Method for automatically generating list of meeting participants and delegating permission

Abstract

A method and system automatically generate a list of participants physically present at a meeting and distribute permission to the participants. Identity and key information is collected from the participants during the meeting using at least one personal area network. The identity and key information is stored on a delegation device. Permission to access the services is distributed to the participants over at least one personal area network using the delegation device. The delegation device may include an access control matrix or moveable icons for organizing and distributing participant and permission information.

1 . A method of automatically generating a list of participants physically present at a meeting, and distributing permission to at least one of the participants, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) during the meeting, collecting identity and key information from at least one of the participants using at least one first personal area network;    (B) storing the identity and key information in one or more collection/distribution devices; and    (C) after step (B), distributing permission to access a service to said at least one of the participants over at least one second personal area network using the one or more collection/distribution devices wherein the permission is represented using a digital signature.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first personal area network and the second personal area network are the same.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first personal area network and the second personal area network are different.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more collection/distribution devices comprise a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said permission comprises authority to delegate one or more further permissions to one or more subsequent delegatees.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by infrared light waves.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by digital short-range radio waves.  
   
   
       8 . The method of clam  1  wherein said second personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by infrared light waves.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said second personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by digital short-range radio waves.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said service comprises accessing content.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said service comprises actuating a device.  
   
   
       12 . A graphical user interface on a delegation device comprising: 
 an access control matrix wherein said access control matrix comprises.    one or more subject display areas for displaying subject information regarding one or more subjects physically present at a meeting and from whom identity and key information has been collected using at least one first personal area network, which identity and key information is stored on the delegation device;    one or more object display areas for displaying object information relating to one or more permissions to access a service wherein said permissions are distributed to said one or more subjects over at least one second personal area network using the delegation device and wherein the permissions are represented using a digital signature;    one or more association display areas for displaying association information of said one or more subjects to said one or more objects.    
   
   
       13 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are the same.  
   
   
       14 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are different.  
   
   
       15 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said one or more association display areas comprises one or more access control display areas.  
   
   
       16 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said one or more association display areas comprises one or more capabilities display areas.  
   
   
       17 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said delegation device comprises a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       18 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said service comprises accessing content.  
   
   
       19 . The graphical user interface of  claim 12  wherein said service comprises actuating a device.  
   
   
       20 . (canceled). A graphical user interface on a delegation device comprising: 
 one or more movable subject icons representing one or more subjects physically present at a meeting and from whom identify and key information has been collected using at least one first personal area network, which identity and key information is stored on the delegation device; and    one or more movable subject icons relating to one or more permissions to access a service wherein said permissions are distributed to said one or more subjects over at least one second personal area network using the delegation device and wherein said permissions are represented using a digital signature;    wherein said subject icons are associated with said object icons by physically associating said subject icons with said object icons.    
   
   
       21 . (canceled). The graphical user interface of  claim 20  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are the same.  
   
   
       22 . (canceled). The graphical user interface of  claim 20  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are different.  
   
   
       23 . (canceled). The graphical user interface of  claim 20  wherein the service comprises accessing content.  
   
   
       24 . (canceled). The graphical user interface of  claim 20  wherein the service comprises actuating a device.  
   
   
       25 . A system for automatically generating a list of participants physically present at a meeting, and distributing permission to at least one of the participants, comprising: 
 one or more collection/distribution devices that, during the meeting, collect identity and key information from at least one of the participants using at least one first personal area network; store the identity and key information; and distribute permission to access a service to at least one of the participants over at least one second personal area network, wherein the permission is represented using a digital signature.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are the same.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said first personal area network and said second personal area network are different.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the one or more collection/distribution devices comprise a personal assistant.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said permission comprises the authority to delegate one or more further permissions to subsequent delegatees.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said first personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by infrared light waves.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said first personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by digital short-range radio waves.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said second personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by infrared light waves.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said second personal area network comprises two or more devices that transmit data by digital short-range radio waves.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the service comprises accessing content.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the service comprises actuating a device.