Patent ID: 8090821

Claim:
A system for providing presence and availability status information of a first user to a second user, comprising: a notification server configured to generate an email notification message for the second user, wherein the first user designates a group of individuals, including the second user, that are eligible to receive presence and availability status of the first user in email notification messages, the email notification message containing current presence status of the first user, wherein the notification server is to be notified of a change in the presence status of the first user with respect to instant messaging communications and the notification server is configured to send the email notification message to the second user responsive to the change being detected in the presence status of the first user and not based upon an online status of the second user, wherein the second user elects to receive presence and availability status of the first user by previously registering with the notification server and providing verification that the first user has authorized the second user to monitor the presence status of the first user.