Abstract: Generating automatic responses to requests for information, including: receiving, by a receiving device from a requesting device, a message; determining, in dependence upon content contained in the message and ambient data associated with the receiving device, whether to engage an automated response system; and responsive to determining to engage the automated response system, sending a response to the requesting device.

Abstract: For validating information provided in a conversation, apparatus, methods, and program products are disclosed. The apparatus includes an association module that associates a plurality of items of caller identification data with a caller, an information module that identifies, using a speech recognition application, caller information from speech of the caller during a telephonic conversation with a call recipient, a comparison module that compares the plurality of items of caller identification data with the caller information, and a validation module that calculates a confidence score based on the comparison of the plurality of items of caller identification data with the caller information and presents, to the call recipient, the confidence score.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product for causing a processor to perform the method, where the method includes identifying a plurality of users participating in a multi-user communication, determining a topic of the multi-user communication, obtaining a topical expertise level relative to the topic for each of the identified users, ranking each user participating in the multi-user communication according to the topical expertise level for each user, and modifying, for one or more of the users, at least one parameter of participation in the multi-user communication according to the topical expertise rank of the one or more users.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for securing personally identifiable information include: identifying, present on a computer system, personally identifiable information (‘PII’); ranking the PII for a user identifiable by the PII; setting a time limit for the PII based on the rank; and responsive to the time limit elapsing, performing one or more actions to secure the PII.

Abstract: A method of management notifications on a mobile communication device includes pairing a wearable smart device with the mobile communication device, and automatically disabling notifications on the mobile communication device in response to determining that the paired wearable smart device has moved away from the mobile communication device. For example, the mobile communication device may be a smartphone and the wearable smart device may be a smartwatch. Optionally, the mobile communication device and the wearable smart device may pair using a wireless personal area network standard, such as Bluetooth™, and may also communicate using a wireless local area network, such as Wi-Fi™.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining communications protocol usage based on metrics are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes communicating with a computing device in accordance with a first communications protocol. The method also includes determining whether a predetermined communications metric is met when communicating with the computing device in accordance with the first communications protocol. Further, the method includes initializing communication with the computing device in accordance with a second communications protocol in response to determining that the predetermined communications metric is met.

Abstract: An approach is provided for purchasing items using contactless payment devices (credit cards and debit cards, key fobs, smartcards or other devices). The approach retrieves the contactless payment identifiers that each pertain to a separate payment account used by a user. One of the contactless payment identifiers is selected based on one or more selection criteria, such as user and monetary incentives. The approach further pays for purchases using the payment account that corresponds to the selected contactless payment identifier.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for connecting to a conference device. A device module detects a client device within a short-range wireless communication distance of a conference device. The conference device is reservable for a conference and configured to present content received from the client device. A notification module that sends a notification to the client device in response to determining that the conference device is available. The notification invites the client device to connect to the conference device. A connection module connects the conference device to the client device in response to receiving a connection confirmation from the client device.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing video communication among two or more users is provided. According to an aspect, a method is provided. The method comprises receiving user input of a subject, wherein the user input was captured by a user interface, and determining an interpretation of the captured user input of the subject. The method further comprises determining one or more commands for moving an avatar of the subject based on the interpretation and using the one or more commands for controlling movement of the avatar presented via a computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing user notifications based on user interaction with a computing device are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes measuring user interaction of a predetermined type with the computing device. The method also includes determining whether the measure of user interaction meets a predetermined criterion. Further, the method includes disabling user notification of received communications in response to determining that the measure of user interaction meets the predetermined criterion.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for balancing utilization of infrastructure in a networked computing environment. One example embodiment includes: mapping, for each of a plurality of workloads operating on source devices in a networked computing environment, a corresponding target device within said networked computing environment; accessing topological information defining the networked computing environment; and reducing unbalanced utilization of infrastructure in the networked computing environment including migrating a workload to an alternate device within the networked computing environment, in dependence upon the mapping and topological information.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed that presents, to a user of a device, content items accessible from the device with the content items being identified as familiar to an actual user of the device. In addition, one or more comparable items are also presented with the comparable items being identified as unfamiliar to the actual user of the device. A response is received from the user at the device that differentiates the content items the comparable items with the user being authenticated, or not, based on the response.

Abstract: A method for unmuting a participant in a conference call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request, from a second participant in a conference call, to unmute a voice communication device of a first participant in the conference call. The voice communication device of the first participant is muted prior to receiving the request to unmute. The method includes displaying, in response to receiving the request to unmute, an unmute indicator on an electronic display of the voice communication device of the first participant.

Abstract: A method includes a wireless access point (WAP) automatically entering a power save mode in response to inactivity, wherein the power save mode includes powering off a transmitter of a WAP and reducing power to a processor and a receiver of the WAP. The method further includes periodically enabling the receiver to monitor for a probe request from a client device while the WAP is in the power save mode. Still further, the method includes automatically exiting the power save mode and entering an awake mode in response to receiving a probe request frame from a client device while the WAP is in the power save mode, wherein the awake mode includes powering on the transmitter of the WAP and increasing power to the processor and receiver of the WAP.

Abstract: An approach is provided for a wireless mobile device that includes a processor, a wireless adapter, and a memory to connect to an access point using a generated random pseudo-MAC address that reduces address collisions with other devices. The approach generates a dynamic MAC address for the device. The dynamic MAC address includes a static portion that is based on a portion of an actual MAC address of the device and a dynamic portion that is based on a quasi-random value. The device wirelessly connects to an access point using the generated dynamic MAC address.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product for causing a processor to perform the method are provided. The method includes creating a virtual machine having a virtual machine identifier, and storing an entry in a temporary virtual machine registry, wherein the entry includes the virtual machine identifier, inactivity criteria for the virtual machine, and a responsive action for the virtual machine. The method further includes monitoring the activity of the virtual machine, and initiating the responsive action associated with the virtual machine in response to the virtual machine satisfying the inactivity criteria.

Abstract: One method includes identifying driving conditions associated with a current location of a mobile communication device, receiving a notification to be output on the device, preventing the device from outputting the notification in response to identifying a first driving condition, and outputting the notification on the device in response to identifying a second driving condition. A second method includes identifying one or more driving conditions associated with a current location of a mobile communication device and calculating a driving hazard score as a function of the identified one or more driving conditions. The second method further includes receiving a notification to be output on the device, preventing the device from outputting the notification in response to the driving hazard score exceeding a first threshold value, and outputting the notification on the device in response to the driving hazard score being less than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product for causing a processor to perform the method, where the method includes monitoring media access using a computer, wherein the media access includes a plurality of instances of media access attributable to an individual person. The method further includes identifying a topic for each instance of the media access, and identifying a media quality level for each instance of the media access. The method still further includes determining a topical expertise score for the individual person on one or more of the identified topics as a function of the identified quality level of each instance of the media access.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product for causing a processor to perform the method, where the method includes identifying a plurality of users participating in a multi-user communication, determining a topic of the multi-user communication, obtaining a topical expertise level relative to the topic for each of the identified users, ranking each user participating in the multi-user communication according to the topical expertise level for each user, and modifying, for one or more of the users, at least one parameter of participation in the multi-user communication according to the topical expertise rank of the one or more users.

Abstract: A method is provided for pairing a computing device with a peripheral device. The method includes identifying an application that is running on a computing device, and accessing a list of applications, wherein the list of applications identifies a context description associated with each application. The method further includes identifying accessible peripheral devices and a peripheral device type of each accessible peripheral device, and accessing a list of peripheral device types, wherein the list of peripheral device types identifies a context description associated with each peripheral device type. Still further, the method includes selecting a first one of the accessible peripheral devices having an identified peripheral device type that is, according to the list of peripheral device types, associated with a context description that is, according to the list of applications, associated with the identified application.