Patent ID: 8223673
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for secure conferencing, the method comprising: receiving, using a conference bridge, endpoint selection parameters associated with one or more endpoints that are participating in secure conferencing, wherein the endpoint selection parameters include information indicating endpoints that comprise live audio during the secure conferencing, wherein the endpoint data streams are encrypted using Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), wherein the endpoint selection parameters are sent using a clear text section of SRTP packets; selecting, using the conference bridge, a subset of the endpoints based on the received endpoint selection parameters; decrypting, using the conference bridge, a secure layer of encrypted data streams associated with the endpoints that are included in the selected subset of the endpoints; generating, using the conference bridge, a number of mixed data streams, wherein each mixed data stream is generated by combining a subset of the decrypted data streams, wherein the number of mixed data streams is determined based on the selected subset of the endpoints, and wherein each mixed data stream includes a contributing source identifier (CSRC) indicating endpoints associated with constituent decrypted data streams, each mixed data stream further including synchronization source identifiers (SSRCs) that indicate the endpoints that are associated with the decrypted generated data streams included in the mixed data stream, wherein the SSRCs are included in the CSRC associated with the mixed data stream; encrypting, using the conference bridge, the mixed data streams; and distributing, using the conference bridge, the encrypted mixed data streams by multicasting the encrypted mixed data streams to the one or more endpoints participating in the secure conferencing, wherein the conference bridge generates an output data stream for a multicast group.