METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING DYNAMIC ACCESS TOKENS FOR LOCATION-BASED SERVICES

• US 20140315571A1
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Saari, Jarmo Ilkka, Toivanen, Timo Juhani
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An approach is provided for a mechanism to determine dynamic information for generating dynamic access tokens to a location-based service. The approach includes a method for determining one or more dynamic information items associated with at least one location in which at least one service is available. The approach also includes a method for determining at least one procedure for generating one or more access tokens associated with the at least one service. The approach further includes a method for processing and/or facilitating a processing of the one or more dynamic information items using, at least in part, the at least one procedure to cause, at least in part, a generation of the one or more access tokens.

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 on determination of one or more dynamic information items associated with at least one location in which at least one service is available;

at least on determination of at least one procedure for generating one or more access tokens associated with the at least one service; and

a processing of the one or more dynamic information items using, at least in part, the at least one procedure to cause, at least in part, a generation of the one or more access tokens.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include, at least in part, signal strength information from one or more identifiers associated with at least one geographical boundary of the at least one location, the at least one service, or a combination thereof.

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:

a processing of the radio frequency signal information to determine at least one user location with respect to the at least one geographical boundary.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the generation of the one or more access tokens is based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

5. A method of claim 4, 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 presentation of one or more notifications with respect to an availability of the at least one service, the one or more access tokens, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof is determined via a proximity-based communication channel, a network-based communication channel, a graphical representation, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one service includes a wireless communication network service.

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:

an updating to the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on one or more changes in the one or more dynamic information items, in the at least one procedure, or a combination thereof,

wherein the updating is prior to an expiration of a current access token.

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:

at least on determination of one or more attributes associated with a user, a user device, or a combination thereof that is requesting an access to the at least one service; and

the generating of the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on the one or more attributes.

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:

at least on determination of the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.

42. 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 perform at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

43. An apparatus comprising means for performing at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

44. An apparatus of claim 43, 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.

45. A computer program product including 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 steps of at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

46. A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at least one service, the at least one service configured to perform at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

47. 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 at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

48. A method comprising facilitating creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based, at least in part, on at least a method of any of claims 1-10 and 21-30.

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 one or more dynamic information items associated with at least one location in which at least one service is available;

determine at least one procedure for generating one or more access tokens associated with the at least one service; and

process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more dynamic information items using, at least in part, the at least one procedure to cause, at least in part, a generation of the one or more access tokens.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include, at least in part, signal strength information from one or more identifiers associated with at least one geographical boundary of the at least one location, the at least one service, or a combination thereof.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of the radio frequency signal information to determine at least one user location with respect to the at least one geographical boundary.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the generation of the one or more access tokens is based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

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

cause, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications with respect to an availability of the at least one service, the one or more access tokens, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof is determined via a proximity-based communication channel, a network-based communication channel, a graphical representation, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one service includes a wireless communication network service.

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

cause, at least in part, an updating to the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on one or more changes in the one or more dynamic information items, in the at least one procedure, or a combination thereof,

wherein the updating is prior to an expiration of a current access token.

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

determine one or more attributes associated with a user, a user device, or a combination thereof that is requesting an access to the at least one service; and

cause, at least in part, the generating of the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on the one or more attributes.

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

determine the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.

21. A method comprising:

determining one or more dynamic information items associated with at least one location in which at least one service is available;

determining at least one procedure for generating one or more access tokens associated with the at least one service; and

processing and/or facilitating a processing of the one or more dynamic information items using, at least in part, the at least one procedure to cause, at least in part, a generation of the one or more access tokens.

22. A method of claim 21, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include, at least in part, signal strength information from one or more identifiers associated with at least one geographical boundary of the at least one location, the at least one service, or a combination thereof.

23. A method of claim 22, further comprising:

processing and/or facilitating a processing of the radio frequency signal information to determine at least one user location with respect to the at least one geographical boundary.

24. A method of claim 23, wherein the generation of the one or more access tokens is based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

25. A method of claim 24, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications with respect to an availability of the at least one service, the one or more access tokens, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

26. A method of any of claims 21-25, wherein the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof is determined via a proximity-based communication channel, a network-based communication channel, a graphical representation, or a combination thereof.

27. A method of any of claims 21-26, wherein the at least one service includes a wireless communication network service.

28. A method of any of claims 21-27, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, an updating to the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on one or more changes in the one or more dynamic information items, in the at least one procedure, or a combination thereof,

wherein the updating is prior to an expiration of a current access token.

29. A method of any of claims 21-28, further comprising:

determining one or more attributes associated with a user, a user device, or a combination thereof that is requesting an access to the at least one service; and

causing, at least in part, the generating of the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on the one or more attributes.

30. A method of any of claims 21-29, further comprising:

determining the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.

31. 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 one or more dynamic information items associated with at least one location in which at least one service is available;

determine at least one procedure for generating one or more access tokens associated with the at least one service; and

process and/or facilitate a processing of the one or more dynamic information items using, at least in part, the at least one procedure to cause, at least in part, a generation of the one or more access tokens.

32. An apparatus of claim 31, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include, at least in part, signal strength information from one or more identifiers associated with at least one geographical boundary of the at least one location, the at least one service, or a combination thereof.

33. An apparatus of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process and/or facilitate a processing of the radio frequency signal information to determine at least one user location with respect to the at least one geographical boundary.

34. An apparatus of claim 33, wherein the generation of the one or more access tokens is based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

35. An apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications with respect to an availability of the at least one service, the one or more access tokens, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

36. An apparatus of any of claims 31-35, wherein the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof is determined via a proximity-based communication channel, a network-based communication channel, a graphical representation, or a combination thereof.

37. An apparatus of any of claims 31-36, wherein the at least one service includes a wireless communication network service.

38. An apparatus of any of claims 31-37, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, an updating to the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on one or more changes in the one or more dynamic information items, in the at least one procedure, or a combination thereof,

wherein the updating is prior to an expiration of a current access token.

39. An apparatus of any of claims 31-38, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more attributes associated with a user, a user device, or a combination thereof that is requesting an access to the at least one service; and

cause, at least in part, the generating of the one or more access tokens based, at least in part, on the one or more attributes.

40. An apparatus of any of claims 31-39, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the at least one procedure, the one or more dynamic information items, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.

41. An apparatus of any of claims 31-40, wherein the apparatus is a computer system comprising one or more storage devices, one or more real-time processing elements, one or more static processing elements, or a combination thereof.