METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHARING A SELF-CREATED ACCOUNT FOR STORING ASSETS

• US 20120278216A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Evans, John Anthony, Terlouw, Michiel
• Application Number:
  US13/096,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20120278216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

An approach is provided for sharing a self-created account for storing assets. An asset sharing platform determines at least one account for storing a representation of one or more associated assets. The at least one account is a self-created account associated with at least one device. The asset sharing platform further causes at least in part, a sharing of the at least one account with at least one other device to enable collective access to the at least one account by the at least one device and the at least one other device with substantially equal rights.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one account for storing a representation of one or more associated assets, the at least one account being a self-created account associated with at least one device; and

a sharing of the at least one account with at least one other device to enable collective access to the at least one account by the at least one device and the at least one other device with substantially equal rights.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one account is created, managed, shared, or a combination thereof by the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof without external authorization.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a setting of at least one property associated with the at least one account,

wherein the at least one property defines at least one of a maximum or minimum value for the one or more associated assets, a maximum or minimum transfer amount of the one or more associated assets, an identification challenge to access the at least one account, a lifespan of the at least one account, a purpose of the at least one account, a context for accessing the at least one account, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a processing of the at least one property to determine whether to delete the at least one account, inactivate the at least one account, authorize one or more activities associated with the account, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

an association of the at least one account with one or more account tools,

wherein access to the at least one account is via the one or more account tools.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a creation of one or more reports of one or more activities associated with the at least one account.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a transmission of the one or more reports to the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof is substantially real-time, periodically, on demand, according to a schedule, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a closing of the at least one account; and

a distribution of a remaining portion of the one or more assets to the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

one or more activities with respect to the at least one account; and

a processing of the one or more activities to determine a level of authentication to apply for completing the one or more activities.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more assets include, at least in part, money, cellular phone minutes, game credits, bandwidth allotments.

11. 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,

determine at least one account for storing a representation of one or more associated assets, the at least one account being a self-created account associated with at least one device; and

cause, at least in part, a sharing of the at least one account with at least one other device to enable collective access to the at least one account by the at least one device and the at least one other device with substantially equal rights.

12. A apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one account is created, managed, shared, or a combination thereof by the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof without external authorization.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a setting of at least one property associated with the at least one account,

wherein the at least one property defines at least one of a maximum or minimum value for the one or more associated assets, a maximum or minimum transfer amount of the one or more associated assets, an identification challenge to access the at least one account, a lifespan of the at least one account, a purpose of the at least one account, a context for accessing the at least one account, or a combination thereof.

14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process and/or facilitate a processing of the at least one property to determine whether to delete the at least one account, inactivate the at least one account, authorize one or more activities associated with the account, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, an association of the at least one account with one or more account tools,

wherein access to the at least one account is via the one or more account tools.

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, creation of one or more reports of one or more activities associated with the at least one account.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a transmission of the one or more reports to the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof is substantially real-time, periodically, on demand, according to a schedule, or a combination thereof.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine to close the at least one account; and

causing, at least in part, a distribution of a remaining portion of the one or more assets to the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more activities with respect to the at least one account; and

process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more activities to determine a level of authentication to apply for completing the one or more activities.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more assets include, at least in part, money, cellular phone minutes, game credits, bandwidth allotments.

21-47. -47. (canceled)