Customer Communication At A Business Location (e.g., Providing Product Or Service Information, Consulting, Etc.) Patents (Class 705/346)
-
Patent number: 9635180Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to call center wait queue management and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for call-back reservation services in a remote call center computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a call-back reservation method can be provided. The method can include receiving a telephone call to a remote call center from a caller, informing the caller of a reservation options menu, calculating multiple reservation time-slots to accommodate the caller's schedule, such that the reservation time is based on caller's personal preference, assigning a call-back reservation token to the caller, disconnecting the caller from the remote call center, and providing the caller with access to a remote call center agent at the reservation time when the caller reconnects to the remote call center.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ying Chen, Joel Duquene, James P. Eberwein, Dong K. Lieu
-
Patent number: 9626654Abstract: Learning to rank modeling in the context of an on-line social network is described. A learning to rank model can learn from pairwise preference (e.g., job posting A is more relevant than job posting B for a particular member profile) thus directly optimizing for the rank order of job postings for each member profile. With ranking position taken into consideration during training, top-ranked job postings may be treated by a recommendation system as being of more importance than lower-ranked job postings. In addition, a learning to rank approach may also result in an equal optimization across all member profiles and help minimize bias towards those member profiles that have been paired with a larger number of job postings.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: LinkedIn CorporationInventors: Lijun Tang, Eric Huang, Xu Miao, Yitong Zhou, David Hardtke, Joel Daniel Young
-
Patent number: 9600946Abstract: When attending an event at a venue, the attendee typically presents ticket information that is scanned by a venue scanner. The process associated with scanning can be dispensed with, which can improve attendee experiences, reduce costs associated with managing a venue, as well as other advantages. For example, instead of scanning a ticket at a point of ingress to the venue, a device of the user can self-scan the ticket, and then present indicia that indicates this process has occurred. The indicia can be presented to a guest services representative, who can verify that a valid ticket was redeemed by merely observing the indicia and without scanning.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: FLASH SEATS LLCInventors: Samuel Gerace, Michael Rojas, Matthew Servant
-
Patent number: 9563720Abstract: A method and system for matching users of a network, such as a language learning network, employs user profile data to determine point match scores and/or compatibility match scores between users of the network such as a social network. A point match score is a measure of strength for a single interest that two users share. A compatibility match score is an aggregate measure of similarity of multiple interests that two users share. When a first user asks the system to propose another user or users for interaction, the system uses the point match scores, compatibility match scores, or both to determine which additional users to recommend to the first user. The system may present the first user with a profile for each recommended user. The first user may select one of the recommended users and engage in interaction, such as language skills learning or practice, with that user via a text, audio and/or video interface.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: WESPEKE, INC.Inventors: Jaime G. Carbonell, Michael E. Elchik, Jason Simmons, Adel Assaad, Robert J. Pawlowski, Jr.
-
Patent number: 9549225Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining social media data associated with a plurality of end user devices of a plurality of users interacting with a social media network where the social media data includes user commentary at the social media network, determining first targeted advertising for delivery to first end user devices of a portion of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the social media data, and determining second targeted advertising for delivery during a target broadcast programming to a second end user device of a target user of the plurality of users based on an analysis of the user commentary, wherein the analysis includes identifying a comment context. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Junlan Feng, Bernard S. Renger
-
Patent number: 9164664Abstract: Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user's avatar.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William Bruce Nicol, II, Brian Ronald Bokor, Peter Frederick Haggar, Daniel Edward House, Andrew Bryan Smith
-
Patent number: 9104846Abstract: Described herein is technology for, among other things, provisioning access to shared resources. It involves various techniques for creating accounts for recipients of communications with shared resources. Further, the resources may available by an easy to find permanent location (e.g., URL). Such a provisioning process facilitates the growth of the network as recipients are given fully featured accounts. Therefore, the technology avoids the sign up process that users would otherwise have to go through in order to access the shared resource.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Michael Kunz
-
Patent number: 9088622Abstract: The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for modeling and deploying decision services. One computer-implemented method includes establishing a push-channel session uniquely associated with a client, wherein the push channel session communicates with the client using a single push channel. The computer-implemented method further includes registering the established push-channel session with a messaging channel runtime creating a client-specific messaging channel and registering a backend application with the push-channel-session-associated single push channel using a push channel registration session. The method further includes, responsive to an application message received from an application session associated with the backend application using a client-specific application channel, dispatching the received application message to the push-channel session from the messaging channel runtime using the client-specific messaging channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: SAP SEInventor: Lars Erbe
-
Patent number: 9043358Abstract: A unified search service may collect information related to an enterprise from at least one of publicly available data and private enterprise data. In some implementations, crowd sourcing may be used to determine a source list of one or more sources of information. Authored content can be generated, such as by combining one or more items of information from the public data with one or more items of information from the private enterprise data. Further, in some implementations, a public index may be generated from the public data, and one or more affiliation indexes may be generated from the private enterprise data. For example, a first affiliation index may contain confidential enterprise information, while a second affiliation index may contain non-confidential enterprise information. A user's affiliation to the enterprise may be taken into consideration when determining which indexes to use when responding to a search request from the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Lili Cheng, Xuedong David Huang, Heung-Yeung Shum, Eric J. Horvitz, James H. Lewallen, Todd D. Newman, David S. Taniguchi
-
Publication number: 20150142693Abstract: An apparatus for marketing and selling footwear, the footwear having a footbed, comprises a mat having one or more layers, the top layer of the mat comprising the same material as footwear footbed, e.g., yoga mat foam. At least a portion of an upper of one of more units of the footwear, preferably a plurality of different size upper portions, is/are attached to the mat. At least one sensor is coupled to the mat and configured to sense a consumer's foot on the mat, and in response an output device emits a sound expressing happiness in the comfortable sensation of the user's foot on the mat. Thereby, the consumer's buying experience is enhanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Deckers Outdoor CorporationInventors: Michael Ryan Minter, Tom Garcia
-
Publication number: 20150120416Abstract: A system for interacting with a passenger within a vehicle is provided. The system includes, but is not limited to, in-vehicle equipment which communicates with a remote server, a wireless communication device which communicates information between the remote server outside of the vehicle and the in-vehicle equipment, and a mobile device having a display. The in-vehicle equipment retrieves content from the remote server. The mobile device receives passenger information from the passenger. The mobile device pairs with and provides passenger information to the in-vehicle equipment. The in-vehicle equipment provides content to display on the mobile device in response to the provided passenger information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventor: Jesse H. Davis
-
Publication number: 20150095156Abstract: At a server, a notification that a subscriber vehicle has an appointment with a dealership is received. A geo-fence is set up around the dealership. At the server, it is recognized that the subscriber vehicle has entered the geo-fence. Subscriber vehicle identifying data is received at the server, and in-vehicle infotainment capabilities of the subscriber vehicle are identified at the server by interrogation of a database in connection with the server. From the server, a message is transmitted to the subscriber vehicle that is tailored to the in-vehicle infotainment capabilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLCInventors: STEVEN S. SAUERBREY, WAHAJ AHMED, HUONG T. CHIM
-
Publication number: 20150088782Abstract: An intelligent customer queuing and notification system includes a kiosk, to receive customer information, and a customer reception system each of which are connected to and communicate over a common network. The customer reception system receives customer information sent to it by the kiosk and uses this information to assign a customer to an appropriate position in a queue. The customer reception system generates and sends a notification message to a customer communication device that includes the customer's current queue position and wait time, and the customer reception system receives responses from the customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventor: YIHAN ZHANG
-
Publication number: 20150081532Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method including providing venue specific localized WI-FI user mobile venue related services in a covered venue area, installing in a densely populated covered venue area technology capabilities capable of handling a number of users in real time and a number of services in real-time, and using localized WI-FI user mobile applications to provide venue related services.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Yolanda Lewis, Edmond DeFrank, Everett Glenn, Nicolas DeFrank, Antonio DeFrank, Allen Mark Jones
-
Publication number: 20150073884Abstract: A system for shopping for goods and services includes central communications facilities and remote communications facilities connected by communications links and means permitting data communications between them. Central communications facilities offer goods and services in competition with each other. Central communications facility may store, in addition to data, graphics in the form of video, and audio in the form of computerized voice and music. Computer input devices at each remote communications facility permit customers to access the data, graphics and audio. Computers at each remote communications facility also enable that facility to receive and download the data, graphics, and audio. Remote communications facilities may be adapted to enable a customer, after viewing the data, graphics, and audio, to determine a price for the purchase of the goods and services.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventor: Stephen Corey Wren
-
Publication number: 20150066802Abstract: Techniques for providing notifications to a customer shopping at a brick and mortar store are disclosed. The techniques include providing a wireless network in a brick and mortar store, using a customer mobile electronic device to detect network identification data of the wireless network, and using a communications module to determine, from the network identification data, the location of the mobile electronic device within the brick and mortar store. The techniques also include a server selecting, based on the location of the mobile electronic device within the brick and mortar store, a notification which is related to a location within the brick and mortar store and transmitting the notification to the mobile electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.Inventors: Valerie Goulart, Stefan Li
-
Patent number: 8972502Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing a chat experience of a user desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses utilizes in various aspects a chat management server running computer processes for communicating with user devices. In another aspect, a computer-implemented method of providing a chat experience to a user having a user device and desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses utilizes computer processes running on the user device. Corresponding embodiments similarly provide an apparatus performing any of the foregoing methods. Other corresponding embodiments similarly provide a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when loaded into a computer, perform processes corresponding to any of the foregoing methods.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Getabl Inc.Inventors: Milenko Beslic, Mark Slater
-
Publication number: 20150058253Abstract: Provided is a room management method. A room management method according to one aspect includes: receiving, by a central terminal, a service request of a room from a user terminal; analyzing, by the central terminal, the received service request to determine a manager terminal of a manager managing the room from which the service request has been received; and transmitting, by the central terminal, service request information to the determined manager terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventor: Junghyun CHO
-
Patent number: 8965976Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing a chat experience of a user desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses or chat hosts utilizes in various aspects a chat management server running computer processes for communicating with user devices. In another aspect, a computer-implemented method of providing a chat experience to a user having a user device and desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses utilizes computer processes running on the user device. Corresponding embodiments similarly provide an apparatus performing any of the foregoing methods. Other corresponding embodiments similarly provide a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when loaded into a computer, perform processes corresponding to any of the foregoing methods.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Getabl Inc.Inventors: Milenko Beslic, Mark Slater, James Young
-
Publication number: 20150026093Abstract: A wireless communication device declares one of a plurality of extended instant messaging states and transmits the declared states to a presence information server. Declared extended instant messaging states for destination devices are received, and an enhanced instant message based on declared extended instant messaging states is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Luis Estable, Risvan Coskun, Robert D. Oliver, Haining Zhang
-
Publication number: 20150026092Abstract: A system is provided that provides customer service functions within a store location. In one implementation, an application is provided that executes on a customer's personal device (e.g., a cell phone) or other store systems (e.g., kiosks) that allows the customer to request assistance from store employees. Such requests may be made that identify a customer's location, and a customer assistance system determines appropriate employee(s) who may service the request. In one implementation, the system may be integrated with a task-based employee management system that communicates tasks to devices used by employees.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Issa M. Abboud, Edwin H. Reed, Robert C. Taylor, Michael Jeffery Galvin
-
Patent number: 8933904Abstract: A transaction automation and archival system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing video display for imaging the various documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for allowing participants to sign, indicate choices, and otherwise interact directly on documents and images presented on the display. A computer controls the progress of the transaction, controlling, for example, the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receiving signatures on the displayed documents, offering choices of various packages to the purchaser, and insuring that the transaction is carried out properly. The transaction is logged for future review which may include a video record.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Holdings, Inc.Inventors: William C. Maloney, Mark A. Singleton
-
Patent number: 8918342Abstract: There is disclosed a system functional for operating and updating an interactive voice response self care system which utilizes various types of models. The system is capable of improving the performance of the self care system through updating the models used in that system in a closed loop manner. The system is also potentially configured to utilize input from a human agent, such as a customer service representative, to which a customer call is transferred by a self care system.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Convergys Customer Management Delaware LLCInventor: Dale R. Peterson
-
Patent number: 8874474Abstract: A communication server 200 acquires a request specifying a desired location for content creation from a requester terminal 310, and provides a notification of the request to an accepter terminal 300 accepting the content creation. The notification history managing unit 206 stores, as notification history, the distance from an accepter terminal to be provided with the notification to the desired recoding location and acceptance information. Upon acquisition of a new request, a request notification terminal selecting unit 203 selects a accepter terminal 300 that is likely to accept the request according to the notification history, and the request notifying unit 204 provides the selected accepter terminal 300 with the notification.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of AmericaInventors: Ryohei Wakai, Takahisa Fujita, Yuzo Kawamura
-
Patent number: 8862575Abstract: A provider relationship management system (“PRM system”) is disclosed that enables an individual to manage information about and electronically interact with organizations. The PRM system presents an individual with a list of organizations that the individual may have a relationship with. The individual selects one or more organizations from the list to add the selected organizations to a personal provider directory. The individual uses the personal provider directory to manage information associated with each organization. The individual may seek to establish an interactive connection with one or more organizations in the personal provider directory. If a selected organization agrees to establish an interactive connection with the individual, the organization is permitted to communicate with and send electronic documents to the individual. Each document is associated with a document type, and the document type is associated with certain actions that may be taken with respect to the corresponding document.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Doxo, Inc.Inventors: Steve Shivers, Roger Parks, Mark Goris
-
Patent number: 8854330Abstract: A system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display for imaging documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for manual interaction with images on the display. A computer controls the transaction, and may for instance, control the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receive the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offer choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU logs the transaction for future review and preferably records video and audio. Fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the readers.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Reynolds & Reynolds Holdings, Inc.Inventors: William C. Maloney, Mark A. Singleton
-
Publication number: 20140297556Abstract: There is provided systems and method for merchant anonymous check-in at a merchant location. A user may bring a user device to a merchant location where the user may have previously checked-in at the merchant location and perform an anonymous check-in at the merchant location. Thus, the user device may provide the merchant location with a different or obfuscated identifier so the merchant does not identify the user from the previous check-in. Once the user has checked-in with the merchant, the user may make service requests for the merchant's staff, such as do not approach or service assistance. Additionally, the merchant may inform the user about loyalty account services and automatically enroll the user in a loyalty account. If the user has discounts, gift cards, or other benefits in a digital wallet, the merchant may offer the user other benefits related to the benefits in the wallet to increase sales.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventor: Michael Joseph Ryan
-
Patent number: 8832086Abstract: A system and method for search list pagination include sorting a set of records in an order based on a dynamic element of each of the records, and displaying the set of records in two or more pages on an interface. If the dynamic elements of any of the records changes between the display of the first page of records and the receipt of a request to display a second page of records on the interface, the method updates the ordering of the records to account for the change in the dynamic element of each of the records, and displays the second page sorted in the order. In such a manner, a user of the system or method may view each of the records sorted in the order, based on the instantaneous contents of the records.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zhiyu Zhang, Alexander H. Wilkins, Xuan Li, Aaron D. Kujat, Weinan Wang
-
Patent number: 8819114Abstract: The present invention provides a server apparatus that can communicate with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, including a receiving unit configured to receive device information relating to a peripheral device capable of being connected to a client apparatus along with an acquisition scheme of the device information from the client apparatus, a storing unit configured to store the device information in association with the acquisition scheme, a judging unit configured to judge whether or not the device information received by the receiving unit has already been stored in the storing unit, and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the device information is valid based on the acquisition scheme when it is judged by the judging unit that the received device information has already been stored in the storing unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Kumagai
-
Patent number: 8805882Abstract: Access to customer relationship management (CRM) secured field instances is enabled based on field settings. A requester's identity determines action paths to be executed in order to enable access to fields. A client application's user privileges are inherited to enable access to secured fields. Such access through a granted privilege is provided through an API intermediating inheritance of user's privileges from client application.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Elliot Lewis, Andriy Smertin, Noor Mohammed Merchant, Mahesh Hariharan
-
Patent number: 8787555Abstract: Obtaining expert advice on-demand includes maintaining a substantially real-time list of available experts in selected fields, in an electronic database. The system receives a request from a customer for expert advice in one or more of the selected fields maintained in the electronic database. The system then electronically identifies one or more available experts to the customer in response to the request received and routes the request for expert advice to at least one of the available experts.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Telethrive, Inc.Inventors: Shlomo Gonen, Jonathan A. Gonen, David Gonen, Darren Berkovitz, Stacy Stubblefield, Micah Grossman, Jordan Michaels
-
Patent number: 8775315Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.Inventors: Marco S. Casalaina, Jim Dvorkin, Jason Winters, Bing Yang, Dararith Ourk, Rupert Chen
-
Publication number: 20140180960Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method for issuing a ticket to a customer to a queue of a service function. In some embodiment the method includes: providing a queue ticket terminal in a predetermined space associated with said service function; and enabling a customer to be allocated a queue ticket from said terminal. The method further comprising: detecting, in a mobile device associated with said customer, whether said queue ticket terminal is in the vicinity of said mobile device; transmitting a queue ticket request from said mobile device to said queue ticket terminal; and, receiving, in said mobile device and in response to said queue ticket request, a queue position message comprising information relating to the customer's position in said queue.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Mats SAGFORS, Jari ARKKO, Fredrik GARNEIJ, Jan MELEN
-
Patent number: 8762281Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.Inventors: Marco S. Casalaina, Jim Dvorkin, Jason Winters, Bing Yang, Dararith Ourk, Rupert Chen
-
Patent number: 8746560Abstract: A system and method are provided for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via a communication network. The look-up table is configured to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of information link indicators. Each information link indicator is associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the communication network to information pertaining to the respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a consumer to immediately determine if product information is available for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible indication on the mobile device, without access to the communication network.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Reagan Invention, LLCInventor: Leigh M. Rothschild
-
Patent number: 8751402Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.Inventors: Marco S. Casalaina, Jim Dvorkin, Jason Winters, Bing Yang, Dararith Ourk, Rupert Chen
-
Publication number: 20140156507Abstract: A system provides assistance to a user having a user device proximate a financial institution location by receiving a communication initiated by an application running on the user device without initiation by the user; establishing a connection with the user device; determining an identity of the user; determining a user purpose for visiting the location; and communicating instructions to the application running on the user device, the instructions to cause the user device to navigate to a page of a website of the financial institution corresponding to the determined user purpose for visiting the location. In some embodiments, the identity of the user is determined by determining whether a received PIN matches a stored PIN associated with a device ID received from the user device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Bank of America CorporationInventors: Carrie Anne Hanson, Marc Lance Warshawsky, Peter John Bertanzetti
-
Patent number: 8744972Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.Inventors: Marco S. Casalaina, Jim Dvorkin, Jason Winters, Bing Yang, Dararith Ourk, Rupert Chen
-
Patent number: 8743895Abstract: The invention pertains to a system and method of interactive queue management through public communication networks. Interactive queue management allows business or automated systems to easily and efficiently interact with waiting individuals in any queue through the individuals' preferred communication device, e.g., telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, wirelessly enabled PDA or handheld computer. In one embodiment this invention allows people to hold their place in a queue by proxy of their telephone or mobile phone number. An individual will provide their phone number to the interactive queuing system; the system will retain the phone number and other pertinent information about the individual, communicate via voice, wireless messaging, or other means with the individual, and collect the input from the individual. Key components of the system include a queue client system, a queue management and server system, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, and a wireless messaging infrastructure system.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Inventor: Robert C. Walter
-
Patent number: 8731952Abstract: A method and apparatus provides information to enhance at least one of: a sales, a service and an administrative transaction by communicating with a plurality of applications from a group of applications in accordance with rule information and based on at least two of the received: end user identification information, client identification information and transaction type information. In one example, the apparatus includes a rules engine, an application integrator, an integration and presentation module, and an integrated user interface. The rules engine causes the application integrator to communicate with a plurality of applications in accordance with the rule information, and at least two of: the end user identification information, the client identification information, and the transaction type information.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Accenture Global Services LimitedInventors: John F Durocher, Jamie N Noris, Kevin M Wasielewski, Suzette Massie, Trevor Gruzin
-
Patent number: 8732088Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for integrating a private branch exchange (PBX)-equipped client and an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for integrating a PBX-equipped client and an on-demand database service can enable embodiments with additional infrastructure at the client that is better equipped to leverage the on-demand database service. The ability of embodiments to provide such client side infrastructure can enable additional enhanced services in conjunction with telephone calls, etc.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.Inventors: Marco S. Casalaina, Jim Dvorkin, Jason Winters, Bing Yang, Dararith Ourk, Rupert Chen
-
Patent number: 8725521Abstract: A system and method for generating an information technology solution. A system for generating a runtime model is provided, comprising: a system for selecting a business pattern; a system for providing a management integration table, wherein the management integration table includes a plurality of cells, each representing at least one management application pattern; and a system for generating a runtime model from the selected business pattern and management integration table, wherein the generating system supplements the business pattern with additive patterns, bridge patterns, and management application patterns in order to generate the runtime model.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: James J. Whitmore
-
Publication number: 20140122230Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for queue management that allow a person waiting in the queue to choose to receive at least one warning communication, for example on a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone. In some embodiments, the person agrees to “buy” the warnings and concomitant free time by agreeing to pay for at least one warning communication and/or by agreeing to accept advertisements.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Inventor: Eran Ben-Alexander
-
Patent number: 8694356Abstract: Augmenting service oriented architecture (‘SOA’) governance maturity including receiving an evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA; identifying, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance capability, one or more predefined risks to the SOA; establishing, for each governance capability in dependence upon the predefined risks to the SOA, a risk value representing the severity of the predefined risks; selecting, for each governance capability in dependence upon the evaluation of the maturity of the governance of the SOA and the predefined risk value, one or more governance work products; and communicating to predetermined stakeholders in the SOA the one or more predefined risks to the SOA identified for each governance capability, the risk value established for each governance capability, and the governance work products selected for each governance capability.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Anthony L. Carrato, Clive S. Gee, David B. Hodge, Robert G. Laird, Randall L. Langel, Ian W. Y. Loe
-
Patent number: 8683547Abstract: A system for managing adaptive security zones in complex business operations, comprising a rules engine adapted to receive events from a plurality of event sources and a security manager coupled to the rules engine via a data network, wherein upon receiving an event, the rules engine determines what rules, if any, are triggered by the event and, upon triggering a rule, the rules engine determines if the rule pertains to security and, if so, sends a notification message to the security manager informing it of the triggered event, and wherein the security manager, on receiving a notification message from the rules engine, automatically establishes a new security zone based at least in part on the contents of the notification message, is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: LiveOps, Inc.Inventors: Vidur Apparao, Niall Browne, Scott Bailey, Jeremy King
-
Publication number: 20140074747Abstract: The invention relates to an assistant system for the tour guide, comprising a tour guide roll-call device, a plurality of labels for tourists and an intelligent mobile phone. The tourist guide roll-call device communicates with the labels tourists wearing via wireless network; the intelligent mobile phone communicates with the roll-call device via Bluetooth. After the tour guide roll-call device is respectively connected to the labels tourists wearing and the intelligent mobile phone, the intelligent mobile phone sends roll-call signal to the labels tourists wearing via the tour guide roll-call device. In setting area, the labels tourists wearing receive the roll-call signal and send feedback signal. The tour guide roll-call device receives the signal and sends it to the intelligent mobile phone. The intelligent mobile phone reads the signal to judge whether tourists are in place, and displays the roll-call result information on the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicants: Xi'an Huafan Instrument Co., Ltd., Shanghai QinLu Electrical Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shouwei Gao, Minghua Wang, Yue Zhao, Qingyang Chen, Longlong Zhao, Jian Yuan
-
Publication number: 20140074617Abstract: A business method is provided on a secure web service by a vendor for a client to develop a business application(s). The vendor provides a wireless access point at the client site for disseminating business application(s) to consumers over mobile devices when the mobile devices connect to a wireless or a cellular network using the wireless access point provided at the client site. The business application is received by the consumers after providing a feedback to a consumer survey that generates a consumer profile by gathering consumers' anonymized demographic, socio-economic, age, gender, preferences, and social networking information. The business method provides additional premium services to the client that includes providing consumer satisfaction information and analytics using consumer profile information generated from feedback and consumer satisfaction information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Inventors: Ashish Kumar Mukherji, R K Chaitanya Balusu, Prakash Krishnamoorthy Narayan
-
Patent number: 8665865Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing sales or customer support using a telephone having a camera to capture at least a partial image of a product or service; wherein the at least partial image is used to select a database updated by one or more knowledgeable persons on the product or service.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Muse Green Investments LLCInventor: Bao Q. Tran
-
Patent number: 8655837Abstract: The method and apparatus is for improving transactions in a communication system. The method including: dynamically monitoring a data session between at least one of first and second parties in a transaction in the communication system; and engaging a third party into the transaction as a function of the monitoring of the data session between the first and second parties. The apparatus implements the method.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Aspect Software, Inc.Inventors: Robert Beckstrom, Anthony Dezonno
-
Patent number: 8650130Abstract: A system and method for automated customer feedback allows for automatically collecting and analyzing customer feedback data regarding customer satisfaction and customer task completion with respect to self-service applications and live agents. When contacting a customer service center, customers provide one or more customer tasks. The customers are routed within the customer service center based on the customer task and/or one or more customer characteristics. While interacting with the customer service center, the customers are automatically asked one or more specific survey questions relating to the customers' interaction with the customer service center and the customers' satisfaction levels. The customers provide one or more survey responses to the survey questions. The survey responses are recorded and analyzed in order to modify and update the customer service center and the survey questions in order to increase customer satisfaction and increase customer task completion.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Theodore B. Pasquale, Robert R. Bushey, Benjamin A. Knott