Secure video conferencing to conduct sensitive transactions

• US 9,124,572 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMR LLC
• Original Assignee: FMR LLC
• Inventors: Hromi, Jonathan, McDonough, John C., Bisikalo, Dmitry, Stern, Hadley Rupert
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHAO, DON GORDON
• Application Number:
  US14/593,857
• Time in Patent Office: 235 Days
• Field of Search: 726/7, 726/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• 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: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described for secure video conferencing. A server computing device receives a request to establish a video conference for a sensitive transaction from a first device associated with a user. The server authenticates the first device. The server establishes a conference between the first device and a second device of a second party to the sensitive transaction. The server transmits video images associated with cameras coupled to the first device to the second device, the images comprising a view of the user and an area surrounding the user. The server determines whether persons other than the user are present in the area surrounding the user. The server transmits an alert to the second device if persons other than the user are present, where the alert includes a prompt on the second device for the second party to confirm with the user whether the other persons are authorized.

Claims

1. A method for secure video conferencing to conduct a sensitive transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server computing device, a request to establish a video conference for the sensitive transaction from a first client device associated with a user;

authenticating, by the server computing device, the first client device using credential information;

establishing, by the server computing device, the video conference between the first client device and a second client device associated with a second party to the sensitive transaction;

transmitting, by the server computing device, images associated with one or more cameras coupled to the first client device to the second client device, the images comprising a view of the user and an area surrounding the user;

determining, by the server computing device, whether any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user; and

transmitting, by the server computing device, an alert to the second client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user, wherein the alert includes display of a prompt on the second client device for the second party to confirm with the user whether the person other than the user is authorized to be present.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to establish a video conference includes the credential information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the credential information includes an ID number and password entered by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more cameras coupled to the first client device include a webcam and a camera of a mobile device connected to the first client device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the webcam is configured to capture video using a panoramic view of the user and the area surrounding the user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the mobile device camera is configured to capture a side view of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the side view includes at least a portion of the area surrounding the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating, by the server computing device, the video conference between the first client device and the second client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a request for approval on the first client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user, prior to terminating the video conference.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the video conference is not terminated if a valid response to the request for approval is provided.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the valid response includes entry of a password by the person other than the user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes determining whether the person other than the user is exerting influence on the user.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the first client device, a signal to the server computing device indicating that the person other than the user is unauthorized.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising interdicting, by the server computing device, the sensitive transaction from being executed based upon the signal transmitted by the first client device.

15. A system for secure video conferencing to conduct a sensitive transaction, the system comprising:

a plurality of client devices connected to a server computing device, the server computing device configured to;

receive a request to establish a video conference for the sensitive transaction from a first client device associated with an user of the first client device;

authenticate the first client device using credential information;

establish the video conference between the first client device and a second client device associated with a second party to the sensitive transaction;

transmit video images associated with one or more cameras coupled to the first client device to the second client device, the video images comprising a view of the user and an area surrounding the user;

determine whether any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user; and

transmit an alert to the second client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user, wherein the alert includes display of a prompt on the second client device for the second party to confirm with the user whether the person other than the user is authorized to be present.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the request to establish a video conference includes the credential information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the credential information includes an ID number and password entered by the user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more cameras coupled to the first client device include a webcam and a camera of a mobile device connected to the first client device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the webcam is configured to capture video using a panoramic view of the user and the area surrounding the user.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile device camera is configured to capture a side view of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the side view includes at least a portion of the area surrounding the user.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the server computing device is further configured to terminate the video conference between the first client device and the second client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the server computing device is further configured to display a request for approval on the first client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user, prior to terminating the video conference.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the video conference is not terminated if a valid response to the request for approval is provided.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the valid response includes entry of a password by the person other than the user.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the determining step includes determining whether the person other than the user is exerting influence on the user.

27. The system of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, by the first client device, a signal to the server computing device indicating that the person other than the user is unauthorized.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising interdicting, by the server computing device, the sensitive transaction from being executed based upon the signal transmitted by the first client device.

29. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, for secure video conferencing to conduct a sensitive transaction, the computer program product including instructions operable to cause a server computing device connected to a plurality of client devices to:

receive a request to establish a video conference for the sensitive transaction from a first client device associated with an user of the first client device;

authenticate the first client device using credential information;

establish the video conference between the first client device and a second client device associated with a second party to the sensitive transaction;

transmit video images associated with one or more cameras coupled to the first client device to the second client device, the video images comprising a view of the user and an area surrounding the user;

determine whether any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user; and

transmit an alert to the second client device if any person other than the user is present in the area surrounding the user, wherein the alert includes display of a prompt on the second client device for the second party to confirm with the user whether the person is authorized to be present.