Method and apparatus for creating a contextual model based on offline user context data

• US 8,341,196 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Heinonen, Jarkko, Immonen, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US12/624,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 707/688, 707/790, 707/792, 707/781, 707/807
• US Class Current: 707/807
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

An approach is provided for providing a contextual model based upon user context data. A context modeling platform collects context data on offline activities of a user. The context modeling platform maps the collected user context data as context data points into a multidimensional contextual model. The context modeling platform causes, at least in part, actions that result in reception of at least one multidimensional contextual model of another user. The context modeling platform compares the multidimensional contextual model of the user with the multidimensional contextual model of the another user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

tracking the offline activities of a user by data-mining at least one of;

the user'"'"'s calendar appointments, the user'"'"'s calling records, real world media items created by the user, GPS data indicating the user'"'"'s actual visits, and bills charged for the user'"'"'s actual visits;

collecting context data on the offline activities of the user using the tracked offline activities;

mapping the collected context data as context data points into a multidimensional contextual model;

causing, at least in part, actions that result in reception of at least one multidimensional contextual model of another user; and

comparing the multidimensional contextual model of the user with the multidimensional contextual model of the another user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the comparison, incorporating, at least partially, the multidimensional contextual model of the another user into the multidimensional contextual model of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, actions that result in reception of a query from the user;

clustering the context data points in the contextual model into contextual clusters;

matching the query with the contextual clusters; and

causing, at least in part, actions that result in transmission of context data of one or more matched contextual clusters to the user.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

forming a user group including at least the user and the another user based on the comparison.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

respectively clustering the context data points in each of the contextual models into contextual clusters; and

comparing the contextual clusters of the contextual models and determining a degree of incorporating of the contextual model of the another user into the contextual model of the user.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

collecting context data of the user group from a plurality of sources;

mapping the collected user group context data into a multidimensional group contextual model;

clustering group context data points in the group contextual model into group contextual clusters;

matching a query with the group contextual clusters; and

causing, at least in part, actions that result in transmission of group context data of one or more matched group contextual clusters to the user.

2. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein 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;

track the offline activities of a user by data-mining at least one of;

the user'"'"'s calendar appointments, the user'"'"'s calling records, real world media items created by the user, GPS data indicating the user'"'"'s actual visits, and bills charged for the user'"'"'s actual visits;

collect context data on the offline activities of the user using the tracked offline activities;

map the collected context data as context data points into a multidimensional contextual model;

cause, at least in part, actions that result in reception of at least one multidimensional contextual model of another user; and

compare the multidimensional contextual model of the user with the multidimensional contextual model of the another user.

6. An apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

based on the comparison, incorporate, at least partially, the multidimensional contextual model of the another user into the multidimensional contextual model of the user.

7. An apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, actions that result in reception of a query from the user;

cluster the context data points in the contextual model into contextual clusters;

match the query with the contextual clusters; and

cause, at least in part, actions that result in transmission of context data of one or more matched contextual clusters to the user.

12. An apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

form a user group including at least the user and the another user based on the comparison.

13. An apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

respectively cluster the context data points in each of the contextual models into contextual clusters; and

compare the contextual clusters of the contextual models and determining a degree of incorporating of the contextual model of the another user into the contextual model of the user.

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

collect context data of the user group from a plurality of sources;

map the collected user group context data into a multidimensional group contextual model;

clustering group context data points in the group contextual model into group contextual clusters;

match a query with the group contextual clusters; and

cause, at least in part, actions that result in transmission of group context data of one or more matched group contextual clusters to the user.

3. 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 the following:

tracking the offline activities of the user by data-mining at least one of;

the user'"'"'s calendar appointments, the user'"'"'s calling records, real world media items created by the user, GPS data indicating the user'"'"'s actual visits, and bills charged for the user'"'"'s actual visits;

collecting context data on the offline activities of the user using the tracked offline activities;

mapping the collected context data as context data points into a multidimensional contextual model;

causing, at least in part, actions that result in reception of at least one multidimensional contextual model of another user; and

comparing the multidimensional contextual model of the user with the multidimensional contextual model of the another user.

8. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

based on the comparison, incorporating, at least partially, the multidimensional contextual model of the another user into the multidimensional contextual model of the user.

9. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

causing, at least in part, actions that result in reception of a query from the user;

clustering the context data points in the contextual model into contextual clusters;

matching the query with the contextual clusters; and

causing, at least in part, actions that result in transmission of context data of one or more matched contextual clusters to the user.

14. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

forming a user group including at least the user and the another user based on the comparison.

15. A computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

respectively clustering the context data points in each of the contextual models into contextual clusters; and

comparing the contextual clusters of the contextual models and determining a degree of incorporating of the contextual model of the another user into the contextual model of the user.