Method and apparatus for local distribution of targeted commercial messaging over an ad-hoc mesh network

Abstract

An approach is provided for local distribution of targeted commercial messaging, over an ad-hoc mesh network, based on known user interests, derived from on-line research and shopping activities of the user, and from other user communications and associations. Content information of interest to the user is determined. One or more community identifiers are determined, where the one or more community identifiers are associated with respective communities relating to the content information. A device of the user is associated with at least one of the communities relating to the content information, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers. Availability, over the ad-hoc mesh network, of at least one of the communities associated with the device is identified, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers. The device determines to access commercial content, based at least in part on the availability of the at least one of the communities associated with the device, for presentation at the device.

1 . A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
 a determination of content information of interest to a user of a device;   a determination of one or more community identifiers, the one or more community identifiers associated with respective communities relating to the content information; and   an association of the device with at least one of the communities relating to the content information, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 an identification, over an ad-hoc mesh network, of availability of at least one of the communities associated with the device, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers; and   a determination to access commercial content, based at least in part on the availability of the at least one of the communities associated with the device, for presentation at the device.   
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the association of the device with at least one of the communities relating to the content information comprises:
 determining to store the associated community identifiers in the device.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the association of the device with at least one of the communities relating to the content information further comprises:
 determining to store one or more public keys associated with the community identifiers stored in the device, wherein the public keys facilitate encryption and decryption of associated messages transmitted over the ad-hoc mesh network.   
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the identification of availability of at least one of the communities associated with the device comprises:
 determining to receive, at the device, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a broadcast query message including at least one of the community identifiers stored in the device; and   comparing the received community identifiers with the community identifiers stored in the device.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the identification of availability of at least one of the communities associated with the device comprises:
 determining to transmit, by the device, a query message including at least one of the community identifiers stored in the device, the query message being broadcast over the ad-hoc mesh network; and   determining to receive, at the device, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a response message indicating the availability of the communities associated with the community identifiers transmitted by the device.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the identification of availability of at least one of the communities associated with the device comprises:
 determining to receive, at the device, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a broadcast content message including content relating to the at least one of the communities associated with the device and including the associated community identifiers; and   comparing the received community identifiers with the community identifiers stored in the device.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the content includes the at least a portion of the commercial content. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a determination to receive, at the device, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a query message regarding the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content; and   a determination to provide, by the device, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a response message including information relating to the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the query message is provided in response to the user making a purchase relating to the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 determine content information of interest to a user of the apparatus; 
 determine one or more community identifiers, the one or more community identifiers associated with respective communities relating to the content information; and 
 associate the apparatus with at least one of the communities relating to the content information, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers. 
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 identify, over an ad-hoc mesh network, availability of at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus, based at least in part on the associated community identifiers; and   determine to access commercial content, based at least in part on the availability of the at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus, for presentation at the apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the associating the apparatus with at least one of the communities relating to the content information comprises:
 determining to store the associated community identifiers in the apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the associating the apparatus with at least one of the communities relating to the content information further comprises:
 determining to store one or more public keys associated with the community identifiers stored in the apparatus, wherein the public keys facilitate encryption and decryption of associated messages transmitted over the ad-hoc mesh network.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the identifying availability of at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus comprises:
 determining to receive, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a broadcast query message including at least one of the community identifiers stored in the apparatus; and   comparing the received community identifiers with the community identifiers stored in the apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the identifying availability of at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus comprises:
 determining to transmit, a query message including at least one of the community identifiers stored in the apparatus, the query message being broadcast over the ad-hoc mesh network; and   determining to receive, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a response message indicating the availability of the communities associated with the community identifiers transmitted by the apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the identifying availability of at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus comprises:
 determining to receive, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a broadcast content message including content relating to the at least one of the communities associated with the apparatus and including the associated community identifiers; and   comparing the received community identifiers with the community identifiers stored in the apparatus.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein the content includes the at least a portion of the commercial content. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine to receive, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a query message regarding the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content; and   determine to provide, over the ad-hoc mesh network, a response message including information relating to the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as in  claim 19 , wherein the query message is provided in response to the user making a purchase relating to the access of the at least a portion of the commercial content. 
     
     
         21 .- 48 . (canceled)