Method and apparatus for third-party control of device behavior

• US 9,258,408 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Huotari, Vesa, Tourunen, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US12/478,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.3, 455/456.1, 455/466, 705/26.1, 705/26.35, 705/26.4, 705/14.58
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target

Abstract

An approach is provided for enabling third-parties to manage a mobile device when within a third party'"'"'s domain range. Data regarding a point-of-interest and an associated action by a mobile device is received. The action is defined by a third-party. Whether the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the point-of-interest is detected. The action is invoked if the mobile device is within the predetermined range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an index of one or more points-of-interest based on a determined location from the control platform, by a mobile device employing a device behavior application, wherein the received index includes point-of-interest data and associated action and wherein the action is defined by a third-party;

detecting whether the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the point-of-interest; and

invoking the action if the mobile device is within the predetermined range,

wherein the detection of whether the mobile device is within the predetermined range of the point-of-interest is based, at least in part, on the index.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an interrupt signal from the point-of-interest when the mobile device is within the predetermined range, the interrupt signal indicating the action; and

permitting the point-of-interest control to control invocation of the action when the mobile device is within the predetermined range.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the associated action comprises modifying a profile of the mobile device, the profile specifying a silent mode of notification, a new home screen, or execution of an application.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the associated action comprises receiving a presentation relating to the point-of-interest, receiving an advertisement relating to the point-of-interest, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, caching of the received point-of-interest data and the associated action data;

designating one or more categories of points-of-interest as trusted;

determining that the cached point-of-interest data is associated with one of the categories; and

authenticating the point-of-interest based on the determination.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of the mobile device; and

determining to transmit the location to a control platform.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the transmission of the location is based, at least in part, on a detection that the mobile device has changed network cells.

8. 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 an index of one or more points-of-interest based on a determined location from the control platform, wherein the received index includes point-of-interest data and associated action, by a mobile device employing a device behavior application, wherein the action is defined by a third-party,

detect whether the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the point-of-interest, and

invoke the action if the mobile device is within the predetermined range,

wherein the detection of whether the mobile device is within the predetermined range of the point-of-interest is based, at least in part, on the index.

9. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive an interrupt signal from the point-of-interest when the mobile device is within the predetermined range, the interrupt signal indicating the action; and

permit the point-of-interest control to control invocation of the action when the mobile device is within the predetermined range.

10. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the associated action comprises causing the apparatus to modify a profile of the mobile device, the profile specifying a silent mode of notification, a new home screen, or execution of an application.

11. An apparatus of claim 8, the associated action comprises receiving a presentation relating to the point-of-interest, receiving an advertisement relating to the point-of-interest, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, caching of the received point-of-interest data and the associated action data;

designate one or more categories of points-of-interest as trusted;

determine that the cached point-of-interest data is associated with one of the categories; and

authenticate the point-of-interest based on the determination.

13. An apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a location of the mobile device; and

determine to transmit the location to a control platform.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the the transmission of the location is based, at least in part, on a detection that the mobile device has changed network cells.

15. 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 the following:

receiving a location of the mobile device;

generating an index of a subset of points-of-interest in a geographical division associated with the location;

determining to cause storing of information about the index of the subset of points-of-interest based on the location, and respective actions, defined by a third party, that are performed by a mobile device employing a device behavior application when the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the respective points-of-interest wherein the generated index includes the subset of point-of-interest data and the respective actions; and

determining to cause transmission of the information to one or more of the mobile devices.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein the service is configured to further perform:

generating a control message for transmission to the one mobile device, wherein the control message indicates invoking one of the actions by the mobile device when within the predetermined range of a corresponding one of the points-of-interests.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the information includes the index.

18. 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,

receive a location of a mobile device; and

generate an index of a subset of the points-of-interest in a geographical division associated with the location;

determine to store information about the index of the subset of points-of-interest based on the location, and respective actions, defined by a third party, that are performed by the mobile device employing a device behavior application when the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the respective points-of-interest, wherein the generated index includes the subset of point-of-interest data and the respective actions; and

determine to cause transmission of the information to one or more of the mobile devices.

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

generate a control message for transmission to the one mobile device, wherein the control message indicates invoking one of the actions by the mobile device when within the predetermined range of a corresponding one of the points-of-interests.

20. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the information includes the index.