Abstract: A presence system is provided with a communications device associated with a presentity that is capable of displaying a respective presentity presence state indicating a respective availability of the presentity as provided by a presence system to each contact on a contact list of the presentity. The communications device includes a presence user client communicatively coupled to the presence system to receive presence information associated with the presentity, in which the presence information includes the respective presentity presence states for the contacts on the contact list, and a display for displaying the contact list and a respective representation of the respective presentity presence state for each contact on the contact list.

Abstract: System and method for implementing hunting groups for instant messaging (“IM”) are described. One embodiment is a method for implementing IM group hunting by an IM event server (IMES). The method comprises receiving a request from a first user to initiate an IM session with any one member of a group; responsive to the request, automatically determining a group member available for participating in an IM session with the first user; and establishing an IM session between the first user and the available group member.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for service creation via presence messaging comprising assigning an information exchange state associated with a presence message and directing the presence message to at least one of a service provider from a predetermined set of service providers.

Abstract: System and method for representing preference and policy in a contact list are described. One embodiment is a graphical user interface (“GUI”) for displaying a directory of contacts of a user. The GUI comprises a list of contacts displayed in a first window of the GUI; for each contact in the list of contacts, a preference and policy category for the contact, wherein the preference and policy category for the contact is displayed in the first window of the GUI; and for each contact in the list of contacts, a feature icon indicative of whether a feature is enabled for the contact according to the preference and policy category for the contact, wherein the feature icon is displayed in association with the contact in the first window of the GUI.

Abstract: An optical switch controller (“OSC”) and method for use in a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (“GMPLS”) network is described. A Used Pool (“UP”), an Available Pool (“AP”), and a Flagged Pool (“FP”) are maintained at the OSC. The FP includes wavelengths that have been suggested but not yet reserved by a lightpath. The UP includes wavelengths that are currently being used by LSPs. The AP includes wavelengths not included in the UP or the FP. Each wavelength included in the FP includes a time stamp. At each node along the path during lightpath establishment, for each wavelength of the Label Set, if the wavelength is an element of the node's UP, the wavelength is extracted from the Label Set. If the wavelength is an element of the node's FP, a determination is made whether the local clock time minus the time stamp for the wavelength is less than a first threshold.

Abstract: A presence enabled call hunting group provides for identification of available terminals in the call hunting group using presence information. Upon receiving a request for a communication session with the presence enabled call hunting group, a call server retrieves the presence information of each terminal in the group of terminals forming the presence enabled call hunting group and the presence information of each presentity associated the terminals in the presence enabled call hunting group from a presence system that aggregates the presence information from multiple presence sources. The call server uses the presence information to identify available presentities and available terminals associated with the available presentities within the call hunting group, and directs the communication session towards one of the available terminals.

Abstract: A communications system is capable of dynamically updating presence information in a presence server using an interactive voice response system. The presence server statically collects presence information on a plurality of presentities. The interactive voice response system queries and receives dynamic updated presence information from a select one of the presentities and provides the updated presence information to the presence server to update the presence information for the select presentity with the updated presence information.

Abstract: Scalable presence distribution system and method are described. In one embodiment, a presence distribution system comprises a plurality of presence servers and a centralized management function for coordinating registration of a presentity with one or more of the plurality of presence servers.

Abstract: System and method for providing feature customization for a communications device based on an active communications system are described. One embodiment is a method in a voice terminal for customizing applications in response to an active call comprising assigning at least one category to each of a plurality of entries in an application file; determining a category associated with an active call; a and reconfiguring a GUI of the application to highlight a display of entries associated with the category associated with the active call. Another embodiment is a method of customizing a desktop of a computer system in response to an outgoing call from the computer system comprising determining a context of the outgoing call; activating at least one of a plurality of desktop customization units based on the determined context; and responsive to the activating, customizing the desktop in accordance with the determined context.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to page a mobile station to alert the mobile station of a call placed thereto. A location server is provided at which a location index is created and maintained, identifying the location at which the mobile station to which the call is to be terminated is positioned. Page messages are broadcast throughout an area in which the mobile station is indicated to be positioned. The page messages are broadcast in manners that permit the mobile station to detect their transmission even when the mobile station is in a dormant, or other nonactive, state.

Abstract: A dynamic contact list management (DCLM) method and system operable in a communications network environment. In one embodiment, upon receiving a communication request from an originating party over a first network towards a networked party, a query is generated for determining and locating an IM address associated with the originating party. Upon establishing presence awareness between the originating party and the networked party, the IM address of the originating party is added to a contact list database associated with the networked party. The IM address, which is persistent at least for the duration of a first communication session established responsive to the communication request, may be used for engaging in a second communication session between the parties.

Abstract: A presence-based routing (PBR) system and method in a communications network environment. Upon establishing presence awareness among a plurality of networked entities, a contact list is provided for a particular networked party based on presence information. When an incoming communication request intended for the particular networked party is received and that particular networked party is unavailable, a PBR functionality is operable to select a party from the contact list based on suitable contact selection logic for forwarding the communication request thereto.

Abstract: An IM-based call treatment (IMBCT) system and method in a communications network environment. Upon establishing presence awareness among a plurality of networked entities, a call treatment profile having a number of treatment options is provided for a particular networked party based on presence information. When an incoming communication request intended for the particular networked party is received and that particular networked party is unavailable, a IMBCT functionality is operable to forward an IM that includes call treatment options to the calling party. Upon selection of a specific treatment option by the calling party, a treatment is provided relative to the communication request responsive to the selection.

Abstract: The adjustability of a watcher's level of access to a presentity's presence information is enhanced by providing for the filtering of the presence information based on information that is provided by a source other than the watcher.

Abstract: E-mail service for an enterprise is provided by utilizing data storage capacity already available within the enterprise to store e-mail temporarily if the intended e-mail recipient is unable to receive the e-mail. This temporary e-mail storage, and ultimate delivery of the e-mail to its intended destination, can both be coordinated by control signaling that is internal to the enterprise. This provides the enterprise with e-mail service without using an external e-mail exchange server.

Abstract: A system for providing customer assistance to Internet users is provided by the present invention. The invention includes an online customer support server that connects a group of customer support representatives to user of a web site to provide real time customer support. An enterprise server collects presence information from the customer support server regarding the current availability of the customer support representatives, wherein the presence information is updated at regular, specified intervals by means of SIP Publish messages. A web server provides content to the web site, which includes the presence information provided by the enterprise server, allowing online users to see in the current availability of real time customer support. If customer support representatives are not currently available, the invention provides an approximate waiting time. In one embodiment, customers may specifically request service representatives that possess a specific skill set.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for paging a mobile station operable in a WLAN. Logical layer-2 paging is provided pursuant to a tracking agent protocol. A tracking agent is provided that tracks the location at a logical layer-2 logical level. A paging cache is maintained that identifies logical layer-2 paging areas in which the mobile station is most recently associated. When a communication session is initiated, a page is broadcast throughout the layer-2 logical layer paging area in which the mobile station is indicated to be positioned.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to page a mobile station to alert the mobile station of a call placed thereto. A location server is provided at which a location index is created and maintained, identifying the location at which the mobile station to which the call is to be terminated is positioned. Page messages are broadcast throughout an area in which the mobile station is indicated to be positioned. The page messages are broadcast in manners that permit the mobile station to detect their transmission even when the mobile station is in a dormant, or other nonactive, state.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques by which a Layer-2 entity determines whether a mobile terminal requesting association or reassociation therewith determines whether the requesting mobile terminal shall continue using its current IP address or whether it requires a new IP address. The Layer-2 entity makes this determination based upon an examination of the contents of the association or reassociation request message received thereby. Contained in the association or reassociation reply message returned by the Layer-2 entity shall either be an instruction, to the mobile terminal, to continue using its current IP address or a new IP address to be used, by the mobile terminal in place of its current IP address.

Abstract: An optical switch controller (“OSC”) and method for use in a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (“GMPLS”) network is described. A Used Pool (“UP”), an Available Pool (“AP”), and a Flagged Pool (“FP”) are maintained at the OSC. The FP includes wavelengths that have been suggested but not yet reserved by a lightpath. The UP includes wavelengths that are currently being used by LSPs. The AP includes wavelengths not included in the UP or the FP. Each wavelength included in the FP includes a time stamp. At each node along the path during lightpath establishment, for each wavelength of the Label Set, if the wavelength is an element of the node's UP, the wavelength is extracted from the Label Set. If the wavelength is an element of the node's FP, a determination is made whether the local clock time minus the time stamp for the wavelength is less than a first threshold.