Representing network availability status information in presence information

Abstract

A network element for handling network availability information represented as presence information, where the network element includes a receiving unit for receiving status information in a network availability element and a converting unit for converting the status information into a presence information data format. The network element also includes a generating unit for generating a request that includes the presence information data format. For certain status events the network availability includes at least one child. In one embodiment, the at least one child of the network availability element is a network element for presenting registration status and the network availability element is a part of a person element. The registration status is represented in a state element which includes one of an active element or a 'terminated' element. In another embodiment, the at least one child of the network availability element is a network element for presenting registration status and the network availability element is a part of a device element. The registration status is represented in a state element which describes if a device is attached to a particular network and includes one of an active element, a 'terminated' element or out-of-coverage element.