Abstract:
A computing device determines one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call. The computing device identifies one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call. The computing device designates a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to conference calls, and more particularly to dynamically identifying topic experts among participants in a conference call. 
     BACKGROUND 
     During large audience conference calls among co-workers in a business context, there is often an agenda and several topics being discussed. It may be beneficial for the host of the conference call, and also the members of the conference call, to know the expertise of the other people on the conference call. This can allow any questions that arise during the conference call to be directed to the appropriate person. Knowing the expertise of the people on the conference call also makes it clear to the call participants, who the experts are for a given topic. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for designating participants as having one or more topic skills A computing device determines one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call. The computing device identifies one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call. The computing device designates a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product for designating participants as having one or more topic skills, comprising program instructions to determine one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call; program instructions to identify one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call; and program instructions to designate a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a computer system for designating participants as having one or more topic skills, comprising program instructions to determine one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call; program instructions to identify one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call; and program instructions to designate a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for deploying a system for designating participants as having one or more topic skills, comprising: determining one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call; identifying one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call; and designating a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an expert identification system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the operations of the expert identification program of  FIG. 1  in determining experts among conference call participants based on the topic being discussed, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts the current topic being a first topic and the corresponding experts associated with the first topic, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts the current topic being a second topic and the corresponding experts associated with the second topic, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts the current topic being multiple topics and the corresponding experts associated with the multiple topics, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting the hardware components of the expert identification program of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying Figures. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates expert identification system  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, expert identification system  100  includes conference call device  110  and computing device  140  all interconnected via network  130 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, network  130  is the Internet, representing a worldwide collection of networks and gateways to support communications between devices connected to the Internet. Network  130  may include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. In other embodiments, network  130  may be implemented as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). In general, network  130  can be any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between conference call device  110  and computing device  140 . 
     Conference call device  110  includes expert identification program  122  and conference call program  124 . Conference call device  110  may be a desktop computer, a notebook, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld device, a smart-phone, a thin client, or any other electronic device or computing system capable of receiving and sending data to and from other computing devices, such as computing device  140 , via network  130 . Although not shown, optionally, conference call device  110  can comprise a cluster of web devices executing the same software to collectively process requests. Conference call device  110  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Conference call program  124  is software capable of receiving and conducting a telephone call or conference call to one or multiple participants. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, conference call program  124  is capable of displaying a list of conference call participants and information about each conference call participant to the user of conference call device  110  via a user interface. In other embodiments, conference call program  124  may include components to allow the user of conference call device  110  to video conference with other users. Conference call program  124  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Expert identification program  122  is software capable of receiving information, such as a list of conference call participants or expertise information, via user input or from another computing device, such as computing device  140 , via network  130 . In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  determines experts among conference call participants for topics discussed during a conference call based on expertise information for each conference call participant. In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  is also capable of determining topics being discussed during a conference call. In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  is partially integrated with conference call program  124 , while in other embodiments, expert identification program  122  may be fully integrated or separate from conference call program  124 . The operations of expert identification program  122  are discussed in further detail with regards to  FIG. 2  below. 
     Computing device  140  includes conference call program  142  and user interface  144 . In the exemplary embodiment, computing device  140  may be a desktop computer, a notebook, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a handheld device, a thin client, or any other electronic device or computing system capable of receiving and sending data to and from computing devices, such as conference call device  110 , via network  130 . Computing device  140  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     User interface  144  includes components used to receive input from a user and transmit the input to an application residing on computing device  140 . In an exemplary embodiment, user interface  144  uses a combination of technologies and devices, such as device drivers, to provide a platform to enable users of computing device  140  to interact with conference call program  142 . In the exemplary embodiment, user interface  144  receives input, such as textual input received from a physical input device, such as a keyboard, via a device driver that corresponds to the physical input device. 
     Conference call program  142  is a software application capable of receiving user preferences from a user of computing device  140  via user interface  144 . In the exemplary embodiment, conference call program  142  is a sister program of conference call program  124 , and is capable of communicating with other computing devices via a conference call program, such as conference call program  124 . In the exemplary embodiment, conference call program  142  is capable of receiving and conducting a telephone call or conference call to one or multiple participants. In addition, conference call program  142  is capable of displaying a list of conference call participants and information about each conference call participant to the user of computing device  140  via user interface  144 . In other embodiments, conference call program  142  may include components to allow the user of computing device  140  to video conference with other users. The operations and functions of conference call program  142  are described in further detail below with regard to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the operations of expert identification program  122  in determining an expert based on the current topic of a conference call, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  determines the participants and an agenda for a conference call (step  202 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  communicates with a mail server to determine a list of participants and an agenda for a conference call. In other embodiments, where the conference call invitation is created on conference call device  110 , expert identification program  122  may communicate with an email program or another program to retrieve a list of participants and agenda associated with the conference call invitation. 
     Expert identification program  122  determines an expertise for each participant (step  204 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  determines an expertise for each participant associated with the conference call invitation by communicating with another computing device, such as an employer server to obtain employee credentials, a social media website which contains employment and skills information, and other similar computing devices. For example, expert identification program  122  may scan an employee credential or social media website/file for certain keywords, such as “nanotechnology” or “Spanish Literature”, in order to determine the subjects of expertise of a participant. In addition, expert identification program  122  may obtain expertise regarding participants via user input. 
     Expert identification program  122  then detects the start of the conference call (step  206 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  is partially integrated with conference call program  124  and, therefore, is able to determine when a conference call has been initiated by conference call program  124 . In other embodiments, expert identification program  122  may be fully integrated or a separate component from conference call program  124 . In an embodiment where expert identification program  122  is a separate component from conference call program  124 , expert identification program  122  communicates with conference call program  124  in order to determine if a conference call has been initiated. 
     Expert identification program  122  then determines whether any additional participants not listed on the participant list have joined the conference call (step  208 ). In the exemplary embodiment, a participant joins by using login credentials which are associated with the name or an identifier of the participant. As participants join the conference call, expert identification program  122  compares the name or identifier of the participant with the list of participants. If a participant who joined the conference call is not on the list of participants, expert identification program  122  determines the expertise of the participant in the same manner as described above. 
     Expert identification program  122  then identifies the topic being discussed in the conference call (step  210 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  identifies the topic by referencing the agenda retrieved from the mail server, which may include the various topics to be discussed during the conference call. In other embodiments, expert identification program  122  may utilize voice recognition to determine the topic of the conference call by searching for certain keywords or the repetition of certain keywords with the speech of the host or presenter. For example, if the phrase “patent law” is repeated a certain number of times that is above a threshold amount, expert identification program  122  may determine that the topic of the current presentation is “patent law”. 
     Expert identification program  122  then determines experts for the identified topic (step  212 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  determines the experts for an identified topic by matching a participants determined skills or subjects of expertise with the topic being discussed. In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  determines if the relevant skill is substantially similar to the topic being discussed. In other embodiments, expert identification program  122  may utilize a skills dictionary which categorizes certain related skills into groups. Expert identification program  122  then cross-references the topic being discussed with the skills dictionary to determine the group of skills that fit the topic. Expert identification program  122  then determines which participants have a skill or subject of expertise that matches one of the skills included in the group of skills. 
     Expert identification program  122  then displays the determined experts for the current topic to the user of computing device  110  (step  214 ). In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  displays the determined experts utilizing a user interface associated with conference call program  124 . In addition, expert identification program  122  may utilize conference call program  124  to transmit the determined experts for the topic being discussed to other computing devices, such as computing device  140 , where the determined experts corresponding to the specific topic are displayed via user interface  144  in conjunction with conference call program  142 . In other embodiments, expert identification program  122  may determine experts for all topics to be discussed during the conference call and utilize a user interface to display all topics which, when selected, denote the corresponding experts. The displaying of topics and corresponding experts will be discussed in further detail with regard to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 . 
     Expert identification program  122  then determines whether the conference call is complete (step  216 ). In the exemplary embodiment, if expert identification program  122  determines that the conference call is not complete and there is another topic left to discuss, expert identification program  122  returns to step  210  and identifies the topic being discussed (step  216 , “NO” branch). If expert identification program  122  determines that the conference call is complete (step  216 , “YES” branch), the process ends. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the current topic being a first topic and the corresponding experts associated with the first topic, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the depicted embodiment, topic  302 , “Cloud Technology” is the current topic, determined by expert identification program  122  in the manner described above, with the corresponding experts, experts  304  and  306 , highlighted and displayed to a user. In the exemplary embodiment, expert identification program  122  may denote an expert by highlighting as shown or via a different manner, such as an icon. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the current topic being a second topic and the corresponding experts, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the depicted embodiment, topic  402 , “Design Requirements” is the current topic, determined by expert identification program  122  in the manner described above, with the corresponding experts: expert  404 , expert  406 , and expert  408 , highlighted and displayed to a user. In the exemplary embodiment, as stated above, expert identification program  122  may denote an expert by highlighting as shown or via a different manner, such as an icon. 
       FIG. 5  depicts the selection of multiple topics and the corresponding experts, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the depicted embodiment, topic  502 , topic  504 , topic  506 , and topic  508  are the current topics, with icon  510 , icon  512 , icon  514 , and icon  516  associated with each topic respectively, and the corresponding experts depicted in window  518 . As depicted, each topic has a corresponding icon which is utilized to denote whether a participant is an expert in one or more topics. For example, topic  502  represents the topic “Cloud Technology, and is associated with a “cloud icon”, icon  510 . Participants depicted in window  518  who are experts in cloud technology have a “cloud icon” depicted next to the participant name. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a method that performs the process of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to provide functionality for designating one or more skills of conference call participants based on the topic. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure, such as expert identification system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) that performs the processes of the invention for one or more consumers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the consumer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties. 
     In still another embodiment, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for designating one or more skills of conference call participants based on the topic. In this case, a computer infrastructure, such as expert identification system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), can be provided and one or more systems for performing the processes of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device, such as expert identification system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), from a computer readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to perform the processes of the invention. 
     The foregoing description of various embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a block diagram of components of conference call device  110  and computing device  140 , in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 6  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
     Conference call device  110  and computing device  140  include communications fabric  602 , which provides communications between computer processor(s)  604 , memory  606 , persistent storage  608 , communications unit  612 , and input/output (I/O) interface(s)  614 . Communications fabric  602  can be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric  602  can be implemented with one or more buses. 
     Memory  606  and persistent storage  608  are computer-readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory  606  includes random access memory (RAM)  616  and cache memory  618 . In general, memory  606  can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage media. 
     The programs expert identification program  122  and conference call program  124  in conference call device  110 ; and conference call program  142  and user interface  144  in computing device  140  are stored in persistent storage  608  for execution by one or more of the respective computer processors  604  via one or more memories of memory  606 . In this embodiment, persistent storage  608  includes a magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage  608  can include a solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer-readable storage media that is capable of storing program instructions or digital information. 
     The media used by persistent storage  608  may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage  608 . Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto another computer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage  608 . 
     Communications unit  612 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit  612  includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit  612  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. The programs expert identification program  122  and conference call program  124  in conference call device  110 , and conference call program  142  and user interface  144  in computing device  140 , may be downloaded to persistent storage  608  through communications unit  612 . 
     I/O interface(s)  614  allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to conference call device  110  and computing device  140 . For example, I/O interface  614  may provide a connection to external devices  620  such as, a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices  620  can also include portable computer-readable storage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., the programs expert identification program  122  and conference call program  124  in conference call device  110 , and conference call program  142  and user interface  144  in computing device  140 , can be stored on such portable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage  608  via I/O interface(s)  614 . I/O interface(s)  614  can also connect to a display  622 . 
     Display  622  provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor. 
     The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge devices. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or device. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.