Sharing of presence-based time-zone information

A computer-implemented method for sharing presence-based time-zone information, using one or more processors, comprising:

• storing a plurality of presence profiles, each presence profile maintaining, for an associated network user, one or more network device identifiers and, for each network device identifier, a current presence status, indicating network availability, and current time-zone information based on geographic location;
• receiving presence information indicating a specific network device identifier, substantially real-time presence status, and substantially real-time time-zone information;
• determining a matching one of the presence profiles having a network device identifier matching the specific network device identifier;
• updating the current presence status and the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles using the substantially real-time presence status and the substantially real-time time-zone information;
• masking the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier by shifting the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles by an amount determined using a shifting algorithm;
• generating a presence update indicating the specific network device identifier, the current presence status, and the shifted time-zone information from the matching one of the presence profiles;
• identifying a subscriber address for receiving the presence update;
• and
• transmitting the presence update to the subscriber address.

Software for use in sharing presence-based time-zone information, the software embodied in one or more computer-readable media and, when executed using one or more processing modules, operable to:

• store a plurality of presence profiles, each presence profile maintaining, for an associated network user, one or more network device identifiers and, for each network device identifier, a current presence status, indicating network availability, and current time-zone information based on geographic location;
• receive presence information indicating a specific network device identifier, substantially real-time presence status, and substantially real-time time-zone information;
• determine a matching one of the presence profiles having a network device identifier matching the specific network device identifier;
• update the current presence status and the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles using the substantially real-time presence status and the substantially real-time time-zone information;
• mask the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier by shifting the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles by an amount determined using a shifting algorithm;
• generate a presence update indicating the specific network device identifier, the current presence status, and the shifted time-zone information from the matching one of the presence profiles;
• identify a subscriber address for receiving the presence update;
• and
• transmit the presence update to the subscriber address.

A system for sharing location information comprising:

• a means for storing a plurality of presence profiles, each presence profile maintaining, for an associated network user, one or more network device identifiers and, for each network device identifier, a current presence status, indicating network availability, and current time-zone information based on geographic location;
• a means for receiving presence information indicating a specific network device identifier, substantially real-time presence status, and substantially real-time time-zone information;
• a means for determining a matching one of the presence profiles having a network device identifier matching the specific network device identifier;
• a means for updating the current presence status and the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles using the substantially real-time presence status and the substantially real-time time-zone information;
• a means for masking the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier by shifting the current time-zone information for the specific network device identifier in the matching one of the presence profiles by an amount determined using a shifting algorithm;
• a means for generating a presence update indicating the specific network device identifier, the current presence status, and the shifted time-zone information from the matching one of the presence profiles;
• a means for identifying a subscriber address for receiving the presence update;
• and
• a means for transmitting the presence update to the subscriber address.