IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,406,229
Granted Patent B2
US 12,406,229 · App. 17/983,534 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Location-aware collaboration communications

Inventors: Jonathan C. Mounty (Milpitas, CA); Suneth Mercian Wilathgamuwage Don (Stabekk, NO)
Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
G06Q10/10H04N7/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,406,229
App. No.
17/983,534
Filed
Nov 9, 2022
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2441
USPC
709/204
Abstract

Presented herein are techniques associated with facilitating location-aware collaboration communications among multiple users. In one example a method is provided that may include determining that a non-primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device; and based on determining that a primary user of the first collaboration device is not proximate to the first collaboration device, enabling the non-primary user to utilize the first collaboration device to initiate communication with at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

determining that a non-primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device; and

based on determining that a primary user of the first collaboration device is not proximate to the first collaboration device, enabling the non-primary user to utilize the first collaboration device to initiate communication with at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the non-primary user of the first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device is based on the first collaboration device detecting a third collaboration device that is associated with the non-primary user being proximate to the first collaboration device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detecting is based on wireless communications between the first collaboration device and the third collaboration device of the non-primary user and the detecting includes determining that the third collaboration device is associated with the non-primary user.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the third collaboration device is associated with the non-primary user is based on at least one of:

a user identifier associated with the non-primary user;

a hardware identifier associated with the third collaboration device of the non-primary user; or

an identifier associated with logic configured for the third collaboration device of the non-primary user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling includes:

determining a particular second collaboration device with which to initiate the communication based on activity information for the particular second collaboration device indicating that the primary user has been active on the particular second collaboration device within a threshold amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising one of:

the first collaboration device initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user upon obtaining an input from the non-primary user to the first collaboration device; or

the first collaboration device automatically initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user without the non-primary user interacting with the first collaboration device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the communication is initiated using a user identity of the non-primary user.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

based on determining that the primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device, disabling the non-primary user from utilizing the first collaboration device to initiate communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

9. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

determining that a non-primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device; and

based on determining that a primary user of the first collaboration device is not proximate to the first collaboration device, enabling the non-primary user to utilize the first collaboration device to initiate communication with at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

10. The media of claim 9 , wherein determining that the non-primary user of the first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device is based on the first collaboration device detecting a third collaboration device that is associated with the non-primary user being proximate to the first collaboration device.

11. The media of claim 10 , wherein the detecting is based on wireless communications between the first collaboration device and the third collaboration device of the non-primary user and the detecting includes determining that the third collaboration device is associated with the non-primary user.

12. The media of claim 11 , wherein determining that the third collaboration device is associated with the non-primary user is based on at least one of:

a user identifier associated with the non-primary user;

a hardware identifier associated with the third collaboration device of the non-primary user; or

an identifier associated with logic configured for the third collaboration device of the non-primary user.

13. The media of claim 9 , wherein the enabling includes:

determining a particular second collaboration device with which to initiate the communication based on activity information for the particular second collaboration device indicating that the primary user has been active on the particular second collaboration device within a threshold amount of time.

14. The media of claim 9 , further encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising one of:

the first collaboration device initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user upon obtaining an input from the non-primary user to the first collaboration device; or

the first collaboration device automatically initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user without the non-primary user interacting with the first collaboration device.

15. The media of claim 9 , further encoded with instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising:

based on determining that the primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device, disabling the non-primary user from utilizing the first collaboration device to initiate communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

16. A first collaboration device comprising:

at least one memory element for storing data; and

at least one processor for executing instructions associated with the data, wherein executing the instructions causes the first collaboration device to perform operations, comprising:

determining that a non-primary user of the first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device; and

based on determining that a primary user of the first collaboration device is not proximate to the first collaboration device, enabling the non-primary user to utilize the first collaboration device to initiate communication with at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

17. The first collaboration device of claim 16 , wherein determining that the non-primary user of the first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device is based on the first collaboration device detecting a third collaboration device that is associated with the non-primary user being proximate to the first collaboration device.

18. The first collaboration device of claim 17 , wherein the detecting is based on wireless communications between the first collaboration device and the third collaboration device of the non-primary user and the detecting includes determining that the third collaboration device is associated with the non-primary user.

19. The first collaboration device of claim 16 , wherein executing the instructions causes the first collaboration device to perform further operations, comprising one of:

the first collaboration device initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user upon obtaining an input from the non-primary user to the first collaboration device; or

the first collaboration device automatically initiating the communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user without the non-primary user interacting with the first collaboration device.

20. The first collaboration device of claim 16 , wherein executing the instructions causes the first collaboration device to perform further operations, comprising:

based on determining that the primary user of a first collaboration device is proximate to the first collaboration device, disabling the non-primary user from utilizing the first collaboration device to initiate communication with the at least one second collaboration device of the primary user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2022
From: MOUNTY, JONATHAN C.; WILATHGAMUWAGE DON, SUNETH MERCIAN
To: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061703/0925 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240152866A1 · May 9, 2024
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