Patent ID: 8868072

Claim:
A method for facilitating communication between a first communication device that communicates with a second communication device using a network supporting first and second different communication methods, comprising the steps of: allowing the first communication device to communicate with the second communication device using the first communication method; determining the first communication device status indicator of the ability of the first communication device to communicate using the second communication method based on a current network connectivity of the first communication device; registering the first communication device on a service platform of the network; in response to a selection of a user associated with the second communication device from a display of users on the first communication device, requesting from the service platform the second communication device status indicator of the ability of the second communication device to communicate using the second communication method, the request including the first communication device status indicator; receiving the second communication device status indicator from the service platform; and allowing the first communication device to communicate with the second communication device using the second communication method in dependence on the first communication device status indicator and the received second communication device status indicator; wherein the second communication device status indicator is dependent upon the current terminal hardware status, the current terminal hardware status including at least one of a battery life, file storage space of the second communication device, and current network connectivity of the second communication device.