# US 2019/0378076 A1 · Meeting Management

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- Number: US 2019/0378076 A1
- Document ID: US20190378076A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/001,230
- Filed: 2018-06-06
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Jonathan T. O'Gorman; Anamitra Bhattacharyya; Boris Dozortsev; Kavita Patil; Krishnamohan Dantam; Yajin Zheng; Jonathan Dunne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190378076A1

## CPC

- G06Q 10/06398: {Performance of employee with respect to a job function}
- H04M 3/56: Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities (video conference systems H04N7/15)
- H04M 2201/16: Sequence circuits
- H04M 2201/40: using speech recognition
- H04M 2203/2044: Group features, e.g. closed user group
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A computer implanted method of updating a user joining a group after a user-relevant topic has been discussed, the method includes, with a processor operatively-coupled to a memory: identifying the user joining group after a first topic has been discussed in the current session of the group; and determining interest of the user in the first topic, wherein if the first topic is determined to be of interest to the user, providing an automated summary of the first topic to the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer implanted method of updating a user joining a group after a user-relevant topic has been discussed, the method comprising, with a processor operatively-coupled to a memory:
identifying the user joining group after a first topic has been discussed in the current session of the group; and
determining interest of the user in the first topic, wherein if the first topic is determined to be of interest to the user, providing an automated summary of the first topic to the user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the automated summary is provided in a channel other than the channel providing the conference call.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the automated summary is provided by email.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the automated summary is provided in a chat window.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining interest of the user in the first topic comprises comparing the topic against the user's areas of expertise.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising querying a database containing information on the user and receiving information on the user from the database.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein an identity of the user is verified as part of joining the user to the conference call.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the user is identified by a phone number used to communicate with the conference call.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the user is identified by a password used to access the conference call.

### Claim 10

A method of increasing engagement of a user on a topic relevant to the user, the method comprising, with a computer having an associated memory:
identifying a list of topics to be addressed in a meeting;
identifying topics from the list of topics relevant to a first user;
determining a desired level of engagement by the first user for each topic of the list of topics;
monitoring engagement of the first user; and
when engagement by the first user is below a desired level of engagement for a new topic, prompting the user to increase engagement.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the prompt is provided over an audio channel providing the audio of the meeting to the first user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the prompt is provided in a display.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the desired level of engagement is greater for topics relevant to an area of expertise of the user than for areas unrelated to the area of expertise of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising: creating a timeline of desired engagement of the first user based on areas of expertise of the first user and the list of topics.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising, displaying the timeline to the first user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the timeline comprises an indicator of the current time on the timeline.

### Claim 16

A system for managing topics in a meeting, the system comprising:
a processor with an associated memory, the associate memory containing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform the following operations:
identifying an agenda for the meeting, the agenda comprising a list of topics for the meeting;
identifying participants in the meeting;
determining an area of expertise for participants in the meeting;
determining areas of expertise for each topic;
indicating which topics have a participant present with expertise in each area of expertise for the topic;
receiving user input to adjust the order of topics;
monitoring engagement of participants in the meeting;
in response to moving to a new topic, prompting a participant with expertise relevant to the new topic when the participant has a level of engagement below a threshold;
detecting a new participant joining the meeting after a first topic has been discussed; and
providing an automated summary of the discussion of the first topic in the meeting to the new participant if the new participant has an area of expertise relevant to the first topic.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the automated summary is provided in written format.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the automated summary is displayed in a chat window.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein monitoring participant engagement comprises monitoring participant speech in the meeting.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein monitoring user engagement comprises monitoring participant activity on a device being used to communicate with the meeting.