Method and apparatus for generating location reference information

• US 9,693,201 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Saunders, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US13/690,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An approach for enabling the generation of a location record at a device based on a location not associated with a pre-stored location record is described. A location reference platform determines at least one location is not associated with one or more pre-stored location records at at least one device. The location reference platform also causes, at least in part, a generation of at least one location record for the at least one location. The location reference platform further causes, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records.

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, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination that at least one location is not included in one or more pre-stored location records at at least one device, wherein the at least one location is present geo-position information associated with the at least one device;

a generation of at least one location record for the at least one location, wherein the at least one location record includes at least in part a location code and the present geo-position information; and

a transmission of the at least one location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pre-stored location records, the at least one location record, or a combination thereof includes, at least in part, one or more traffic message channel (TMC) records.

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

a user input for selection of a permanent storage of the at least one location record with the one or more pre-stored location records.

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

a user input for selection of a temporary usage of the at least one location record.

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

a processing of location information, position information corresponding to the location, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one device to determine a match with the at least one location,

wherein the location information includes at least one location and at least one offset location from the at least one location and the position information includes at least one position and at least one offset position from at least one secondary position.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the match is based on a lookup procedure associated with the one or more pre-stored location records.

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

at least one determination of at least one unused location code to associate with the at least one location record,

wherein the at least one unused location code is reserved for generation of the at least one location record.

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

a user input for specifying the accuracy of the at least one location record; and

an updating of the at least one location record for the at least one location, at least one other location, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the determination.

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

a transmission of the at least one updated location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location record, the one or more pre-stored location records, or a combination thereof are used by a location-based service, a traffic information system, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one device.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein a user input is received via a generation of at least one notification message and a presenting of the at least one notification message that the at least one location is not included in the one or more pre-stored location records at at least one device.

12. 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 that at least one location is not included in one or more pre-stored location records at at least one device, wherein the at least one location is present geo-position information associated with the at least one device;

cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one location record for the at least one location, wherein the at least one location record includes at least in part a location code and the present geo-position information; and

cause, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more pre-stored location records, the at least one location record, or a combination thereof includes, at least in part, one or more traffic message channel (TMC) records.

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

determine a user input for selection of a permanent storage of the at least one location record with the one or more pre-stored location records.

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

determine a user input for selection of a temporary usage of the at least one location record.

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

process and/or facilitate a processing of location information, position information corresponding to the location, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one device to determine a match with the at least one location,

wherein the location information includes at least one location and at least one offset location from the at least one location and the position information includes at least one position and at least one offset position from at least one secondary position.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the match is based on a lookup procedure associated with the one or more pre-stored location records.

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

determine at least one unused location code to associate with the at least one location record,

wherein the at least one unused location code is reserved for generation of the at least one location record.

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

determine a user input for specifying the accuracy of the at least one location record; and

cause, at least in part, an updating of the at least one location record for the at least one location, at least one other location, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the determination.

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

cause, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one updated location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records.

21. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one location record, the one or more pre-stored location records, or a combination thereof are used by a location-based service, a traffic information system, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one device.