Microsoft Corporation
Anti-jitter mechanism for monitoring online availability

Abstract:

A system is configured to determine whether a member of a social networking service is online or offline with the social networking service. The system updates the online or offline status of the member in accordance with whether the member is connected to the social networking service. The system further implements an anti-jitter mechanism that prevents a waste of computing resources where the member is connected to the social networking service using an intermittent connection. The anti-jitter mechanism leverages heartbeat messages and timestamps to determine whether the member is online or offline with the social networking service. The anti-jitter mechanism further includes the use of one or more delay triggers, where each delay trigger may be generated based on a received heartbeat message. As the status of the member changes, the social networking service disseminates the status change to other members communicatively coupled to the social networking service.