Method and apparatus for identifying network functions based on user data

Abstract

Techniques for identifying network functions include determining first data that indicates a concept represented in content provided by a device. A function provided by a network service is determined based on the first data. In some embodiments, techniques include forming a data structure that associates each function of a plurality of functions provided by a plurality of network services with at least one identifier for a concept.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, via at least one processor, first data that indicates a concept represented in content provided by a device; and   determining, via the at least one processor, based on the first data, a function provided by a network service.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing, at least in part, actions that result in transmitting a message that indicates the function. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing, at least in part, actions that result in presenting, at the device, a description of the function. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing, at least in part, actions that result in invoking the function provided by the network service. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the function provided by the network service further comprises sending a message that indicates the first data to a service that associates, with each function of a plurality of functions provided by network services, data that indicates at least one of an identifier for a concept or data that indicates an identifier for context of a device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining second data that indicates a current context for the device, wherein:
 determining the function provided by the network service further comprises determining the function based, at least in part, on the second data.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein determining the function provided by the network service based on the second data that indicates the current context further comprises finding in a data structure an association between the function and an identifier for device context that includes the current context for the device. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining second data that indicates a current context for the device, wherein determining the function provided by the network service further comprises determining the function based, at least in part, on the second data. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the second data that indicates the current context for the device further comprises receiving a message that indicates the second data. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first data that indicates the concept represented in content provided by the device further comprises:
 receiving a message that indicates a media type feature based on the content; and   determining the first data that indicates the concept based on the media type feature.   
     
     
         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 first data that indicates a concept represented in content provided by a device; and   determine, based on the first data, a function provided by a network service.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a mobile phone further comprising:
 user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and   a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to at least determine second data that indicates a current context for the device; and wherein determining the function provided by the network service further comprises determining the function based, at least in part, on the second data. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein to determine the first data that indicates the concept represented in content provided by the device, the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive a message that indicates a media type feature based on the content; and   determine the first data that indicates the concept based on the media type feature.   
     
     
         15 . 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 to perform the following steps:
 determine first data that indicates a concept represented in content provided by a device; and   determine, based on the first data, a function provided by a different network service   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform at least the step of:
 determine second data that indicates a current context for the device; and   determine the function provided by the network service further based, at least in part, on the second data.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first data that indicates the concept represented in content provided by the device is determined by further causing the apparatus to perform the steps of:
 receive a message that indicates a media type feature based on the content; and   determine the first data that indicates the concept based on the media type feature.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to cause, at least in part, actions that result in transmitting a message that indicates the function. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to cause, at least in part, actions that result in presenting, at the device, a description of the function. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to cause, at least in part, actions that result in invoking the function provided by the network service. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein in determining the function provided by the network service, the apparatus is further configured to perform the step of:
 send a message that indicates the first data to a service that associates, with each function of a plurality of functions provided by network services, data that indicates at least one of an identifier for a concept or data that indicates an identifier for context of a device.   
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform the steps of:
 determine second data that indicates a current context for the device, and   determine the function, based, at least in part, on the second data.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 22 , wherein in determining the function provided by the network service based on the second data that indicates the current context, the apparatus is further configured to perform the step of:
 find in a data structure an association between the function and an identifier for device context that includes the current context for the device.