Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for managing subscriber presence, location and availability (“PLA”) information across one or more communications networks. “Presence” requires both that a device be physically present within a network and that the device be in a state in which it can communicate. “Location” refers to the geographical coordinates associated with a communication device. “Availability” refers to a state characterizing whether a subscriber controlling a device desires to be contacted by another communicating entity. The presence, location and availability system (“PLAS”) provides interfaces between third party applications, third party suppliers of presence and location information, other PLA systems, subscribers and service provider administrators and enables subscribers to dictate and control access to subscriber presence, location and availability information.

Abstract: A network adapter extracts presence, location and availability information relating to a communication device deployed in a communication network. The network adapter is configured to interface between the network and an application for providing information specified by the application. Preferably, the network adapter interfaces with the network at a single location to extract the desired information. In such an embodiment, the network adapter may reside in a link between network elements, such as a home location register (“HLR”) and a short message service center (“SMS-C”). The network adapter may include a database of subscriber information codes used by the network to identify communication devices in use within the network.