System and method for provision of proximity networking activity information

• US 8,364,169 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lehikoinen, Jaakko, Uusitalo, Severi, Perala, Timo, Impi, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US12/755,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4143, 455/440, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in proximity networking activity. For example, nodes and/or other computers may record, receive, and/or provide information regarding proximity networking activity. As another example, nodes and/or other computers may act to inform their users of proximity networking activity instances.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a node, information specifying proximity node network activities occurring at corresponding geographical locations proximate to the node;

causing, at least in part, presentation, at the node, of a map with one or more indicators at the geographical locations, the indicators with different visual designs representing different types of the proximity node network activities; and

receiving a selection of one or more of the indicators to establish at least one connection from the node to participate in one or more of the proximity node network activities.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection includes a short range communication connection, a broadband network connection, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, transmission of the received information and the map to at least a requesting one of the proximity nodes.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the types of proximity node network activities include gaming, messaging, audio media streaming, video media streaming, file sharing, picture taking, grid computing, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated information of the proximity node network activities.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, forwarding of an advertisement to one or more of the proximity nodes based on prior participation in corresponding proximity network activities.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the forwarding of the advertisement is further based on frequency of the prior participation, cost, number of participants, or a combination thereof of the proximity network activities.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, presentation in the map with one or more other indicators at the geographical locations, the other indicators with different visual designs representing the proximity node network activities as open to new participants, close to new participants, a number of participants, a scheduled time length, an on-going time length, a remaining time length, free, a fee requirement, a membership requirement, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, presentation in the map the indicators and the other indicators superimposed one another at the geographical locations.

10. A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface to allow access to at least one service, the service configured to perform at least the following:

receiving a query for information specifying proximity node network activities occurring at corresponding geographical locations proximate to a node; and

causing, at least in part, transmission, to the node, the information and indicators with different visual designs representing different types of the proximity node network activities, for presenting a map with one or more indicators at the geographical locations thereon to be selected for the node to participate in one or more of the proximity node network activities.

11. A method of claim 10, wherein the service is further configured to perform:

receiving updated information of the proximity node network activities from the node, one or more proximity nodes of the node, or a combination thereof;

updating one or more descriptive attributes of the proximity node network activities; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the updated descriptive attribute to one or more of the proximity nodes.

12. A method of claim 10, wherein the information further includes at least a part of fee and valid time information of the proximity node network activities.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the node and the proximity nodes include one or more mobile nodes, one or more fixed nodes, or a combination thereof.

14. 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,

receive, at a node, information specifying proximity node network activities occurring at corresponding geographical locations proximate to the node;

cause, at least in part, presentation, at the node, of a map with one or more indicators at the geographical locations, the indicators with different visual designs representing different types of the proximity node network activities; and

receive a selection of one or more of the indicators to establish at least one connection from the node to participate in one or more of the proximity node network activities.

15. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one connection includes a short range communication connection, a broadband network connection, or a combination thereof.

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

cause, at least in part, transmission of the received information and the map to at least a requesting one of the proximity nodes.

17. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the types of proximity node network activities include gaming, messaging, audio media streaming, video media streaming, file sharing, picture taking, grid computing, or a combination thereof.

18. 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,

receive a query for information specifying proximity node network activities occurring at corresponding geographical locations proximate to a node; and

cause, at least in part, transmission, to the node, the information and indicators with different visual designs representing different types of the proximity node network activities, for presenting a map with one or more indicators at the geographical locations thereon to be selected for the node to participate in one or more of the proximity node network activities.

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

receive updated information of the proximity node network activities from the node, one or more proximity nodes of the node, or a combination thereof;

update one or more descriptive attributes of the proximity node network activities; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the updated descriptive attribute to one or more of the proximity nodes.