Method and apparatus for providing location based services using connectivity graphs based on cell broadcast information

1. A method comprising:

causing, at least in part, via a processor, receiving and storing in a memory a plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers;

associating the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers respectively with a plurality of cells;

generating, based on the stored plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers, a connectivity graph specifying relationships among the plurality of cells for providing a location based service,

wherein the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers is provided by a plurality of mobile devices, and

wherein storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers comprises storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers in a database of a service provider;

receiving a query relating to the location based service;

determining a path comprising one or more cells using the connectivity graph; and

sending a response message comprising a plurality of area names corresponding to the cells in the path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell broadcast message identifiers include area names of the respective cells, the method further comprising:

causing, at least in part, receiving a query relating to the location based service, wherein the query indicates cell information that includes a cell identifier or a cell broadcast message identifier;

associating the query with one of the cells based on the cell information;

generating a response message to the query based on the one cell and the respective area name of the one cell; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the response message.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the query includes a request for directions to a destination, the method further comprising:

determining a cell destination based on the query;

generating a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells; and

determining a path comprising one or more cells to the destination cell using the proximity graph,

wherein the response message comprises the respective area names of the cells in the path.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transmission is via a short message service, a general packet radio service, a multimedia messaging service, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells, wherein the connectivity graph includes the proximity graph.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining neighboring cells based on the cell broadcast message identifiers.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

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,

cause, at least in part, receiving and storing a plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers;

associate the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers respectively with a plurality of cells;

generate, based on the stored plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers, a connectivity graph specifying relationships among the plurality of cells for providing a location based service,

wherein the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers is provided by a plurality of mobile devices, and

wherein storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers comprises storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers in a database of a service provider;

receive a query relating to the location based service;

determine a path comprising one or more cells using the connectivity graph; and

send a response message comprising a plurality of area names corresponding to the cells in the path.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the cell broadcast message identifiers include area names of the respective cells, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

cause, at least in part, receiving a query relating to the location based service, wherein the query indicates cell information that includes a cell identifier or a cell broadcast message identifier;

associate the query with one of the cells based on the cell information;

generate a response message to the query based on the one cell and the respective area name of the one cell; and

cause, at least in part, transmission of the response message.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the query includes a request for directions to a destination, and wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

determine a cell destination based on the query;

generate a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells; and

determine a path comprising one or more cells to the destination cell using the proximity graph,

wherein the response message comprises the respective area names of the cells in the path.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transmission is via a short message service, a general packet radio service, a multimedia messaging service, or a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

generate a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells,

wherein the connectivity graph includes the proximity graph.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

determine neighboring cells based on the cell broadcast message identifiers.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

causing, at least in part, receiving and storing a plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers;

associating the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers respectively with a plurality of cells;

generating, based on the stored plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers, a connectivity graph specifying relationships among the plurality of cells for providing a location based service,

wherein the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers is provided by a plurality of mobile devices, and

wherein storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers comprises storing the plurality of cell broadcast message identifiers in a database of a service provider;

receiving a query relating to the location based service;

determining a path comprising one or more cells using the connectivity graph; and

sending a response message comprising a plurality of area names corresponding to the cells in the path.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the cell broadcast message identifiers include area names of the respective cells, and wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

causing, at least in part, receiving a query relating to the location based service, wherein the query indicates cell information that includes a cell identifier or a cell broadcast message identifier;

associating the query with one of the cells based on the cell information;

generating a response message to the query based on the one cell and the respective area name of the one cell; and

causing, at least in part, transmission of the response message.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the query includes a request for directions to a destination, and wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

determining a cell destination based on the query;

generating a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells; and

determining a path comprising one or more cells to the destination cell using the proximity graph,

wherein the response message comprises the respective area names of the cells in the path.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the transmission is via a short message service, a general packet radio service, a multimedia messaging service, or a combination thereof.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is caused, at least in part, to further perform:

generating a proximity graph by specifying distances as relationships among the cells,

wherein the connectivity graph includes the proximity graph.