Methods and devices for exchanging messages in an always-on network

Abstract

Components of an “always-on” network exchange messages to, among other things, allow an agent to monitor the “presence status” of an associated user. By monitoring the presence status of the user, the agent may act as a proxy for the user when the user becomes inactive.

1 . A method for exchanging messages between a client device and an always on agent comprising:
 generating one or more messages, each message comprising at least one submessage,   wherein the at least one submessage comprises a presence status that indicates whether a device is active or inactive.   
   
   
       1 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one submessage comprises either a subscribe or unsubscribe submessage. 
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one submessage comprises an alert notification submessage. 
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising forwarding the one or more messages to the always on agent. 
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a synchronization submessage. 
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a game playing submessage. 
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a common submessage. 
   
   
       7 . A device for exchanging messages with an always on agent operable to:
 generate one or more messages, each message comprising at least one submessage,   wherein the at least one submessage comprises a presence status that indicates whether a device is active or inactive.   
   
   
       8 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one submessage comprises either a subscribe or unsubscribe submessage. 
   
   
       9 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one submessage comprises an alert notification submessage. 
   
   
       10 . The device as in  claim 8  further operable to forward the one or more messages to the always on agent. 
   
   
       11 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a synchronization submessage. 
   
   
       12 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a game playing submessage. 
   
   
       13 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein the at least one submessage comprises a common submessage.