Security techniques for reconnecting to a conference session using a computing device

• US 10,123,206 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lundqvist, Jan Tomas, Lindberg, Jonas Erik, Nepal, Sailesh
• Primary Examiner(s): File, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US15/674,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20170339562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/152 Temporary dial plan
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2088 Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A computer-implemented technique can include joining, by a computing device having one or more processors, a conference session hosted by a server via a wireless computing network. In response to joining the conference session, the computing device can receive, from the server via the wireless computing network, a dial-in telephone number for reconnecting to the conference session. The computing device can detect a trigger condition indicative of a need to reconnect to the conference session via a cellular telephone network. In response to detecting the trigger condition, the computing device can initiate a telephone call to the dial-in telephone number via the cellular telephone network. In response to the server obtaining authentication of a caller identification of the computing device, the computing device can rejoin the conference session via the cellular telephone network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing a dial-in telephone number for a computing device to utilize to reconnect to a conference session via a telephone network after being disconnected from the conference session via a different computing network;

initiating a timer when the computing device has been disconnected from the conference session via the computing network;

when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number before the timer expires, allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network; and

when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number after the timer expires, not allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a signal indicating that the computing device has been disconnected from the conference session.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number before the timer is initiated, not allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising after the computing device reconnects to the conference session via the telephone network:

providing a new dial-in telephone number for the computing device to utilize to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network after again being disconnected from the conference session.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the dial-in telephone number and the new dial-in telephone number are each selected from a predetermined collection of telephone numbers.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the dial-in telephone number is a single-use dial-in telephone number that, after the computing device reconnects to the conference session via the telephone network, is no longer valid for reconnecting to the conference session after the timer has been initiated and before the timer expires.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating caller identification information of the computing device as a precondition for allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the authenticating of the caller identification information is performed by a hosting computing device that hosts the conference session.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the hosting computing device is integrated with the telephone network.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the authenticating of the caller identification information is performed by a third-party authentication service that is distinct from a hosting computing device that hosts the conference session.

11. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining a dial-in telephone number from a predetermined collection of telephone numbers;

providing the dial-in telephone number for a computing device to utilize to reconnect to a conference session via a telephone network after being disconnected from the conference session via a different computing network;

disconnecting the computing device from the conference session via the computing network; and

after the computing device is disconnected from the conference session via the computing network and when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number, reconnecting the computing device to the conference session via the telephone network,

wherein the dial-in telephone number is a single-use dial-in telephone number that is only valid for reconnecting to the conference session via the telephone network one time.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating a timer when the computing device has been disconnected from the conference session via the computing network;

when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number before the timer expires, allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network; and

when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number after the timer expires, not allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising detecting a signal indicating that the computing device has been disconnected from the conference session.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising when the computing device dials the dial-in telephone number before the timer is initiated, not allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising after the computing device reconnects to the conference session via the telephone network:

obtaining a new dial-in telephone number from the predetermined collection of telephone numbers; and

providing the new dial-in telephone number for the computing device to utilize to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network after again being disconnected from the conference session.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the new dial-in telephone number is also a single-use dial-in telephone number that is only valid for reconnecting to the conference session via the telephone network one time.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising authenticating caller identification information of the computing device as a precondition for allowing the computing device to reconnect to the conference session via the telephone network.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the authenticating of the caller identification information is performed by a hosting computing device that hosts the conference session.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the hosting computing device is integrated with the telephone network.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the authenticating of the caller identification information is performed by a third-party authentication service that is distinct from a hosting computing device that hosts the conference session.