Method and apparatus for providing a remote lost-and-found service
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- initiating, by an apparatus, a pairing of a device and a local sensor, wherein the local sensor is a short-range communication transponder;
determining, by the apparatus, that the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device for more than a predetermined time;
initiating, by the apparatus, a transmission of a request to locate the local sensor to one or more other devices via one or more networks that include one or more wireless networks, wherein the request includes an incentive for locating the local sensor; and
initiating, by the apparatus, a change in a profile status of the local sensor stored in the local sensor from accessible only to the device into accessible to at least one of the one or more other devices based on an access code, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier, and wherein the change in the profile status of the local sensor is written into a programmable memory of the local sensor that stores the profile status of the local sensor, without storing a profile status of the device or a profile status of the at least one of the one or more other devices.
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Abstract
An approach is provided for a remote lost-and-found service. A local sensor manager causes, at least in part, pairing of a device and a local sensor. The local sensor manager then determines when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device, and causes, at least in part, a change in a profile status of the local sensor based on the determination. The profile status specifies, at least in part, a visibility of the local sensor to one or more other devices.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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initiating, by an apparatus, a pairing of a device and a local sensor, wherein the local sensor is a short-range communication transponder; determining, by the apparatus, that the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device for more than a predetermined time; initiating, by the apparatus, a transmission of a request to locate the local sensor to one or more other devices via one or more networks that include one or more wireless networks, wherein the request includes an incentive for locating the local sensor; and initiating, by the apparatus, a change in a profile status of the local sensor stored in the local sensor from accessible only to the device into accessible to at least one of the one or more other devices based on an access code, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier, and wherein the change in the profile status of the local sensor is written into a programmable memory of the local sensor that stores the profile status of the local sensor, without storing a profile status of the device or a profile status of the at least one of the one or more other devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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detecting, by a local device, a local sensor within a predetermined distance; transmitting, by the local device to a device paired with the local sensor via a lost-and-found service, location information associated with the local sensor as a background process without acknowledgement of a user of the local device, based on a participation to the lost-and-found service by the local device; receiving an access code from the device paired with the local sensor; and initiating, by the local device, a change in a profile status of the local sensor stored in the local sensor from visible only to the device into visible to at least the local device based on the access code, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier, and wherein the change in the profile status of the local sensor is written into a programmable memory of the local sensor that stores the profile status of the local sensor, without storing a profile status of the device or a profile status of the at least the local device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, initiate a pairing of a device and a local sensor, wherein the local sensor is a short-range communication transponder; determine that the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device for more than a predetermined time; initiate a transmission of a request to locate the local sensor to one or more other devices via one or more networks that include one or more wireless networks, wherein the request includes an incentive for locating the local sensor; and initiate a change in a profile status of the local sensor stored in the local sensor from accessible only to the device into accessible to at least one of the one or more other devices based on an access code, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier, and wherein the change in the profile status of the local sensor is written into a programmable memory of the local sensor that stores the profile status of the local sensor, without storing a profile status of the device or a profile status of the at least one of the one or more other devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus embedded in a local device to perform at least the following, detect a local sensor within a predetermined distance; transmit, to a device paired with the local sensor via a lost-and-found service, location information associated with the local sensor as a background process without acknowledgement of a user of the local device, based on a participation to the lost-and-found service by the local device; receive an access code from the device paired with the local sensor, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier; and initiate a change in a profile status of the local sensor stored in the local sensor from visible only to the device into visible to at least the local device based on the access code, wherein the access code is an identifier different from a manufacturer-assigned device identifier, and wherein the change in the profile status of the local sensor is written into a programmable memory of the local sensor that stores the profile status of the local sensor, without storing a profile status of the device or a profile status of the at least the local device, and wherein the local sensor is a short-range communication transponder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification