Method and apparatus for managing location-based transactions

Abstract

An approach is provided for managing location-based transactions. A posting application determines to associate transaction information with a geographic location, the transaction information relating to one or more users. The posting application determines location information associated with respective devices of the one or more users. The posting application determines to transmit a notification related to the one or more transactions to the respective devices based, at least in part, on the location information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at least one service, the at least one service configured to perform at least the following:
 determining to associate transaction information with a geographic location, the transaction information relating to a third party selection of goods, services, or a combination thereof;   determining one or more recipients of at least one of the goods and services based, at least in part, on the transaction information; and   determining to transmit a notification related to the transaction information to respective devices of the one or more recipients based, at least in part, on location information associated with the one or more respective devices and the geographic location.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining to present a user interface specifying one or more merchants that provide at least a portion of the third party selection,   wherein the user interface includes one or more geographic representations of a physical or virtual location of the one or more merchants, the location information associated with the one or more respective devices, a physical or virtual location of one or more of the goods, a physical or virtual location of one or more of the services, the geographic location associated with the transaction information, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further includes one or more financial engines, one or more menus associated with the third party selection, one or more images associated with third party selection, or a combination thereof selected by the one or more merchants. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining to present a user interface specifying the goods, services, or the combination thereof; and   receiving a third party input for selecting at least one of the goods, services, or the combination thereof or more services, and for selecting at least one of the one or more users,   wherein the transaction information is based, at least in part, on the third party input.   
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining to further present in the user interface one or more menus for the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof; and   receiving another third party input for selecting at least one of the one or more menus,   wherein the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof is based, at least in part, on the at least one of the one or more menus.   
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining to identify one or more transactions based, at least in part, on the transaction information;   determining to retrieve payment information associated with the third party; and   determining to complete the one or more transactions based, at least in part, on the payment information, the transaction information, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the payment information relate to one or more monetary exchange services. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining whether the one or more recipients are within a predetermined radius of the geographic location,   wherein the determining to transmit the notification is based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to the predetermined radius.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining access rights to the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information.   
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the service is further configured to perform:
 determining whether the one or more recipients have accessed the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof; and   updating respective status information for the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to access.   
     
     
         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 to associate transaction information with a geographic location, the transaction information relating to a third party selection of goods, services, or a combination thereof;   determine one or more recipients of at least one of the goods and services based, at least in part, on the transaction information; and   determine to transmit a notification related to the transaction information to respective devices of the one or more recipients based, at least in part, on location information associated with the one or more respective devices and the geographic location.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine to present a user interface specifying one or more merchants that provide at least a portion of the third party selection,   wherein the user interface includes one or more geographic representations of a physical or virtual location of the one or more merchants, the location information associated with the one or more respective devices, a physical or virtual location of one or more of the goods, a physical or virtual location of one or more of the services, the geographic location associated with the transaction information, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface further includes one or more financial engines, one or more menus associated with the third party selection, one or more images associated with third party selection, or a combination thereof selected by the one or more merchants. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine to present a user interface specifying the goods, services, or the combination thereof; and   receive a third party input for selecting at least one of the goods, services, or the combination thereof or more services, and for selecting at least one of the one or more users,   wherein the transaction information is based, at least in part, on the third party input.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine to further present in the user interface one or more menus for the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof; and   receive another third party input for selecting at least one of the one or more menus, wherein the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof is based, at least in part, on the at least one of the one or more menus.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine to identify one or more transactions based, at least in part, on the transaction information;   determine to retrieve payment information associated with the third party; and   determine to complete the one or more transactions based, at least in part, on the payment information, the transaction information, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the payment information relate to one or more monetary exchange services. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine whether the one or more recipients are within a predetermined radius of the geographic location,   wherein the determine to transmit the notification is based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to the predetermined radius.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine access rights to the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location information.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determine whether the one or more recipients have accessed the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof; and   update respective status information for the transaction information, the notification, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the determination with respect to access.