Method, apparatus and computer program

Abstract

An approach is provided for enabling access to content in a network service. Location information is received, at a server, relating to a first remote apparatus and another remote apparatus. The received location information is utilized to determine that the first remote apparatus and the another remote apparatus are proximal to each other. Access rights are updated within a network service to enable the user of the another remote apparatus to access content associated with the user of the first remote apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a message at a server from a first apparatus, the message comprising a request from a first user of the first apparatus to permit a second user associated with a second apparatus to access content associated with the first user of the first apparatus;   then determining at the server that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus based on location information of the first apparatus and the second apparatus; and   responsive to determining that the second apparatus is within the predetermined distance of the first apparatus, providing access to the second user to the content associated with the first user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises assigning one of a plurality of access levels to the second user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server provides a service, and providing access to the second user is further responsive to determining that the second user is a subscriber to the service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining at the server that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus comprises:
 receiving a second message at the server from the second apparatus, the second message comprising location information for both of the first and second apparatuses; and   at the server, determining from the location information in the second message that the second apparatus is within the predetermined distance of the first apparatus.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the location information in the second message comprises a location of one of the first and second apparatuses relative to the other. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining at the server that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus comprises:
 receiving a second message at the server from the second apparatus, the second message comprising location information for the second apparatus; and   at the server, determining from the location information in the second message and from location information for the first apparatus that the second apparatus is within the predetermined distance of the first apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the determining at the server that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus further comprises:
 receiving a third message at the server from the first apparatus, the third message comprising location information for the first apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location information of the first apparatus and the second apparatus comprises satellite position system location information. 
     
     
         9 . A server, comprising:
 a communication interface configured to send and receive data to and from external devices; and   a controller comprising a memory and a processor, the controller communicatively coupled to the communication interface and configured to:
 receive a message, via the communication interface, from a first apparatus comprising a request from a first user of the first apparatus to permit a second user associated with a second apparatus to access content associated with the first user of the first apparatus; 
 then determine that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance to the first apparatus based on location information of the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and 
 provide access to the second user to the content associated with the first user based on said determination. 
   
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the request comprises assigning one of a plurality of access levels to the second user. 
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a service;
 and wherein the controller is configured to provide access to the second user to the content associated with the first user based on said determination in combination with determining that the second user is a subscriber to the service.   
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus by:
 receiving a second message from the second apparatus, the second message comprising location information for both of the first and second apparatuses; and   determining from the location information in the second message that the second apparatus is within the predetermined distance of the first apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the location information in the second message comprises a location of one of the first and second apparatuses relative to the other. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus by:
 receiving a second message from the second apparatus, the second message comprising location information for the second apparatus; and   determining from the location information in the second message and from location information for the first apparatus that the second apparatus is within the predetermined distance of the first apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the determining that the second apparatus is within a predetermined distance of the first apparatus further comprises:
 receiving a third message from the first apparatus, the third message comprising location information for the first apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 9 , wherein the location information of the first apparatus and the second apparatus comprises satellite position system location information.