IP Library Granted Patent US 8,054,964
Granted Patent B2
US 8,054,964 · App. 12/433,438 · Granted Nov 8, 2011

System and method for detecting emotions at different steps in a communication

Assignee: Avaya Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,054,964
App. No.
12/433,438
Filed
Apr 30, 2009
Granted
Nov 8, 2011
Kind
B2
Examiner
ANWAH, OLISA
Art Unit
2614
USPC
379/265.07
Abstract

The system and method establish a communication with a first party. A first emotion is detected during a first step during the communication. Steps in the communication can include: establishing a call, waiting in a queue, talking with an agent, communicating with an IVR system, and the like. A second emotion is detected at a different step in the communication. Alternatively, the first and second emotions are detected in two different but related communications. The detection of the first and/or second emotion determines how to process the communication. Examples of processing a communication can include routing the communication differently, selecting a different script for an agent, selecting a different agent, and the like. In addition, the communication can also be processed differently based on other additional parameters.

Claims (58)

1. A system comprising:

a. an ACD system configured to establish a communication with a first party and affect processing of a first part of the established communication based on a detected second emotion and/or affect processing of a second part of the established communication based on a detected first emotion;

b. an emotion detection system configured to detect the first emotion during a first step of the established communication and detect the second emotion during a second step, different from the first step of the established communication.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected at or while: the receipt of the communication, the first party is waiting in a contact queue, an agent is waiting in an agent queue, the first party is communicating with the agent, the first party is communicating with a supervisor, the first party is speaking to a voice mail system, the first party is entering information in an interactive voice response (IVR) system, and the first party is speaking to an IVR system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the established communication is at least one item selected from the group comprising: a voice communication, a video communication, and a text communication.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected using an analysis selected from the group comprising: an acoustical analysis of a voice communication, an analysis of a text communication, an analysis of the voice communication converted to text, and an analysis of a video communication.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the established communication is established by the first party, by a contact center, or by an agent.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein affecting the processing is accomplished by at least one item selected from the group comprising: routing the communication, selecting an IVR script, selecting an agent script, warning an agent, and selecting the agent.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein affecting the processing further comprises affecting the processing based on at least one other parameter selected from the group comprising: a caller ID, a service contract, a call record, a prior communication, and a capability of an agent.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detected first emotion and the detected second emotion are emotions of the first party.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detected first emotion is an emotion of the first party and the detected second emotion is an emotion of an agent.

10. A system comprising:

a. an ACD system configured to establish a first communication with a first party, establish a second communication with the first party, wherein the second communication is related to the first communication, affect processing of the first communication based on a detected second emotion, and/or affect processing of the second communication based on a detected first emotion; and

b. an emotion detection system configured to detect the first emotion during a first step of the established first communication and detect the second emotion during a first step of the established second communication.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected at or while: the receipt of the communication, the first party is waiting in a contact queue, an agent is waiting in an agent queue, the first party is communicating with the agent, the first party is communicating with a supervisor, the first party is speaking to a voice mail system, the first party is entering information in an interactive voice response system (IVR) system, and the first party is speaking to an IVR system.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first communication and/or the second communication are at least one item selected from the group comprising: a voice communication, a text communication, and a video communication.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected using an analysis selected from the group comprising: an acoustical analysis of a voice communication, an analysis of a text communication, an analysis of the voice communication converted to text, and an analysis of a video communication.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein affecting the processing further comprises affecting the processing based on at least one other parameter selected from the group comprising: a caller ID, a service contract, a call record, a prior communication, and a capability of an agent.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected first emotion and the detected second emotion are emotions of the first party.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected first emotion is an emotion of the first party and the detected second emotion is an emotion of an agent.

17. A method comprising:

a. establishing a communication with a first party;

b. detecting a first emotion during a first step of the established communication;

c. detecting a second emotion during a second step, different from the first step of the established communication; and

d. affecting processing of a first part of the established communication based on the detected second emotion and/or affecting processing of a second part of the established communication based on the detected first emotion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the established communication is at least one item selected from the group comprising: a voice communication, a video communication, and a text communication.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected at or while: the receipt of the communication, the first party is waiting in a contact queue, an agent is waiting in an agent queue, the first party is communicating with the agent, the first party is communicating with a supervisor, the first party is speaking to a voice mail system, the first party is entering information in an interactive voice response system (IVR) system, and the first party is speaking to an IVR system.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected using an analysis selected from the group comprising: an acoustical analysis of a voice communication, an analysis of a text communication, an analysis of the voice communication converted to text, and an analysis of a video communication.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the established communication is established by the first party, by a contact center, or by an agent.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein affecting the processing is accomplished by at least one item selected from the group comprising: routing the communication, selecting an IVR script, selecting an agent script, warning an agent, and selecting the agent.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein affecting the processing further comprises affecting the processing based on at least one other parameter selected from the group comprising: a caller ID, a service contract, a call record, a prior communication, and a capability of an agent.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the detected first emotion and the detected second emotion are emotions of the first party.

25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the detected first emotion is an emotion of the first party and the detected second emotion is an emotion of an agent.

26. A method comprising:

a. establishing a first communication with a first party;

b. detecting a first emotion during a first step of the established first communication;

c. establishing a second communication with the first party, wherein the second communication is related to the first communication;

d. detecting a second emotion during a first step of the established second communication;

e. affecting processing of the first communication based on the detected second emotion; and/or

f. affecting processing of the second communication based on the detected first emotion.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected at or while: the receipt of the communication, the first party is waiting in a contact queue, an agent is waiting in an agent queue, the first party is communicating with the agent, the first party is communicating with a supervisor, the first party is speaking to a voice mail system, the first party is entering information in an interactive voice response (IVR) system, and the first party is speaking to an IVR system.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first communication and/or the second communication are at least one item selected from the group comprising: a voice communication, a text communication, and a video communication.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first emotion and/or the second emotion are detected using an analysis selected from the group comprising: an acoustical analysis of a voice communication, an analysis of a text communication, an analysis of a voice communication converted to text, and an analysis of a video communication.

30. The method of claim 26 , wherein affecting the processing further comprises affecting the processing based on at least one other parameter selected from the group comprising: a caller ID, a service contract, a call record, a prior communication, and a capability of an agent.

31. The method of claim 26 , wherein the detected first emotion and the detected second emotion are emotions of the first party.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the detected first emotion is an emotion of the first party and the detected second emotion is an emotion an agent.

33. An apparatus comprising:

a. means for establishing a communication with a first party;

b. means for detecting a first emotion during a first step of the established communication;

c. means for detecting a second emotion during a second step, different from the first step of the established communication;

d. means for affecting processing of a first part of the established communication based on the detected second emotion and/or affecting processing of a second part of the established communication based on the detected first emotion.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a. means for establishing a first communication with a first party;

b. means for detecting a first emotion during a first step of the established first communication;

c. means for establishing a second communication with the first party, wherein the second communication is related to the first communication;

d. means for detecting a second emotion during a first step of the established second communication;

e. means for affecting processing of the first communication based on the detected second emotion; and/or

f. means for affecting processing of the second communication based on the detected first emotion.

Assignments (18)
(SECURITY INTEREST) GRANTOR'S NAME CHANGE Recorded Sep 21, 2023
From: AVAYA INC.
To: AVAYA LLC
Reel/Frame 065019/0231 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 53955/0436) Recorded May 18, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; AVAYA INC.; INTELLISIST, INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 063705/0023 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 61087/0386) Recorded May 18, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; AVAYA INC.; INTELLISIST, INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 063690/0359 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001) Recorded May 18, 2023
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAYA INC.; INTELLISIST, INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC; VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ZANG, INC. (FORMER NAME OF AVAYA CLOUD INC.); HYPERQUALITY, INC.; HYPERQUALITY II, LLC; CAAS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.
Reel/Frame 063779/0622 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 4, 2023
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; INTELLISIST, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063542/0662 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 3, 2023
From: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; AVAYA INC.; INTELLISIST, INC.; KNOAHSOFT INC.
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB [COLLATERAL AGENT]
Reel/Frame 063742/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 45124/FRAME 0026 Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAYA HOLDINGS CORP.; AVAYA INC.; AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 063457/0001 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AVAYA INC.; INTELLISIST, INC.; AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; AVAYA CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061087/0386 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2020
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.; INTELLISIST, INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053955/0436 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2018
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC; VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ZANG, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045124/0026 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2018
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC; VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ZANG, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045034/0001 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC.; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION); VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 044893/0531 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 025863/0535 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST, NA
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 044892/0001 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 030083/0639 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 045012/0666 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2017
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC.; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION; VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041576/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2013
From: AVAYA, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., THE
Reel/Frame 030083/0639 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 22, 2011
From: AVAYA INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST, NA, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, THE
Reel/Frame 025863/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2009
From: FLOCKHART, ANDREW D.; MATHEWS, EUGENE P.; TAYLOR, JOHN Z.
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 022638/0618 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100278318A1 · Nov 4, 2010