Abstract: Techniques are provided for use in accordance with such systems as web sites operating electronic commerce (e-commerce) applications, interactive voice response (IVR) systems and workflow systems for providing automated monitoring of user activity and personalized action taking based on such activity, in accordance with an on-line decision support mechanism which combines formal and heuristic reasoning. In a web-based system, for example, the on-line decision support provided in accordance with the invention can be used in a wide variety of e-commerce applications requiring automated, real-time, intelligent interventions, including targeted promotions and discounts, assisting with navigation through self-help material, supporting dynamic price negotiations, and even selecting large portions of page content.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use in accordance with such systems as web sites operating e-commerce applications, IVR systems and workflow systems for providing automated monitoring of user activity and personalized action taking based on such activity, in accordance with an on-line decision support mechanism.

Abstract: Computer and telecommunication systems employing workflow (contact flow) processes are enhanced by employing dynamic random differential treatment of so-called instances (contacts) entering the workflow (contact flow). This is realized, for example, by associating a prescribed distinguishing function with the workflow (contact flow), and to use a value given by this prescribed distinguishing function in one or more decisions relating to how the object instance (contact) should be processed. Each decision is essentially a choice between two or more paths in a workflow (contact flow), or a choice between two or more workflows (contact flows). For example, the prescribed distinguishing function could associate a distinguishing value having an integer value between 1 and 100 with object instances (contacts), and a selection function for making a decision to use one or more of a plurality of workflows (contact flows) is related to a prescribed parameter “x” that has a value from 0 to 100.