Shared user interface in a shared resource environment
View Patent ↗A system and method for providing a secure user interface in a shared resource environment. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise establishing a first wireless communication link between a first system and a user interface system. A first wireless communication port may, for example, establish such a wireless communication link. A first secure communication pathway may be established between the first system and the user interface system. A first secure communication module may, for example, establish such a secure communication pathway. A second wireless communication link may be established between a second system and the user interface system. A second wireless communication port may, for example, establish such a wireless communication link. A second communication pathway between the second system and the user interface system may be established. A second communication module may, for example, establish such a communication pathway.
1. In a video display system having a display, in which a first secure communication pathway comprising a first wireless communication link extends from a first user device to the display via which information may flow securely between the first user device and the display, a method for providing a second communication pathway, the method comprising:
establishing a second wireless communication link between the video display system and a second user device;
receiving a request from the second user device for a second communication pathway that extends from the second user device to the display; and
in response to at least the received request:
establishing, while continuing to maintain the first secure communication pathway between the first user device and the display of the video display system, a second communication pathway between the second user device and the display of the video display system.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a secure communication pathway that is linked to the first secure communication pathway.
3. The method of claim 2 , comprising, if it is determined that the received request is a request for a secure communication pathway that is to be linked to the first secure communication pathway, then determining whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway comprises determining secure communication capability of the second user device.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway comprises communicating with the first user device to determine whether access to the first secure communication pathway by the second user device is authorized.
6. The method of claim 3 , comprising, if it is determined that the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway, then communicatively coupling the second communication pathway to the first secure communication pathway, providing the second user device access to information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
communicatively coupling the second communication pathway to the first secure communication pathway comprises providing the second user device secure access to the window.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway.
9. The method of claim 8 , comprising determining whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a secure communication pathway.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
if it is determined that the received request is for a secure communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway, then the second communication pathway comprises a secure communication pathway that extends from the second user device to a second window of the display device via which information may flow securely between the second user device and the second window of the video display device.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
if it is determined that the received request is for a non-secure communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway, then the second communication pathway comprises a non-secure communication pathway that extends from the second user device to a second window of the display device via which information may flow non-securely between the second user device and the second window of the video display device.
12. In a video display system, having a display, in which a first secure communication pathway comprising a first wireless communication link extends from a first user device to the display via which information may flow securely between the first user device and the display, a sub-system operable to provide a second communication pathway, the sub-system comprising:
at least one module operable to, at least:
establish a second wireless communication link between the video display system and a second user device;
receive a request from the second user device for a second communication pathway that extends from the second user device to the display; and
in response to at least the received request
establish, while continuing to maintain the first secure communication pathway between the first user device and the display of the video display system, a second communication pathway between the second user device and the display of the video display system.
13. The video display system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a secure communication pathway that is linked to the first secure communication pathway.
14. The video display system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one module is operable to, if it is determined that the received request is a request for a secure communication pathway that is to be linked to the first secure communication pathway, determine whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway.
15. The video display system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway by, at least in part, operating to determine secure communication capability of the second user device.
16. The video display system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway by, at least in part, operating to communicate with the first user device to determine whether access to the first secure communication pathway by the second user device is authorized.
17. The video display system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one module is operable to, if it is determined that the second user device is authorized to access information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway, then communicatively couple the second communication pathway to the first secure communication pathway, providing the second user device access to information being communicated between the first user device and the display of the video display system via the first secure communication pathway.
18. The video display system of claim 17 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
the at least one module operates to communicatively couple the second communication pathway to the first secure communication pathway by, at least in part, operating to provide the second user device secure access to the window.
19. The video display system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway.
20. The video display system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether the received request for the second communication pathway is a request for a secure communication pathway.
21. The video display system of claim 20 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
if it is determined that the received request is for a secure communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway, then the second communication pathway comprises a secure communication pathway that extends from the second user device to a second window of the display device via which information may flow securely between the second user device and the second window of the video display device.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein:
the first secure communication pathway extends between the first user device and a window of the display device; and
if it is determined that the received request is for a non-secure communication pathway that is separate from the first secure communication pathway, then the second communication pathway comprises a non-secure communication pathway that extends from the second user device to a second window of the display device via which information may flow non-securely between the second user device and the second window of the video display device.