Systems and methods for facilitating conference calls using security keys

• US 8,885,807 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• 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:
  US14/027,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/201.01
• 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 may comprise: providing a first primary communication device; providing a second primary communication device; providing a conference call controller; establishing a first control link between the first primary communication device and the conference call controller; communicating first identification data between the first primary communication device and the conference call controller via the first control link; establishing a media link between the first and second primary communication devices via the conference call controller. In certain embodiments, the first identification data corresponds to at least one participation level of the first primary communication device with respect to the media link. The method may further comprise establishing a second control link between the second primary communication device and the conference call controller; communicating second identification data between the second primary communication device and the conference call controller via the second control link; wherein the second identification data establishes a participation level of the second primary communication device with respect to the media link.

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 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; and

establishing one or more media links between the first communication device and a second 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 communication device or the second communication device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the participation level data indicates at least one participation level of the first communication device or the second communication device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

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

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, 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 communication device.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, 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 communication device which differs from the participation level of the second communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, 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 communication device which differs from the participation level of the first communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more media links comprises a voice signal or a multimedia signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is a communication device or an alternate communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the establishing of the one or more media links between the first communication device and the second communication device via the conference call controller further comprises:

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

establishing a second media link between the conference call controller and the alternate communication device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the establishing of the one or more media links between the first communication device and the second communication device via the conference call controller further comprises:

establishing a first media link between the first communication device and the communication device via the conference call controller.

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

providing a first control link between a first 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; and

establishing one or more media links between the first communication device and a second 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 communication device or the communication device.

15. 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 communication device;

establish one or more media links between the first communication device and a second 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 communication device or the second communication device.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the participation level data indicates at least one participation level of the first communication device or the second communication device.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the conference call controller is further configured to:

provide a second control link with the second 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 communication device.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first identification data is communicated from the first communication device to the conference call controller.

20. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first identification data comprises a plurality of security keys, which comprises a second security key configured to contain participation level data indicating a second participation level of the first communication device or the second communication device that differs from the respective participation level of the first communication device or the second communication device comprised in the at least one first security key.