Virtual hallway conversations for remote collaboration

Abstract

Systems and methods include monitoring users logging into a collaboration service for a corresponding online meeting; and assigning a plurality of the users to a virtual waiting room, separate from any corresponding online meeting, in advance of their corresponding online meeting to enable collaboration in the virtual waiting room. The systems and methods can further include notifying the plurality of users when their corresponding online meeting has started for the plurality of users to leave the virtual waiting room.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for programming at least one processor to perform steps of:
 assigning, by a collaboration service, a plurality of the users to a virtual waiting room, separate from any corresponding online meeting, in advance of their corresponding online meeting;   establishing, by the collaboration service, at least one of audio or video communication between the assigned plurality of users in the virtual waiting room; and   notifying the plurality of users when their corresponding online meeting has started.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the notifying comprises providing a view of the virtual waiting room and the corresponding online meeting for a user of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein the view is provided when the corresponding online meeting begins. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein the view includes a doorway view where the corresponding online meeting is shown in the doorway. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein some or all of the plurality of the users assigned to the virtual waiting room are waiting for different corresponding online meetings. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning is based on a profile of each of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein the steps further include
 tracking the assigning of the plurality of users; and   utilizing the tracking for future assignments.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein the steps further include
 obtaining data related to interaction of the users, wherein the interaction is via email or other electronic communication mechanisms; and   utilizing the data related to interaction of the users, for the assigning.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein the profile includes a job function. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the steps further include
 providing a list of people in the virtual waiting room to a user to allow the user to request the virtual waiting room.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the steps further include
 providing a meeting host for a corresponding online meeting a list of the plurality of users currently in virtual waiting rooms.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the steps further include
 providing the plurality of users in the virtual waiting room an option to schedule a future meeting based on their availability.   
     
     
         13 . A method performed by an apparatus comprising at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to carry out the steps comprising:
 assigning, by a collaboration service, a plurality of the users to a virtual waiting room, separate from any corresponding online meeting, in advance of their corresponding online meeting;   establishing, by the collaboration service, at least one of audio or video communication between the assigned plurality of users in the virtual waiting room; and   notifying the plurality of users when their corresponding online meeting has started for the plurality of users to leave the virtual waiting room.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the notifying comprises providing a view of the virtual waiting room and the corresponding online meeting for a user of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the view is provided when the corresponding online meeting begins. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein some or all of the plurality of the users assigned to the virtual waiting room are waiting for different corresponding online meetings. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the assigning is based on a profile of each of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps further include
 providing a list of people in the virtual waiting room to a user to allow the user to request the virtual waiting room.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps further include
 providing a meeting host for a corresponding online meeting a list of the plurality of users currently in the virtual waiting room.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
 assign, by a collaboration service, a plurality of the users to a virtual waiting room, separate from any corresponding online meeting, in advance of their corresponding online meeting,   establish, by the collaboration service, at least one of audio or video communication between the assigned plurality of users in the virtual waiting room, and   notify the plurality of users when their corresponding online meeting has started.