METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING LOCATION SHARING VIA SIMULATION

• US 20140062790A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KEILALAHDENTIE 4
• Inventors: Letz, Dominic, Chambers, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,654,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

An approach for providing location sharing via simulation is disclosed. A location sharing platform determines at least one location point associated with at least one device and at least one algorithm for determining at least one predicted route of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the at least one location point. The location sharing platform then causes, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to at least one other device for generating location tracking information.

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 determination of at least one location point associated with at least one device and at least one algorithm for determining at least one predicted route of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the at least one location point; and

a transmission of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to at least one other device for generating location tracking information.

2. 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 location point and the at least one algorithm to determine the at least one predicted route;

at least one determination of at least one deviation of at least one current location point of the at least one device from that at least one predicted route; and

a transmission of an update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one current location point.

3. A method of claim 2, 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:

at least one determination that the at least one deviation is caused, at least in part, by a stop, a detour, or a combination thereof of the at least one device; and

a estimation of a duration of the stop, the detour, or a combination based, at least in part, contextual information associated with the stop, the detour, or a combination thereof,

wherein the update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the estimation of the duration.

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:

an update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof at a predetermined frequency, according to a schedule, on demand, 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:

contextual information associated with the at least one device, at least one user associated with the at least one device, or a combination thereof; and

at least one determination of the at least one algorithm based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the contextual information includes, at least in part, mode of travel information, travel history information, user behavior information, traffic information, crowd-sourced information, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 5, 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:

at least one determination that the model of travel information indicates that the at least one device is using at least one schedule-based mode of travel; and

at least one determination of one or more travel schedules for the at least one schedule-based mode of travel as at least one parameter of the at least one algorithm.

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:

one or more endpoints of the at least one predicted route;

an estimation of at least one arrival time at the one or more endpoints; and

an update of the location tracking information, the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, the estimation of the at least one arrival time.

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:

a synchronization of a processing of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof between the at least one device and the at least one other device.

10. 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 location point and the at least one algorithm to determine one or more predicted location points for that least one device at one or more time points;

a generation of a position plan specifying the at least one location point, the one or more predicted location points, or a combination thereof; and

a transmission of the position plan to the at least one other device for generating the location tracking information in place of or in addition to the at least one algorithm.

11. 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 at least one location point associated with at least one device and at least one algorithm for determining at least one predicted route of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the at least one location point; and

cause, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to at least one other device for generating location tracking information.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to determine the at least one predicted route;

determine at least one deviation of at least one current location point of the at least one device from that at least one predicted route; and

cause, at least in part, a transmission of an update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one current location point.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the at least one deviation is caused, at least in part, by a stop, a detour, or a combination thereof of the at least one device; and

cause, at least in part, an estimation of a duration of the stop, the detour, or a combination based, at least in part, contextual information associated with the stop, the detour, or a combination thereof,

wherein the update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the estimation of the duration.

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

cause, at least in part, an update of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof at a predetermined frequency, according to a schedule, on demand, or a combination thereof.

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

determine contextual information associated with the at least one device, at least one user associated with the at least one device, or a combination thereof; and

determine the at least one algorithm based, at least in part, on the contextual information.

16. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the contextual information includes, at least in part, mode of travel information, travel history information, user behavior information, traffic information, crowd-sourced information, or a combination thereof.

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

determine that the model of travel information indicates that the at least one device is using at least one schedule-based mode of travel; and

determine one or more travel schedules for the at least one schedule-based mode of travel as at least one parameter of the at least one algorithm.

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

determine one or more endpoints of the at least one predicted route;

cause, at least in part, an estimation of at least one arrival time at the one or more endpoints; and

cause, at least in part, an update of the location tracking information, the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, the estimation of the at least one arrival time.

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

cause, at least in part, a synchronization of a processing of the at least one location point, the at least one algorithm, or a combination thereof between the at least one device and the at least one other device.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to determine one or more predicted location points for that least one device at one or more time points;

cause, at least in part, a generation of a position plan specifying the at least one location point, the one or more predicted location points, or a combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, a transmission of the position plan to the at least one other device for generating the location tracking information in place of or in addition to the at least one algorithm.

21-48. -48. (canceled)