Abstract: A service center receives information representing user interaction of a user with a presentation while navigating the presentation at a remote device, where the presentation describes a possible solution to a problem related to a product supported by the service center. The service center provides support services for various products on behalf of various product providers. A subject matter of the product is predicted that the user is likely interested in based on the user interaction and one or more skill sets are identified that are required to provide support services for the subject matter of the product, while the user is navigating the presentation. In response to a request received from the remote device requesting a live support, a communications session is established between the user and an agent who qualifies the skill sets to enable the agent to provide live support services to the user.

Abstract: A service center receives first media data from a mobile device over a network, the first media data including at least one of an image and a voice stream presenting an identity of a user associated with the mobile device. The first media data was captured via at least one of a camera and a voice recorder of the mobile device. The user is authenticated by matching the first media data against second media data stored in the service center. The second media data has been previously registered with the service center, where the service center provides support services for a plurality of products on behalf of a plurality of product providers. Upon having successfully authenticated the user, support services are provided to the user for a product that has been registered with the service center by the user on behalf of a vendor.

Abstract: A service center identifies a first and a second users supported by the service center for products registered with the service center, where the service center is configured to provide support services to the users concerning the products on behalf of vendors that provide the products, wherein the first user and the second user have at least one common product registered with the service center. The service center determines whether the first user and the second user are members of a social community that is communicatively coupled to the service center via a first an application programming interface (API), where the social community is hosted by a third party over a network. A message is transmitted to a first mobile device associated with the first user to enable the first user to connect with the second user via the social community without requiring the first user directly accessing the social community.

Abstract: A service center receives a request for posting a message from a mobile device over a network, the request identifying a first discussion forum and a second discussion forum, the message pertaining to a product previously registered with the service center by a user. The message is transmitted to a first server hosting the first discussion forum over the network, together with first credentials retrieved from a database associated with the service center. The first credentials are to allow the first discussion forum to authenticate the user in order to post the message on the first discussion forum. The message is also transmitted to a second server hosting the second discussion forum over the network, together with second credentials retrieved from the database. The second credentials are to allow the second discussion forum to authenticate the user in order to post the message on the second discussion forum.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for facilitating communication between a customer at a retail store and a specialized agent at a remote location. The customer uses an in-store smart client kiosk to initiate a communication session with the agent. The agent can instruct the smart client kiosk to display information relevant to the customer's questions. In embodiments, the messages are XML messages transmitted between the agent's device and the smart client kiosk. The XML information contains information to retrieve content, rather than the content itself, which allows the communication to take place over a small bandwidth connection. Communication takes place in an environment that does not require co-browsing, which allows the agent to analyze large amounts of information but send only helpful information to the client.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, it is determined, at a support center, a relationship between a first product provided by a first vendor and a second product provided by a second vendor. The first and second products have been purchased by a user via a purchasing facility associated with a client of the support center. In response to a first event received from the client or the first vendor indicating a change of the first product, a first message is transmitted to the user on behalf of the client notifying the user the change of the first product. A second message is automatically transmitted to the user offering a support service of a possible change of the second product in view of the relationship between the first and second products, without requiring the user to initiate a request for the support service.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a request is received at a support center a request from a user for registering a product, where the request includes a machine-readable code that uniquely represents the product. In response to the request, the product is identified and product information is compiled based on the machine-readable code without requiring the user to specifically provide the product information. The product information of the identified product is stored in a user asset store associated with the user, where the product information stored in the user asset store is utilized subsequently for supporting identified product.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a first request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a first user for a first product provided by a first client. A second request is received at the services API of the support center from a second user for a second product provided by a second client. A first knowledgebase (KB) associated with the first client and a second KB associated with the second client are identified. A third KB that contains information common to the first product and the second product is identified. The first KB and the third KB are enabled to be accessible by a first agent assigned to provide support services of the first product. The second KB and the third KB are enabled to be accessible by a second agent assigned to provide support services of the second product.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a support services application programming interface (API) of a support center that provides support services to a plurality of products of a plurality of vendors, where the request is received from a user for support services of a product. In response to the request, a case identifier (ID) is instantly generated that uniquely identifies a current instant support services session associated with the user for supporting the product. A touch plan is dynamically created representing an instance of the support services session, where the touch plan is identified and tracked by the case ID. A communication session is established between an agent and the user to allow the agent to provide support services to the user based on the touch plan.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a user for support services of a product provided by a client of the support center. In response to the request, one or more articles associated with the product are identified that have been published in an online publication forum, where the articles have been extracted from a knowledgebase (KB) based on a support history of the product maintained by the support center. A list of support options is presented to the user, including a first one-touch button to contact an agent of the support center and a link to the one or more articles of the publication forum to allow the user to attempt finding a solution to the product without having to contact the agent of the support center.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a user for support services of a product. A first list of one or more communication channels that are available for the user to contact an agent of the support center is generated based on a second list of one or more communication channels preferred by the user and a third list of one or more communication channels preferred by a vendor associated with the product. The first list of one or more communication channels is transmitted via the service API to the user. In response to a selection of a communication channel from the first list, a communication session is established between the user and the agent via the selected communication channel for providing support services of the product on behalf of the vendor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to establish temporal alignment of media clips. In an example embodiment, first and second media clips each contain an audio portion and the method comprises: determining an estimated global offset between the first and second clips; choosing a first test region of the first clip and identifying a corresponding second test region in the second clip based at least in part on the estimated global offset. The first and second test regions are compared to determine a local offset.

Abstract: An approach for over the phone interpretation call management is provided herein. Calls from customers of a client are received at an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system, which determines a language of the caller by detecting the language or language selection by keypad entry. The IVR system forwards the call along with a modified ANI number to a Call Management Center (CMC), which determines an appropriate agent to handle the call based on the client information and the modified ANI number. The call is then forwarded to the agent and a screen corresponding to the call is activated in a call service application for the agent. Additional applications such as quality monitoring are concurrently executed with the call processing.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing media clips uses audio data of the media clips. The method estimates a global offset between two media clips. The global offset may be determined in a wide variety of ways. The method selects a first test region of the audio track of the first media clip and uses the global offset to identify a corresponding second test region in the audio track of the second media clip. The first and second test regions are compared, for example by cross-correlation, to determine a local offset. In some embodiments a plurality of local offsets are determined for different parts of the media clips. A computer system may perform the method to automatically synchronize media clips.

Abstract: Call center management with at home agent access based on caller language is provided herein. Calls from customers of a client are received at an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system, which determines a language of the caller by detecting the language or language selection by keypad entry. The IVR system determines an available at home agent with the proper language skills and forwards the call to be processed by the at home agent. The at home agents can call the call center to set their status. Information associated with the call may be collected and used by associated system(s) such as quality control, status monitoring, financial processing, and the like.

Abstract: In embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods of handling calls received from customers. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a call from a customer who called a promotional telephone number. The phone call is connected to an IVR system. The IVR system maintains a set of rules for handling calls. The method further includes creating a call detail record, which includes a unique identifier, a source telephone number, and the promotional telephone number. A customized greeting is then played to the customer based on the promotional telephone number the customer dialed. Based on the rules for handling calls, the call is redirected from the IVR system to an agent along with transmitting and displaying the call detail record to the agent.

Abstract: An approach for monitoring interaction between individuals engaged in a communication session is disclosed. The individuals are described herein as a customer service representative and a customer and the communication session is accomplished over a communication network. Audio data embodying the communication session is copied and stored to a media file in conjunction with video data captured by a video capture device monitoring the customer service representative. The media file is a data structure in which the audio data and the video data are stored in segmented fashion. Each segment of audio data is associated with a segment of video data based on a common time reference, thereby providing synchronized documentation of the communication session. The media file is stored on a database and available to a supervisor using a server computer to monitor the communication session for quality assurance or other evaluation purposes.

Abstract: An approach for monitoring interaction between individuals engaged in a communication session is disclosed. The individuals are described herein as a customer service representative and a customer and the communication session is accomplished over a communication network. Audio data embodying the communication session is copied and stored to a media file in conjunction with video data captured by a video capture device monitoring the customer service representative. The media file is a data structure in which the audio data and the video data are stored in segmented fashion. Each segment of audio data is associated with a segment of video data based on a common time reference, thereby providing synchronized documentation of the communication session. The media file is stored on a database and available to a supervisor using a server computer to monitor the communication session for quality assurance or other evaluation purposes.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and method for providing information to an in-store customer. An embodiment of the system includes several radio frequency identification (RFID) tags placed in predetermined areas within the shopping area. A mobile device, carried by the customer, receives signals from the RFID tags. The signals are used to determine the location of the customer within the store. The determined location is used by an information server to return location-specific information and advertising to the mobile device. The mobile device displays the location-specific information and advertising to the customer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to shared call centers. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a shared call center that is in electrical communication with one or more client call centers. The shared call center, in embodiments, provides monitoring of agent personnel, provides customization of agent desktop applications or provides evaluation of agent personnel.