US20060178215A1

US20060178215A1 - System and method for provision of information

Info

Publication number: US20060178215A1
Application number: US11/349,612
Authority: US
Inventors: Jaakko Lehikoinen; Jussi Impio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
Priority date: 2005-02-08
Filing date: 2006-02-07
Publication date: 2006-08-10
Also published as: CN101147418A; EP2963978A2; EP1847150A4; US20060178214A1; US20100198957A1; EP1847150B1; CN101147418B; EP1847150A1; US8364169B2; WO2006085180A1; US7725112B2; EP2963978A3

Abstract

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in proximity networking activity. For example, nodes and/or other computers may record, receive, and/or provide information regarding proximity networking activity. As another example, nodes and/or other computers may act to inform their users of proximity networking activity instances. As further examples, content, presence, globe view, request, and/or search operations may be performed.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/054,008 filed Feb. 8, 2005 and entitled “System and Method for Provision of Proximity Networking Activity Information”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for provision of information.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In recent times, there has been an increase in proximity networking activity. For example, many users have come to prefer proximity gaming over other forms of gaming, have come to prefer proximity messaging over other forms of messaging, and/or have come to prefer proximity media streaming over other forms of media distribution.
Accordingly, there may be interest in technologies that, for example, facilitate proximity networking activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided systems and methods applicable, for instance, in proximity networking activity.
In various embodiments, nodes and/or other computers may record, receive, and/or provide information regarding proximity networking activity. Moreover, in various embodiments nodes and/or other computers may act to inform their users of proximity networking activity instances. It is additionally noted that, in various embodiments, content, presence, globe view, request, and/or search operations may be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows exemplary steps involved in exchange of information regarding proximity networking activity according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2. shows exemplary steps involved in employment of information regarding proximity networking activity according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows an exemplary map according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows exemplary steps involved in fixed node and/or other computer functionality according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows exemplary steps involved in content functionality according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows exemplary steps involved in content request functionality according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows exemplary steps involved in activity search functionality according to various embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary computer.
FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General Operation

According to embodiments of the present invention there are provided systems and methods applicable, for instance, in proximity networking activity.
For example, in various embodiments nodes and/or other computers may record information regarding proximity networking activity instances in which they partake, may receive information regarding proximity networking activity from other nodes and/or other computers, and/or may provide information regarding proximity networking activity to other nodes and/or other computers.
As another example, in various embodiments nodes and/or other computers may act to inform their users of proximity networking activity instances, the nodes perhaps providing their users with corresponding geographical information.
It is additionally noted that, in various embodiments, content, presence, globe view, request, and/or search operations may be performed.
Various aspects of the present invention will now be discussed in greater detail.

Recording of Information Regarding Proximity Networking Activity

According to various embodiments of the present invention a mobile node and/or other computer may act to record information regarding proximity networking activity instances in which it is partaking. Such proximity networking activity might, for example, include proximity gaming, proximity messaging, proximity media streaming (e.g., images, video, and/or audio), proximity grid computing, and/or proximity file sharing. Such proximity networking activity might, for instance, make use of Bluetooth, WiFi (e.g., 802.11g), and/or Ultra Wide Band (UWB).
Various information regarding a proximity networking activity instance may, in various embodiments, be recorded by the mobile node and/or other computer. Such information might, for example, include names, nicknames, and/or other identifiers corresponding to users participating in the proximity networking activity instance, numbers of users participating in the proximity networking activity instance, description of the proximity networking activity instance, indication of whether or not the proximity networking activity instance is open to new participants, indication of how long the proximity networking activity instance has been going on (e.g., elapsed time), one or more timestamps corresponding to the proximity networking activity instance, fees required for participating in the proximity networking activity instance, hardware, software, and/or memberships required for participating in the proximity networking activity instance, and/or geographical location information corresponding to the proximity networking activity instance (e.g., geographical coordinates and/or description provided by a user such as, for instance, location relative to a well-known landmark). It is noted that, in various embodiments, a nickname might be employed in the case where anonymity was desired.
Various operations might, in various embodiments, be performed by the mobile node and/or other computer in recording such information. For example, the mobile node and/or other computer might determine various of such information by employing one or more software modules that communicated with one or more software modules that allowed the mobile node and/or other computer's user to participate in the proximity networking activity.
Accordingly, for instance, in the case where the proximity networking activity was proximity gaming, the mobile node and/or other computer might employ one or more software modules that communicated with one or more software modules providing the gaming experience in order to learn from those software modules information such as, for example, one or more identifiers corresponding to the gaming participants, description of the proximity networking activity, and/or indication of how long the proximity networking activity has been going on.
As another example, the mobile node and/or other computer might determine various of such information by querying its user (e.g., via a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or other interface).
As yet another example, the mobile node and/or other computer might determine various of such information via use of hardware. Accordingly, for instance, the mobile node and/or other computer might employ Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware and/or networking hardware (e.g., Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) hardware) in order to determine geographical information corresponding to the proximity networking activity instance. In so making use of networking hardware the mobile node and/or other computer might, for example, act to query access points (e.g., base stations) for location information, to employ Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD), and/or the like.
It is noted that, in various embodiments a user participating in a proximity networking activity instance might be able to indicate, perhaps via a GUI and/or other interface provided by her mobile node and/or other computer, that some or all identifiers corresponding to her not be provided to other mobile nodes and/or other computers.

Exchange of Information Regarding Proximity Networking Activity

A mobile node and/or other computer may, according to various embodiments of the present invention, act to provide information regarding proximity networking activity to other mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or may act to receive information regarding proximity networking activity from other mobile nodes and/or other computers. Initiation of such functionality might, in various embodiments, be automatic and/or be in response to user request. Such functionality may be implemented in a number of ways.
For example, mobile nodes and/or other computers capable of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity might run one or more software modules that act to, for instance, respond to queries from other mobile nodes and/or other computers inquiring if capabilities of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity were possessed. With respect to FIG. 1 it is noted that, according to various embodiments, mobile nodes and/or other computers capable of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity might run one or more software modules that acted to, for instance, dispatch queries to other mobile nodes and/or other computers inquiring if capabilities of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity were possessed (step 101).
Such queries and responses thereto could be communicated among mobile nodes and/or other computers in a number of ways. For instance, Remote Method Invocation (RMI), Java Messaging Service (JMS), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Object Exchange (OBEX) Object Push Profile (OPP), email, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and/or Short Message Service (SMS) might be employed. It is noted that, in various embodiments, proximity connection (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or UWB) might be employed for communication of such queries and responses thereto. Accordingly, in various embodiments, such queries might act to find mobile nodes and/or other computers in proximity connection range possessing capabilities of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity.
According to embodiments of the present invention, perhaps in accordance with determination, via such queries and responses, of capabilities of mobile nodes and/or other computers for providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity (step 103), one or more operations could be performed whereby a mobile node and/or other computer possessing information regarding proximity networking activity could act to provide some or all of the information for receipt by another mobile node and/or other computer (step 105). The recipient node might, perhaps, already possess various information regarding proximity networking activity. The mobile node and/or other computer providing information regarding proximity networking activity might, perhaps, further receive information regarding proximity networking activity from the recipient mobile node and/or other computer (step 107).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, possessed information regarding proximity networking activity provided by a mobile node and/or other computer could include information regarding proximity networking activity recorded by that mobile node and/or other computer, and/or information regarding proximity networking activity received by that mobile node and/or other computer from another mobile node and/or other computer. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a mobile node and/or other computer could act to perform one or more handling operations with respect to received information regarding proximity networking activity. For example, the mobile node and/or other computer might act to update already possessed information regarding proximity networking activity. Accordingly, various information of the sort discussed above (e.g., identifiers corresponding to participating users, numbers of users participating, indication of whether or not proximity networking activity instances are open to new participants, timestamps, and/or geographical location information) might, for instance, be updated.
The functionality whereby a mobile node and/or other computer could act to provide information regarding proximity networking activity for receipt by another mobile node and/or other computer could be implemented in a number of ways.
For instance, the mobile node and/or other computer could employ one or more software modules that acted to provide the information regarding proximity networking activity, with RMI, JMS, SOAP, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, and/or SMS perhaps being employed. It is noted that, in various embodiments, proximity connection (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or UWB) might be employed. Moreover, in various embodiments a recipient mobile node and/or other computer might employ one or more software modules that acted to appropriately receive information regarding proximity networking activity.
It is noted that, according to various embodiments of the present invention, via the operations discussed herein mobile nodes and/or other computers could come to share with one another information regarding proximity networking activity that they had recorded, and/or had received from other mobile nodes and/or other computers.
Accordingly, for instance, a particular mobile node and/or other computer might come to possess not only the information regarding proximity networking activity that it had recorded itself, but also the information regarding proximity networking activity that had been recorded by each of a plurality of other mobile nodes and/or other computers. Thus, the mobile node and/or other computer might, for example, come to be aware of a number of instances of proximity networking activity (e.g., proximity gaming), the geographical locations associated with those instances, and/or additional information regarding those instances.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a mobile node and/or other computer might perform one or more operations to determine if one or more software modules it possessed were also possessed by another mobile node and/or other computer (e.g., one in proximity communications range).
Such functionality might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, one or more software modules running on a mobile node and/or other computer might act to have one or more communications, inquiring as to the possession of one or more particular software modules, dispatched to another node and/or other computer. In the case where the other node and/or other computer was running the one or more modules in question, one or more software modules running on the other node and/or other computer might act to have an affirmative response sent to the inquiring node and/or other computer. Such operations might, for example, involve the use of RMI, JMS, SOAP, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, and/or SMS. Moreover, such operations might, perhaps, involve proximity connection (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or UWB).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, one or more operations for activating one or more software modules may be performed. For example, where queries found a mobile node and/or other computer to possess capabilities of providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity, one or more appropriate software modules (e.g., ones involved in such providing and/or receiving) might be activated. For instance, a mobile node and/or other computer receiving such queries and/or affirmatively responding to such queries might act to activate such software modules.
As another example, in the case where proximity networking activity information identifying a proximity networking activity instance not previously known by a mobile node and/or other computer (e.g., an instance in the present vicinity of the mobile node and/or other computer) was received, the mobile node and/or other computer might act to activate proximity networking activity software employable in participation in the activity (e.g., proximity gaming software). It is noted that, in various embodiments, appropriate software modules might subscribe to appropriate interprocess communication notifications.
It is additionally noted that, in various embodiments, a user's mobile node and/or other computer might act to inform her, perhaps via a GUI and/or other interface, of receipt of proximity networking activity information identifying a proximity networking activity instance not previously known by the mobile node and/or other computer. Text, images, and/or audio describing the instance might, perhaps, be provided to the user by her mobile node and/or other computer.
Further, it is noted that, in various embodiments, a user could, for example, specify (e.g., via GUI and/or other interface) that her mobile node and/or other computer should act to acquire information regarding proximity networking activity from other mobile nodes and/or other computers but not provide such information, or that her mobile node and/or other computer should act to provide information regarding proximity networking activity to other mobile nodes and/or other computers but not receive such information.
As further examples, a user could, in various embodiments, specify that her mobile node and/or other computer should act to communicate only with known mobile nodes and/or other computers (e.g., ones specified by the user, belonging to users listed in an address book of the user, and/or with which the mobile node and/or other computer had previously communicated), with mobile nodes and/or other computers of users that are members of certain groups (e.g., one or more peer-to-peer groups of which the user is a member), and/or with mobile nodes and/or other computers that are set to be discoverable. As yet another example, a user could, in various embodiments, specify that her mobile node and/or other computer should provide none of her personal information to other mobile nodes and/or other computers.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, Nokia Wild Middleware and/or other middleware may be employed in various operations. Additional information regarding Nokia Wild Middleware may be found, for instance, in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/284,135, entitled “Device Detection and Service Discovery System and Method For a Mobile Ad Hoc Communications Network” and filed Oct. 31, 2002, and in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/662,407, entitled “Device Detection and Service Discovery System and Method For a Mobile Ad Hoc Communications Network” and filed Sep. 16, 2003, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Employment of Information Regarding Proximity Networking Activity

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a mobile node and/or other computer may act to perform one or more operations using possessed information regarding proximity networking activity. Such possessed information regarding proximity networking activity might, in various embodiments, include information regarding proximity networking activity recorded by that mobile node and/or other computer, and/or information regarding proximity networking activity received by that mobile node and/or other computer from other mobile nodes and/or other computers.
For instance, the mobile node and/or other computer might, perhaps via a GUI and/or other interface, act to make various of its possessed information regarding proximity networking activity available to its user. Such functionality might be implemented in a number of ways. With respect to FIG. 2 it is noted that, according to various embodiments, the mobile node and/or other computer might act to present one or more maps to its user (step 203). Such a map might, for instance, depict an area (e.g., a city, a portion of a city, a campus, a park, or a building) and provide presentation of one or more instances of proximity networking activity taking place at that area.
For example, an indicator corresponding to a proximity networking activity instance might be placed on a portion of the map corresponding to the location where the activity was taking place. As another example, an indicator corresponding to a proximity networking activity instance might, perhaps visually, indicate the type of proximity networking activity. For instance, an indicator portraying a joystick might be employed to depict proximity gaming, an indicator portraying an envelope might be employed to depict proximity messaging, an indicator portraying a speaker might be employed to depict proximity audio media streaming, an indicator portraying a television set might be employed to depict proximity video media streaming, an indicator portraying a diskette might be employed to depict proximity file sharing, an indicator portraying a camera might be employed to depict proximity picture taking, and/or an indicator portraying a gear might be employed to depict proximity grid computing.
As yet another example, an indicator corresponding to a proximity networking activity instance might, perhaps visually, indicate various other information regarding proximity networking activity (e.g., information regarding proximity networking activity of the sort discussed above). Accordingly, for example, an indicator portraying an open door might be employed to depict a proximity networking activity instance that is open to new participants and/or an indicator portraying a closed door might be employed to depict a proximity networking activity instance that is not open to new participants. As another example, an indicator portraying an hourglass might be employed to depict how long a proximity networking activity instance has been going on (perhaps with greater accumulation at the bottom of the hourglass indicating greater time duration).
As yet another example, an indicator portraying a pile of coins might be employed to depict a fee requirement for participating in a proximity networking activity instance (perhaps with a greater number of coins indicating a greater fee). As still another example, an indicator portraying an insignia of a particular group might be employed to depict a membership requirement for a proximity networking activity instance. As a further example, an indicator portraying a cluster of people might be employed to depict a number of users participating in a proximity networking activity instance (perhaps with a larger cluster indicating a larger number of users).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, an indicator may portray a plurality of information regarding a proximity networking activity instance. For instance, an indicator might portray a joystick having superimposed thereon a pile of coins, a cluster of people, and an open door, and be placed on a certain portion of a map to depict proximity gaming with a certain fee requirement and a certain number of participating users that is open to new participants and which is taking place at a certain location.
With further respect to FIG. 2 it is noted that, in various embodiments, a user's mobile node and/or other computer might act to present information regarding a proximity networking activity instance to its user in response to its user selecting an indicator, corresponding to a proximity networking activity instance, presented by the mobile node and/or other computer (steps 205, 207). Such selection and presentation might, for instance, be via a GUI and/or other interface provided by the mobile node and/or other computer. The information so presented might, for example, be information not depicted by the selected indicator. For instance, where an indicator depicted proximity audio media streaming with a certain fee requirement which is taking place at a certain location, the mobile node and/or other computer might respond to selection of the indicator by informing its user as to how long the proximity networking activity instance has been going on.
It is noted that, according to various embodiments, indicators might be presented to a user via operation of middleware running on a mobile node and/or other computer of the user. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a user purchasing and/or receiving proximity networking activity software (e.g., proximity gaming software for a particular game) might be provided with not only the proximity networking activity software, but also with middleware and/or one or more updates to middleware already possessed by the mobile node and/or other computer. Such provided middleware and/or updates might, for instance, provide for indication presentation functionality and/or various other functionality discussed herein. Accordingly, such middleware and/or updates might, for example, act to allow a user to become more closely connected to a community associated with the proximity networking activity software (e.g., a gaming community) by virtue, for instance, of the user learning of locations where appropriate proximity networking activity is taking place (e.g., locations where a particular proximity networking game is being played).
Shown in FIG. 3 is an exemplary map according to various embodiments of the present invention including indicators 301 and 303. In this exemplary map, the placement of indicator 301 indicates a proximity networking activity instance occurring within an area bordered by 9^thAve., 10^thAve, Wilson St., and Harrison St, while the placement of indicator 303 indicates a proximity networking activity instance occurring within an area bordered by 10^thAve., 11^thAve., Wilson St., and Harrison St.
It is noted that a mobile node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments of the present invention, make various of its possessed information regarding proximity networking activity available to its user via browsable menus and/or queries. Moreover, in various embodiments, a mobile node and/or other computer might act to inform its user of proximity networking activities that are near the user's present location. For example, a provided map might be centered at the user's present location.
With further respect to FIG. 2 it is noted that, according to various embodiments, a user may be able to, perhaps via GUI and/or other interface, provide specification as to proximity networking activity instances she wishes to learn about (step 201). For example, the user might be able to specify that she only wishes to learn about proximity networking activity instances of one or more certain types (e.g., proximity gaming and/or proximity messaging), instances having certain fee properties (e.g., no fee requirement and/or a fee requirement of no more than a specified value), instances having certain time properties (e.g., having been going on for at least a specified amount of time), and/or instances having certain user properties (e.g., having at least a specified number of users). Responsive to such action by its user a mobile node and/or other computer might, for example, make available to its user only information regarding proximity networking activity instances matching the user's specifications. Accordingly, for example, where its user specified proximity gaming without fee requirement, the mobile node and/or other computer might show on a provided map only indicators corresponding to proximity networking activity instances that met those criteria.
It is additionally noted that, in various embodiments, zoom functionality might be provided. For example, in the case where a mobile node and/or other computer presented a map to its user, the user might, perhaps via a GUI and/or other interface, be able to zoom in and out on the map. Functionality might, for instance, be such that by zooming out the user could view a larger region and corresponding proximity networking activity indicators, and by zooming in the user could view a smaller region and corresponding proximity networking activity indicators.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, less detail might be provided to user as she zoomed out on a map, and/or more detail might be provided to her as she zoomed in on a map. For example, proximity networking activity indicators might provide less information as a user zoomed out on a map, and more information as she zoomed in on the map. Accordingly, for instance, an indicator that indicated only location and type (e.g., proximity messaging) of a proximity networking activity instance when a user was more zoomed out on a map might additionally indicate time duration and number of users when she zoomed in. As another example, as a user zoomed out on map, indicators corresponding to single proximity networking activity instances might be combined in to indicators corresponding to pluralities of proximity networking activity instances. Accordingly, for example, as a user zoomed out on a map three indicators corresponding to three proximity gaming instances taking place in a park might be replaced with a single indicator.
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, timestamps associated with information regarding proximity networking activity could be accessible by users. Accordingly, a user might act to take into account such timestamps, for instance, when considering the timeliness of information regarding proximity networking activities, and/or when determining if a proximity networking activity instance was still going on.
It is additionally noted that, in various embodiments, information regarding proximity networking activity might, perhaps in view of associated timestamps, be considered to be valid only for certain periods of time. Such a time period might, for example, be specified by a system administrator, network provider, and/or corporation.

Fixed Node and/or other Computer Functionality

Fixed nodes and/or other computers (e.g., servers) may, according to various embodiments of the present invention, be employed. Such a fixed node and/or other computer might, for example, be placed by a system administrator, network provider, and/or corporation at a particular location. Various functionality of a fixed node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, be analogous to that discussed above with respect to mobile nodes and/or other computers. Accordingly, for instance, various roles discussed above as being filled by mobile nodes and/other computers may, in various embodiments, be filled by mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or by fixed nodes and/or other computers.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a fixed node and/or other computer might not act to partake in proximity networking activity instances, but instead might perform operations including providing for receipt by other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers) information regarding proximity networking activity that it had received, the information having been recorded by mobile nodes and/or other computers and provided (e.g., by one or more mobile nodes and/or other computers) to the fixed node and/or other computer. The information regarding proximity networking activity might be made available by the fixed node and/or other computer to the other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers), for example, via proximity connection.
A fixed node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, act to provide possessed information regarding proximity networking activity (e.g., received information regarding proximity networking activity) to other fixed nodes and/or other computers, and/or might receive from other fixed nodes and/or other computers information regarding proximity networking activity possessed by those fixed nodes and/or other computers (e.g., information regarding proximity networking activity that they had received). Such provision and/or receipt might, for example, involve non-proximity connection (e.g., UMTS, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity (e.g., internet connectivity) might be employed) and/or proximity connection.
Accordingly, for instance, a fixed node and/or other computer on one side of city might act to exchange information regarding proximity networking activity with a fixed node and/or other computer on another side of city. Via such operation, each fixed node and/or other computer might, for example, come to know of information regarding proximity networking activity for regions not in its vicinity. Each fixed node and/or other computer might, for example, then act to provide such information regarding proximity networking activity to mobile nodes and/or other computers in its vicinity. Thus, users of those mobile nodes and/or other computers could, for instance, be able to learn about (e.g., have available to them via maps provided by their mobile nodes and/or other computers) proximity networking activity instances in parts of the city other than the one where they were presently situated.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a fixed node and/or computer might be able to receive from mobile nodes and/or other computers, via non-proximity connection, information regarding proximity networking activity. Such functionality might, for instance, be employed by a user of a mobile node and/or other computer that desired to voluntarily submit information regarding one or more proximity networking activity instances to one or more fixed nodes and/or other computers. A user might do so, for instance, where she hoped to make others aware of a proximity networking activity instance (e.g., where she hoped to attract new players to a proximity game).
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a fixed node and/or computer might be able to provide possessed information regarding networking activity to mobile nodes and/or other computers via non-proximity connection.
With respect to FIG. 4 it is noted that, according to various embodiments of the present invention, a fixed node and/or other computer may be able to receive information regarding proximity networking activity from one or more mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or from one or more other fixed nodes and/or other computers (steps 401, 403). Moreover, according to various embodiments of the present invention the fixed node and/or other computer may be able to provide held (e.g., received) information regarding proximity networking activity to one or more mobile nodes and/or other computers and/or to one or more other fixed nodes and/or other computers (steps 405, 407). Proximity and/or non-proximity connection might be involved in such operations.
According to various embodiments, a mobile node and/or other computer may act to employ non-proximity connection in receiving information regarding proximity networking activity from another mobile node and/or other computer. Moreover, according to various embodiments a mobile node and/or other computer may act to employ non-proximity connection in receiving information regarding proximity networking activity from a fixed node and/or other computer. Such functionality might be employed, for instance, in the case where a mobile node and/or other computer is not in proximity connection range with mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers, possessing capabilities of providing information regarding proximity networking activity. In various embodiments, such functionality might be implemented using middleware.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a mobile node and/or other computer may have access to (e.g., hold in an accessible store) information (e.g., network addresses) employable in contacting other mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers and might, for example, employ such information in so receiving information regarding proximity networking activity.
Information regarding proximity networking activity so received might, for instance, be with respect to one or more particular areas, Accordingly, in various embodiments, such functionality might be employed in the case where a mobile node and/or other computer is not in proximity connection range with mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers, in a particular area for which information regarding proximity networking activity is desired, and/or in proximity connection range with mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers, possessing capabilities of providing information regarding proximity networking activity for a particular area for which information regarding proximity networking activity is desired.
As an example of fixed node and/or other computer operation, a fixed node and/or other computer might act to prepare historical statistics regarding possessed proximity networking activity information, the fixed node and/or other computer perhaps making the statistics available to other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers).
A variety of statistics might be prepared. For example, such statistics might include frequencies, perhaps with respect to certain time periods and/or areas, for various proximity networking activity information (e.g., types of proximity networking activities, numbers of users, and/or required fees). Via such statistics, for example user might be able to determine how frequently proximity gaming took place at a particular location, how much it tended to cost, and/or how many users tended to participate. The user might, for instance, determine that one or more areas were likely to host proximity gaming of a desired cost and with a desired number of participants. The functionality by which the statistics could be made available might, for example, in implemented in a manner analogous to that discussed above. Having received such statistics, a node and/or other computer could make them available for access by its user, perhaps in a manner analogous to that discussed above.
As another example of fixed node and/or other computer operation, a fixed node and/or other computer might act to provide proximity networking activity software (e.g., proximity gaming software) to nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers). Such provision might, for instance, involve the use of RMI, JMS, SOAP, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, and/or SMS. Proximity connection might, perhaps, be employed. The software might, for example, be sold for a fee. In various embodiments, a fixed node and/or other computer might act to provide proximity networking activity software relevant to participating in proximity networking activity instances in its vicinity. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a fixed node and/or other computer might act to advertise (e.g., via messages dispatched via RMI, JMS, SOAP, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, and/or SMS) that it has proximity networking activity software available for dispatch. Proximity connection might, perhaps, be employed in such advertising.
According to various embodiments of the present invention, a user purchasing and/or receiving proximity networking activity software from a fixed node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, receive at her mobile node and/or other computer from the fixed node and/or other computer information regarding proximity networking activity. The received information regarding proximity networking activity might, for example, indicate locations where proximity networking activity instances accessible using the software were taking place and/or likely to be taking place.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, storage of information regarding proximity networking activity at a fixed node and/or other computer might cause that information to exist longer than if it were only stored at users' mobile nodes and/or other computers. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a fixed node and/or other computer might act to advertise (e.g., via messages dispatched via RMI, JMS, SOAP, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, and/or SMS) that it has information regarding proximity networking activity available for dispatch. Such advertising might, perhaps, employ proximity connection.

Content Functionality

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a node and/or other computer (e.g., a mobile node and/or other computer, and/or a fixed node and/or other computer) might, in addition to and/or as an alternative to providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity, provide and/or receive content and/or information relating thereto.
Such content might, for example, include text, images, video, audio, streaming content, and/or software. It is noted that, in various embodiments, such video might, for instance, include 360 degree video. Such information relating to content might, in various embodiments, include geographical location information and/or information regarding one or more locations from which content can be obtained.
The node and/or other computer might, for instance, provide such content and/or information relating thereto to other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers), and/or might receive such content and/or information relating thereto from other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers).
Such provision and/or receipt of content and/or information relating thereto might be performed in a number of ways. For example, such provision and/or receipt of content and/or information relating thereto might be performed in a manner analogous to that discussed above with respect to information regarding proximity networking activity. Bluetooth, WiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11b and/or IEEE 802.11g), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), GPRS, UMTS, UWB, wired network (e.g., Ethernet), RMI, JMS, SOAP, sockets, pipes, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, SMS, and/or the Internet might, for example, be employed.
Functionality whereby a user of a node and/or other computer can indicate content to be provided may be implemented in a number of ways. With respect to FIG. 5 it is noted that, for instance, the user might make use of a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to select and/or create content to be provided (step 501). For example, the user might employ a GUI and/or other interface to select (e.g., from an accessible store) content to be provided. As another example, the user might employ a GUI and/or other interface to create content to be provided. For instance, the user might employ the GUI and/or other interface to enter text to be provided, and/or to capture images, video, and/or audio to be provided. Such capture might, for example, make use of hardware of her node and/or other computer.
The user might, for example, be able to specify geographical location information (e.g., geographical coordinates and/or location relative to a well-known landmark) for content that she has indicated to be provided (step 503). For instance, the user might be able to employ a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to specify such corresponding geographical location information. To illustrate by way of example, the user might employ a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to first select and/or capture content to be provided, and then might employ a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to specify corresponding geographical location information.
As another example, the user's node and/or other computer might automatically determine geographical location information to associate with content to be provided. For example, the node and/or other computer might associate with content to be provided the location of the node and/or other computer at the time the user indicated that the content should be provided (e.g., at the time the user selected and/or captured the content).
As yet another example, metadata and/or other information already associated with content to be provided might be considered to be geographical location information for that content. To illustrate by way of example, in the case where video selected by the user to be provided was associated with metadata and/or other information indicating a geographical location (e.g., a location where the video was captured and/or an indication of the location portrayed by the video), such metadata and/or other information might be considered to be geographical location information for that content. It is noted that, in various embodiments, specified and/or automatically determined geographical location information might be considered to be metadata.
A node and/or other computer that has come to possess provided content and/or information relating thereto might, in various embodiments, make use if it in a number of ways.
For example, the node and/or other computer might provide one or more maps to its user (step 505). Such maps might, for instance, offer functionality analogous to that discussed above with respect to information regarding proximity networking activity, but providing presentation of content and/or information relating thereto as an alternative to and/or in addition to presentation of instances of proximity networking activity.
Placed on such a map might, for example, be indicators corresponding to provided content and/or information relating thereto, such an indicator being placed at a portion (e.g., a geographical location) of the map corresponding to the content's associated geographical location information. For instance, in the case where a piece of provided content was associated with particular geographical coordinates, a corresponding indicator might be placed on the map at those coordinates.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, presentation of content and/or information relating thereto might take into account timestamps associated with content, and/or one or more operations might be performed such that update of such presentation is performed. For instance, presentation relating to content associated with particular geographical coordinates might only be for a certain amount of time beyond the time indicated by its timestamp, and/or one or more operations might be performed such that presentation relating to content associated with particular geographical coordinates was up to date. A First In-First Out (FIFO) operation might, in various embodiments, be employed in such up to date functionality.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, timestamps associated with content might be considered to be metadata. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, timestamps might be manually (e.g., by a system administrator, and/or by a user of a node and/or other computer) and/or automatically set.
Placed indicators might take a number of forms. For example, a placed indicator might, perhaps visually, depict the type of content to which the indicator corresponds. For example, an indicator depicting a book might be employed to indicate text content, an indicator depicting a photograph might be employed to indicate image content, an indicator depicting a movie camera might be employed to indicate video content, an indicator depicting a microphone might be employed to indicate audio content, and/or an indicator depicting a node and/or other computer (e.g., a desktop computer) might be employed to indicate software content.
In various embodiments, indicators corresponding to content might share a certain, perhaps visual, property. For instance, such an indicator might include a superimposed letter “C” to indicate “content”. To illustrate by way of example, such a letter “C” might be superimposed over the above-described depiction of a movie camera indicating video content.
As another example, an indicator corresponding to content and/or information relating thereto might be the content itself and/or a portion thereof. For example, in the case where provided content was video, a placed indicator might be one or more stills of that video and/or running video of one or more portions of it. As another example, in the case where the provided content was an image, a placed indicator might be a thumbnail corresponding to that image.
A node and/or other computer so presenting indicators might, for instance, allow its user to select content for consumption (step 507). For example, the user might be able to employ a GUI and/or other interface to select one or more presented indicators. Responsive to such selection the node and/or other computer might, for instance, make available corresponding content to its user (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface). To illustrate by way of example, in the case where the content was video, the user might be able to watch the video using her node and/or other computer.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a node and/or other computer might, in addition to and/or as an alterative to coming to possess provided content itself, might come to possess information regarding one or more locations from which such content can be obtained.
For example, a node and/or other computer might come to posses a network address, telephone number, and/or Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from which provided content (e.g., video) can be retrieved, and the geographical location information associated with that content, but perhaps not the content itself.
A node and/or other computer possessing for provided content geographical location information and information regarding one or more locations from which the content can be retrieved might, perhaps as discussed above, provide a placed indicator corresponding to the content. With a user of the node and/or other computer indicating (e.g., via a provided GUI and/or other interface) desire to make use of the content (e.g., via selection of the indicator), the node and/or other computer might, for instance, retrieve the content from the appropriate location and make it available to its user (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a system administrator might be able to make determinations regarding the appropriateness of content. For example, the system administrator might (e.g., via a provided GUI and/or other interface) be able to determine if content that had been made available was appropriate. In the case where the system administrator found certain content to not be appropriate, the system administrator might, for instance, be able to request (e.g., via a provided GUI and/or other interface) elimination of the content.
Elimination of content might be implemented in a number of ways. For instance, a node and/or other computer operated by the system administrator might send one or more instructions to other nodes and/or other computers requesting that they delete from accessible stores content specified by the system administrator. In various embodiments, functionality might be such that the one or more instructions could not be ignored by nodes and/or other computers receiving them (e.g., the one or more instructions might possess one or more system administrator privilege attributes).
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, such functionality might, as an alterative to and/or in addition to involving the work of a system administrator, be automated. For example, one or more nodes and/or other computers might act to recognize inappropriate content and/or dispatch one or more deletion instructions of the sort just described. Recognition of inappropriate content might, for instance, involve image recognition, sound recognition, pattern recognition, and/or artificial intelligence techniques.
Instruction dispatch might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, Bluetooth, WiFi, IrDA, GPRS, UMTS, UWB, wired network (e.g., Ethernet), RMI, JMS, SOAP, sockets, pipes, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, SMS, and/or the Internet might be employed. Such WiFi might, for instance, be IEEE 802.11b and/or IEEE 802.11g.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a user that has provided content and/or information relating thereto may (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface of her node and/or other computer) be presented with information regarding reception of the content, and/or may be able to follow dissemination of the content.
For example, the user might learn of the number of users to whom the content has been made available, the number of users that have consumed the content, and/or of one or more locations (e.g., geographical locations) corresponding to availability and/or consumption of the content.
Such locations might, for instance, be locations of nodes and/or other computers having users to whom the content has been made available, and/or of nodes and/or other computers whose users have consumed the content. Such locations might, in various embodiments, be presented (e.g., in a manner analogous to that discussed above) to the user that has provided content and/or information relating thereto. For instance, map and/or globe display might be employed.
Such information regarding reception and/or dissemination might, in various embodiments, be provided to the user's node and/or other computer by one or more other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., by one or more servers, and/or by one or more nodes and/or other computers of other users). Provision of the information to the user's node and/or other computer might, for instance, be performed in a manner analogous to that discussed above (e.g., UMTS, SOAP, and/or the Internet might be employed).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, various identifiers might be associated with provided content. Such identifiers might, in various embodiments, include one or more times (e.g., corresponding to when the content was provided), one or more locations (e.g., corresponding to from where the content was provided, and/or to one or more locations depicted by the content), and/or one or more user identifiers (e.g., of users that have provided the content).
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, only the provider of particular content (e.g., a user that has provided that content) might be able access and/or alter metadata associated with that content, and/or only the provider might be able to access that content as metadata.

Presence Functionality

According to various embodiments a node and/or other computer might, in addition to and/or as an alternative to providing and/or receiving content and/or information relating thereto, and/or providing and/or receiving information regarding proximity networking activity, provide and/or receive information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers.
The node and/or other computer might, for instance, provide such information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers to other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers), and/or might receive such information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers from other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., mobile nodes and/or other computers, and/or fixed nodes and/or other computers).
Such provision and/or receipt of information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might, for example, be implemented in a manner analogous to that discussed above with respect to information regarding proximity networking activity. Bluetooth, WiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11b and/or IEEE 802.11g), IrDA, GPRS, UMTS, UWB, wired network (e.g., Ethernet), RMI, JMS, SOAP, sockets, pipes, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, SMS, and/or the Internet might, for example, be employed.
Information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might, for example, include geographical location information corresponding to one or more nodes and/or other computers. Such geographical location information might, for instance, indicate present locations of the nodes and/or other computers.
As another example, information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might include information regarding capabilities of those nodes and/or other computers. Such capabilities might, for instance, indicate content creation capabilities of those nodes and/or other computers (e.g., ability to capture images, video, and/or audio).
Information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might be formulated in a number of ways. For example, such information might be obtained from information regarding proximity networking activity (e.g., from data regarding location of a proximity networking activity and/or number of nodes and/or other computers, and/or users, participating in the activity), information obtained from querying other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., via device discovery and/or service discovery), information obtained from querying an authoritative source, and/or information (e.g., geographical location information and/or capabilities information) regarding a node and/or other computer acting to formulate information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers.
Such querying other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., via device discovery and/or service discovery) might, for instance, involve requesting location and/or capabilities information from those other nodes and/or other computers. Such querying of an authoritative source might, for example, involve querying a node and/or other computer (e.g., a server) of a network provider, and/or a node and/or other computer providing information (e.g., geographical location and/or capabilities information) regarding nodes and/or other computers.
Such information regarding the location and/or capabilities of a node and/or other computer acting to formulate information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might, for example, be obtained by that node and/or other computer in a manner discussed above (e.g., via GPS) and/or by querying device information. For instance, the node and/or other computer might, perhaps via functionality provided by possessed software (e.g., functionality provided by its operating system) query device information regarding its capabilities (e.g., regarding ability to capture images, video, and/or audio).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, nodes and/or other computers might register their capabilities and/or various properties (e.g., their telephone numbers) with one or more nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers), and such one or more nodes and/or other computers might be queried in performing various operations discussed herein (e.g., coming to possess information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers such as, for instance, capabilities information).
In various embodiments, nodes and/or other computers might come to be aware of node and/or other computer presence information (e.g., geographical location information and/or capabilities information) via nodes and/or other computers providing presence information regarding themselves (e.g., information regarding their own locations and/or capabilities) to other nodes and/or other computers.
A node and/or other computer that has formulated information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers might, for instance, employ the information for its own use (e.g., to provide various functionality to its user) and/or might provide the information to other nodes and/or other computers.
A node and other computer has come to possess information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers (e.g., having received and/or formulated such information) might, in various embodiments, make use of it in a number of ways. For example, the node and/or other computer might present one or more maps to its user. Such maps might, for example, offer functionality analogous to that discussed above, but provide presentation of node and/or other computer presence information (e.g., location information and/or capabilities information) in addition to and/or as an alterative to presentation of instances of proximity networking activity and/or presentation of content and/or information relating thereto.
Such a map might, for instance, present one or more indicators corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information. For example, an indicator presenting information regarding the presence of a particular node and/or other computer might, for example, be placed at a portion of the map (e.g., a geographical location) corresponding to geographical location information of that node and/or other computer presence information. Placed indicators might take a number of forms. For instance, a placed indicator might depict (e.g., visually) a node and/or other computer (e.g., a mobile node).
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a placed indicator might depict (e.g., visually) capabilities information. For example, a place indicator might depict ability to capture images by depicting a still camera, might depict ability to capture video by depicting a movie camera, and/or might depict ability to capture audio by depicting a microphone. Such depictions might, for example, be superimposed over other depictions.
To illustrate by way of example, an indicator might be placed at a certain portion of a map and include a still camera and a movie camera superimposed over a depiction of a node and/or other computer to convey a node and/or other computer, located at the geographical location depicted by the portion of the map, having image and video capture capabilities.
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, a node and/or other computer might provide to and/or receive from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more fixed nodes and/or other computers such as, for instance, servers) content and/or information relating thereto, information regarding proximity networking activity, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers.
Accordingly, for example, in various embodiments such receipt might involve a node and/or other computer requesting from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more fixed nodes and/or other computers such as, for instance, servers) information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers corresponding to a particular area that it is to display to its user (e.g., via one or more maps of the sort discussed above).
The node and/or other computer might then, for instance, employ that which it received from the one or more particular nodes and/or other computers in displaying the particular area to its user.
The node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, not possess any information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers corresponding to the particular area prior to receipt from the one or more particular nodes and/or other computers in response to the request.
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, the node and/or other computer might possess information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers prior to receiving such in response to the request, but only employ that which it received in displaying the particular area to its user.
As another example, a node and or other computer might employ only information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers that it already possessed (e.g., via one or more of the operations discussed above), the node and/or other computer perhaps not requesting from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers as just described.
As yet another example, a node and/or other computer might employ in display to its user both already possessed information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers and information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers that it received from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers in response to a request of the sort discussed above.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a node and/or other computer might perform request for information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers from one or more nodes and/or other computers, for instance, in the case where it already possessed such (e.g., for a particular area that it is to display to its user), but desired to check that what was already possessed was complete and/or up-to-date.
Moreover, in various embodiments a node and/or other computer might perform such request, for instance, in the case where the node and/or other computer determined that it lacked some or all of information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers for a particular area that it was to display to its user. To illustrate by way of example, the node and/or other computer might so act in the case where it determined that it possessed information regarding proximity networking activity for the area, but not content and/or information relating thereto or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers for that area.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, one or more nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers, and/or one or more nodes and/or other computers of users) might perform one or more operations arranging information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers according to location.
Moreover, in various embodiments one or more nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers, and/or one or more nodes and/or other computers of users) might compile information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers from one or more sources (e.g., from one or more other nodes and/or other computers).

Globe View Functionality

A node and/or other computer (e.g., a mobile node) may, according to various embodiments of the present invention, provide to its user a globe view of the Earth (e.g., a spherical representation of the Earth). The view of the Earth might, for instance, be presented via a GUI and/or other interface. Implementation of globe view functionality might, for example, involve the use of Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) and/or Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). It is further noted that globe view functionality might, for example, employ aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data (e.g., graphical maps).
According to various embodiments, the user might be able to zoom in and out on the globe view of the Earth, and/or might be able to rotate the globe view of the Earth in space. To illustrate by way of example, in the case where the globe view of the Earth is a spherical representation, the user might be able to rotate (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) the sphere representing the Earth and/or might be able to zoom in and/or out on the sphere representing the Earth.
Presented on the view of the Earth might, for example be landmasses, bodies of water, geographic features (e.g., mountains and/or valleys), political labels (e.g., names of nations, states, provinces, and/or cities), and/or political boundaries ( e.g., boundaries between nations, states, provinces, and/or cities).
Alternately or additionally, the view of the Earth might provide presentation of instances of proximity networking activity, presentation of content and/or information relating thereto, and/or presentation of node and/or other computer presence information. Such presentation might, for example, be performed in a manner analogous to that discussed above. Such presentation might, in various embodiments, be via indicators of the sort discussed above.
It is further noted that such presentation might, for example, relate to an area of the Earth visible to the user (e.g., in accordance with the user's zoom on and/or rotation of the provided globe view of the Earth). To illustrate by way of example, presented indicators might correspond to proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or node and/or other computer presence information relating to the area of the Earth visible to the user (e.g., due to zooming and/or rotation by the user).
According to various embodiments, varying levels of detail regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or node and/or other computer presence information for a particular area of the Earth might be presented to the user as she zooms in and/or out on that particular area.
For example, more proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or node and/or other computer presence information might be presented to the user as she zooms in on a particular area (e.g., a greater number of corresponding indicators might be displayed to the user). As another example, less proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or node and/or other computer presence information might be presented to the user as she zooms out on a particular area (e.g., fewer corresponding indicators might be displayed to the user).
In providing globe view functionality the node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, employ information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers that it received from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers) in response to a request of the sort discussed above. Alternately or additionally, the node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, employ already possessed information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers in providing globe view functionality.
Accordingly, for example, the node and/or other computer might request from one or more particular nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more fixed nodes and/or other computers such as, for instance, servers) information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers relating to an area of the Earth visible to the user (e.g., in accordance with the user's zoom on and/or rotation of the provided globe view of the Earth). The node and/or other computer might, for example, not possess such information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers corresponding to the area prior to receiving it from the one or more particular nodes and/or other computers.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, the node and/or other computer might, as an alterative to and/or in addition to employing information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers received in response to such a request, employ already possessed information regarding proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or information regarding the presence of nodes and/or other computers.
It is further noted that, in various embodiments, one or more views of one or more areas of the Earth (e.g., employing aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data) may be presented to a user apart from a globe view.

Content Request Functionality

Functionality might, in various embodiments, be provided whereby a user can employ her node and/or other computer to request that content be made available.
With respect to FIG. 6 it is noted that, as discussed above, in various embodiments a node and/or other computer might provide to its user presentation corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information (step 601). For example, as discussed above one or more maps displaying one or more indicators corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information might, in various embodiments, be presented to a user. As another example, as discussed above a globe view might, in various embodiments, present such indicators. It is noted that, in various embodiments, such presentation corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information might convey (e.g., visually) whether or not particular nodes and/or other computers are presently making content available. For example, a graphic image might be superimposed over an indicator corresponding to a particular node and/or other computer to indicate that that node and/or other computer is making content available, and/or a graphic image might be superimposed over an indicator corresponding to a particular node and/or other computer to indicate that that node and/or other computer was not making content available
According to various embodiments, a user receiving such presentation might be able to employ her node and/or other computer to request (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) that one or more nodes and/or other computers for which node and/or other computer presence information is presented act to make content available.
Such functionality might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, the user might be able to employ a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to select one or more indicators corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information (step 603). Such indicators might, for instance be placed at one or more locations on map and/or globe display and depict nodes and/or other computers, the indicators perhaps depicting capabilities information (e.g., as discussed above).
Such indicator selection might, for instance, result in one or more nodes and/or other computers, corresponding to the presence information, receiving notification that it was requested that content be made available. It is noted that, in various embodiments, such received notification might identify the user that desired the content. Such identification might, for instance, be the user's actual first and/or last name, an alias, and/or a messaging address and/or identifier (e.g., an instant messaging screen name)
As another example, the user might be able to employ a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer to select a geographical area depicted by map and/or globe view. The user might, for example, be able to employ the GUI and/or other interface to drag and/or draw a box and/or other closed shape around the desired area. Such area selection might, for instance result in one or more nodes and/or other computers located in the selected area receiving notification that it was requested that content be made available. Such functionality might be implemented in a number of ways. For instance, the user's node and/or other computer might consider the nodes and/or other computers indicated by the map and/or globe view to be within the area selected by the user to be the nodes and/or other computers that should receive notification.
The user might, in various embodiments, be able to specify (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface provided by her node and/or other computer) various details to be included with the notification (step 605). Such details might, for instance, include indication that surroundings depiction capture content was desired, that specific content was desired (e.g., that one or more certain text, image, video, audio, streaming content, and/or software content items were desired), and/or that content of one or more specific types was desired (e.g., text, images, video, audio, streaming content, and/or software). Such specific content might, in various embodiments, be identified by title and/or unique identifier (e.g., Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) and/or International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
The notification might, for example, be sent directly from the node and/or other computer whose user desired content (e.g., who selected one or more indicators) to the one or more nodes and/or other computers that are to receive notification. As another example, the node and/or other computer whose user desired content (e.g., selected one or more indicators) might communicate with one or more intermediate nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers), and the one or more intermediate nodes and/or other computers might send notification to one or more nodes and/or other computers that are to receive notification.
Notification dispatch might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, Bluetooth, WiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11b and/or IEEE 802.11g), IrDA, GPRS, UMTS, UWB, wired network (e.g., Ethernet), RMI, JMS, SOAP, sockets, pipes, OBEX OPP, email, MMS, SMS and/or the Internet might be employed.
A node and/or other computer receiving notification that it was requested that content be made available (step 607) might, in various embodiments, perform one or more operations. For example, the node and/or other computer might, perhaps via a GUI and/or other interface, inform its user of the receipt of the notification. In so informing its user the node and/or other computer might, for example, inform its user of details (e.g., of the sort discussed above) included with the notification. To illustrate by way of example, the user might be informed that surroundings depiction capture was desired and/or that a particular type of content was desired (e.g., video). Having been informed of receipt of notification that it was requested that content be made available, one or more operations might, in various embodiments, be available to the user.
For example, the user might be able to indicate (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) whether or not she desired to fulfill the request. The node and/or other computer might, for instance, perform one or more operations to allow the node and/or other computer of the user that requested that content be made available to learn of the decision regarding fulfilling the request.
The node and/or other computer of the user that requested that content be made available might, for example, be informed of the decision regarding request fulfillment whether the answer was in the affirmative or in the negative. As another example, the node and/or other computer of the user that requested that content be made available might only be informed in the case where the answer was in the negative. As yet another example. The node and/or other computer of the use that requested that content be made available might only be informed in the case where the answer was in the affirmative.
The functionality whereby the node and/or other computer of the user that requested that content be made available could be informed of the decision might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, a notification regarding the decision might be sent in a manner analogous to that discussed above (e.g., SOAP and/or the Internet might be employed).
As another example, the user informed of notification that it was requested that content be made available might be able to indicate content to be provided (step 609), and the user's node and/or other computer could comply. Such functionality might, for instance, be implemented in a manner analogous to that discussed above. Accordingly, for instance, the user might be able to employ a GUI and/or other interface to select and/or create content to be provided.
To illustrate by way of example, in the case where the notification that it was requested that content be made available indicated that surroundings depiction capture be provided (e.g., that video surroundings depiction capture be provided), the user might act create such (e.g., via audio and/or video capture functionality of her node and/or other computer) and/or select such from an accessible store. Accordingly, such surroundings depiction capture might, for instance, involve the user employing her node and/or other computer to film video and/or take pictures of her surroundings.
With the requested content having been made available, presentation of the provided content and/or information relating thereto might be performed (step 611). Such functionality might, for instance, be performed in a manner analogous to that discussed above. Accordingly, for example, one or more maps and/or a globe view might be employed to provide (e.g., via one or more indicators of the sort discussed above) presentation corresponding to the content. Moreover, in various embodiments a user viewing such maps and/or globe view might, perhaps in a manner analogous to that discussed above, be able to indicate desire to make use of the content, and/or have the content made available to her.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a user's node and/or other computer that has received notification that it was requested that content be made available might act to automatically fulfill the request. In so automatically fulfilling, the node and/or other computer might, for example, not inform its user of the request for content and/or the fulfillment of the request. As another example, the node and/or other computer might inform its user of the desire for content and/or the fulfillment of the request.
According to various embodiments of the present invention, a user might be able to employ her node and/or other computer to establish communications with another node and/or other computer. Such functionality might, for instance, be implemented in a manner analogous to requesting that content be made available. Accordingly, for example, a user might be able to view map and/or globe view displaying one or more indicators corresponding to node and/or other computer presence information and be able to select one or more of the indicators to indicate a desire to communicate with the one or more nodes and/or other computers corresponding to the selected indicators. The user might, for example, be able to specify the desired type of communication (e.g., cellular telephone call, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone call, landline telephone call, chat, email, SMS, and/or MMS). Such view, selection, and/or specification might, for example, be via a GUI and/or other interface provided by the user's node and/or other computer.
Responsive to the selection, the user's node and/or other computer might, for instance, perform one or more operations to establish communications. For example, the node and/or other computer might perform one or more operations to establish a call, a chat session, and/or to send and/or receive email, SMS, and/or SMS. The node and/or other computer might, in various embodiments, perform one or more operations to obtain data for such establishment (e.g., one or more network addresses, telephone numbers, and/or messaging addressees). Such operations might, for instance, involve communicating (e.g., in a manner analogous to that discussed above) with one or more nodes and/or other computers possessing such information (e.g., one or more servers). Alternately or additionally, such information might, in various embodiments, be included in presence information.
A node and/or other computer that was the intended target of such communications establishment might, in various embodiments, be able to refuse communications. Such functionality might be implemented in a number of ways. For example, such an intended target node and/or other computer might, with initiation of communication (e.g., an incoming call and or message) ask its user (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) if communications should continue or terminate. Responsive to receiving the user's choice (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface), the node and/or other computer might, for instance, comply with the user's choice. Accordingly the node and/or other computer might, for example, only continue with the communication if its user agreed to it and not continue with the communication otherwise.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, a credit system might be employed with respect to content request and/or fulfillment of such requests. For example, a certain number of credits might be required to make such a request and/or to have such a request be fulfilled. As another example, a certain number of credits might be given for fulfilling such a request. Such numbers of credits might, for example, be set by a system administrator.
In various embodiments, credits might be interchangeable with cash and/or compensation (e.g., prizes). For example, a user might be able to exchange credits for cash or vice versa. As another example, a user might be able to exchange credits for prizes or vice versa. Prizes might, for instance, be physical (e.g., one or more articles of clothing) and/or virtual (e.g., software, video, and/or audio).

Activity Search Functionality

With respect to FIG. 7 it is noted that users might, in various embodiments, be able to request (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) search for areas having high levels of activity (step 701).
Such areas might, for instance, include continents, nations, states, provinces, cities, neighborhoods, ranges, districts, urban areas, rural areas, and/or landmarks. Such landmarks might, for example, include parks, restaurants, bars, arenas, theaters, entertainment areas, and/or buildings.
In various embodiments, a user might be able to (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) restrict search in terms of area. For example, the user might be able to indicate that search be restricted to one or more specified areas and/or one or more types of areas. To illustrate by way of example, the user might be able to indicate that search be restricted to parks in Asia that are in urban areas.
High levels of activity might, for example, be high levels of proximity networking activity, high levels of content being provided, and/or presence information indicating high numbers of nodes and/or other computers. In various embodiments, a user might (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) be able to restrict search in terms of what constitutes high levels of activity. To illustrate by way of example, a user might be able to specify that only proximity networking activity and levels of content being provided be considered in determination of activity levels.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, the user might be able to provide additional details regarding what constitutes high levels of activity. For example, the user might be able to specify that she is only interested in certain sorts of proximity networking activity and/or only certain types of content. To illustrate by way of example, a user might specify that she is only interested in video content provision.
Search results might be presented to a user in a number of ways (step 703). For example, a user might receive (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) a list of one or more areas determined to be experiencing high levels of activity. Such a list might, for instance, provide activity rankings for listed areas (e.g., one area might be indicated to be most active, another area might be indicated to be second most active, and yet another area might be considered to be third most active), and/or might sort listed areas in order of rank.
The user might, in various embodiments, be able to select (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) one or more listed areas (step 705). Moreover, in various embodiments the user might receive display corresponding to one or more selected areas (step 707). For example, the user's node and/or other computer might employ a GUI and/or other interface to provide to the user one or more map and/or globe displays corresponding to selected areas. Such display corresponding to selected areas might, in various embodiments, provide some or all of the functionality discussed above (e.g., corresponding to proximity networking activity, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or presence information).
To illustrate by way of example, in the case where the user selected a listed area corresponding to a city, her node and/or other computer might employ a globe display in zooming to a view of that city. As another illustrative example, in the case where the user selected a listed area corresponding to a landmark, her node and/or other computer might employ a globe display in zooming to a view of that landmark.
Time intervals might, in various embodiments, be considered in determination of activity levels. For example, determination of activity level for a particular area might consider the activity in that area (e.g., levels of proximity networking activity, levels of content being provided, and/or numbers of nodes and/or other computers as indicated by presence information) in the last certain number of time units (e.g., in the last ten minutes). The number of time units might, for instance, be settable by a system administrator and/or by a user requesting search (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface).
Operations responsive to a user's search request might, for instance, be performed by the user's node and/or other computer, and/or by one or more other nodes and/or other computers (e.g., one or more servers). Performed operations might, for instance, include accessing information relating to activity levels (e.g., proximity networking activity information, content and/or information relating thereto, and/or presence information), consideration of information relating to activity levels, activity level determination, comparison of information relating to activity levels and/or determined activity levels, consideration of time intervals, consideration of areas, consideration of user-specified criteria (e.g., specification of types of areas to be considered), and/or performance of ranking. A node and/or other computer might come to have access to information relating to activity levels, for example, in a manner analogous to that discussed above.
It is noted that, in various embodiments, activity level determination might include determination of proportional activity per unit area (e.g., per square meter). For example, proportional levels of proximity networking activity, proportional levels of content being provided, and/or proportional amounts of nodes and/or other computers as indicated by presence information might be determined per unit area.
In various embodiments presentation employing, for instance, aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data may be provided to users. Update of resources (e.g., aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data) employed in such presentation may, in various embodiments, occur. Such update might, for example, involve making available current and/or newest-available resources (e.g., current and/or newest-available aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data). Such update might, for instance, occur in response to one or more triggers.
For example, update of resources (e.g., update of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data) might occur in response to provision of content and/or information relating thereto. For instance, provision of content and/or information relating thereto corresponding to one or more particular areas might result in update of resources (e.g., update of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data) depicting one or more of those areas. It is noted that, in various embodiments, provision of content and/or information relating thereto might result in alerts being provided to one or more users (e.g., users that have expressed an interest in receiving such alerts). Provision of alerts to nodes and/or other computers might, for instance, be performed in a manner analogous to that discussed above (e.g., UMTS, SOAP, and/or the Internet might be employed).
In various embodiments, it may be possible to provide (e.g., via a GUI and/or other interface) specification regarding such functionality. For instance, specification might be provided regarding when provision of content and/or information relating thereto should result in update (e.g., of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data), when alerts should occur, and/or which users should receive alerts. Such specification might, for instance, be provided by users, system administrators, network providers, and/or corporations.
As another example, update of resources (e.g., update of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and/or map data) might occur for one or more particular areas in response to one or more activity levels (e.g., of the sort discussed above) being reached for those areas. In various embodiments, it may be possible to provide (e.g., via GUI and/or other interface) specification regarding such functionality. For instance, specification might be provided regarding types of activity levels that should result in update and/or levels that should be reached for update to occur. Such specification might, for instance, be provided by users, system administrators, network providers, and/or corporations.

Hardware and Software

Various operations and/or the like described herein may be executed by and/or with the help of computers. Further, for example, devices described herein may be and/or may incorporate computers. The phrases “computer”, “general purpose computer”, and the like, as used herein, refer but are not limited to a smart card, a media device, a personal computer, an engineering workstation, a PC, a Macintosh, a PDA, a portable computer, a computerized watch, a wired or wireless terminal, phone, communication device, node, and/or the like, a server, a network access point, a network multicast point, a network device, a set-top box, a personal video recorder (PVR), a game console, a portable game device, a portable audio device, a portable media device, a portable video device, a television, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a wireless personal sever, or the like, or any combination thereof, perhaps running an operating system such as OS X, Linux, Darwin, Windows CE, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Palm OS, Symbian OS, or the like, perhaps employing the Series 40 Platform, Series 60 Platform, Series 80 Platform, and/or Series 90 Platform, and perhaps having support for Java and/or .Net.
The phrases “general purpose computer”, “computer”, and the like also refer, but are not limited to, one or more processors operatively connected to one or more memory or storage units, wherein the memory or storage may contain data, algorithms, and/or program code, and the processor or processors may execute the program code and/or manipulate the program code, data, and/or algorithms. Shown in FIG. 8 is an exemplary computer employable in various embodiments of the present invention. Exemplary computer 8000 includes system bus 8050 which operatively connects two processors 8051 and 8052, random access memory 8053, read-only memory 8055, input output (I/O) interfaces 8057 and 8058, storage interface 8059, and display interface 8061. Storage interface 8059 in turn connects to mass storage 8063. Each of I/ O interfaces 8057 and 8058 may, for example, be an Ethernet, IEEE 1394, IEEE 1394b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11i, IEEE 802.11 e, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.15a, IEEE 802.16a, IEEE 802.16d, IEEE 802.16e, IEEE 802.16x, IEEE 802.20, IEEE 802.15.3, ZigBee, Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (WUSB), wireless Firewire, terrestrial digital video broadcast (DVB-T), satellite digital video broadcast (DVB-S), Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB), Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting: Handhelds), IrDA (Infrared Data Association), and/or other interface.
Mass storage 8063 may be a hard drive, optical drive, a memory chip, or the like. Processors 8051 and 8052 may each be a commonly known processor such as an IBM or Motorola PowerPC, an AMD Athlon, an AMD Opteron, an Intel ARM, an Intel XScale, a Transmeta Crusoe, a Transmeta Efficeon, an Intel Xenon, an Intel Itanium, an Intel Pentium, or an IBM, Toshiba, or Sony Cell processor. Computer 8000 as shown in this example also includes a touch screen 8001 and a keyboard 8002. In various embodiments, a mouse, keypad, and/or interface might alternately or additionally be employed. Computer 8000 may additionally include or be attached to card readers, DVD drives, floppy disk drives, hard drives, memory cards, ROM, and/or the like whereby media containing program code (e.g., for performing various operations and/or the like described herein) may be inserted for the purpose of loading the code onto the computer.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a computer may run one or more software modules designed to perform one or more of the above-described operations. Such modules might, for example, be programmed using languages such as Java, Objective C, C, C#, C++, Perl, Python, and/or Comega according to methods known in the art. Corresponding program code might be placed on media such as, for example, DVD, CD-ROM, memory card, and/or floppy disk. It is noted that any described division of operations among particular software modules is for purposes of illustration, and that alternate divisions of operation may be employed. Accordingly, any operations discussed as being performed by one software module might instead be performed by a plurality of software modules. Similarly, any operations discussed as being performed by a plurality of modules might instead be performed by a single module. It is noted that operations disclosed as being performed by a particular computer might instead be performed by a plurality of computers. It is further noted that, in various embodiments, peer-to-peer and/or grid computing techniques may be employed.
Shown in FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a terminal, an exemplary computer employable in various embodiments of the present invention. In the following, corresponding reference signs are applied to corresponding parts. Exemplary terminal 9000 of FIG. 9 comprises a processing unit CPU 903, a signal receiver 905, and a user interface (901, 902). Signal receiver 905 may, for example, be a single-carrier or multi-carrier receiver. Signal receiver 905 and the user interface (901, 902) are coupled with the processing unit CPU 903. One or more direct memory access (DMA) channels may exist between multi-carrier signal terminal part 905 and memory 904. The user interface (901, 902) comprises a display and a keyboard to enable a user to use the terminal 9000. In addition, the user interface (901, 902) comprises a microphone and a speaker for receiving and producing audio signals. The user interface (901, 902) may also comprise voice recognition (not shown).
The processing unit CPU 903 comprises a microprocessor (not shown), memory 904 and possibly software. The software can be stored in the memory 904. The microprocessor controls, on the basis of the software, the operation of the terminal 9000, such as receiving of a data stream, tolerance of the impulse burst noise in data reception, displaying output in the user interface and the reading of inputs received from the user interface. The hardware contains circuitry for detecting signal, circuitry for demodulation, circuitry for detecting impulse, circuitry for blanking those samples of the symbol where significant amount of impulse noise is present, circuitry for calculating estimates, and circuitry for performing the corrections of the corrupted data.
Still referring to FIG. 9, alternatively, middleware or software implementation can be applied. The terminal 9000 can, for instance, be a hand-held device which a user can comfortably carry. The terminal 9000 can, for example, be a cellular mobile phone which comprises the multi-carrier signal terminal part 905 for receiving multicast transmission streams. Therefore, the terminal 9000 may possibly interact with the service providers.

Ramifications and Scope

Although the description above contains many specifics, these are merely provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limitations of the invention's scope. Thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the system and processes of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
In addition, the embodiments, features, methods, systems, and details of the invention that are described above in the application may be combined separately or in any combination to create or describe new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of presence of one or more nodes, wherein capture capabilities are indicated for one or more of the nodes; and

receiving, from the user, request that one or more of the nodes provide surroundings depiction capture, wherein provided surroundings depiction captures are available via the view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes indication of desired surroundings depiction capture type.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the user, request for communications with one or more of the nodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more credits are given for providing surroundings depiction capture.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of content, other than surroundings depiction capture, provided by users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of proximity networking activity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein indication of content provided by users is updated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein some or all of content provided by users is managed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein indication of some or all of content provided by users is presented at one or more geographical locations on the view based on associated metadata.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein information is compiled.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more resources employed in presenting the view are updated in response to one or more triggers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more users providing content are presented with information regarding reception of provided content.

13. A method, comprising:

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of proximity networking activity; and

receiving, from the user, request for search for one or more areas having high levels of activity.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of content provided by users.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of presence of one or more nodes.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the high levels of activity are high levels of one or more of proximity networking activity, content provision by users, and presence of one or more nodes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein capture capabilities are indicated for one or more of the nodes.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving, from the user, request that one or more of the nodes provide surroundings depiction capture.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of content provided by users is updated.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein some or all of the content provided by users is managed.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein associated metadata is employed.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein information is compiled.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more resources employed in presenting the view are updated in response to one or more triggers.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more users providing content are presented with information regarding reception of provided content.

25. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform:

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the request includes indication of desired surroundings depiction capture type.

27. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the processor further performs presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of content provided by users.

29. A node, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein;

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code; and

a network interface disposed in communication with the processor;

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

30. A node, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein;

a network interface disposed in communication with the processor;

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

31. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a node to perform:

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

32. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a node to perform:

presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

33. A device, comprising:

presentation means for presenting, to a user, a view of one or more areas of Earth;

presentation means for presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of presence of one or more nodes, wherein capture capabilities are indicated for one or more of the nodes; and

reception means for receiving, from the user, request that one or more of the nodes provide surroundings depiction capture, wherein provided surroundings depiction captures are available via the view.

34. A device, comprising:

presentation means for presenting, at one or more geographical locations on the view, indication of proximity networking activity; and

reception means for receiving, from the user, request for search for one or more areas having high levels of activity.