Method and apparatus for determining dynamic access tokens for location-based services

• US 9,414,348 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Saari, Jarmo Ilkka, Toivanen, Timo Juhani
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaheed, Khalid
• Application Number:
  US13/867,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20140315571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

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;

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

wherein the at least one procedure for generating the one or more access tokens is determined via (i) a location services application of a user equipment receiving the at least one procedure from another application and/or from one or more modules of the user equipment, (ii) one or more messages/notifications that may be requested and/or received by the user equipment from POI services, navigation services, search engines, or other service providers, (iii) utilizing the user equipment to capture an image of a graphical representation that may include encoded information on the procedure and/or on how to obtain the procedure, (iv) using the user equipment to interface with a memory tag for retrieving the procedure and/or information associated with the procedure, or (v) combination thereof;

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

further generating the one or more access tokens based on the one or more attributes.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include signal strength information from one or more identifiers associated with the 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 method further comprising:

processing radio frequency signal information to determine the 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 method further comprises:

presenting 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 on the user location.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more dynamic information items 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 method further comprises:

updating the one or more access tokens based 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 method further comprises:

determining the one or more dynamic information items based on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.

10. 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

service;

process the one or more dynamic information items using the at least one procedure to cause a generation of the one or more access tokens,

wherein the at least one procedure for generating the one or more access tokens is determined via (i) a location services application of a user equipment receiving the at least one procedure from another application and/or from one or more modules of the user equipment, (ii) one or more messages/notifications that may be requested and/or received by the user equipment from POI services, navigation services, search engines, or other service providers, (iii) utilizing the user equipment to capture an image of a graphical representation that may include encoded information on the procedure and/or on how to obtain the procedure, (iv) using the user equipment to interface with a memory tag for retrieving the procedure and/or information associated with the procedure, or (v) combination thereof;

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

further generate the one or more access tokens based on the one or more attributes.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more dynamic information items include 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.

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

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

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the generation of the one or more access tokens is based, at least in part, on the at least one user location.

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

present 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 on the at least one user location.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more dynamic information items is determined via a proximity-based communication channel, a network-based communication channel, a graphical representation, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one service includes a wireless communication network service.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

update the one or more access tokens based 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 update is prior to an expiration of a current access token.

18. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the one or more dynamic information items based on one or more transactions performed at the at least one location.