Method And Apparatus For Facilitating Remote Search Of A Community

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 processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

• receive, from a remote terminal, a search request for information from an ad hoc community, the ad hoc community formed by a plurality of terminals at a first location using a proximity-based wireless communication technology to communicate with each other at the first location, wherein the remote terminal is located at a second location that is outside of a range of the proximity-based wireless communication technology from the first location;
• cause the search request to be broadcast to the plurality of terminals using the proximity-based wireless communication technology;
• and
• cause any received information responsive to the search request to be transmitted to the remote terminal.

A method comprising:

• receiving a search request from a remote terminal that participates in a search service, wherein the search request is for information relating to a first location;
• identifying, with a processor, whether a terminal that participates in the search service is at the first location;
• causing transmission of the search request to the identified terminal;
• receiving information responsive to the search request from the identified terminal;
• and
• causing transmission of the received information to the remote terminal.

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 processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

• receive a search request from a remote terminal that participates in a search service, wherein the search request is for information relating to a first location;
• identify whether a terminal that participates in the search service is at the first location;
• transmit the search request to the identified terminal;
• receive information responsive to the search request from the identified terminal;
• and
• transmit the received information to the remote terminal