Abstract: A method and system for indicating availability of a contact is provided. The presence system displays to the user an indication of the presence state in association with the contact. The presence system provides an indication of the availability associated with the presence state of the contact when the user indicates to view such information. When the contact has high availability, the presence system displays an increasing animation. When the contact has low availability, the presence system displays a decreasing animation.

Abstract: A system and method for managing presence information based on a specified presence level between a user and other parties. An interface is provided that allows a user to specify a presence level between the user and one or more other parties. Once a user specifies a presence level, the specified level dictates how an incoming communication request is to be managed in the event that the user is not available to receive the communication. The specified presence level may determine the amount of information disclosed to the other party, the presence that is projected to the other party, and the decision on whether to interrupt the user. In some embodiments, the presence level between the user and other parties is automatically inferred by a relationship engine.

Abstract: A method and system for providing extended presence information defined by third parties and for detecting when the extended information has changed significantly is provided. An extensible presence service defines a presence document for a publishing user having a section reserved for extended information provided by one or more third parties and publishes the presence document to a presence server. Subscribing users send subscription requests to the presence server to receive updates when the presence document for the publishing user changes. When the extended information provided by the third party is updated, the third party updates the extended information and indicates whether the change to the extended information is significant. Next, the presence server sends the updated presence document containing the updated extended information to subscribed users.

Abstract: A method and system for aggregating capabilities from multiple endpoints associated with a user are provided. The system aggregates the capabilities of the endpoints associated with a user into an aggregate view of available modes of communication for reaching the user. Then, the system publishes the aggregate view so that other users who want to send communications to the user will know the modes of communication available for that user. In addition, the system may designate certain modes of communication as preferred or as capable of reaching the user.

Abstract: A presence aggregation system provides a presence aggregation server that allows for the publication of presence state of a publisher from the publisher's multiple endpoints. A presence state includes an availability value and an activity. An activity may include an activity token and/or a custom string. When any one of the publisher's endpoints makes a presence state publication on the presence aggregation server, the presence aggregation server generates an aggregated state of the publisher (i.e., the availability of the publisher aggregated across all of the publisher's endpoints) and publishes the generated aggregated state to each of the publisher's endpoints. The presence aggregation server may also provide the publisher's aggregated state to the subscribers of the publisher's aggregated state information.

Abstract: A presence aggregation system provides a presence aggregation server that allows for the defining and inclusion of custom presence states that are distinct from a set of default presence states that are provided by the presence aggregation system. When one or more custom presence states are defined and included in the presence aggregation system, a publisher at an endpoint is able to publish any of the defined custom presence states or default presence states as an indication of the publisher's presence. When a publication is made, the presence aggregation server may generate an aggregated availability of the publisher across all of the publisher's endpoints, and publish the aggregated availability to each of the publisher's endpoints. The presence aggregation server may also provide the publisher's aggregated availability to the subscribers of the publisher's availability information.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting a user interface displaying a view of a user's presence aggregated across multiple endpoints is provided. The view provides a visual display of the user's aggregated availability by displaying an indication of the user and an icon that pictorially indicates the aggregated availability of the user. The aggregated availability is the availability of the user aggregated across the user's multiple endpoints. The view may also include a text string describing the user's current aggregated availability or activity. The user interface may also display a view of the user's contacts, which includes an icon that indicates each contact's current aggregated availability.

Abstract: A presence aggregation system provides a presence server that allows users to publish information regarding their availability with the presence server. The presence server maintains a record of each user's published information. When an endpoint publishes information regarding a user's availability at that endpoint with the presence server, the presence server provides all of the user's published information, including the information just published, to each of the user's endpoints, including the endpoint which published the information. This allows each of the user's endpoints to generate an aggregated availability of the user. The presence server may also provide all of the user's published information, including the information just published, to each of the subscribing users' endpoints. This allows the subscribing users to also generate a view of the user's aggregated availability.

Abstract: A method for controlling or monitoring a common PBX phone line from a plurality of personal computer endpoints with multiple instances of application of a SIP soft phone application.

Abstract: A method and system for accepting invitations sent to multiple endpoints for an instant messaging participant is provided. The acceptance system allows multiple endpoints of a participant to be registered at the same time with an instant messaging service. The endpoint of the inviting participant sends an invitation to the instant messaging service indicating that the receiving participant is to be invited to establish a conversation with the inviting participant. When the instant messaging service receives the invitation, it detects that the receiving participant has multiple endpoints registered and forwards the invitation to each registered endpoint. When an endpoint receives the invitation request, it displays an information window asking whether the receiving participant wants to accept the invitation. Upon acceptance, the endpoint sends an acceptance to the endpoint of the inviting participant to establish the conversation between that endpoint and the endpoint of the inviting participant.