IP Library Granted Patent US 9,253,329
Granted Patent B1
US 9,253,329 · App. 13/373,710 · Granted Feb 2, 2016

Services via a conference bridge

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,253,329
App. No.
13/373,710
Filed
Nov 28, 2011
Granted
Feb 2, 2016
Kind
B1
Art Unit
2656
USPC
379/93.01
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to an apparatus, a method, and a computer program configured to transmit messages between a plurality of devices during a conference call and connect the plurality of devices to a service provider based on a request for at least one service. The transmitted messages can be audio messages or audio and video messages.

Claims (61)

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamic conferencing during a conference call, comprising:

transmitting messages between a plurality of devices during the conference call;

receiving information from a plurality of service providers; and

connecting the plurality of devices to a service provider based on a request for at least one service during the conference call, wherein

the messages comprise audio messages, video messages, or both, and

for each service provider, the information comprises information regarding at least a profession of the service provider, a skill set of the service provider, an availability of the service provider, a location of the service provider, a dialect of the service provider, fees for services provided by the service provider, a gender of the service provider, a score based on knowledge of the service provider, and a performance quality of the service provider.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from at least one of the plurality of devices for the at least one service,

wherein the request comprises a type of service requested by the at least one of the plurality of devices.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

selecting one or more service providers from the plurality of service providers based on the request for the at least one service; and

creating a list of the one or more service providers capable of performing the type of service requested, wherein

the selecting of the one or more service providers comprises matching the type of service requested with information regarding each service provider to determine the one or more service providers.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting the list of the one or more service providers to the at least one of the plurality of devices in order for the at least one of the plurality of devices to select the service provider from the list of the one or more service providers.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving a selection message from the at least one of the plurality of devices, wherein the selection message comprises the service provider selected from the list of the one or more service providers.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

providing a service request message to the one or more service providers prior to the transmitting the list to the at least one of the plurality of devices, wherein the service request message comprises a transcription or a synopsis regarding the conference call between the plurality of devices and the type of service requested.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving a rejection message from the service provider after providing the informational message to the service provider; or

receiving an acceptance message from the service provider after providing the informational message to the service provider.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:

removing the service provider from the list of the one or more service providers when the rejection message is received; and

updating the list of the one or more service providers.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, in a database, the information received from each service provider.

10. An apparatus for dynamic conferencing during a conference call, comprising:

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

transmit messages between a plurality of devices during the conference call;

receive information from a plurality of service providers; and

connect the plurality of devices to a service provider based on a request for at least one service during the conference call, wherein

the messages comprise audio messages, video messages, or both, and

for each service provider, the information comprises information regarding at least a profession of the service provider, a skill set of the service provider, an availability of the service provider, a location of the service provider, a dialect of the service provider, fees for services provided by the service provider, a gender of the service provider, a score based on knowledge of the service provider, and a performance quality of the service provider.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive a request from at least one of the plurality of devices for the at least one service, wherein

the request comprises a type of service requested by the at least one of the plurality of devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

select one or more service providers from the plurality of service providers based on the request for the at least one service; and

create a list of the one or more service providers capable of performing the type of service requested,

wherein the selection of the one or more service providers comprises matching the type of service requested with information regarding each service provider to determine the one or more service providers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

transmit the list of the one or more service providers to the at least one of the plurality of devices in order for the at least one of the plurality of devices to select the service provider from the list of the one or more service providers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive a selection message from the at least one of the plurality of devices, wherein the selection message comprises the services provider selected from the list of the one or more service providers.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

provide a service request message to the one or more service providers prior to the transmitting of the list to the at least one of the plurality of devices, wherein the service request message comprises a transcription or a synopsis regarding the conference call between the plurality of devices and the type of service requested.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive a rejection message from the service provider after providing the informational message to the service provider; or

receive an acceptance message from the service provider after providing the informational message to the service provider, wherein, when a rejection message is received, remove the service provider from the list of the one or more service providers, and update the list of the one or more service providers capable of performing the type of service requested.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive information from each service provider; and

store, in a database, the information received from each service provider.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is a private network, a local area network, or a wide area network.

19. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program, when executed, is configured to cause a processor to:

transmit messages between a plurality of devices during the conference call;

receive information from a plurality of service providers; and

connect the plurality of devices to a service provider based on a request for at least one service during the conference call, wherein

the messages comprise audio messages or audio and video messages, and

for each service provider, the information comprises information regarding at least a profession of the service provider, a skill set of the service provider, an availability of the service provider, a location of the service provider, a dialect of the service provider, fees for services provided by the service provider, a gender of the service provider, a score based on knowledge of the service provider, and a performance quality of the service provider.

Assignments (8)
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: INTRADO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063239/0900 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: INTRADO CORPORATION
To: WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0876 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: CX360, INC.; WEST TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC (FKA INTRADO CORPORATION, FKA WEST CORPORATION); INTRADO INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION (FKA WEST INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION, FKA COBALT ACQUISITION COMPANY)
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062571/0018 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEST CORPORATION; WEST INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION; WEST SAFETY SERVICES, INC.; WEST UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.; RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 046046/0547 →
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 INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2016
From: WEST CORPORATION; WEST INTERACTIVE SERVICES CORPORATION; WEST SAFETY SERVICES, INC.; WEST UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.; RELIANCE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039093/0944 →
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 →