Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatically controlling an electronic illumination device to indicate information pertaining to workstations or agents of a customer contact center. Some embodiments are useful in the context of employee management because the illumination devices are used to indicate information about tasks that employees are engaged in, the performance of the employees, and the status of the employees. A computer system coupled to the illumination device executes control software configured to send control signals over a communication interface, such as USB or Bluetooth. The data sent to the electronic illumination device can cause the illumination device to turn off or on, change color, blink, strobe, etc., for producing desired lighting effects representative of a status or event associated with an employee or workstation.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an electronic device includes an electrical and physical interface operable to be coupled to a port of a computer system that includes a processor. The electronic device also includes a casing housing the interface. In addition, the electronic device includes a circuit board including circuitry housed within the casing. The circuitry receives control signals from the computer system over the interface and controls an illumination element. The illumination element is disposed on the casing and is operable to produce a color that corresponds to a real-time status associated with the computer system. The real-time status is determined by the processor and information read by the processor from the computer system. Moreover, the electronic device includes a beacon technology system housed within the casing. The beacon technology system is operable to communicate with a beacon technology system externally located to the electronic device.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, various computer implemented methods are provided for generating context sensitive alerts for the purposes of fraud detection and prevention. According to one embodiment, a communication (e.g., a call) is received at (or initiated by) a workstation by a human representative or agent. Verbal (voice) communication between the agent and the third party customer is monitored and converted into text. The agent's activity in applications executing in the workstation is also tracked. The combination of converted text and the activity of the agent is evaluated in a behavior engine to detect inconsistencies between the activity of the agent and authorized or typical activity. When inconsistencies are detected, security actions are performed to alert administrators of potential fraud and, in extreme cases, further action by the agent may be prevented in the workstation to prevent additional fraud.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications module that establishes a telephonic connection between a customer service representative of a merchant and a customer. An identification module receives an identifier. The identifier alerts a computer system of the merchant that the customer is associated with a billing profile stored on a computer system external to the computer system available to the merchant and the customer service representative. A billing profile access module receives information from the billing profile. The billing profile includes billing information of the customer. The billing profile is electronically accessed using the external computer system, via a network, to process a sales order between the customer and the merchant. A transaction module processes the sales order using the billing profile of the customer in response to a customer approval of the sales order. The transaction module shields the billing information of the billing profile from the customer service representative.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications module that establishes a telephonic connection between a customer service representative of a company and a customer through an electronic device. An identification module receives an identifier that alerts the customer service representative and/or a computer system of the company that the customer has a customer profile that includes information to identify the customer. The identifier is received in conjunction with the telephonic connection. The customer profile is stored previous to the telephonic connection. An ID request module sends a request to the customer to provide identifying information via the electronic device of the customer. The identifying information is input to the electronic device by the customer using an electronic, non-verbal technique. An ID confirmation module receives an identification confirmation in response to the identifying information input by the customer matching the information to identify the customer in the customer profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications module that establishes a verbal communication between a customer service representative of a company and a customer through an electronic device in the possession of the customer. An identification module receives an identifier that alerts the customer service representative and/or a computer system of the company that the customer has a customer profile stored electronically. The customer profile includes information to identify the customer. An ID confirmation module receives an identification confirmation in response to identifying information input by the customer matching the information to identify the customer in the customer profile. The identity of the customer is confirmed electronically while masking sensitive information from the customer service representative. A notification module sends a message to the customer service representative indicating that the ID confirmation module received the identification confirmation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a registration module that creates and stores a customer billing profile of a customer with billing information, contact information and/or shipping information of the customer. A phone connection module establishes a telephonic connection between the customer and an automated attendant of a merchant. An identifier module sends an identifier to the automated attendant after establishing the telephonic connection. The identifier links the customer to a customer billing profile. A sales identifier module identifies to the automated attendant a product and/or a service offered by the merchant as part of a sales order. A billing profile module provides the automated attendant electronic access to the customer billing profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications module that establishes a telephonic connection between a customer service representative of a company and a customer. An identification send module sends an identifier that alerts the customer service representative that the customer has a customer profile that includes information to identify the customer. An ID request receiver module receives a request to provide identifying information via the electronic device and displays the request to the customer. An ID input module receives the identifying information from the customer and masks the identifying information from the customer service representative. An ID comparison module compares the identifying information input by the customer with the information in the customer profile.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications module that establishes a verbal communication between an automated attendant of a company and a customer through an electronic device in the possession of the customer. An identification module receives an identifier that alerts the automated attendant and/or a computer system of the company that the customer has a customer profile stored electronically. The customer profile includes information to identify the customer. The identifier is received in conjunction with the verbal communication, and includes an electronic data signal. The customer profile is stored previous to the verbal communication. An ID confirmation module receives an identification confirmation in response to identifying information input by the customer matching the information to identify the customer in the customer profile. The identity of the customer is confirmed electronically.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing telephone orders includes a communications module that establishes a telephonic connection between a customer service representative of a merchant and a customer, and an identification module that receives an identifier linking the customer to a billing profile a billing profile access module that receives electronic access to the billing profile. The billing profile includes billing information of the customer. The apparatus includes a transaction module that processes a sales order using the billing profile of the customer in response to a customer approval of the sales order. The sales order is for a product and/or a service offered by the merchant. The billing information of the billing profile is unavailable for viewing by the customer service representative.

Abstract: A method for authentication includes receiving a log-in request at a first client computer, and capturing user information with the request. The method includes capturing an image of the user, and sending a request for authentication, including the user information and image, to an authentication server. The method includes determining a representative user based on the user information, and determining an authorizing agent responsible for authorizing the representative user. The method includes sending the authentication request to a client computer associated with the authorizing agent, and providing verified identification information of the representative user along with the request so that the authorizing agent can perform authentication of the requesting user based on the user information, the captured image, and the verified identification information.

Abstract: A method of fraud detection is disclosed. The method includes determining that a first agent at a first workstation of a contact center is not on a call at a first time. The contact center includes a plurality of workstations attended to by a plurality of agents. The method includes determining that the first agent is accessing a client based resource at the first time, wherein the resource is associated with a client. The method includes collecting electronic evidence of the first workstation.