Method, apparatus and computer program for enabling access to content in a network

• US 9,351,150 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Simonen, Hannu Antero, Vayrynen, Jarno Tapio, Bostrom, Jani
• Primary Examiner(s): LAZARO, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US13/525,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20120254430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• 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 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

An approach is provided for enabling access to content in a network service. Location information is received, at a server, relating to a first remote apparatus and another remote apparatus. The received location information is utilized to determine that the first remote apparatus and the another remote apparatus are proximal to each other. Access rights are updated within a network service to enable the user of the another remote apparatus to access content associated with the user of the first remote apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a user input at a first apparatus, wherein the user input indicates a user of the first apparatus wishes to enable a user of another apparatus to access content relating to a service;

sending, in response to detection of the user input, a message to a remote server indicating that the user of the first apparatus wishes to permit the user of the another apparatus to access content relating to the service; and

sending a first identification information from the first apparatus and a second identification information from the another apparatus to the remote server wherein the first and second identification informations enable the remote server to determine that the another apparatus is in close proximity to the first apparatus and to identify the content to which access is to be permitted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the first apparatus permits the user of the another apparatus to access content by assigning one of a plurality of access levels to the user of the another apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network service is a subscriber service.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising enabling location information to be sent to the remote server wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the first apparatus and the another apparatus are proximal to each other.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the location information is obtained using a short range wireless communication link between the first apparatus and the another apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the short range wireless communication link is a Bluetooth communication link or a near field communication link.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the location information is obtained using a satellite positioning system.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the first apparatus and the another apparatus are within a particular region.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the first apparatus and the another apparatus are within a predetermined distance of each other.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a user input device;

a transmitter configured to enable information to be sent to a remote server; and

a controller configured to

detect actuation of the user input device and, in response to the detection of the actuation, control the transmitter to send a message to a remote server indicating that a user of the apparatus wishes to permit a user of another apparatus to access content relating to a service,

wherein a user input indicates the user of the apparatus wishes to enable the user of the another apparatus to access content relating to the service, and

wherein the controller is also configured to enable a first information and a second information received from the another apparatus to be sent from the apparatus to the remote server wherein first and second identification informations enable the remote server to determine that the another apparatus is in close proximity to the first apparatus and to identify the content to which access is to be permitted and to enable location information to be sent to the remote server.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user of the apparatus permits the user of the another apparatus to access content by assigning one of a plurality of access levels to the user of the another apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network service is a subscriber service.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to enable location information to be sent to the remote server wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the apparatus and the another apparatus are proximal to each other.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a transceiver configured to enable a short range wireless communication link to be established between the apparatus and the another apparatus, wherein the short range wireless communication link enables the location information to be obtained.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the short range wireless communication link is a Bluetooth communication link or a near field communication link.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is configured to enable the apparatus to communicate in a satellite positioning system such that the location information may be obtained using a satellite positioning system.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the apparatus and the another apparatus are within a particular region.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the apparatus and the another apparatus are within a predetermined distance of each other.

19. A non-transitory 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 that includes a user input device and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to enable information to be sent to a remote server, to at least perform the following steps:

detect actuation of the user input device and, in response to the detection of the actuation, controlling the transmitter to send a message to a remote server indicating that a user of the apparatus wants to permit a second user of another apparatus to access content relating to a service, wherein a user input indicates the user of the apparatus wishes to enable the second user of the another apparatus to access content relating to the service; and

enable a first identification information and a second identification received from the another apparatus to be sent from the apparatus to the remote server wherein the first and second identification informations enable the remote server to determine that the another apparatus is in close proximity to the first apparatus and to identify the content to which access is to be permitted.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 further configured to enable location information to be sent to the remote server wherein the location information enables the remote server to determine that the apparatus and the another apparatus are proximal to each other.