Method and apparatus for implementing a secure side conversation on a telephone conference call
First Claim
1. A method of implementing a secure side conversation on a multi-party communication session, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an output audio stream associated with the multi-party communication session during a first period of time and during a second period of time;
receiving first input audio from a user during the first period of time;
receiving a first control input from the user to cause the first input audio to be transmitted from a communication client associated with the user on the secure side conversation for the first period of time;
receiving second input audio from the user during a second period of time;
receiving a second control input from the user to cause the second input audio to be transmitted from the communication client on the multi-party communication session for the second period of time; and
during the first period of time while the first input audio is transmitted on the secure side conversation, securing the first input audio before transmitting the first input audio on the secure side conversation so that the first input audio cannot be heard on the multi-party communication session during the first period of time;
wherein the step of receiving an output audio stream comprises the steps of receiving mixed audio including first audio from the multi-party communication session and second audio from the secure side conversation, and providing both the first audio and second audio to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A separate peer-to-peer multi-directional audio channel is established between a subset of the participants to an existing multi-party communication session on the same channel as the original multi-party communication session. Since the secure channel is established on the existing call, the same NAT/firewall traversal mechanisms may be used, and even the same socket may be used. Participants on the secure side conversation can hear both the secure side conversation and the main multi-party communication session. Participants that are not on the secure side conversation may receive packets from the secure side conversation, but are not part of the security association for the secure side conversation and, hence, cannot hear the audio from the secure side conversation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of implementing a secure side conversation on a multi-party communication session, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an output audio stream associated with the multi-party communication session during a first period of time and during a second period of time; receiving first input audio from a user during the first period of time; receiving a first control input from the user to cause the first input audio to be transmitted from a communication client associated with the user on the secure side conversation for the first period of time; receiving second input audio from the user during a second period of time; receiving a second control input from the user to cause the second input audio to be transmitted from the communication client on the multi-party communication session for the second period of time; and during the first period of time while the first input audio is transmitted on the secure side conversation, securing the first input audio before transmitting the first input audio on the secure side conversation so that the first input audio cannot be heard on the multi-party communication session during the first period of time; wherein the step of receiving an output audio stream comprises the steps of receiving mixed audio including first audio from the multi-party communication session and second audio from the secure side conversation, and providing both the first audio and second audio to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An audio client, comprising:
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a processor to receive user audio input; a selection mechanism to enable the user to direct the user audio input to be output on a multi-party communication session during a first period of time and to enable the user to direct the user audio input to be output on a simultaneously extant secure side conversation during a second period of time; a multiplexor to receive mixed audio including both first audio from the multi-party communication session and second audio from the simultaneously extant secure side conversation during both the first period of time and the second period of time; and a processor to simultaneously output both the first audio and second audio to the user during both the first period of time and the second period of time; wherein the step of receiving an output audio stream comprises the steps of receiving mixed audio including first audio from the multi-party communication session and second audio from the secure side conversation, and providing both the first audio and second audio to the user.
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Specification