Method and apparatuses for locating an expert during a collaboration session

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses include requesting an expert during a collaboration session; determining a subject matter of the collaboration session; detecting a potential participant to serve as the expert; and inviting the potential participant to join the collaboration session.

1 . A method comprising: 
 requesting an expert during a collaboration session;    determining a subject matter of the collaboration session;    detecting a potential participant to serve as the expert; and    inviting the potential participant to join the collaboration session.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising detecting the subject matter based on content shared during the collaboration session.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising receiving the subject matter from a participant of the collaboration session.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising initiating the collaboration session.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising identifying a status of the potential participant.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the status is one of available, unavailable, and undetermined.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the status is one of via a cellular phone, via land line, via email, and via instant messenger.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising contacting the potential participant through a selected communications channel.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the selected communications channel is one of via a cellular phone, via land line, via email, and via instant messenger.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the requesting is performed by a presenter participant.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the requesting is performed by an attendee participant.  
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising: 
 a storage module configured to store a record containing an attribute associated with a potential expert in a collaboration session;    a content detection module configured to detect a subject matter corresponding to the collaboration session; and    a controller module configured to update the attribute within the record based on the subject matter.    
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein storage module is configured to store the attribute with the record.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12  further comprising a participant recognition module configured to detect a participant during the collaboration session.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the participant is the attribute.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the content detection module further comprises determining the subject matter from content exchanged during the collaboration session.  
     
     
         17 . A system comprising: 
 means for requesting an expert during a collaboration session;    means for determining a subject matter of the collaboration session;    means for detecting a potential participant to serve as the expert; and    means for inviting the potential participant to join the collaboration session.    
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the means for determining includes a content recognition module configured to detect the subject matter of the collaboration session.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the means for detecting includes a storage module configured to store an attribute of the potential participant.