Central repository of known locations for Sametime 7.5

If you have Sametime 7.5 installed and use the location awareness you’ll have a file called locprofile-config.xml holding the locations you have configured so far (mine is in C:Documents and Settingslekkim.HQApplication DataSametime.metadata.pluginscom.ibm.collaboration.realtime.location).

The locations are identified by the network you are connected to and is identified by the current IP-subnet and the MAC address of the default gateway.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<locprofconfig>
   <locprofiles>
      <locprofile profilename="192.168.1.0 00:09:7C:2B:74:88       ">
         <locations>
            <locip>192.168.1.0</locip>
            <macaddr>00:09:7C:2B:74:88</macaddr>
         </locations>
         <personalloc>it-inspiration hq</personalloc>
         <city>københavn k</city>
         <country>DK</country>
         <postalcode>1058</postalcode>
         <primphone>70223141</primphone>
         <shareloc>true</shareloc>
         <timezone>Central European Time (GMT +1)</timezone>
      </locprofile>
      <locprofile>
         ...
      </locprofile>
      <locprofile>
         ...
      </locprofile>
   </locprofiles>
</locprofconfig>

At present the file is person dependent but since it is part of a plugin but I think it would be really cool if parts of the file could be populated from a central repository via an extension point. This way the Sametime Connect client would automatically display the correct location of the user throughout the company without each user having to update the file themselves. It would also mean that the information could be entered and displayed in a consistent manner.

Of cause the user would still have to specify the location details for custom locations such as hotels, home work stations etc. but I think it would make life easier for the majority of users.

Just an idea…