Multi-enterprise video conference service

• US 8,860,777 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Reger, Jeffrey J., Hendrickson, Heath W., Haltom, Jeffrey, Stallcup, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/334,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/211.12, 370/261, 370/260, 455/519, 709/204, 709/227, 379/88.11, 379/202.01, 715/759
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• 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: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A system is configured to receive a request to set up a first video conference and another request to set up a second video conference, where the request is received from a client device and where the other request is received from another client device; obtain first information associated with an enterprise with which the client device is associated and second information associated with another, different enterprise with which the other client device is associated; determine whether the first information permits the client device to set up the first video conference and whether the second information permits the other client device to set up the second video conference; establish the first video conference when the first information permits the client device to set up the first video conference; and establish the second video conference when the second information permits the other client device to set up the second video conference.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a video communication system, a first request to set up a first video conference and a second request to set up a second video conference,

the first request being received from a first client device, and

the second request being received from a second client device;

obtaining, by the video communication system and based on the first request and the second request, first client information associated with a first enterprise with which the first client device is associated and second client information associated with a second enterprise with which the second client device is associated,

the first enterprise being different than the second enterprise;

determining, by the video communication system, whether the first client information permits the first client device to set up the first video conference and whether the second client information permits the second client device to set up the second video conference;

establishing, by the video communication system, the first video conference when the first client information permits the first client device to set up the first video conference,

establishing the first video conference including;

generating conference information, associated with the first video conference, based on a determination that the first client device is authorized to set up the first video conference; and

establishing, based on the generated conference information, the first video conference; and

establishing, by the video communication system, the second video conference when the second client information permits the second client device to set up the second video conference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first traffic associated with the first video conference;

receiving second traffic associated with the second video conference; and

processing the first traffic or the second traffic in a manner that precludes the first traffic from being accessed via the second video conference and the second traffic from be accessed via the first video conference.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, from the first client device, first set up information associated with the first video conference, where the first set up information identifies at least one of;

the first enterprise, or

a first set of client devices that are permitted to attend the first video conference; and

obtaining, from the second client device, second set up information, associated with the second video conference, where the second set up information identifies at least one of;

the second enterprise, or

a second set of client devices that are permitted to attend the second video conference.

4. The method of claim 3, where obtaining the first client information and the second client information further includes:

identifying the first enterprise based on the first set up information and the second enterprise based on the second set up information;

retrieving, from a memory associated with the video communication system, the first client information based on the identification of the first enterprise; and

retrieving, from the memory, the second client information based on the identification of the second enterprise.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from one of the first set of client devices, a request to access the first video conference;

determining whether the first client information permits the one of the first set of client devices to access the first video conference;

permitting the one of the first set of client devices to access the first video conference when the first client information permits the one of the first set of client devices to access the first video conference; and

precluding the one of the first set of client devices from accessing the first video conference when the first client information does not permit the one of the first set of client devices to access the first video conference.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from one of the second set of client devices, a request to access the first video conference;

determining whether the first client information permits the one of the second set of client devices to access the first video conference;

permitting the one of the second set of client devices to access the first video conference when the first client information permits the one of the second set of client devices to access the first video conference; and

precluding the one of the second set of client devices from accessing the first video conference when the first client information does not permit the one of the second set of client devices to access the first video conference.

7. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the first client information permits the first client device to set up the first video conference and whether the second client information permits the second client device to set up the second video conference includes:

determining, based on the first client information, whether a first privilege level, associated with the first client device, matches a first level and whether a second privilege level, associated with the second client device, matches a second level;

permitting the first client device to set up the first video conference when the first privilege level matches the first level;

precluding the first client device from setting up the first video conference when the first privilege level does not match the first level;

permitting the second client device to set up the second video conference when the second privilege level matches the second level; and

precluding the second client device from setting up the second video conference when the second privilege level does not match the second level.

8. The method of claim 1,

where the conference information identifies at least one of:

a conference bridge, associated with the first video conference, via which one or more client devices, invited to attend the first video conference, are to be connected,

a time period during which the first video conference is to be held,

an address associated with the conference bridge that allows the one or more client devices to access the conference bridge,

one or more ports via which the one or more client devices are to be connected to the conference bridge,

a quantity of bandwidth to be allocated to the conference bridge, or

information that identifies the one or more client devices that are permitted to access the first video conference.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more client devices that are to attend the first video conference;

determining that a client device, of the one or more client devices, is associated with an enterprise that is different than the first enterprise;

determining whether the first client information permits the client device, associated with the enterprise that is different than the first enterprise, to access the first video conference;

associating information associated with the client device with the conference information when the first client information permits the client device, associated with the enterprise that is different than the first enterprise, to access the first video conference; and

transmitting a notification that the client device is not authorized to access the first video conference when the first client information does not permit the client device, associated with the enterprise that is different than the first enterprise, to access the first video conference.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, from the first client device and based on the request, set up information, associated with the first video conference,

the set up information including an indication that the first video conference is to be established on a just-in-time basis;

associating first resources to a conference bridge associated with the first video conference based on a determination that the set up information includes the indication that the first video conference is to be established on the just-in-time basis, where the first resources include at least one of;

a first quantity of bandwidth associated with the first client device, or

a first port;

connecting the first client device to the conference bridge via the first port;

receiving, from a third client device, a request to access the first video conference;

determining that the first client information permits the third client device to access the first video conference;

associating second resources to the conference bridge based on the determination that the first client information permits the third client device to access the first video conference, where the second resources include at least one of;

a second quantity of bandwidth associated with the third client device, or

a second port; and

connecting the third client device to the conference bridge via the second port.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to obtain the first client information associated with the first enterprise;

communicating with a server device, associated with the first enterprise, to obtain the first client information, where the first client information includes at least one of;

a first list of client devices that are authorized to access or set up a video conference associated with the first enterprise,

a second list of client devices that are not authorized to access or set up a video conference associated with the first enterprise,

a respective indication that identifies with which enterprise each of the client devices on the first list of client devices are associated, or

information that allows each of the client devices on the first list of client devices or the second list of client devices to be identified; and

storing, in a memory associated with the video communication system, the first client information.

12. A video communication system comprising:

a storage device to store client information, associated with an enterprise, that identifies one or more client devices that are authorized to access or set up a video conference; and

one or more devices to;

receive, from a first client device, of the one or more client devices, a request to set up a video conference,

the request identifying a second client device that is permitted to access the video conference,

determine, based on the request, whether the client information authorizes the second client device to access the video conference,

transmit a notification that the second client device is not permitted to access the video conference when the client information does not permit the second client device to access the video conference,

generate conference information, associated with the video conference, when the client information permits the second client device to access the video conference,

the conference information identifying resources to be allocated to establish a conference bridge for the video conference,

establish the conference bridge based on the identified resources to be allocated to establish the conference bridge, where establishing the conference bridge causes the first client device to be connected to the conference bridge,

receiving, from a client device, a request to access the video conference,

connect the client device to the conference bridge based on a determination that the client device is the second client device, and

transmit a notification that the client device cannot access the video conference based on a determination that the client device is not the second client device.

13. The system of claim 12, where

the client information includes a first list of client devices and a second list of client devices,

that first list of client devices identifies a first set of the one or more client devices that are authorized to set up or access the video conference,

the second list of client devices identifies a second set of the one or more client devices that are not authorized to set up or access the video conference, and

the one or more devices are further to:

determine that the second client device is not identified in the first list of client devices or is identified in the second list of client devices, and

transmit the notification that the second client device is not permitted to access the video conference based on the determination that the second client device is not identified in the first list of client devices or is identified in the second list of client devices.

14. The system of claim 12, where

the client information includes a first list of client devices and a second list of client devices,

that first list of client devices identifies a first set of the one or more client devices that are authorized to set up or access the video conference,

the second list of client devices identifies a second set of the one or more client devices that are not authorized to set up or access the video conference, and

the one or more devices are further to:

determine that the second client device is identified in the first list of client devices and is not identified in the second list of client devices, and

generate the conference information based on the determination that the second client device is identified in the first list of client devices and is not identified in the second list of client devices.

15. The system of claim 12, where the one or more devices are further to:

determine that the second client device is associated with another enterprise that is different than the enterprise,

transmit the notification that the second client device is not permitted to access the video conference when the client information does not permit a client device, associated with the other enterprise, to access the video conference, and

generate the conference information when the client information permits a client device, associated with the other enterprise, to access the video conference.

16. The system of claim 12, where the one or more devices area further to:

determine, based on the client information, that the second client device is a particular type of client device,

retrieve, from the storage device, a signaling template that corresponds to the particular type of client device, and

associate the signaling template with the conference information that allows traffic, being transported via the conference bridge, to be transmitted to or received from the second client device based on a transport or signaling protocol identified by the signaling template.

17. The system of claim 12, where the one or more devices are further to:

receive, from a third client device, a request to set up another video conference, and

establish, based on the request to set up the other video conference, another conference bridge associated with the other video conference,

where the other conference bridge or the conference bridge are established in a manner that precludes;

first traffic, associated with the video conference, from being accessed via the other video conference, and

second traffic, associated with the other video conference, from being access via the video conference.

18. The system of claim 12, where the one or more devices are further to:

identify, from the client information, a privilege level associated with the first client device,

determine whether the privilege level matches a particular level,

transmit a notification that the first client device is not authorized to set up the video conference when the privilege level does not match the particular threshold, and

determine whether the client information authorizes the second client device to access the video conference when the privilege level matches the particular threshold.

19. A device comprising:

a memory to store client information that identifies one or more devices that are permitted to set up or access a video conference; and

one or more processors to;

receive, from a first client device, a request to set up a video conference on a near real-time basis,

the request identifying a second client device to access the video conference,

determine, based on the request, whether the client information indicates that the first client device is authorized to set up the video conference,

establish a conference bridge, associated with the video conference, when the client information indicates that the first client device is authorized to set up the video conference,

associate first resources with the conference bridge that allows the first client device to be connected to or to communicate via the conference bridge,

connect the first client device to the conference bridge based on the association of the first resources with the conference bridge,

receive, from the second client device, a request to access the video conference,

determine whether the client information permits the second client device to access the video conference,

associate second resources with the conference bridge that allows the second client device to be connected to or to communicate via the conference bridge,

connect the second client device to the conference bridge based on the association of the second resources with the conference bridge.

20. The device of claim 19, where the first resources identify at least one of:

a first port,

a first quantity of bandwidth associated with the first port, or

a first protocol that is supported by the first client device, and where the second resources identify at least one of;

a second port,

a second quantity of bandwidth associated with the second port, or

a second protocol that is supported by the second client device.

21. The device of claim 19, where, when establishing the conference bridge, the one or more processors are further to:

establish a virtual environment via which the first client device can communicate with at least one client device, where the virtual environment uses a protocol that allows the first client device to communicate with the at least one client device in a secure manner, and

transmit to the second client device, a network address associated with the virtual environment that allows the second client device to communicate with the first client device, via the virtual environment, in the secure manner.

22. The device of claim 21, where the one or more processors are further to:

identify, from the request to access the video conference, a source address associated with the second client device and a destination address associated with a particular video conference,

determine whether the client information includes the source address in a list of source addresses that correspond to the one or more client devices that are authorized to set up or access the video conference,

determine whether the destination address matches the network address, associated with the virtual environment, when the source address is in the list of source addresses that correspond to the one or more client devices that are authorized to set up or access the video conference,

connect the second client device to the conference bridge when the destination address matches the network address associated with the virtual environment, and

transmit a notification that the second client device cannot be connected to the conference bridge when the source address is not in the list of source addresses that correspond to the one or more client devices or when the destination address does not match the network address associated with the virtual environment.

23. The device of claim 19, where the one or more processors are further to:

receive, from a third client device, a request to set up another video conference, and

establish, based on the request to set up the other video conference, another conference bridge, associated with the other video conference,

where the other conference bridge or the conference bridge are established in a manner that precludes;

first traffic, associated with the video conference, from being accessed via the other video conference, and

second traffic, associated with the other video conference, from being access via the video conference.

24. The device of claim 19, where, when connecting the first client device to the conference bridge, the one or more processors are further to:

establish a connection with the first client device using a protocol that precludes traffic, associated with video conference, from being transmitted to a client device that is connected to another conference bridge associated with another video conference.