Method and apparatus for providing location sharing via simulation

• US 9,654,911 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Chambers, Paul, Letz, Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/599,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 342386
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• 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 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

An approach for providing location sharing via simulation is disclosed. A location sharing platform determines at least one location point associated with at least one device and at least one algorithm for determining at least one predicted route of the at least one device based, at least in part, on the at least one location point. The location sharing platform then causes, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location point and the at least one algorithm to at least one other device for generating location tracking information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based on the following:

a determination of a location point associated with a first device and an algorithm for determining a predicted route of the first device based on the location point; and

a transmission of the location point and the algorithm to a second device, the second device comprising a location sharing platform that generates location tracking information based on the location point and the algorithm transmitted by the first device.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

a processing of the location point and the algorithm to determine the predicted route;

a determination of at least one deviation of a current location point of the first device from the predicted route; and

a transmission of an update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof based on the current location point.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

a determination that the at least one deviation is caused by a stop, a detour, or a combination thereof of the first device; and

an estimation of a duration of the stop, the detour, or a combination based on contextual information associated with the stop, the detour, or a combination thereof,

wherein the update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof is based on the estimation of the duration.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

an update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof at a predetermined frequency, according to a schedule, on demand, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

contextual information associated with the first device, a user associated with the first device, or a combination thereof; and

a determination of the algorithm based on the contextual information.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein the contextual information includes mode of travel information, travel history information, user behavior information, traffic information, crowd-sourced information, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 5, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

a determination that the mode of travel information indicates that the first device is using a schedule-based mode of travel; and

a determination of one or more travel schedules for the schedule-based mode of travel as a parameter of the algorithm.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

one or more endpoints of the predicted route;

an estimation of at least one arrival time at the one or more endpoints; and

an update of the location tracking information, the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof based on the estimation of the at least one arrival time.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

a synchronization of a processing of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof between the first device and the second device.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based on the following:

a processing of the location point and the algorithm to determine one or more predicted location points for the first device at one or more time points;

a generation of a position plan specifying the location point, the one or more predicted location points, or a combination thereof; and

a transmission of the position plan to the second device for generating the location tracking information in place of or in addition to the algorithm.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine a location point associated with a first device and an algorithm for determining predicted route of the first device based, at on the location point; and

cause a transmission of the location point and the algorithm to a second device, the second device comprising a location sharing platform that generates location tracking information based on the location point and the algorithm transmitted by the first device.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of the location point and the algorithm to determine the predicted route;

determine a deviation of a current location point of the first device from the predicted route; and

cause a transmission of an update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof based on the current location point.

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

determine that the deviation is caused by a stop, a detour, or a combination thereof of the first device; and

cause an estimation of a duration of the stop, the detour, or a combination based on contextual information associated with the stop, the detour, or a combination thereof, wherein the update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof based on the estimation of the duration.

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

cause an update of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof at a predetermined frequency, according to a schedule, on demand, or a combination thereof.

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

determine contextual information associated with the first device, a user associated with the first device, or a combination thereof; and

determine the algorithm based on the contextual information.

16. An apparatus of claim 14, wherein the contextual information includes mode of travel information, travel history information, user behavior information, traffic information, crowd-sourced information, or a combination thereof.

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

determine that the mode of travel information indicates that the first device is using a schedule-based mode of travel; and

determine one or more travel schedules for the schedule-based mode of travel as a parameter of the algorithm.

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

determine one or more endpoints of the predicted route;

cause an estimation of at least one arrival time at the one or more endpoints; and

cause an update of the location tracking information, the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof based on the estimation of the arrival time.

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

cause a synchronization of a processing of the location point, the algorithm, or a combination thereof between the first device and the second device.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of the location point and the algorithm to determine one or more predicted location points for the first device at one or more time points;

cause a generation of a position plan specifying the location point, the one or more predicted location points, or a combination thereof; and

cause a transmission of the position plan to the second device for generating the location tracking information in place of or in addition to the algorithm.