Proactive communication channel controller in a collaborative environment

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling communication channels in a communication network used for an electronic meeting, the computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting, by one or more processors, a set of participant data related to a set of participants of an electronic meeting, wherein the electronic meeting is conducted via a communication network, and wherein the set of participant data describes which participant from the set of participants is best qualified to lead a discussion of a sub-topic of a main topic of the electronic meeting;

determining the main topic of the electronic meeting based on analyzing verbal comments made by a participant from the set of participants during the electronic meeting;

ascertaining, by the one or more processors, one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting, wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics are derived from the main topic;

determining, by the one or more processors and based on the set of participant data and the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics, a set of leader readiness factors for the set of participants of the electronic meeting, wherein the set of leader readiness factors identifies participants that are best qualified to lead the electronic meeting;

detecting, by the one or more processors, that a particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting;

in response to detecting that the particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting:

identifying, by the one or more processors, a particular participant whose level of subject-matter expertise best matches the particular sub-topic as compared to other participants from the set of participants; and

opening, by a hardware communication controller, a communication channel that is dedicated for use, on the communication network, by the particular participant to transmit information to other participants from the set of participants.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting are sets of sequential sub-topics, wherein each sub-topic is derived from a preceding sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to detecting that the particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting, closing by the hardware communication controller, all other communication channels on the communication network that are not dedicated for use by the particular participant.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, by one or more processors, a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is from a group consisting of a network error event, a new main topic presentation event, and a hardware error event in one or more of the devices; and

in response to detecting the triggering event, modifying, by one or more processors, a leadership arrangement of the electronic meeting by transitioning leadership from a current leader to another participant of the electronic meeting.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by one or more processors, an opt-out feature to the particular participant;

receiving, by one or more processors, a selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant; and

in response to receiving the selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant, bypassing the particular participant by closing the communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by the particular participant and opening another communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by another participant of the electronic meeting.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the participant data is from a group consisting of profile information for the participants, social media information for the participants, subject matter expertise information for the participants, calendar information for the participants, and historical electronic meeting engagement information for the participants.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the predicted sub-topics is based on one or more parameters from a group consisting of an historical meeting agenda, an historical participant interaction, and an historical temporal proximity.

8. A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to collect a set of participant data related to a set of participants of an electronic meeting, and wherein the set of participant data describes which participant from the set of participants is best qualified to lead a discussion of a sub-topic of a main topic of the electronic meeting;

program instructions to determine the main topic of the electronic meeting based on analyzing verbal comments made by a participant from the set of participants during the electronic meeting;

program instructions to ascertain one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting, wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics are derived from the main topic;

program instructions to determine, based on the set of participant data and the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics, a set of leader readiness factors for the set of participants of the electronic meeting, wherein the set of leader readiness factors identifies participants that are best qualified to lead the electronic meeting;

program instructions to detect that a particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting;

program instructions to, in response to detecting that the particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting:

identify a particular participant whose level of subject-matter expertise best matches the particular sub-topic as compared to other participants from the set of participants; and

open, by a hardware communication controller, a communication channel that is dedicated for use, on the communication network, by the particular participant to transmit information to other participants from the set of participants.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting are sets of sequential sub-topics, wherein each sub-topic is derived from a preceding sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to, in response to detecting that the particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting, close all other communication channels on the communication network that are not dedicated for use by the particular participant.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to detect a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is from a group consisting of a network error event, a new main topic presentation event, and a hardware error event in one or more of the devices; and

program instructions to, in response to detecting the triggering event, modify a leadership arrangement of the electronic meeting by transitioning leadership from a current leader to another participant of the electronic meeting.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to provide an opt-out feature to the particular participant;

program instructions to receive a selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant; and

program instructions to, in response to receiving the selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant, bypass the particular participant by closing the communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by the particular participant and opening another communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by another participant of the electronic meeting.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the participant data is from a group consisting of profile information for the participants, social media information for the participants, subject matter expertise information for the participants, calendar information for the participants, and historical electronic meeting engagement information for the participants.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein ascertaining the predicted sub-topics is based on one or more parameters from a group consisting of an historical meeting agenda, an historical participant interaction, and an historical temporal proximity.

15. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions are provided as a service in a cloud environment.

16. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to collect a set of participant data related to a set of participants of an electronic meeting, wherein the electronic meeting is conducted via a communication network, and wherein the set of participant data describes which participant from the set of participants is best qualified to lead a discussion of a sub-topic of a main topic of the electronic meeting;

program instructions to determine the main topic of the electronic meeting based on analyzing verbal comments made by a participant from the set of participants during the electronic meeting;

program instructions to ascertain one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting, wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics are derived from the main topic;

program instructions to determine, based on the set of participant data and the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics, a set of leader readiness factors for the set of participants of the electronic meeting, wherein the set of leader readiness factors identifies participants that are best qualified to lead the electronic meeting;

program instructions to detect that a particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting;

program instructions to, in response to detecting that the particular sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics has arisen during the electronic meeting:

identify a particular participant whose level of subject-matter expertise best matches the particular sub-topic as compared to other participants from the set of participants; and

open, by use of a hardware communication controller, a communication channel that is dedicated for use, on the communication network, by the particular participant to transmit information to other participants from the set of participants.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics of the electronic meeting are sets of sequential sub-topics, wherein each sub-topic is derived from a preceding sub-topic from the one or more sets of predicted sub-topics.

18. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to provide an opt-out feature to the particular participant;

program instructions to receive a selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant; and

program instructions to, in response to receiving the selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant, bypass the particular participant by closing the communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by the particular participant and opening another communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by another participant of the electronic meeting.

19. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to detect a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is from a group consisting of a network error event, a new main topic presentation event, and a hardware error event in one or more of the devices; and

program instructions to, in response to detecting the triggering event, modify a leadership arrangement of the electronic meeting by transitioning leadership from a current leader to another participant of the electronic meeting.

20. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

program instructions to provide an opt-out feature to the particular participant;

program instructions to receive a selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant; and

program instructions to, in response to receiving the selection of the opt-out feature by the particular participant, bypass the particular participant by closing the communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by the particular participant and opening another communication channel on the communication network that is dedicated for use by another participant of the electronic meeting.