Patent ID: 7769154

Claim:
A method for managing access to a user, comprising: receiving a selection of a first availability level from a first user, wherein said first availability level is selected from a plurality of availability levels; receiving a first communication associated with a first contact, wherein said first communication is addressed to said first user; determining a level of presence of said first user with respect to said first communication associated with said first contact, wherein said determination is based on: said selected first availability level, a contact accessibility rating of said first contact, a first physical presence of said first user, wherein said first physical presence of said first user is determined from at least one of a status of a communication device associated with said first user, and a location of a device associated with said first user, and a first environmental factor associated with said first user, wherein said first environmental factor is obtained from at least one of a calendar application associated with said first user and first user schedule information; and based on said determined level of presence, selecting a first mode of handling said first communication.