METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A REMOTE LOST-AND-FOUND SERVICE

1 . A method comprising:

causing, at least in part, pairing of a device and a local sensor;

determining when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device; and

causing, at least in part, a change in a profile status of the local sensor based on the determination,

wherein the profile status specifies, at least in part, a visibility of the local sensor to one or more other devices.

2 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving location information associated with the local sensor from the one or more other devices.

3 . A method of claim 2 , wherein the determination of when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance is based, at least in part, on a short range communication link between the device and the local sensor, and wherein the receiving of the location information from the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on a long range communication link between the device and the one or more other devices.

4 . A method of claim 3 , further comprising:

causing, at least in part, presentation of a first user interface for the determination of when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance; and

causing, at least in part, presentation of a second user interface for the location information from the one or more other devices.

5 . A method of claim 4 , wherein the first user interface and the second interface respectively include a navigation indicator user interface, a mapping service user interface, a navigation service user interface, a location service user interface, or a combination thereof.

6 . A method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining when the local sensor is within the predetermined distance from the device based on the location information;

causing, at least in part, activation of a short range communication link between the device and the local sensor; and

determining a location of the local sensor over the short range communication link.

7 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

granting a visibility right to the one or more other devices,

wherein the visibility of the local sensor to the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on the visibility right, the profile status of the local sensor, or a combination thereof

8 . A method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a request to the one or more other devices to locate the local sensor;

receiving a response from the one or more other devices; and

granting a visibility right to the one or more other devices based on the response,

wherein the visibility of the local sensor to the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on the visibility right, the profile status of the local sensor, or a combination thereof.

9 . A method of claim 8 , wherein the request includes an incentive for locating the local sensor, contact information associated with the device, an anonymous reference identifier, or a combination thereof.

10 . A method of claim 1 , wherein the local sensor includes a near field communication (NFC) tag.

11 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein 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, pairing of a device and a local sensor;

determine when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance from the device; and

cause, at least in part, a change in a profile status of the local sensor based on the determination,

wherein the profile status specifies, at least in part, a visibility of the local sensor to one or more other devices.

12 . An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive location information associated with the local sensor from the one or more other devices.

13 . An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the determination of when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance is based, at least in part, on a short range communication link between the device and the local sensor, and wherein the receiving of the location information from the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on a long range communication link between the device and the one or more other devices.

14 . An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, presentation of a first user interface for the determination of when the local sensor is beyond a predetermined distance; and

cause, at least in part, presentation of a second user interface for the location information from the one or more other devices.

15 . An apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first user interface and the second interface respectively include a navigation indicator user interface, a mapping service user interface, a navigation service user interface, a location service user interface, or a combination thereof.

16 . An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine when the local sensor is within the predetermined distance from the device based on the location information;

cause, at least in part, activation of a short range communication link between the device and the local sensor; and

determine a location of the local sensor over the short range communication link.

17 . An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

grant a visibility right to the one or more other devices,

wherein the visibility of the local sensor to the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on the visibility right, the profile status of the local sensor, or a combination thereof.

18 . An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a request to the one or more other devices to locate or retrieve the local sensor;

receive a response from the one or more other devices; and

grant a visibility right to the one or more other devices based on the response,

wherein the visibility of the local sensor to the one or more other devices is based, at least in part, on the visibility right, the profile status of the local sensor, or a combination thereof.

19 . An apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the request includes an incentive for locating the local sensor, contact information associated with the device, an anonymous reference identifier, or a combination thereof.

20 . An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:

user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and

a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

21 .- 63 . (canceled)