Methods, apparatus and systems for providing and monitoring secure information via multiple authorized channels and generating alerts relating to same

• US 8,751,948 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyandia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyandia, Inc.
• Inventors: Wetzer, Michael, Theriault, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US13/086,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 715/769
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

Display of and access to secure user-centric information via the construct of a channel grid framework serving as a desktop on a user device. Multiple authorized channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with respective portions of the secure user-centric information are implemented based on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the channels. Channel information is monitored to determine one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, based on one or more threshold conditions or parameters relating to the channel information. Actionable and/or non-actionable alerts may be generated on one or more authenticated user devices and/or other devices. Information relating to determination of one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data may be transmitted to various devices and/or stored for archival purposes.

Claims

1. An apparatus to provide secure user-centric information on at least one user platform operated by a user, and to evaluate at least some of the secure user-centric information, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface facilitating wired and/or wireless communications with the at least one user platform via one or more transmission media;

at least one memory storing processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, retrieving processor-exectuable instructions from the at least one memory, and executing the processor-executable instructions to provide and evaluate at least some of the secure user-centric information by;

A) implementing a channel grid framework including a matrix of a plurality of authorized channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with, via the at least one user platform, respective portions of the secure user-centric information based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the plurality of authorized channels, the plurality of authorized channels including at least a first channel through which the user receives and/or interacts with first channel information constituting a first portion of the secure user-centric information;

B) establishing a user profile to identify user preferences, platform identities, and service support instructions that determine how the secure user-centric information behaves on the at least one user platform;

C) receiving configuration data indicating one or more user preferences regarding alerts transmitted via the first channel based on the user profile;

D) receiving session data indicating a current state of at least one external device of the user;

E) monitoring at least the first channel information so as to determine one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, based on at least one threshold condition or parameter relating to the first channel information and determined based on the user preferences indicated by the configuration data; and

if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E);

F) determining a notification method by which to provide at least one alert on the at least one external device based on the current state of the at least one external device indicated by the session data;

G) generating notification data according to the determined notification method, wherein the notification data is configured to cause the at least one external device to provide the at least one alert on the at least one external device; and

H) controlling the at least one communication interface to transmit the notification data to the at least one external device via the first channel without being requested by the user, wherein the transmission of the notification data to the at least one external device is based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the corresponding plurality of authorized channels, the user, and the at least one user platform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E), the at least one processor performs H).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E), the at least one processor controls the at least one memory so as to store trigger information relating to the one or more determined events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E), the at least one processor further performs H).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first channel information includes at least one of:

text information;

graphic information;

one or more pictures;

one or more videos;

audio or digital sound;

streaming data, audio or video;

content associated with an executing computer application;

voice-over-IP communication;

instant messaging/SMS information;

video-conferencing information;

environmental monitoring information;

financial services information;

enterprise resource planning information;

enterprise content management information;

building information;

project management information;

product lifecycle management information;

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) reader information;

remote device control/interaction information;

a three-dimensional graphic visualization of one or more objects and/or immersive environments;

one or more word processing documents;

one or more spreadsheets;

one or more presentation/slide shows;

email; and

address book information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one threshold condition or parameter includes a numerical limit or a trend.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein E) comprises:

E1) making a comparison of the monitored first channel information and the at least one threshold condition or parameter based at least in part on at least one criterion for the comparison; and

E2) establishing a trigger, based at least in part on E1), if the at least one criterion is met.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one criterion for the comparison includes at least one of:

exceeding a quantified numerical limit; and

multiple similar events trending in a certain direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor controls the at least one memory so as to store trigger information relating to the one or more determined events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, and wherein the trigger information includes at least one of:

one or more values or other information content associated with the monitored first channel information that resulted in the trigger;

one or more date stamps and/or time stamps associated with the one or more values or the other information content associated with the monitored first channel information that resulted in the trigger;

an identifier for one or more content sources providing at least some of the monitored first channel information that resulted in the trigger;

the at least one criterion for the comparison that resulted in the trigger.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein the at least one alert includes at least one of:

at least one visual alert;

at least one auditory alert;

at least one email message; and

at least one SMS text message.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein the at least one alert includes activation of at least one channel of the plurality of channels.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein the at least one alert includes a notification to a law enforcement agency.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein:

H) comprises transmitting the notification data so as to generate the at least one alert on at least one external device;

the at least one processor further provides the at least some of the secure user-centric information by;

I) controlling the at least one communication interface so as to transmit to the at least one external device channel information relating to at least one authorized channel of the plurality of authorized channels implemented in A); and

the notification data transmitted in H) causes an appearance of the at least one authorized channel, as represented on the at least one external device, to change so as to generate the at least one alert on the at least one external device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one external device includes the at least one user platform.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one authorized channel includes the first channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the notification data transmitted in H) causes the at least one authorized channel, as represented on the at least one external device, to expand into additional channels represented on the at least one external device so as to generate the at least one alert on the at least one external device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the notification data transmitted in H) renders the at least one authorized channel, as represented on the at least one external device, as a simulated three-dimensional representation of the channel information relating to the at least one authorized channel, so as to generate the at least one alert on the at least one external device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein in H), the at least one external device includes at least one of a mobile device, a television, and a Blu-ray player.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further provides and evaluates at least some of the secure user-centric information by:

I) controlling the at least one communication interface to transmit at least some of the first channel information to the at least one user platform.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein in H), the at least one external device includes the at least one user platform.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one user platform includes a plurality of user platforms;

I) comprises controlling the at least one communication interface to transmit the at least some of the first channel information to the plurality of user platforms; and

H) comprises controlling the at least one communication interface to transmit the notification data so as to generate at least one alert on the plurality of user platforms.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the plurality of user platforms include multiple different types of computing devices and/or multiple different types of communication devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further provides and evaluates at least some of the secure user-centric information by:

I) authenticating the user and the at least one user platform to receive at least the first channel information and/or the at least one alert.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein I) comprises authenticating the user and the at least one user platform based at least in part on the user profile.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory stores an authentication directory to provide the information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the corresponding plurality of authorized channels, the user, and the user platform, the authentication directory including a plurality of user accounts, a plurality of device accounts, and a plurality of application accounts, and wherein I) comprises authenticating the user and the at least one user platform to receive at least the first channel information based at least in part on the authentication directory.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein in H), the at least one external device includes the at least one user platform.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor further provides and evaluates at least some of the secure user-centric information by:

J) confirming at least one subscriber to the at least one alert; and

K) determining one or more active devices of the at least one subscriber to the at least one alert.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one processor performs H), and wherein in H), the at least one external device includes the one or more devices of the at least one subscriber to the at least one alert.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in A), the at least one processer implements a channel server that defines one or more visual characterizations, one or more functions or features, and/or one or more information types provided by respective channels of the plurality of channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with the respective portions of the secure user-centric information, wherein the channel server implements at least the first channel, and wherein the at least one processor further provides and evaluates at least some of the secure user-centric information by:

I) controlling the at least one communication interface to transmit at least some of the first channel information to the at least one user platform.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one memory further stores at least one database including registries to one or more services and/or applications used by the channel server to implement at least the first channel and provide the first channel information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein in E) and H), the at least one processor implements a channel alert server, communicatively coupled to the channel server, to monitor at least the first channel information so as to determine the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data based on the at least one threshold condition or parameter, and to generate at least one alert in response to the one or more determined events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data relating to the first channel information.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one processor further provides and evaluates at least some of the secure user-centric information by:

implementing at least one other server, communicatively coupled to the channel server and the channel alert server, to provide the one or more services and/or applications registered in the at least one database and used by the channel server to implement the first channel and provide the first channel information, wherein the at least one other server includes at least one of;

a video server to transform, transmit, and/or support delivery of video information and/or audio information included in the first channel information;

an enterprise content management server to provide configuration, templates, visual content, user interface controls and management control for the first channel information;

a device integration server to manage streaming or real-time information from a machine or device, which streaming or real-time information is included in the first channel information;

a portal server to facilitate Internet-based function access by the at least one communication interface of the user platform; and

a virtual world server to provide a three-dimensional visualization of, and/or interaction with, the first channel information.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of one or more of the first channel information, the video information, the audio information, the streaming or real-time information from a machine or device, the events, the conditions, the logical workflows, the discrete information values, and the signal data are stored in the at least one database.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one processor establishes a service-oriented architecture (SOA) including an enterprise service bus, wherein the channel server, the channel alert server, and the at least one other server are implemented as logical components that are communicatively coupled to each other and the at least one database via the enterprise service bus.

35. A computer-implemented method for evaluating secure user-centric information to be provided on at least one user platform operated by a user, the method comprising:

A) electronically implementing a channel grid framework including a matrix of a plurality of authorized channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with, via the at least one user platform, respective portions of the secure user-centric information based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the plurality of authorized channels, the plurality of authorized channels including at least a first channel through which the user receives and/or interacts with first channel information constituting a first portion of the secure user-centric information;

B) establishing a user profile to identify user preferences, platform identities, and service support instructions that determine how the secure user-centric information behaves on the at least one user platform;

C) receiving configuration data indicating one or more user preferences regarding alerts transmitted via the first channel based on the user profile;

D) receiving session data indicating a current state of at least one external device of the user;

E) electronically monitoring at least the first channel information so as to determine one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, based on at least one threshold condition or parameter relating to the first channel information and determined based on the user preferences indicated by the configuration data; and

if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E);

F) determining a notification method by which to provide at least one alert on the at least one external device based on the current state of the at least one external device indicated by the session data;

G) generating notification data according to the determined notification method, wherein the notification data is configured to cause the at least one external device to provide the at least one alert on the at least one external device; and

H) electronically transmitting at least one alert to, or transmitting the notification data to the at least one external device via the first channel without being requested by the user, wherein the transmission of the at least one alert or notification data to the at least one external device is based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the corresponding plurality of authorized channels, the user, and the at least one user platform.

36. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for evaluating secure user-centric information to be provided on at least one user platform operated by a user, the method comprising:

A) implementing a channel grid framework including a matrix of a plurality of authorized channels through which the user receives and/or interacts with, via the at least one user platform, respective portions of the secure user-centric information based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the plurality of authorized channels, the plurality of authorized channels including at least a first channel through which the user receives and/or interacts with first channel information constituting a first portion of the secure user-centric information;

B) establishing a user profile to identify user preferences, platform identities, and service support instructions that determine how the secure user-centric information behaves on the at least one user platform;

C) receiving configuration data indicating one or more user preferences regarding alerts transmitted via the first channel based on the user profile;

D) receiving session data indicating a current state of at least one external device of the user;

E) monitoring at least the first channel information so as to determine one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data, based on at least one threshold condition or parameter relating to the first channel information and determined based on the user preferences indicated by the configuration data; and

if the one or more events, conditions, logical workflows, discrete information values or signal data is/are determined in E);

F) determining a notification method by which to provide at least one alert on the at least one external device based on the current state of the at least one external device indicated by the session data;

G) generating notification data according to the determined notification method, wherein the notification data is configured to cause the at least one external device to provide the at least one alert on the at least one external device; and

H) transmitting at least one alert to, or transmitting the notification data to the at least one external device via the first channel without being requested by the user, wherein the transmission of the at least one alert or notification data to the at least one external device is based at least in part on information access rights and/or security protocols respectively associated with the corresponding plurality of authorized channels, the user, and the at least one user platform.