Patent ID: 7269162

Claim:
A network-enabled user interface device, the device including: a network interface configured for sending and receiving data to and from a destination device via an open protocol network; a presence resource configured for establishing and maintaining presence information for a user of the device, and retrieving presence information for an identified destination subscriber via the open protocol network, the retrieved presence information identifying an availability of the identified destination subscriber and the destination device for receiving at least one identified communications service via the destination device; and a communications resource configured for providing selected communications services for the user based on the retrieved presence information, the communications resource configured for selectively initiating, as one of the selected communications services, a voice call between the device and the destination device based on the retrieved presence information specifying an available status of the identified destination subscriber and the destination device for reception of the voice call via the destination device; wherein the presence resource is configured for retrieving the presence information, from a presence server on the open protocol network or the destination device, in response to a status query for the identified destination subscriber initiated based on a user input.