IP Library Granted Patent US 9,652,727
Granted Patent B1
US 9,652,727 · App. 13/269,845 · Granted May 16, 2017

Mobile care with a virtual queue

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,652,727
App. No.
13/269,845
Granted
May 16, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

An apparatus, a method, and a computer program receive a request message from a mobile device to connect with an agent and authenticate the request message and provisioning a database for enabled services and service location. A service provider is identified and selected from a plurality of service providers. As a result, the request message is transmitted to the service provider in order to determine availability of the service provider.

Claims (51)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a request message at a web server from a mobile device via a mobile application to connect with an agent associated with a service provider;

authenticating the request message via an authentication module of the web server and provisioning a database via a provisioning module of the web server for enabled services and a service location of the service provider;

authenticating the mobile application operated by the mobile device and providing a session token to the mobile application responsive to authenticating the mobile application;

transmitting the request message to a service provider server associated with the service provider in order to determine an availability of the service provider, and wherein when no agent is currently available, the request message is placed in a queue at the service provider server and a progress message is created and forwarded to the mobile device via the web server to inform the mobile device of the agent availability; and

when an agent is available, generating an agent telephone number that can be dialed to access the available agent via the service provider server;

appending the agent telephone number to an agent availability message via the service provider server;

transmitting the agent availability message to the web server which forwards the agent availability message to the mobile device via a push notification module of the web server; and

receiving a call to the agent telephone number initiated from the mobile application operated by the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request message comprises client identification, an application authentication key, and a call back number.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when the service provider is busy, receiving a progress message from the service provider; and

when the service provider is available, receiving an agent selected message from the service provider.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the progress message comprises a wait time and the agent selected message includes a call-in number.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

generating a push notification request message in order for the mobile device to connect with the service provider.

6. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program causing a processor to:

receive a request message at a web server from a mobile device via a mobile application to connect with an agent associated with a service provider;

authenticate the request message via an authentication module of the web server and provision a database via a provisioning module of the web server for enabled services and service location of the service provider;

authenticate the mobile application operated by the mobile device and provide a session token to the mobile application responsive to authentication of the mobile application;

transmit the request message to a service provider server associated with the service provider in order to determine an availability of the service provider, and wherein when no agent is currently available, the request message is placed in a queue at the service provider server and a progress message is created and forwarded to the mobile device via the web server to inform the mobile device of the agent availability;

when an agent is available, generate an agent telephone number that can be dialed to access the available agent via the service provider server;

append the agent telephone number to an agent availability message via the service provider server;

transmit the agent availability message to the web server which forwards the agent availability message to the mobile device via a push notification module of the web server; and

receive a call to the agent telephone number initiated from the mobile application operated by the mobile device.

7. The computer program of claim 6 , wherein the request message comprises client identification, an application authentication key, and a call back number.

8. The computer program of claim 6 , wherein the computer program further causes the processor to:

when the service provider is busy, receive a progress message from the service provider; and

when the service provider is available, receive an agent selected message from the service provider.

9. The computer program of claim 8 , wherein the progress message comprises a wait time and the agent selected message includes a call-in number.

10. The computer program of claim 8 , wherein the computer program further causes the processor to:

generate a push notification request message in order for the mobile device to connect with the service provider.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing an application,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a request message from a mobile device via a mobile application to connect with an agent associated with a service provider;

authenticate the request message via an authentication module and provision a database via a provisioning module for enabled services and a service location of the service provider;

authenticate the mobile application operated by the mobile device and provide a session token to the mobile application responsive to authentication of the mobile application;

transmit the request message to a server associated with the service provider in order to determine an availability of the service provider, and wherein when no agent is currently available, the request message is placed in a queue at the service provider and a progress message is created and forwarded to the mobile device to inform the mobile device of the agent availability;

when an agent is available, generate an agent telephone number that can be dialed to access the available agent via the service provider server;

append the agent telephone number to an agent availability message via the service provider server;

transmit the agent availability message to the mobile device via a push notification module; and

receive a call to the agent telephone number initiated from the mobile application operated by the mobile device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the request message comprises client identification, an application authentication key, and a call back number.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

when the service provider is busy, receive a progress message from the service provider; and

when the service provider is available, receive an agent selected message from the service provider.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the progress message comprises a wait time and the agent selected message includes a call-in number.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate and transmit a push notification request message to the mobile device in order for the mobile device to connect with the service provider.

Assignments (4)
OMNIBUS ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Nov 25, 2024
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT)
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069438/0775 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044166/0901 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 14, 2012
From: INTERCALL, INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION; INTRADO INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION; TELEVOX SOFTWARE, INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION; TUVOX INCORPORATED, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; TWENTY FIRST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AN OHIO CORPORATION; WEST CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; WEST DIRECT, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; WEST INTERACTIVE CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; WEST NOTIFICATIONS GROUP, INC. A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 027865/0218 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2011
From: MATEER, MICHAEL T.; BOUTCHER, JAMES K.; ANDERSEN, JESSE
To: WEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027037/0574 →