Patents Represented by Attorney West Corporation
  • Patent number: 6990454
    Abstract: A verification system for obtaining, storing and providing access to information regarding a commitment or position of an individual or entity is provided. In one embodiment the verification system comprises an interactive voice response system or computer program interface capable of obtaining and recording information regarding any of a number of commitments from an individual or entity, such as a commitment to change long distance telephone service providers. The verification system comprises a voice response unit configured to query pertinent information from an individual and record the responses to the queries in a digital format. Upon completion of a successful session, the voice response unit forwards the recorded responses confirming consent, to a storage device, such as a computer server. As desired, the recorded responses can be retrieved from the server by telephone or computer for verification of the consent, commitment, or position of the individual or entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan P. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6965664
    Abstract: Automated system, method, and computer-readable medium for enabling at least one given caller, who may be either a hearing caller or a hearing-impaired caller, to access functionality associated with at least one resource, such as via a telephone number made available to both hearing callers and hearing-impaired callers. The automated systems can comprise at least one computer-based subsystem adapted at least to receive a call from the given caller; issue at least a first prompt in a first format that requests at least a first response; receive a response after issuing the prompt and the at least further prompt; and route the call so as to provide the given caller access to the at least one resource depending on an analysis of the response. The system can include platforms (specialized or standard) for handling transactions with either the hearing caller or the hearing-impaired caller. Methods and computer-readable media for executing these methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan P. McIntosh, Craig A. Webster, David W. Wearne
  • Patent number: 6862343
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, scripts, and computer readable media for facilitating secure capture of sensitive data during a voice-based transaction with a caller conducted over a telecommunications network. In an illustrative embodiment, the method comprises executing a script controlling a flow for the voice-based transaction, during which transaction at least one of sensitive and non-sensitive data may be obtained. The caller is transferred to an automated system in real time in response to the script to capture sensitive data from the caller and to store the sensitive data in a transaction record. The caller is transferred to a live operator in real time in response to the script to capture non-sensitive data from the caller and to store the non-sensitive data in the transaction record. Apparatus, scripts, and computer readable media for realizing the above method and other embodiments of the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Jill M. Vacek, Mark J. Pettay, Hendryanto Rilantono, Mahmood S. Akhwand
  • Patent number: 6819758
    Abstract: An automated method for conducting an outdial telephone campaign, with the method comprising at least the following. At least one target telephone number is selected from a plurality of target telephone numbers, and the at least one target telephone number is dialed. A status resulting from the dialing is identified, including receiving an indicator signal, such as an SIT tone, resulting from the dialing of the at least one target telephone number and a message associated with the indicator signal, and automatically converting the message to a text equivalent. The status is associated with the at least one target telephone number. The above steps are repeated until the outdial campaign is complete. Apparatus, systems, and computer- or machine-readable media for performing the above method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventor: Michelle L. Steinbeck
  • Patent number: 6804331
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for minimizing the risk of fraudulent receipt of telephone calls. The invention described herein provides a method of minimizing fraudulent receipt of telephone calls, with the method including at least the following. One or more authenticated voice samples are associated with at least one person. The person then submits at least one test voice sample during a login process to obtain authorization to receive telephone calls. This test voice samples is captured and the differences between the test voice sample and the one or more authenticated voice samples is quantified. Depending on the degree difference between the at least one authenticated voice sample and the test voice sample, the person's request for authorization to receive telephone calls or training is dispositioned. Apparatus and computer-readable media to realize the above function are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventors: Jill M. Vacek, Mark J. Pettay, Hendryanto Rilantono, Mahmood S. Akhwand