Generation of Location Based Device Presence

Using Bluetooth or RFID you will need to sense the presence or availability of devices such as mobile phones, desk phones and PC soft clients and their proximity to each other.

Collation of Presence and Location Information

Collation of the information from the various devices will then need to be done to come up with a matrix of device specific presence and location/proximity information on a per user basis.

User Configurable Rules Interface

An interface is required allowing the user to easily set preferences about how they would like to be contacted. By this we mean through which device (mobile, desk phone or PC soft client) and through which medium (voice, video, instant message) and how these preferences will change based on the device specific location and presence information.

For example:

• If a user’s mobile phone is in proximity to their desk phone they wish all communications to be directed to the desk phone.
• If the users soft client on their PC is active (not idle) then the user is at their PC and they may wish all communications to go to their PC

Optionally we could also include rules based on time of day or a user’s calendar:

• If it is outside of office hours route all calls to  mobile or block all calls
• If in a meeting block all calls but allow IM if laptop soft client available.

Application of Rules

This could be a simple display which shows a users current presence and preferred communication device, or it could be integrated with an IM client/soft phone client presence display, or it could be used to dynamically route calls and instant messages although this may be a large undertaking and go beyond the scope of the project.