Establishing direct secure connection between collaboration devices in a room or space

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface that enables network communications with a plurality of devices participating in collaboration session;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory to store data and instructions executable by the processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive a direct connection request from each of at least first and second devices of the plurality of devices, the direct connection requests for initiating direct communication between the first and second devices, wherein each of the direct connection requests includes a location identifier indicating a location of the respective device;
• determine, based on the location identifiers, if the first and second devices of the plurality of devices are at a same physical location;
• in response to determining that the first and second devices are at the same physical location, generate direct connection instructions enabling the first and second devices to establish a direct connection with each other at the physical location;
• and
• send the direct connection instructions to the first and second devices so as to enable direct communication between the first and second devices.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a direct connection request from each of at least first and second devices of a plurality of devices participating in collaboration session, the direct connection requests for initiating direct communication between the first and second devices, wherein each of the direct connection requests includes a location identifier indicating a location of the respective device;
• determine, based on the location identifiers, if the first and second devices of the plurality of devices are at a same physical location;
• in response to determining that the first and second devices are at the same physical location, generate direct connection instructions enabling the first and second devices to establish a direct connection with each other at the physical location;
• and
• send the direct connection instructions to the first and second devices so as to enable direct communication between the first and second devices.