Patent ID: 8103730

Claim:
A method performed by a watcher, the method comprising: requesting abstracted or simplified presence information directly from a presence access layer (PAL) server that is configured to abstract or simplify presence information from a presence server (PS), the PAL server being distinct from and in direct communication with the PS; receiving the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server based on the requesting operation, the abstracted or simplified presence information being less than an entirety of a presence document associated with a presentity; sending a message directly to the PAL server after the receiving operation, the message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server be suspended, and the message further indicating an indefinite duration for suspension; sending, during the indefinite duration, a second message directly to the PAL server, the second message indicating that receipt of the abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server is to be resumed; and receiving, relative to the second message, additional abstracted or simplified presence information directly from the PAL server.