SYSTEM AND METHOD TO CONTROL COLLABORATION PARTICIPATION

• US 20090083378A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Merrill, David P., Lingafelt, Charles S., Moore, John E. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B

Abstract

A system and method is provided for controlling collaboration participation. The system includes a computing infrastructure configured to monitor endpoint collaboration devices and/or users. The computing infrastructure is also configured to authorize collaboration between one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users with an initiating device if the computing infrastructure finds a match between stored attributes and information related to the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users.

Claims

1. A computer system for controlling collaboration participation, said system comprising:

a central processing unit;

first program instructions to monitor endpoint collaboration devices and/or users; and

second program instructions to authorize collaboration between one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users with an initiating device if the computing infrastructure finds a match between stored attributes and information related to the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users,

said first and second program instructions are stored in said computer system for execution by said central processing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored attributes are at least one of physical location of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users, logical location of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users, identification of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users and identification of a particular device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the physical location is one of an area code, zip code, and physical location, and the logical location is a connection to a pre-approved service provider.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the connection to the pre-approved service provider is based on at least one of security, quality of connection, contractual obligations associated with the initiating device and costs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoint collaboration devices are at least one of a mobile device connected via a wireless transmission and a stationary device connected via a wired connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoint collaboration devices and the initiating device collaborate via at least one of (i) a teleconference, (ii) an instant message chat, (iii) video conferencing, (iv) electronic whiteboards, (v) podcast and (vi) virtual worlds.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to continuously monitor the one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users to determine whether the one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users remain within an authorized physical location, on an authorized device or using an authorized service provider.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to restrict the one or more endpoint collaboration devices from the collaboration if there has been a change to an unauthorized (i) service provider, (ii) endpoint collaboration device or (iii) location of the one or more of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to provide a message to a restricted endpoint collaboration device and/or users.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the message includes remedial action for the restricted endpoint collaboration device and/or users to become authorized.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored attributes include eligible or ineligible attributes, either of which is configured to provide authorization to become a collaboration participant if the match is found with the information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a service at least one provides, maintains, deploys, and supports the computer infrastructure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer infrastructure is configured to determine endpoint collaboration device location based on a signal received from the endpoint collaboration device via GPS, monitoring of communication links, and service provider information.

14. A computer program product for controlling collaboration participation, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

first program instructions to store predefined attributes;

second program instructions to establish and continuously monitor authorization of endpoint collaboration devices and/or users to be members of a collaboration;

third program instructions to authorize at least one of the endpoint collaboration devices to become the members of the collaboration based on a comparison with the stored predefined attributes and information related to the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users; and

wherein

said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said computer readable media.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the stored attributes are at least one of physical location of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users, logical location of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users, identification of the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users and identification of a particular device.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to continuously monitor the at least one endpoint collaboration devices to determine whether the at least one of endpoint collaboration devices remain within an authorized physical location, on an authorized device or using an authorized service provider.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to restrict the at least one of the endpoint collaboration devices from the collaboration if there has been a change to an unauthorized (i) service provider, (ii) endpoint collaboration device or (iii) a location of the one or more endpoint collaboration devices and/or users.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computing infrastructure is configured to provide a message to a restricted endpoint collaboration device and/or user.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer infrastructure is at least one of provided, maintained, deployed, and supported by a service provider.

20. A method comprising:

storing predefined attributes;

monitoring endpoint collaboration devices and/or users to be members of a collaboration; and

authorizing at least one of the endpoint collaboration devices to become the members of the collaboration based on a comparison with the stored predefined attributes and information related to the endpoint collaboration devices and/or users.