Virtual Presence Server

Apparatus for requesting information from at least one server, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• obtain a client request which expresses a request that can not be satisfied by a single existing presentity;
• create a set of software objects for a virtual presentity, the set of software objects embodying logic to combine presence information from one or more of existing presentities and external information sources, in accordance with at least one existing presence server;
• and create an association between the request of the client and the created virtual presentity that allows the presence information to be propagated back to the client.

An article of manufacture for requesting information from at least one server, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium including one or more programs which when executed by a computer system implement the steps of:

• obtaining at an intermediate server a client request which expresses a request that can not be satisfied by a single existing presentity, wherein the intermediate server operates as a virtual presence server;
• creating at the virtual presence server a set of software objects for a virtual presentity, the set of software objects embodying logic to combine presence information from one or more of existing presentities and external information sources, in accordance with at least one existing presence server;
• and
• creating at the virtual presence server an association between the request of the client and the created virtual presentity that allows the presence information to be propagated back to the client.

A virtual presence server, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• obtain a client request which expresses a request that can not be satisfied by a single existing presentity;
• create a set of software objects for a virtual presentity, the set of software objects embodying logic to combine presence information from one or more of existing presentities and external information sources, in accordance with at least one existing presence server;
• and create an association between the request of the client and the created virtual presentity that allows the presence information to be propagated back to the client.