Identifying a Discussion Topic Based on User Interest Information

Abstract

Functionality is described for identifying a discussion topic based on user interest information. The user interest information may originate from one or more sources, such as the user's search-related behavior. The functionality then provides an opportunity for the user to engage in a communication exchange associated with the identified discussion topic.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a device associated with a user, a query submitted by the user;   associating the query with a topic;   accessing, by one or more processors, information stored in one or more accounts of the user;   identifying, based at least in part on the information, a communication exchange related to the topic, the communication exchange including a plurality of participants discussing the topic; and   providing the communication exchange to the device associated with the user.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises contact information and the method further comprises:
 identifying, from the contact information, a plurality of contacts of the user;   determining that at least one contact of the plurality of contacts of the user is a participant in the communication exchange; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one contact of the plurality of contacts is the participant in the communication exchange.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises a profession of the user and the method further comprises:
 determining that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the profession of the user; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the profession of the user.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the method further comprises:
 determining that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the expertise level of the user; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the method further comprises:
 determining that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange has an expertise level that is greater than the expertise level of the user; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange has the expertise level that is greater than the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the method further comprises:
 determining that the communication exchange lacks a qualified participant that has the expertise level of the user; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the communication exchange lacks the qualified participant that has the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the expertise level of the user is set based on ratings provided by other users. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the information comprises an indication that the user actively participates in communication exchanges and the method further comprises:
 determining that the communication exchange lacks an active participant; and   providing the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the communication exchange lacks the active participant.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 associating the query with a particular type of communication exchange; and   selecting the communication exchange based at least in part on the particular type of communication exchange.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the one or more accounts comprises:
 an electronic mail account;   a social networking account; or   an electronic payment account.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the communication exchange comprises:
 a chat-type communication exchange; or   a message board-type communication exchange.   
     
     
         32 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure one or more computing devices to:
 receive a query submitted by a user; 
 associate the query with a topic; 
 access information stored in one or more accounts of the user; 
 identify, based at least in part on the information, a communication exchange related to the topic, the communication exchange including a plurality of participants discussing the topic; and 
 provide the communication exchange to a device associated with the user. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises contact information and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 identify, from the contact information, a plurality of contacts of the user;   determine that at least one contact of the plurality of contacts of the user is a participant in the communication exchange; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one contact of the plurality of contacts is the participant in the communication exchange.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises a geographic location of the user and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 determine that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the geographic location of the user; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the geographic location of the user.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 determine that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the expertise level of the user; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange shares the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 determine that at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange has an expertise level that is greater than the expertise level of the user; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the at least one participant of the plurality of participants in the communication exchange has the expertise level that is greater than the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises an expertise level of the user and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 determine that the communication exchange lacks a qualified participant that has the expertise level of the user; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the communication exchange lacks the qualified participant that has the expertise level of the user.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the information comprises an indication that the user actively participates in communication exchanges and the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 determine that the communication exchange lacks an active participant; and   provide the communication exchange based at least in part on the determining that the communication exchange lacks the active participant.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the instructions further configure the one or more computing devices to:
 associate the query with a particular type of communication exchange; and   select the communication exchange based at least in part on the particular type of communication exchange.   
     
     
         40 . One or more storage devices comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices, configure one or more computing devices to:
 receive, from a device associated with a user, a query submitted by the user;   associate the query with a topic;   access information stored in one or more accounts of the user;   identify, based at least in part on the information, a communication exchange related to the topic, the communication exchange including a plurality of participants discussing the topic; and   provide the communication exchange to the device associated with the user.