Real-time notification of presence availability changes

A system for providing presence and availability status information, comprising:

• means for storing presence and availability status information of a first user;
• means for detecting a change in the presence and availability status of the first user, wherein the first user designates a group of individuals, including a 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;
• and
• means for sending a notification message to the second user, wherein the notification message contains the current presence and availability status of the first user and the notification message is sent to the second user unilaterally based upon the presence status of the first user and not based upon an online status of the second user, wherein the second user elected to receive presence and availability status of the first status by previously registering with a notification server and providing the code during a registration process as proof that the second user was designated by the first user.

A method for providing presence and availability status information, comprising:

• storing presence and availability status information of a first user, wherein the first user designates a group of individuals, including a 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;
• detecting a change in the presence and availability status of the first user;
• and
• sending a notification message to the second user, wherein the notification message contains the current presence and availability status of the first user and the notification message is sent to the second user unilaterally based upon the presence status of the first user and not based upon an online status of the second user, wherein the second user elected to receive presence and availability status of the first status by previously registering with a notification server and providing the code during a registration process as proof that the second user was designated by the first user.