METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURE REVOCABLE LOCATION SHARING

• US 20120042390A1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Iwuchukwu, Tochukwu
• Application Number:
  US12/855,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20120042390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

Techniques for a secure revocable location sharing network service include determining a first identifier for a subscriber at a first service. A location access key stored at a second service in association with a second identifier for the subscriber is determined. At least one ciphered location is determined based on the location access key and at least one location associated with the subscriber. It is determined to send the at least one ciphered location to the first service in association with the first identifier. In some embodiments, the first identifier and second identifier are identical. Another technique includes associating a subscriber with an access key and an identifier at a first service for contacts. However, the access key is not associated with the subscriber at the first service.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first identifier for a subscriber at a first service;

determining an access key stored at a second service in association with a second identifier for the subscriber;

determining at least one ciphered location based on the access key and at least one location associated with the subscriber; and

determining to send the at least one ciphered location to the first service in association with the first identifier.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the first service is a location sharing network service and the second service is a key service.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the second identifier for the subscriber is identical to the first identifier for the subscriber.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the second identifier for the subscriber is different from the first identifier for the subscriber.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising determining to send a location sharing invitation message to at least one contact of the subscriber, wherein the location sharing invitation message comprises data that indicates the first identifier for the subscriber and the second identifier for the subscriber.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the at least one location associated with the subscriber from a client process different from the first service.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at least one location sharing invitation message indicating a corresponding contact of the subscriber, wherein the at least one location sharing invitation message comprises data that indicates a third identifier for the contact at the first service and a fourth identifier for the contact at the second service;

determining to send to the second service a request for an access key associated with the fourth identifier; and

receiving a contact access key in response to sending the request.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the fourth identifier for the contact is identical to the third identifier for the contact.

9. A method of claim 7, wherein the fourth identifier for the contact is different from the third identifier for the contact.

10. A method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, from the first service, at least one ciphered contact location associated with the third identifier; and

determining at least one deciphered contact location based on the at least one ciphered contact location and the contact access key.

11. A method of claim 10, further comprising determining to send the at least one deciphered contact location associated with the contact to a client process different from the first service.

12. A method of claim 1, further comprising determining to send to the second service a third identifier indicating at least one contact of the subscriber.

13. A method comprising:

determining to associate a first identifier for a subscriber with an access key and at least one second identifier at a network service for a contact of the subscriber,

wherein the access key is not associated with the first identifier at the network service.

14. A method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request message for the access key, wherein the request message indicates the first identifier;

determining whether an identifier for a sender of the request message is included in the at least one second identifier associated with the first identifier; and

if the identifier for the sender is included in the at least one second identifier, then determining to send the access key associated with the first identifier in response to the request message.

15. An apparatus comprising:

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,

determine a first identifier for a subscriber at a first service;

determine a location access key stored at a second service in association with a second identifier for the subscriber;

determine at least one ciphered location based on the location access key and at least one location associated with the subscriber; and

determining to send the at least one ciphered location to the first service in association with the first identifier.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine to send at least one location sharing invitation message to a corresponding contact of the subscriber, wherein the location sharing invitation message comprises data that indicates the first identifier for the subscriber and the second identifier for the subscriber.

17. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive at least one location sharing invitation message indicating a corresponding contact of the subscriber, wherein the location sharing invitation message comprises data that indicates a third identifier for the contact at the first service and a fourth identifier for the contact at the second service;

determine to send to the second service a request for an access key associated with the fourth identifier; and

receive a contact access key in response to sending the request.

18. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive, from the first service, at least one ciphered contact location associated with the third identifier; and

determine at least one deciphered contact location based on the at least one ciphered contact location and the contact access key.

19. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

20. An apparatus comprising:

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,

determine to associate a first identifier for a subscriber with an access key and at least one second identifier at a first service for a contact of the subscriber,

wherein the access key is not associated with the first identifier at the first service.

21-54. -54. (canceled)