
`
`occur.
`
`The
`
`presence management system 10 will
`
`then inform the watching
`
`party, which in this case is a conference call service 20,
`
`when each required watched party 13 becomes available.
`
`In
`
`10
`
`this way the conference call service 20 is able to set up 2
`
`conference
`
`call
`
`once
`
`each
`
`required watched
`
`party
`
`is
`
`available.
`
`However,
`
`the information about availability from the
`
`presence management system is effectively “real time” so that
`
`15
`
`if a change in state of a watched party occurs just after the
`
`conference call
`
`is attempted,
`
`then that party may not
`
`join
`
`the conference call,
`
`In one example,
`
`the conference call
`
`service may advantageously form the required watched parties
`
`into a group or aggregate as described in more detail below.
`
`20
`
`Then,
`
`once notifications of availability are given for
`
`a
`
`certain number of
`
`group members,
`
`or
`
`a
`
`quorum of
`
`group
`
`members,
`
`the conference call is attempted.
`
`The watched parties 13 may record preferences and rules
`
`about services such as conference call services 20 and these
`
`25
`
`will be taken inte account by the presence management system
`
`10 when
`
`it
`
`responds
`
`to requests
`
`from a
`
`conference call
`
`service 20.
`
`Similarly,
`
`for other services that are watching
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE26)
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1028
`Epic GamesEx. 1028
`Page 20
`Page 20
`
`

`

`WO 01/45343
`
`PCT/GBOU/U4512
`
`19
`
`parties 12, watched party preferences,
`
`information and rules
`
`are taken into accoun