Patents Examined by Harry S. Hong
  • Patent number: 11019214
    Abstract: Techniques for pairing contacts and agents in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for pairing contacts and agents in a contact center system comprising: assigning, by at least one computer processor communicatively coupled to and configured to operate in the contact center system, a contact to an agent based on information associated with a prior interaction of the contact with the contact center system. The assigning of the contact to the agent may result in a less favorable outcome for the contact assigned to the agent and an increase in an overall performance of the contact center system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Afiniti, Ltd.
    Inventor: Vikash Khatri
  • Patent number: 11012561
    Abstract: This application discloses the display of stored information when creating a dialstring for use with mobile smartphones and other computer-enabled telephones. A software app recognizes input from the user (such as the initial digits of a phone number) that identifies the organization to be called, and accesses stored representations of information along with corresponding IVR phone tree information and user display preferences. The app then presents a representation of all or part of the retrieved information on a display using the user's language preferences. The user can then respond to the representation by providing selective inputs that cause the synthesis all or part of the dialstring needed to navigate the phone tree to the desired destination. Once a dialing option has been synthesized, the user may provide additional input that the system interprets as an instruction to open a phone call and dial the synthesized number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Zhuangzi Li and Associates
    Inventors: Zhuangzi Li, Franklin M. Schellenberg
  • Patent number: 11011151
    Abstract: A loudspeaker arrangement includes an air-tight, rigid, thermo-conductive enclosure (103) with an aperture (115) and an outer surface, and a loudspeaker (101) air-tightly mounted in the aperture (115) to form a locked acoustic volume within the enclosure (103). The arrangement further includes a multiplicity of thermo-conductive fins (112) attached to or integrated in the enclosure (103) at the outer surface thereof. The multiplicity of fins (112) is distributed over the outer surface of the enclosure (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Markus Christoph
  • Patent number: 11005995
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an agent behavioral analytics including transcribing an incoming call to produce a call transcription; and using a trained convolutional neural network (CNN) to produce behavioral labels for the agent in the incoming call for behavioral metrics, based on the call transcription. The CNN may include an embedding layer to convert words in the call transcription into vectors in a word embedding space; a convolution layer to perform a plurality of convolutions on the vectors and to generate vectors of features; a pooling layer to concatenate the vectors of features to a single vector by taking a maximum of each feature generated by the convolution layer; and a classification layer to produce grades of the agent in the incoming call for the set of attributes or behavioral metrics, based on the single vector generated by the pooling layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NICE LTD.
    Inventors: Hila Weisman, Raanan Gonen, Rana Daoud, Hila Kneller
  • Patent number: 10999437
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for enhancing interaction between a customer using a client computer and a customer service representative of a company using a workstation. A Web session is commenced on a Web site for the client computer of the customer, wherein the Web session includes displaying a first Web page to the customer. A telephonic interaction is commenced between the customer and the customer service representative and a split screen is displayed on the workstation. The split screen including the first Web page and a second Web page, wherein the second Web page is only viewable by the customer service representative. An application is caused to be moved from the second Web page to the first Web page for review and interaction by the customer via the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (“USAA”)
    Inventors: Guy R. Langley, Jason W. Lindley, Donald H. Griffin, Jr., Elizabeth Garretson, Ryan R. Barth, Francisco A. Duran, Ann C. Tarrillion, David W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10997506
    Abstract: Upon receiving an inbound call, a call management system retrieves from a customer database enterprise customer data associated with an identified customer. The customer database tracks prospects, leads, new business and purchasers of an enterprise. Enterprise customer data may include customer event data, activity event data and attributions data. The system retrieves customer demographic data associated with the identified customer. A group of agents is selected from a plurality of groups of agents based on retrieved enterprise customer data. A predictive model determines a value prediction signal for the identified customer, then classifies the identified customer into a first value group or a second value group. The system routes a customer call classified in the first value group to a first queue position, and routes a customer call classified in the second value group to a second queue position, for connection to an agent from the selected group of agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
    Inventor: Sears Merritt
  • Patent number: 10993115
    Abstract: A telecommunications service provider's real time analysis system analyzes communications data to detect potentially fraudulent communications data, where the analysis is performed in real time in the routing path of the communications data. The communications data may include calls (e.g., SS7, VoIP, etc. based calls) and messages (e.g., SMS, MMS, etc.). The real time analysis system rejects potentially fraudulent communications data and non-fraudulent communications data in order to be used in real time in the routing path of the communications data. A rejection by the real time analysis system may cause non-fraudulent communications data to still be sent to the intended destination of the communications data. The real time analysis system can be in the routing path of the communications data without further routing non-fraudulent communications data traffic to the next appropriate hop in the routing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TATA COMMUNICATIONS (AMERICA) INC.
    Inventors: Carlos Miranda, Manish Arora, Kumar Thirumalaiappan, Brian Dowd
  • Patent number: 10992819
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for provisioning a temporary disposable number are described. A user can be provided with a pool of available temporary disposable numbers that have a limited shelf life. The user can select one of the available temporary disposable numbers while submitting a permanent phone number associated with a communications device (e.g., mobile phone, home phone, business phone, etc.). Prior to activating the selected temporary disposable number, the temporary disposable number is linked to the permanent phone number. After activation, when an incoming call to the temporary disposable number is received, the permanent phone number is identified to be associated with the temporary disposable number being called. The incoming call is then forwarded to the communications device on which the permanent phone number is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
    Inventors: Vi Dinh Chau, Naveen Gupta, Rituparna Mukherjee, Nisha K. Ahluwalia
  • Patent number: 10992810
    Abstract: We disclose a system that provides customer-support services to a user of a website through a web widget. When the user accesses a web page containing the web widget, a call is automatically made from the web widget to a customer-support system. In response to the call, the system obtains status information from the customer-support system indicating whether customer-support agents are available to take telephone phone calls. If the status information indicates customer-support agents are available to take telephone calls, the web widget provides a call-related interface to the user, wherein the call-related interface is configured to facilitate a telephone call with a customer-support agent. If the status information indicates customer-support agents are not available to take telephone calls, the web widget provides a non-call-related interface to the user, wherein the non-call-related interface is configured to facilitate an alternative channel of customer support that does not involve a telephone call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Zendesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry McGaughey, Anatoly Mikhaylov, Nathan P. Thiesen, Gerard J. Cahill, Anthony Del Ciotto, Daniel Angel Bradford
  • Patent number: 10966037
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an RF antenna adapted to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic RF signals within a first frequency range enclosing a first frequency of resonance of the RF antenna, the RF antenna comprising: an electrically conductive antenna element having a feed for electrically connecting to an RF transmitter and/or an RF receiver; an electronic component adapted to receive and/or provide one or more electric signals from/to an electronic circuit within a second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range; and one or more electric leads electrically connected to lead the one or more electric signals between the electronic component and the electronic circuit, each of the one or more electric leads being electrically connected to the electronic circuit through a respective inductor adapted to reflect and/or attenuate signals within the first frequency range and pass signals within the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Oliver Sundberg, Kåre Tais Christensen, Henning Knak Poulsen
  • Patent number: 10958789
    Abstract: Techniques for case allocation are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for case allocation comprising receiving, by at least one computer processor, at least one case allocation allocated using a first pairing strategy, and then reassigning, by the at least one computer processor, the at least one case allocation using behavioral pairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Afiniti, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ittai Kan, David J. DeLellis
  • Patent number: 10958788
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process receives, from a client representative communication device, a request to initiate a voice-based communication to a customer communication device on behalf of a client entity. The request comprises a telephone number associated with the customer communication device. The client representative device being is operated by a client representative that speaks a first human-spoken language, and the customer communication device is operated by a customer that speaks a second human-spoken language, which is distinct from the first human-spoken language. The computer-implemented process routes, with a processor, the request to a language interpreter communication device. The computer-implemented process initiates, with the processor, a communication request from the language interpreter communication device to the customer communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Language Line Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Cordell, James Boutcher, Adam Caldwell, Jordy Boom
  • Patent number: 10949749
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, apparatus and methods for the computation and use of session, device and/or user signatures for determining communications session types, device types, and/or user signatures. An exemplary method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: receiving a first set of session control messages belonging to a first communications session, the first set of session control messages including at least one session control message; extracting a first set of features from the first set of session control messages; operating one or more neural networks to identify a group session signature to which the first set of session control messages corresponds based on the first set of features, the identified group session signature being one of a plurality of group session signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Thornton, Shaun Jaikarran Bharrat, Justin Hart, Kevin Riley
  • Patent number: 10951761
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method and related system for operating a virtual computer assistant (VCA) system of a service provider system. The method includes activating a switch to connect a communication link of the system from a human assistant (HA) to a customer and conveying first communications over the communication link to the customer from the HA. The method automatically detects a switching event according to a switching rule stored in a switch rules database stored in a memory of the system while the communication link to the HA is active. The method activates the switch to connect the communication link from the customer to a VCA after the conveying of the first communications, and then conveys second communications over the communication link to the customer from the VCA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Joel Scott Gardner, Daniel S. Sumner, Patrick Austin Boger, H. Brock Kolls, Daniel Sanford, Kyle Patrick Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10949750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, apparatus and methods for the computation and use of session, device and/or user signatures for determining communications session types, device types, and/or user signatures. An exemplary system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: a first device, the first device including: a receiver that receives a first set of session control messages belonging to a first communications session, said first set of session control messages including at least one session control message; a feature extractor that extracts a first set of device features from the first set of session control messages; and a first neural network that determines a device signature from the first set of session control messages based on said set of device features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Thornton, Shaun Jaikarran Bharrat, Justin Hart, Kevin Riley
  • Patent number: 10944867
    Abstract: Implementations are directed to using an assistant to initiate automated telephone calls with entities. Some implementations identify an item of interest, identify a group of entities associated with the item, and initiate the calls with the entities. During a given call with a given entity, the assistant can request a status update regarding the item, and determine a temporal delay before initiating another call with the given entity to request a further status update regarding the item based on information received responsive to the request. Other implementations receive a request to perform an action on behalf of a user, identify a group of entities that can perform the action, and initiate a given call with a given entity. During the given call, the assistant can initiate an additional call with an additional entity, and generate notification(s), for the user, based on result(s) of the given call and/or the additional call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Yuval Baror, Michael Andrew Goodman, Praveen Krishnakumar
  • Patent number: 10944872
    Abstract: A computer system is described that is configured to generate an entry in a centralized event log for each voice call into a contact center of an organization. The event log system is configured to receive call data associated with action performed during the call and retrieve context data associated with the call from across a plurality of disparate systems used by the contact center to service the call. The event log system is configured to include both the call data and the context data in the call entry, and to correlate the call entry with previous call entries for a same entity identified for the call. The call entry may also include entity profile data as metadata. The pertinent data for the call will be stored in a single, centralized location accessible by any of the front-end systems for use in determining how to handle the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Julio Jiron, Kevin King, Beth S. Moss, James Lyle Schafer, Kalyan Subramanian, Chris Theodore Kalaboukis, Raziq Yaqub
  • Patent number: 10944871
    Abstract: A computer system is described that is configured to generate an entry in a centralized event log for each voice call into a contact center of an organization. The event log system is configured to receive call data associated with action performed during the call and retrieve context data associated with the call from across a plurality of disparate systems used by the contact center to service the call. The event log system is configured to include both the call data and the context data in the call entry, and to correlate the call entry with previous call entries for a same entity identified for the call. The call entry may also include entity profile data as metadata. The pertinent data for the call will be stored in a single, centralized location accessible by any of the front-end systems for use in determining how to handle the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Julio Jiron, Kevin King, Beth S. Moss, James Lyle Schafer, Kalyan Subramanian, Chris Theodore Kalaboukis, Raziq Yaqub
  • Patent number: 10937408
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a noise cancellation enabled audio device comprises a first noise filter and a second noise filter, each being designed to process a noise signal, a combiner and an adaptation engine. The first noise filter has a first fixed frequency response matched to a high leakage condition of the audio device. The second noise filter has a second fixed frequency response matched to a low leakage condition of the audio device. The combiner is configured to provide a compensation signal based on a combination of an output of the first noise filter amplified with a first adjustable gain factor and an output of the second noise filter amplified with a second adjustable gain factor. The adaptation engine is configured to estimate a leakage condition of the audio device based on an error noise signal and to adjust at least one of the first and the second adjustable gain factors based on the estimated leakage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Peter McCutcheon, Robert Alcock
  • Patent number: 10931824
    Abstract: Agents are grouped into skill groups based on the skills of each agent. Simulation are performed for a contact center with multiple queues, where agents from the skill groups are assigned to the queues based on the skills of the skill groups and the skills of the queues. After running the simulations, for each skill group and for each interval, the time each agent spent working using each associated skill is determined, and an average time for each skill is calculated for each interval. The average times are used to create a skill group weight for the skill group for each interval. Later, when the schedule engine is determining an agent placement for one or more intervals, the skill group weights for the intervals are used to calculate a score for the queues based on different agent placements. The placement with the best score (e.g., lowest) is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TALKDESK, INC.
    Inventors: Gennadiy Stepanov, Jason Fama, Richard Lawrence