METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SOCIALLY ACQUIRING GOODS OR SERVICES

• US 20110184879A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: YLIVAINIO, Risto, Kopra, Toni
• Application Number:
  US12/695,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

An approach is provided for coordinating the acquisition of items. Acquisition information for a plurality of items is received. Transmission of the acquisition information is caused, at least in part, to a plurality of devices. Status information related to acquiring at least a portion of the items is received from at least one of the devices. Transmission of the status information to at least another one of the devices is caused, at least in part.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving acquisition information for a plurality of items;

causing, at least in part, transmission of the acquisition information to a plurality of devices;

receiving from at least one of the devices status information related to acquiring at least a portion of the items; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the status information to at least another one of the devices.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, establishment of a communication session among the devices.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes at least in part information on an acquired number of the items, the method further comprising:

determining a total number of items to acquire from the acquisition information;

computing a remaining number of items to acquire based at least in part on the total number items and the acquired number of items; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the remaining number of items to the devices.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein there is no remaining number of items, the method further comprising:

generating a completion message; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the of the completion message to the devices.

5. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting whether the transmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message was successful; and

causing, at least in part, retransmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message in a different form of communication based on the detection.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, transmission of a reminder message to at least one of the devices based on the status information.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the devices are associated in a social network, by an interest in the items, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the items include event tickets, limited availability items, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, 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,

receive acquisition information for a plurality of items;

cause, at least in part, transmission of the acquisition information to a plurality of devices;

receive from at least one of the devices status information related to acquiring at least

a portion of the items; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the status information to at least another one of the devices.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, establishment of a communication session among the devices.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the status information includes at least in part information on an acquired number of the items, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

determine a total number of items to acquire from the acquisition information;

compute a remaining number of items to acquire based at least in part on the total number items and the acquired number of items; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the remaining number of items to the devices.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein there is no remaining number of items, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

generate a completion message; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the of the completion message to the devices.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

detect whether the transmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message was successful; and

cause, at least in part, retransmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message in a different form of communication based on the detection.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, transmission of a reminder message to at least one of the devices based on the status information.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the devices are associated in a social network, by an interest in the items, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the items include event tickets, limited availability items, or a combination thereof.

17. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving acquisition information for a plurality of items;

causing, at least in part, transmission of the acquisition information to a plurality of devices;

receiving from at least one of the devices status information related to acquiring at least a portion of the items; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the status information to at least another one of the devices.

18. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

causing, at least in part, establishment of a communication session among the devices.

19. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the status information includes at least in part information on an acquired number of the items, and wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

determining a total number of items to acquire from the acquisition information;

computing a remaining number of items to acquire based at least in part on the total number items and the acquired number of items; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the remaining number of items to the devices.

20. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein there is no remaining number of items, and wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

generating a completion message;

causing, at least in part, transmission of the of the completion message to the devices;

detecting whether the transmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message was successful; and

causing, at least in part, retransmission of the remaining number of items or the completion message in a different form of communication based on the detection.