Abstract: Methods and structure of enabling secure communications between a customer computer system and a vendor support representative computer system despite firewall security on either or both systems. One embodiment provides for a collaboration center with a rendezvous service and an interaction service responsive to communications from the support representative or the customer. The rendezvous service initiates the communications between the customer and an appropriate support representative selected according to rendezvous rules provided by the vendor. Once selected, the support representative and customer systems interact by exchanging requests and responses through the interaction service using standard HTTP and Web protocols and interfaces. The communications utilize standard Web browser client programs on the respective computers and standard Web HTTP protocols that pass through typical firewall protection.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes generating a list of virtual collaboration facilities associated with an authenticated user, and detecting selection of one of the virtual collaboration facilities on the list. An authenticated user can request a key to be issued to allow an unauthenticated user to gain access to the selected virtual collaboration facility.