Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Hemm

Thomas L. Hemm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8873739
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When an instant message communication associated with a transaction is suspended prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator. The special treatment includes: (a) maintaining the assigned service priority for the transaction for assignment to a subsequent communication; (b) scheduling a subsequent outbound instant message to an external endpoint associated with the transaction initiator; (c) assigning to the transaction initiator a favored service priority when the subsequent inbound instant message is received by the contact center; and (d) maintaining previously selected item(s) in memory and providing the item(s) to the transaction initiator in a subsequent communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8457300
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When an instant message communication associated with a transaction is suspended prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator. The special treatment includes: (a) maintaining the assigned service priority for the transaction for assignment to a subsequent communication; (b) scheduling a subsequent outbound instant message to an external endpoint associated with the transaction initiator; (c) assigning to the transaction initiator a favored service priority when the subsequent inbound instant message is received by the contact center; and (d) maintaining previously selected item(s) in memory and providing the item(s) to the transaction initiator in a subsequent communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20100296646
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When an instant message communication associated with a transaction is suspended prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator. The special treatment includes: (a) maintaining the assigned service priority for the transaction for assignment to a subsequent communication; (b) scheduling a subsequent outbound instant message to an external endpoint associated with the transaction initiator; (c) assigning to the transaction initiator a favored service priority when the subsequent inbound instant message is received by the contact center; and (d) maintaining previously selected item(s) in memory and providing the item(s) to the transaction initiator in a subsequent communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: AVAYA INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 7729490
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for servicing a transaction in a contact center. When a communication associated with a transaction is terminated prematurely, special treatment may be provided to the transaction initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 7711104
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for tracking a contact center operation. The system includes a tracking agent 232 operable to (a) receive a notification indicating a change in agent focus from a first work item to a second work item; (b) determine whether the first work item involves a communication medium different from the second work item; and (c) when the first work item involves a communication medium different from the second work item, cause termination of a timer with respect to the servicing of the first work item and initiation of a timer with respect to the servicing of the second work item. The first and second work items are concurrently assigned for servicing to the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Flockhart, Kenneth R. Hackbarth, Thomas L. Hemm, Sarah Hildebrandt Kiefhaber, Joylee E. Kohler, Gary Edward Olmsted, Jill B. Ziobro
  • Patent number: 7415417
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a customer contact 100 in which a agent service function 136 to collect predetermined types of information regarding the contact and/or the contact center 100 and interface with the contact. The interface can include presenting service options to the contact. A mood detector 152 can be used to collect information about the customer's state of mind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: David G. Boyer, Sally Cartwright, Susan K. Harkreader, Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee Kohler, Doree Duncan Seligmann
  • Patent number: 7336779
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a customer contact 100 in which a session monitor 140 identifies and implements multi-customer sessions. A conferencing function 136 connects the plurality of customers 110-118 simultaneously to the same resource and/or to each other. Participation in the sessions can be mandatory or optional. The sessions can be created continually or periodically, such as when the contact center 100 is in an session mode. The sessions can be closed or open to new customers after commencement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: David G. Boyer, Sally Cartwright, Susan K. Harkreader, Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee Kohler, Doree Duncan Seligmann
  • Publication number: 20040193475
    Abstract: A contact center 100 is provided that includes an input 158 or 150 operable to receive a transaction for servicing by a contact center resource 122, 124, 126, 134, and 138, the transaction corresponding to a communication with a transaction initiator; a selector 220 operable to assign a service priority to the transaction, wherein the communication is disconnected before the transaction is serviced; and a contact manager 232 operable to maintain the assigned service priority for the transaction while the communication is disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee E. Kohler, Rodney A. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20030174830
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a customer contact 100 in which a session monitor 140 identifies and implements multi-customer sessions. A conferencing function 136 connects the plurality of customers 110-118 simultaneously to the same resource and/or to each other. Participation in the sessions can be mandatory or optional. The sessions can be created continually or periodically, such as when the contact center 100 is in an session mode. The sessions can be closed or open to new customers after commencement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: David G. Boyer, Sally Cartwright, Susan K. Harkreader, Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee Kohler, Doree Duncan Seligmann
  • Publication number: 20030177017
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a customer contact 100 in which a agent service function 136 to collect predetermined types of information regarding the contact and/or the contact center 100 and interface with the contact. The interface can include presenting service options to the contact. A mood detector 152 can be used to collect information about the customer's state of mind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: David G. Boyer, Sally Cartwright, Susan K. Harkreader, Thomas L. Hemm, Joylee Kohler, Doree Duncan Seligmann