Patent ID: 7395329

Claim:
A system for providing presence and availability status information of a first user to a second user, comprising: a presence availability server for storing presence and availability information of a first user, wherein the presence availability server is configured to detect a change in the presence and availability status of the first user; and a notification server communicating with the presence availability server, the notification server configured to generate a 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 notification messages and the group of individuals are provided a code that is to be used in electing to receive the notification messages, the notification message containing current presence and availability status of the first user, wherein the notification server is to be notified by the presence availability server of a change in the presence and availability status of the first user and the notification server is configured to send the notification message to the second user unilaterally based upon the presence status of the first user and not based upon a current network state of the second user, wherein the second user elected to receive presence and availability status of the first status by previously registering with the notification server and providing the code during a registration process as proof that the second user was designated by the first user.