System and method for secure networking in a virtual space

• US 7,508,310 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Light, Elliott D., Roberts, Jon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis R
• Application Number:
  US12/104,939
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.16, 340/573.1, 340/5.1, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 709/238, 709/223, 715/763
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Secure networking in a virtual space over a network. Subscriber computing devices each operated by a subscriber are associated with a subscriber identifier. Each computing device is connected to the network. A subscriber security profile is created in a security profile datastore, wherein the subscriber security profile comprises information indicative of a security status and wherein the subscriber security profile is associated with the subscriber'"'"'s subscriber identifier. Subscriber identifiers associated with subscribers who are logged in to a website are monitored. The website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscribers are characterized as present in the virtual space. A web page is served to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network. The web page of a first subscriber comprises a first subscriber icon associated with the first subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers. A determination is made whether the first subscriber security profile matches the subscriber security profile of one or more of the other present subscribers according to security matching criteria. An attribute is assigned to the icons of the other present subscribers having security profiles that match the security profile of the first subscriber according to security matching criteria. Selected security profile information is provided to the first subscriber of a selected one of any of the other present matching subscribers.

Claims

1. A system for secure networking in a virtual space comprising:

a network;

subscriber computing devices, wherein the subscriber computing device is associated with a subscriber identifier and wherein each computing device is connected to the network;

a profile datastore, wherein the profile datastore comprises a subscriber security profile comprising information indicative of a security status of a subscriber and wherein the subscriber security profile is associated with the subscriber'"'"'s subscriber identifier;

an information processor connected to the network, wherein the information processor comprises instructions for;

monitoring subscriber identifiers associated with the subscriber devices that are logged into a website, wherein the website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscriber devices are characterized as present in the virtual space;

serving web pages to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network, wherein a web page of a present subscriber comprises a subscriber icon associated with the present subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers;

determining whether a subscriber security profile associated with the present subscriber matches the subscriber security profiles associated with the other present subscribers according to security matching criteria (herein, the “

security matching determination”

);

in response to the security matching determination, assigning a security attribute to the icons associated with the other present subscribers having security profiles that match the security profile of the present subscriber according to security matching criteria; and

providing selected security profile information to the present subscriber of a selected one of any of the other present matching subscribers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber computing devices are selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a cellphone, and a smartphone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, a secure wired network, a secured wireless, and a secured fiber network.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers are selected from the group consisting of a geometric shape, an avatar, a shape of an animal, and a shape of an object.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the profile information comprises a security clearance level selected from the group consisting of confidential, secret, top secret, and “

sensitive compartmented information.”

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a hue, a size, a shape, a sound, flashing, and a periodic change from one attribute to another attribute.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual space is representative of a real space and wherein the web page comprises a graphical depiction of the virtual space.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the information processor further comprises instructions for determining a location of the subscriber computing devices relative to the real space and wherein the icon of the present subscriber and icons of the other present subscribers are displayed relative to their locations in the real space.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the real space is selected from the group consisting of a building, a “

sensitive compartmented information facility”

(SCIF), a military base, a nuclear facility, a contractor'"'"'s facility in which classified information is maintained, and a research facility.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein computing devices are wireless devices, the network is a wireless network, and the present subscriber and the other present subscribers are physically located in the real space.

11. A method for secure networking in a virtual space over a network comprising:

associating subscriber computing devices with subscriber identifiers, wherein each computing device is connected to the network;

creating a subscriber security profile in a profile datastore, wherein the subscriber security profile comprises information indicative of a security status of a subscriber and wherein the subscriber security profile is associated with the subscriber'"'"'s subscriber identifier;

monitoring subscriber identifiers associated with the subscriber devices that are logged in to a website, wherein the website defines a virtual space and the logged-in subscriber devices are characterized as present in the virtual space;

serving web pages to the computing devices of the present subscribers via the network, wherein a web page of a present subscriber comprises a subscriber icon associated with the present subscriber and subscriber icons of other present subscribers;

determining whether a security profile associated with the present subscriber matches the subscriber security profiles associates with the other present subscribers according to security matching criteria (herein, the “

security matching determination”

);

in response to the security matching determination, assigning a security attribute to the icons of the other present subscribers having security profiles that match the security profile of the present subscriber according to security matching criteria; and

providing selected security profile information to the present subscriber of a selected one of any of the other present matching subscribers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the subscriber computing devices are selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a cellphone, and a smartphone.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the network is selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, a fiber network, a secure wired network, a secured wireless, and a secured fiber network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers are selected from the group consisting of a geometric shape, an avatar, a shape of an animal, and a shape of an object.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the profile information comprises a security clearance level selected from the group consisting of confidential, secret, top secret, and “

sensitive compartmented information.”

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the attribute is selected from the group consisting of a color, a hue, a size, a shape, a sound, flashing, and a periodic change from one attribute to another attribute.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the virtual space is representative of a real space and wherein the web page comprises a graphical depiction of the virtual space.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining a location of the subscriber computing devices relative to the real space; and

displaying the icon of the present subscriber and the icons of the other present subscribers relative to their locations in the real space.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the real space is selected from the group consisting of a building, a “

sensitive compartmented information facility”

(SCIF), a military base, a nuclear facility, a contractor'"'"'s facility in which classified information is maintained, and a research facility.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein computing devices are wireless devices, the network is a wireless network, and the present subscriber and the other present subscribers are physically located in the real space.