Method and apparatus for providing an application engine based on real-time commute activity

• US 9,473,893 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuramura, Don Yamato, Biniak, Bryan Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US14/821,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/423, 701/516, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3874 Structures specially adapted for data searching and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• 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

Abstract

An approach is provided for an application engine (e.g., a gaming engine) based on real-time location-based data. In one embodiment, an application engine determines one or more location-based data sources associated with at least one device. The one or more location-based data sources are determined in at least substantially real-time while the at least one device is engaged in at least one travel activity. The application engine then determines one or more elements of an application engine based, at least in part, on the one or more location-based data sources. The application engine causes, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more elements at the least one device during the at least one travel activity. In one embodiment, the application engine also causes, at least in part, a transformation of the one or more map data elements based, at least in part, on the one or more location-based data sources.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a location-based data source associated with a device, wherein the location-based data source is determined in at least substantially real-time while the device is engaged in a travel activity, wherein the at least one travel activity is based on at least one position associated with a location sensor of the at least one device;

determining, by the processor, an element of an application engine based on the location-based data source;

presenting the element at the device during the travel activity, wherein the presenting the element is based, at least in part, on the real-time data, wherein the element includes, at least in part, one or more elements of game play mechanics and the game play mechanics are affected by vehicle telematics information; and

determining a duration for interacting with the application engine based on an estimated time of arrival associated with the travel activity, wherein the application engine includes a gaming engine providing for a game play that lasts for a time corresponding to the determined duration for interacting with the application engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming engine supports a single-user game player, a multiple-user gameplay, or a group gameplay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting the element comprises presenting the element in a mapping user interface, and wherein the element includes a map data element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transforming the map data element based on the location-based data source.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transforming the map data element is further based on (a) a motif associated with the application engine;

(b) a type, a dimension, a structure, a point of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the map data element;

or (c) one or more transformation rules;

or (d) a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time data including a local news event or geo-tagged media.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the location-based data source include navigation information, telematics information, location contextual information, user contextual information, local event information, social networking information, or combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

processing the navigation information, the telematics information, or a combination thereof to determine the estimated time of arrival at a location associated with the travel activity.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

an input from a first user for specifying the element via an input from a first user,

wherein the presenting the element is for a second user interacting with the device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining one or more interactions with the element by a first user; and

transmitting a report of the one or more interactions to a second user.

11. 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 a location-based data source associated with the device, wherein the location-based data source is determined in at least substantially real-time while the device is engaged in a travel activity, wherein the at least one travel activity is based on at least one position associated with a location sensor of the at least one device;

determine an element of an application engine based on the location-based data source;

cause a presentation of the element at the device during the travel activity, wherein the presentation of the element is based on the real-time data;

cause an alteration of an appearance of the element based on the location-based data source; and

determine a duration for interacting with the application engine based on an estimated time of arrival, routing information, or a combination thereof associated with the travel activity,

wherein the application engine includes a gaming engine, the element includes an element of game play mechanics, and the game play mechanics are affected by vehicle telematics information, and

wherein the gaming engine provides for a game play that lasts for a time corresponding to the determined duration for interacting with the application engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the real-time data includes a local news event or geo-tagged media.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gaming engine supports a single-user game player, a multiple-user gameplay, or a group gameplay.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the presentation of the element is in a mapping user interface, and wherein the element includes a map data element.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

transform of the map data element based on the location-based data source.

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

determine the transformation based on (a) a motif associated with the application engine;

(b) a type, a dimension, a structure, a point of interest, or a combination thereof associated with the map data element;

or (c) one or more transformation rules;

or (d) a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the location-based data source include navigation information, telematics information, location contextual information, user contextual information, local event information, social networking information, or combination thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process the navigation information, the telematics information, or a combination thereof to determine the estimated time of arrival at a location associated with the travel activity.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine an input from a first user for specifying the element,

wherein the presentation of the element is for a second user interacting with the device.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more interactions with the element by a first user; and

cause a transmission of a report of the one or more interactions to a second user.