Providing controlled access to the use of electronic devices

• US 8,935,633 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bush, Christopher L., Garcia, Didier, Nedelka, Joshua F., Rutenburg, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAPANESE, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US12/331,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 709/207, 705/301
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2103 Challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A meeting controller provides controlled access to the use of an electronic device by sending a meeting request to at least one invitee, wherein the meeting request specifies access rights to use only at least one particular feature of multiple features of an electronic device accessible to the invitee during a scheduled time for the meeting. In response to the invitee accepting the meeting request, the electronic device is automatically configured to only provide access to the at least one particular feature allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request and during the scheduled time for the meeting, the invitee is only allowed use of the particular feature of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method in at least one computer system for providing controlled access to the use of an electronic device, comprising:

receiving a meeting request for a meeting with at least one invitee, wherein the meeting request specifies access rights to use only at least one particular feature of a plurality of features of an electronic device accessible to the at least one invitee during a scheduled time for the meeting and to block use of a remaining selection of features of the plurality of features of the electronic device;

responsive to receiving, at the electronic device, the meeting request, scanning the at least one electronic device associated with the at least one invitee to identify the plurality of features by requesting a configuration file from an operating system of the at least one electronic device and detecting the plurality of features of the electronic device from the configuration file, wherein the plurality of features comprise at least one hardware feature, at least one network feature, and at least one application feature;

comparing, by the electronic device, the plurality of features with a selection of features specified for control by the access rights;

identifying, by the electronic device, a first selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the first selection of features are allowed for use during the meeting according to the access rights and a second selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the second selection of features are disallowed from use during the meeting according to the access rights;

displaying, by the electronic device, the first selection of features and the second selection of features in a meeting invitee interface;

displaying, by the electronic device, within the meeting invitee interface, a first selectable option for the at least one invitee to accept the access rights and meeting request;

displaying, by the electronic device, within the meeting invitee interface, a second selectable option for the at least one invitee to select at least one particular feature from among the second selection of features to request to add to the first selection of features;

responsive to the at least one invitee selecting the second selectable option and selecting the at least one particular feature, sending a request to a meeting manager for additional access rights with the at least one particular feature;

responsive to receiving a response from the meeting manager at the electronic device affirming the additional access rights, removing the at least one particular feature from the second selection of features, adding the at least one particular feature to the first selection of features, updating the display of the second selection of features to remove the at least one particular feature, and updating the display of the first selection of features to add the at least one particular feature;

responsive to the at least one invitee selecting the first selectable option to accept the meeting request, downloading, by the electronic device, a module specified by the meeting manager and required to be installed on the electronic device to enforce the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting if the at least one invitee is detected as physically present at a particular location for the meeting, wherein the module is a controller;

installing, by the electronic device, the module on the electronic device;

detecting, by the module, from one or more input interfaces of the electronic device, whether the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, wherein the electronic device is accessible to the invitee during the meeting and the electronic device is not used by the at least one invitee to connectively access the meeting;

responsive to the module detecting the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, activating the module to configure the electronic device to only provide access during the scheduled time for the meeting to the at least one particular feature of the electronic device allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request; and

controlling, by the module, the electronic device to only allowing use of the at least one particular feature of the electronic device by the at least one invitee during the scheduled time for the meeting and blocking use of the at least one remaining features of the plurality of features of the electronic device not allowed in the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request adjustment of the access rights to comprise at least one additional feature from among said plurality of features during the scheduled meeting, independent of which of said plurality of features are already included in the access rights.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

during the meeting specified by the meeting request, receiving a request from the at least one invitee for use of a particular feature not allowed by the access rights from among the plurality of features; and

responsive to a meeting administrator authorizing use of the particular feature during the meeting, adjusting the access rights for the electronic device to allow use of the particular feature not allowed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending a meeting request for a meeting to at least one invitee, further comprises:

sending the meeting request specifying access rights for controlling at least one of at least one network use feature from among the plurality of features of the electronic device, at least one application from among the plurality of features of the electronic device, and at least one hardware element from among the plurality of features of the electronic device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the at least one invitee physically leaving the particular location for the meeting, automatically disabling the module from controlling use of the plurality of features of the electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the meeting request specifying access rights to use only at least one particular feature of the plurality of features of a plurality of separate electronic devices accessible to the invitee during the scheduled time for the meeting;

in response to the at least one invitee accepting the meeting request, automatically configuring each separate electronic device from among the plurality of separate electronic devices to only provide access during the scheduled time for the meeting to the at least one particular feature allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request;

only allowing use of the at least one particular feature of each separate electronic device from among the plurality of separate electronic devices by the at least one invitee during the scheduled time for the meeting and denying use of the selection of features of the plurality of features not allowed in the access rights of each separate electronic device.

7. A system for providing controlled access to the use of an electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to receive a meeting request for a meeting with at least one invitee, wherein the meeting request specifies access rights to use only at least one particular feature of a plurality of features of an electronic device accessible to the at least one invitee during a scheduled time for the meeting and to block use of a remaining selection of features of the plurality of features of the electronic device;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to scan the at least one electronic device associated with the at least one invitee to identify the plurality of features by requesting a configuration file from an operating system of the at least one electronic device and detecting the plurality of features of the electronic device from the configuration file, wherein the plurality of features comprise at least one hardware feature, at least one network feature, and at least one application feature;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to compare the plurality of features with a selection of features specified for control by the access rights;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to identify a first selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the first selection of features are allowed for use during the meeting according to the access rights and a second selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the second selection of features are disallowed from use during the meeting according to the access rights;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display the first selection of features and the second selection of features in a meeting invitee interface;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display, within the meeting invitee interface, a first selectable option for the at least one invitee to accept the access rights and meeting request;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display, within the meeting invitee interface, a second selectable option for the at least one invitee to select at least one particular feature from among the second selection of features to request to add to the first selection of features;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to the at least one invitee selecting the second selectable option and selecting the at least one particular feature, to send a request to a meeting manager for additional access rights with the at least one particular feature;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to receiving a response from the meeting manager at the electronic device affirming the additional access rights, to remove the at least one particular feature from the second selection of features, add the at least one particular feature to the first selection of features, update the display of the second selection of features to remove the at least one particular feature, and update the display of the first selection of features to add the at least one particular feature to add the at least one particular feature;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, in response to the at least one invitee selecting the first selectable option to accept the meeting request, to download a module specified by the meeting manager and required to be installed on the electronic device to enforce the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting if the at least one invitee is detected as physically present at a particular location for the meeting, wherein the module is a controller;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to install the module on the electronic device;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to detect, by the module, from one or more input interfaces of the electronic device whether the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, wherein the electronic device is accessible to the invitee during the meeting and the electronic device is not used by the at least one invitee to connectively access the meeting;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to the module detecting the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, to active the module to configure the electronic device to only provide access during the scheduled time for the meeting to the at least one particular feature of the electronic device allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to control, by the module, the electronic device to only allow use of the at least one particular feature of the electronic device during the scheduled time for the meeting and blocking use of the at least one remaining features of the plurality of features of the electronic device not allowed in the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display an interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request adjustment of the access rights to comprise at least one additional feature from among said plurality of features during the scheduled meeting, independent of which of said plurality of features are already included in the access rights.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, during the meeting specified by the meeting request, to receive a request from the at least one invitee for use of a particular feature not allowed by the access rights from among the plurality of features; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to a meeting administrator authorizing use of the particular feature during the meeting, to adjust the access rights for the electronic device to allow use of the particular feature not allowed.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to send a meeting request for a meeting to at least one invitee, further comprises:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to send the meeting request specifying access rights for controlling at least one of at least one network use feature from among the plurality of features of the electronic device, at least one application from among the plurality of features of the electronic device, and at least one hardware element from among the plurality of features of the electronic device.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, responsive to detecting the at least one invitee physically leaving the particular location for the meeting, to automatically disable the module from controlling use of the plurality of features of the at least one electronic device.

12. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

the meeting manager operative to send the meeting request specifying access rights to use only at least one particular feature of the plurality of features of a plurality of separate electronic devices accessible to the invitee during the scheduled time for the meeting;

the meeting manager, in response to the at least one invitee accepting the meeting request, operative to automatically configure each separate electronic device from among the plurality of separate electronic devices to only provide access during the scheduled time for the meeting to the at least one particular feature allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request;

the meeting manager operative to only allow use of the at least one particular feature of each separate electronic device from among the plurality of separate electronic devices by the at least one invitee during the scheduled time for the meeting and denying use of the selection of features of the plurality of features not allowed in the access rights of each separate electronic device.

13. A computer program product for providing controlled access to the use of an electronic device, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising;

computer usable program code configured to;

receive a meeting request for a meeting with at least one invitee, wherein the meeting request specifies access rights to use only at least one particular feature of a plurality of features of an electronic device accessible to the at least one invitee during a scheduled time for the meeting and to block use of a remaining selection of features of the plurality of features of the electronic device;

responsive to receiving the meeting request, scan the at least one electronic device associated with the at least one invitee to identify the plurality of features by requesting a configuration file from an operating system of the at least one electronic device and detecting the plurality of features of the electronic device from the configuration file, wherein the plurality of features comprise at least one hardware feature, at least one network feature, and at least one application feature;

compare the plurality of features with a selection of features specified for control by the access rights;

identify a first selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the first selection of features are allowed for use during the meeting according to the access rights and a second selection of features from among the selection of features matching the plurality of features, wherein the second selection of features are disallowed from use during the meeting according to the access rights;

display the first selection of features and the second selection of features in a meeting invitee interface;

display, within the meeting invitee interface, a first selectable option for the at least one invitee to accept the access rights and meeting request;

display, within the meeting invitee interface, a second selectable option for the at least one invitee to select at least one particular feature from among the second selection of features to request to add to the first selection of features;

responsive to the at least one invitee selecting the second selectable option and selecting the at least one particular feature, send a request to a meeting manager for additional access rights with the at least one particular feature; and

responsive to receiving a response from the meeting manager at the electronic device affirming the additional access rights, remove the at least one particular feature from the second selection of features, add the at least one particular feature to the first selection of features, update the display of the second selection of features to remove the at least one particular feature, and update the display of the first selection of features to add the at least one particular feature to add the at least one particular feature;

responsive to the at least one invitee selecting the first selectable option to accept the meeting request, download, by the electronic device, a module specified by the meeting manager and required to be installed on the electronic device to enforce the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting if the at least one invitee is detected as physically present at a particular location for the meeting, wherein the module is a controller;

install, by the electronic device, the module on the electronic device;

detect, by the module, from one or more input interfaces of the electronic device, whether the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, wherein the electronic device is accessible to the invitee during the meeting and the electronic device is not used by the at least one invitee to connectively access the meeting;

responsive to the module detecting the at least one invitee is currently physically present in the particular location for the meeting during the scheduled time for the meeting, activate the module to configure the electronic device to only provide access during the scheduled time for the meeting to the at least one particular feature of the electronic device allowed in the access rights specified in the accepted meeting request; and

control, by the module, the electronic device to only allow use of the at least one particular feature of the electronic device during the scheduled time for the meeting and blocking use of the at least one remaining features of the plurality of features of the electronic device not allowed in the access rights during the scheduled time for the meeting.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, the computer usable program code further configured to:

display an interface comprising a selectable option for a user to request adjustment of the access rights to comprise at least one additional feature from among said plurality of features during the scheduled meeting, independent of which of said plurality of features are already included in the access rights.