Abstract: Techniques for efficiently allocating ports and bandwidth in a communication system configured to establish interactive, real time communication sessions between endpoints are described. Requests are received at a server, from a requester endpoint device, to initiate an interactive, real time communication voice and/or video session requiring access to an interactive session resource. In an embodiment, the communication system is a contact center and the interactive session resource is an available contact center agent. Pending availability of the interactive session resource, a requester is assigned a place in a queue or otherwise scheduled to receive access to the interactive session resource. In the meantime, a data channel is established between the server and the requester's endpoint device. Resources, which can include an executable program and/or information operative to enable the endpoint device to emulate an active on-hold voice connection period, are downloaded to the endpoint device.

Abstract: At least one social media channel includes a plurality of user messages, which are accessible via a communication network. At least some of the stored messages are retrieved from the at least one social media channel via the communication network, and a collection of frequently asked questions (FAQ) is generated or updated by analyzing the retrieved messages to form a plurality of topical issue clusters. Each topical issue cluster is associated with at least one topic parameter from among a plurality of topic parameters, each topic parameter relates to at least one of use, installation or maintenance of a product or service, and each topical issue cluster includes at least one issue identified by a community of users and at least one resolution of the issue identified by the community of users. The generated or updated FAQ is uploaded to a storage location accessible to the community of users.

Abstract: Systems are provided to manage pauses, including on-hold, conditions in communications, such as text-based communications. Users may be provided with messages at a pace that, among other things, allows a particular cadence of messages to be maintained, even if a reply has been created. Accordingly, resources of a contact center may be better allocated to other matters requiring attention without causing undue customer dissatisfaction or the burden of handling additional messages. While voice-based “hold” conditions may be managed with messages or music on hold, text-based communications may be managed with social messaging content and/or comfort messages.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically responding to requests for information, derived from one or more data sources, relating to at least one event participant. A notification of a scheduled event is received at a server. The notification identities a plurality of individuals invited to attend or participate in an event. Data attributes relating to the event participants are retrieved from one or more data sources and stored. The data attributes can include personal attributes, professional attributes, and social interaction attributes. Before, during or after an event, requests are received and processed to provide event participants and other interested parties access to contextual information relating event participants to one another, the identities of event participants possessing one or more attributes, and lists of attributes for one or more known event participants. The requests can include images and sound recordings captured during the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically responding to requests for information, derived from one or more data sources, relating to at least one event participant. A notification of a scheduled event is received at a server. The notification identities a plurality of individuals invited to attend or participate in an event. Data attributes relating to the event participants are retrieved from one or more data sources and stored. The data attributes can include personal attributes, professional attributes, and social interaction attributes. Before, during or after an event, requests are received and processed to provide event participants and other interested parties access to contextual information relating event participants to one another, the identities of event participants possessing one or more attributes, and lists of attributes for one or more known event participants. The requests can include images and sound recordings captured during the event.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for providing multimodal interaction aids in multimedia events. The system presents a multimedia event to a participant which has limited access to the multimedia event, wherein the limited access prevents the participant from experiencing every mode of the multimedia event. The system also generates a cue associated with the multimedia event, wherein the cue is structured according to the limited access of the participant. The system then transmits the cue to a device associated with the participant.

Abstract: Associating customers of a contact center with their social media presence may provide mutual benefits to the customer and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a customer initially calls a contact center, they are provided with a code and asked to post the code on a page or other aspect of the company's social media presence. The social media identity of the customer can then be associated with the customer placing the call. The call center can then access additional information about the customer and respond accordingly.

Abstract: Text-based automated customer service agents provide an attractive contact center interaction for may customer-agent communications. However, the “say anything” nature of text may result in additional problems not encountered in prompted interactions. A single misunderstanding or error may cause an automated communication to fail, however, by providing micro-tasks to a human agent, an automated communication may be maintained longer with benefit of a human agent's input. A lack of progress towards completion of a work item may cause the communication to be routed to a human agent and/or a different channel (e.g., voice, email, etc.). Accordingly, a micro-task or an opt-out operation may be provided to maintain the communication with an automated agent for as long as possible but yet provide improved customer service when necessary.

Abstract: Text-based automated customer service agents provide an attractive contact center interaction for may customer-agent communications. However, the “say anything” nature of text may result in additional problems not encountered in prompted interactions. A single misunderstanding or error may cause an automated communication to fail, however, by providing micro-tasks to a human agent, an automated communication may be maintained longer with benefit of a human agent's input. A lack of progress towards completion of a work item may cause the communication to be routed to a human agent and/or a different channel (e.g., voice, email, etc.). Accordingly, a micro-task or an opt-out operation may be provided to maintain the communication with an automated agent for as long as possible but yet provide improved customer service when necessary.

Abstract: Systems are provided to manage pauses, including on-hold, conditions in communications, such as text-based communications. Users may be provided with messages at a pace that, among other things, allows a particular cadence of messages to be maintained, even if a reply has been created. Accordingly, resources of a contact center may be better allocated to other matters requiring attention without causing undue customer dissatisfaction or the burden of handling additional messages. While voice-based “hold” conditions may be managed with messages or music on hold, text-based communications may be managed with social messaging content and/or comfort messages.

Abstract: A device, system, and method validates strength values for security questions associated with an online account. The method performed by an online service server includes receiving a security question data from a user device, the security question data being utilized for a user authentication to access an account of a user. The method includes performing a search, using third party sources, to generate search result data, the search result data being indicative of an availability value of responses to the security question data. The method includes determining a strength value of the security question data based on the search result data.

Abstract: A device, system, and method gives temporary control of a user device using location based grants. The method performed by a control server of a third party is performed when the user device is in a predetermined area. The method includes transmitting authentication data to the user device, the authentication data configured to authenticate the third party to the user device, the predetermined area being associated with the third party. The method includes receiving a request from the user device for command data, the command data configured to be executed on the user device to provide the third party with a limited control over the user device while the user device remains in the predetermined area. The method includes transmitting the command data to the user device.

Abstract: Associating callers of a contact center with their social media identity may provide mutual benefits to the caller and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a caller initially calls a contact center, they are prompted, and possibly incentivized, to provide a social media identity. The social media identity may or may not have an affinity with an organization on the social media website. If not, the caller is provided with the opportunity to establish the affinity. If the caller does establish the affinity, the call may be identified as having a positive sentiment or negative sentiment if the caller does not do so. The call, or future calls, with the caller may then be processed accordingly.

Abstract: Associating callers of a contact center with their social media identity may provide mutual benefits to the caller and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a caller initially calls a contact center, they are prompted, and possibly incentivized, to check into a virtual venue. The caller may then be known, via an associated social media identity, to the contact center. The virtual venue may then receive access to comments and other posts, such as endorsements, provided by connects to the social media identity and process the call in accordance with the sentiment or utilize the social media network for post-call follow-up.

Abstract: Associating callers of a contact center with their social media identity may provide mutual benefits to the caller and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a caller initially calls a contact center, they are prompted, and possibly incentivized, to provide a social media identity. The social media identity may or may not have an affinity with an organization on the social media website. If not, the caller is provided with the opportunity to establish the affinity. If the caller does establish the affinity, the call may be identified as having a positive sentiment or negative sentiment if the caller does not do so. The call, or future calls, with the caller may then be processed accordingly.

Abstract: Associating customers of a contact center with their social media presence may provide mutual benefits to the customer and contact center. For example, a business operating a contact center can receive information about their current and potential customers and customers can receive additional information, incentives, or other perks by allowing access to their social media profile. When a customer initially calls a contact center, they are provided with a code and asked to post the code on a page or other aspect of the company's social media presence. The social media identity of the customer can then be associated with the customer placing the call. The call center can then access additional information about the customer and respond accordingly.

Abstract: Customers may use a number of channels to communicate with a business or other organization. If a customer initially posts an issue on social media and, before seeing a response, initiates a communication via a different channel (e.g., telephone call, email, etc.) to address the same issue, duplicative efforts may be reduced or eliminated. The customer is identified as being associated with the social media post and background information may be extracted from the social media post. If the issue is addressed on the social media site, the customer is notified, even if they are presently engaged in the communication via the different channel. If the customer is satisfied with the response, they may discontinue the communication via the different channel. If the customer is not satisfied, an agent may be assigned based, at least in part, on information gained from the social media website.

Abstract: A contact center is operated by reference to response time statistics and social media analytics. A method for identifying a user population's sensitivity to response time delay comprises monitoring social network messaging activity to identify user messages associated with the user population. In some embodiments, the activity relates to at least one of an entity or a product or service associated with the entity. The user population may be selected on the basis of a socio-demographic characteristic or on the basis of observable social networking behavior and/or sentiment over a prior selection phase. The method further includes selecting a loyalty transition boundary identified by detecting a difference in aggregate sentiment between a first group of users receiving a response delayed by a first time period and a second group of users receiving a response delayed by a second time period greater than the first time period.

Abstract: Questions are received for a conference call. The questions are submitted electronically, such as by email or Instant Messaging (IM). The questions can be submitted before and/or during the conference call. The questions are clustered into one or more similar categories. The clustered questions are sent to participants of a conference. For example, the questions can be sent to a presenter of the conference call as an agenda to follow for a question and answer section of the conference call. Likewise, the questions may also be sent to the conference participants as an agenda of the question and answer section of the conference call. The presenter can discuss the questions with the conference participants based on the categorization of the submitted questions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing and conducting communication sessions augmented by contextual information. A call originator initiates a request to establish a communication session. The endpoint furnishes information identifying the call originator and intended call recipient(s). The method receives the request from the call originator and retrieves contextual information relating the call originator to the intended call recipient. If no contextual information has yet been derived, the contextual information is generated from data attributes available from one or more social networking sites. In some embodiments, the method generates the contextual information according to a set of rules and, if applicable, user preferences. The method handles the call request based on at least one of a set of rules, user preferences, and scheduling input received from the intended recipient responsive to receipt of the contextual information.