WebEx Gateway Selective Client Routing for Meeting Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing web conferencing systems face security concerns and scalability issues due to the need for private network connections and non-scalable complexity, which can allow unauthorized users to join meetings from outside the company firewall.
Innovation Solution
A method for selectively joining clients to either on-premises or off-premises meeting servers using secure protocols, where clients are assigned based on available capacity and authorization, with a firewall configuration to ensure secure and controlled access, allowing seamless integration of local and remote meeting services without requiring a private network connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a private network connection is set up between the EMX unit and the WebEx hosted network, then data security is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a WebEx Gateway as an intermediary device that sits between the private network and the WebEx hosted network. This gateway handles the network translation and communication protocols, allowing secure connections without requiring direct private network links to the hosted network. The gateway acts as a mediator that simplifies the connection architecture while maintaining security through controlled access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the network connection complexity from the customer premises by moving it to the WebEx Gateway located at the service provider's infrastructure. This extraction removes the need for customers to manage complex private network connections while maintaining secure data exchange. The complexity is taken out of the customer's network architecture and handled centrally by the gateway.
2Reliability
If a private network connection is established, then data security is enhanced, but scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The WebEx Gateway is designed as a universal solution that can serve multiple customers and support various network configurations simultaneously. It provides multi-functionality by handling different types of traffic (voice, video, data) and accommodating multiple clients through a single gateway infrastructure. This universal design enables scalability across different organizations without requiring dedicated private connections for each customer.
3Ease of operation
If clients can join meetings from outside the company firewall, then ease of operation is improved, but data security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The WebEx Gateway serves as a secure intermediary that allows clients outside the company firewall to join meetings while maintaining security controls. The gateway acts as a trusted mediator between external clients and the internal meeting infrastructure, enabling access flexibility without compromising data security through controlled protocol translation and authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physical firewall blocking with a protocol-based security mechanism. Instead of relying solely on network-layer firewalls to prevent external access, the system uses application-layer security protocols handled by the gateway to control and monitor client access, allowing flexible access while maintaining security through intelligent protocol management.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a hosted-on-premises meeting exchange server operates seamlessly with web meeting servers. For example, one computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request from a client computer to join a web meeting; determining whether the client computer is coupled to a local network which includes an on-premises-meeting exchange server; in response to determining that the client computer is coupled to the local network, joining the client computer to the web meeting at the on-premises-meeting exchange server when the on-premises-meeting exchange server has sufficient capacity, and otherwise joining the client computer to the web meeting at an off-premises-meeting exchange server; and in response to determining that the client computer is not coupled to the local network, joining the client computer to the web meeting at the off-premises-meeting exchange server.