Systems and methods for facilitating conference calls using security keys

• US 8,571,193 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Oliver, Brian, McDonald, Ian, Gisby, Douglas, Labrador, Christopher, McAndrews, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US13/619,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20130022190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that facilitate a conference call between a plurality of communication devices. The method can comprise: providing a first control link between a first primary communication device and a conference call controller; providing a second control link between a second primary communication device and the conference call controller; and establishing a media link between the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device via the conference call controller. In certain embodiments, the first control link can facilitate the exchange of a first identification data comprising at least one first security key, which can be configured to contain participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a conference call between a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising:

providing a first control link between a first primary communication device and a conference call controller, wherein the first control link facilitates the exchange of a first identification data comprising at least one first security key;

providing a second control link between a second primary communication device and the conference call controller; and

establishing a media link between the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device via the conference call controller;

wherein the at least one first security key is configured to contain participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the participation level data indicates a participation level of the first primary communication device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second control link facilitates the exchange of a second identification data comprising at least one second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a participation level of the second primary communication device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the participation level data indicates a participation level of the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the participation level data indicates at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device, with respect to the media link.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first identification data is communicated from the first primary communication device to the conference call controller.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one participation level comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the ability to listen;

the ability to speak;

the ability to view media data; and

the ability to modify the media data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one first security key comprises participation level data to control a participation level of the second communication device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first identification data comprises a plurality of security keys.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of security keys comprises a second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a second participation level of the second primary communication device which differs from the participation level of the second primary communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of security keys comprises a second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a second participation level of the first primary communication device which differs from the participation level of the first primary communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media link comprises a voice signal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media link comprises a multimedia signal.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, when executed, cause a conference call controller to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing a first control link between a first primary communication device and the conference call controller, wherein the first control link facilitates the exchange of a first identification data comprising at least one first security key;

providing a second control link between a second primary communication device and the conference call controller; and

establishing a media link between the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device via the conference call controller;

wherein the at least one first security key is configured to contain participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device.

15. A system for facilitating a conference call between a plurality of communication devices, the system comprising a conference call controller on which an application executes, wherein the application is programmed to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing a first control link between a first primary communication device and the conference call controller, wherein the first control link facilitates the exchange of a first identification data comprising at least one first security key;

providing a second control link between a second primary communication device and the conference call controller; and

establishing a media link between the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device via the conference call controller;

wherein the at least one first security key is configured to contain participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device.

16. A system for facilitating a conference call between a plurality of communication devices, the system comprising:

a conference call controller configured to;

provide a first control link with a first primary communication device;

provide a second control link with a second primary communication device;

establish a media link between the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device;

wherein the first control link facilitates the exchange of a first identification data comprising at least one first security key; and

wherein the at least one first security key is configured to contain participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the participation level data indicates a participation level of the first primary communication device.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second control link facilitates the exchange of a second identification data comprising at least one second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a participation level of the second primary communication device.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the participation level data indicates a participation level of the first primary communication device and the second primary communication device.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the participation level data indicating at least one participation level of the first primary communication device or the second primary communication device, with respect to the media link.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first identification data is communicated from the first primary communication device to the conference call controller.

22. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one participation level comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the ability to listen;

the ability to speak;

the ability to view media data; and

the ability to modify the media data.

23. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one first security key comprises participation level data to control a participation level of the second communication device.

24. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first identification data comprises a plurality of security keys.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the plurality of security keys comprises a second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a second participation level of the second primary communication device which differs from the participation level of the second primary communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

26. The system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the plurality of security keys comprises a second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a second participation level of the first primary communication device which differs from the participation level of the first primary communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

27. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first primary communication device comprises a portable communication device.

28. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the media link comprises a telecommunications link.