IP Library Granted Patent US 9,374,470
Granted Patent B2
US 9,374,470 · App. 14/506,532 · Granted Jun 21, 2016

Method and system for enhanced conference call security

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,374,470
App. No.
14/506,532
Granted
Jun 21, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling access by of communication devices to a conference call, the method comprising associating proximity settings with a conference call, the proximity settings indicating a acceptable proximity of other communication devices relative to a selected communication device; sensing by the selected communication device proximity of the other devices within its proximity of the communication device to obtain proximity information; and determining, by a processor, from the obtained proximity information and the proximity settings an action to be performed with reference to the conference call.

Claims (52)

1. A method for controlling access to a conference call managed by a server device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a communication device for access to the conference call;

obtaining one or more contextual attributes associated with the communication device, the contextual attributes indicating at least one or more peripheral devices communicatively coupled to the communication devices;

determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy a predefined policy; and

if the contextual attributes of the communication device fail to satisfy the predefined policy, updating operations of the server device to restrict the communication device's access to the conference call.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy comprises at least one of:

determining whether a location of the communication device is within allowed locations predefined in the policy;

determining whether a type of the communication device is within allowed types of devices predefined in the policy; or

determining whether the one or more peripheral devices are within allowed peripherals predefined in the policy.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , the updated operations including refusing to connect the communication device to the conference call.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , the updated operations including restricting use of a speakerphone on the communication device.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , the updated operations including restricting use of a wireless headset on the communication device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising: if the one or more contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy,

allowing the communication device to access the conference call; and

re-determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy during the conference call.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the controlling access is performed by a conference call platform.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the location of the communication device is provided by a location server.

9. A server device for controlling access of a communication device to a conference call, the server device comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a request from the communication device for access to the conference call;

obtain one or more contextual attributes associated with the communication device, the contextual attributes indicating at least or more peripheral devices communicatively coupled to the communication devices;

determine whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy a predefined policy; and

if the contextual attributes of the communication device fail to satisfy the predefined policy, determine an action restricting the communication device's access to the conference call.

10. The server device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured determine whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy comprises at least one of:

determine whether a location of the communication device is within allowed locations predefined in the policy;

determine whether a type of the communication device is within allowed types of devices predefined in the policy; or

determine whether the one or more peripheral devices are within allowed peripherals predefined in the policy.

11. The server device as defined in claim 9 , the action including the refusal to connect the communication device to the conference call.

12. The server device as defined in claim 9 , the action including the restricting of use of a speakerphone on the communication device.

13. The server device as defined in claim 9 , the action including the restricting of use of a wireless headset on the communication device.

14. The server device as defined in claim 9 , if the one or more contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy, the processor is further configured to:

allow the communication device to access the conference call; and

re-determine whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy during the conference call.

15. The server device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the controlling of access is performed by a conference call platform.

16. The server device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the location of the communication device is provided by a location server.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that are executable by one or more processors of a server device to cause the server device to perform a method for controlling access of a communication device to a conference call, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a communication device for access to the conference call;

obtaining one or more contextual attributes associated with the communication device, the contextual attributes indicating at least one or more peripheral devices communicatively coupled to the communication devices;

determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy a predefined policy; and

if the contextual attributes of the communication device fail to satisfy the predefined policy, determining an action restricting the communication device's access to the conference call.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy comprises at least one of:

determining whether a location of the communication device is within allowed locations predefined in the policy;

determining whether a type of the communication device is within allowed types of devices predefined in the policy; or

determining whether the one or more peripheral devices are within allowed peripherals predefined in the policy.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the action including refusing to connect the communication device to the conference call.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the action including restricting use of a speakerphone on the communication device.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the action including restricting use of a wireless headset on the communication device.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising: if the one or more contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy,

allowing the communication device to access the conference call; and

re-determining whether the contextual attributes of the communication device satisfy the predefined policy during the conference call.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the controlling access is performed by a conference call platform.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the location of the communication device is provided by a location server.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064270/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 14, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 033987/0576 →