IP Library Granted Patent US 8,548,144
Granted Patent B2
US 8,548,144 · App. 13/461,550 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Apparatus, system, and method for automated call initiation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,548,144
App. No.
13/461,550
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, system, and methods for automated call initiation. In some implementations, the method for automated call initiation includes initiating an automated call to a destination using a communication line, initiating a call status determination that automatically determines when a person answers the call, and sending an audio signal generated at the destination to an agent and/or assigning the automated call to an agent during the call status determination. The agent may thereby be able to monitor the call and assume a natural response to the person without unnatural delay as the conversation begins.

Claims (46)

1. A method for automated call initiation, the method comprising:

initiating a first automated call to a destination using a first communication line;

initiating a call status determination that automatically determines when a person answers the call; and

sending an audio signal generated at the destination to a first agent, the audio signal comprising live human voice audio, wherein the step of sending the audio signal to the first agent is performed concurrently with the call status determination.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning the first automated call to an agent, wherein the step of assigning the first automated call to an agent is performed concurrently with the call status determination.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of assigning the first automated call to an agent comprises assigning the first automated call to the first agent.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the audio signal generated at the destination to a second agent, wherein the step of sending the audio signal to the second agent is performed concurrently with the call status determination, and concurrently with the step of sending the audio signal to the first agent.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising assigning the first automated call to an agent, wherein the step of assigning the first automated call to an agent is performed concurrently with the call status determination.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending an audio signal generated by the first agent to the destination, wherein the audio signal generated by the first agent comprises live human voice audio.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of sending the audio signal generated by the first agent to the destination is performed concurrently with the call status determination.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating a second automated call to a second destination using a second communication line, wherein the second automated call is initiated concurrently with the first automated call;

initiating a second call status determination for the second automated call; and

sending a second audio signal generated at the second destination to an agent, wherein the step of sending the second audio signal is performed concurrently with the second call status determination, and wherein the second audio signal generated at the second destination comprises live human voice audio.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining which of the automated calls has the highest likelihood for having contacted a live person; and

assigning the automated call having the highest likelihood for having contacted a live person to an agent.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the call status determination automatically determines when a person answers the call by automatically predicting a likelihood that the call was answered by a live human.

11. A method for automated call initiation, the method comprising:

initiating a first automated call to a destination using a first communication line;

initiating a call status determination that automatically determines when the first automated call has been answered and assesses a likelihood that the first automated call has been answered by a live person; and

assigning the first automated call to a first agent during the call status determination.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising sending an audio signal generated at the destination to the first agent, the audio signal comprising live human voice audio, wherein the step of sending the audio signal to the first agent is performed concurrently with the call status determination.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending an audio signal generated by the first agent to the destination, wherein the step of sending the audio signal generated by the first agent to the destination is performed concurrently with the call status determination, and wherein the audio signal generated by the first agent comprises live human voice audio.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

initiating a second automated call to a second destination using a second communication line, wherein the second automated call is initiated concurrently with the first automated call;

initiating a second call status determination for the second automated call; and

assigning the second automated call to an agent, wherein the step of assigning the second automated call is performed concurrently with the second call status determination.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending a second audio signal generated at the second destination to an agent, wherein the step of sending the second audio signal is performed concurrently with the second call status determination, and wherein the second audio signal generated at the second destination comprises live human voice audio.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining which of the automated calls has the highest likelihood for having contacted a live person; and

assigning the automated call having the highest likelihood for having contacted a live person to an agent.

17. A system for automated call initiation, the system comprising:

a call controller configured to communicate with a network;

a user terminal in communication with the call controller;

an initiation module configured to automatically initiate a call to a destination;

an analysis module configured to initiate a call status determination, wherein the call status determination automatically determines when a live person answers a call; and

an audio monitoring module configured to receive an audio signal generated at the destination and send the audio signal to an agent at the user terminal concurrent with the call status determination, wherein the audio signal comprises live human voice audio.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the audio monitoring module is configured to passively send the audio signal to an agent at the user terminal.

19. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with the call controller.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the audio monitoring module is configured to send the audio signal to a plurality of agents at the plurality of user terminals substantially simultaneously.

21. The system of claim 17 , further comprising an audio transmission module configured to send an audio signal generated by an agent to the destination concurrently with the call status determination, wherein the audio signal generated by an agent comprises live human voice audio.

22. The system of claim 17 , further comprising an assignment module configured to assign the call to an agent concurrent with the call status determination.

23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the analysis module is further configured to perform a call status determination on a plurality of calls simultaneously and assess the likelihood of each of the plurality of calls for having contacted a live person.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio signal generated at the destination comprises the first live human voice audio of the first automated call received from the destination.

25. The system of claim 17 , wherein the audio monitoring module is configured to send a first audio signal comprising live human voice audio received from the destination to an agent at the user terminal concurrent with the call status determination.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: NICE LTD; NICE SYSTEMS INC.; NICE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES INC.; INCONTACT, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074986/0208 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: NICE LTD.; NICE SYSTEMS INC.; AC2 SOLUTIONS, INC.; ACTIMIZE LIMITED; INCONTACT, INC.; NEXIDIA, INC.; NICE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040821/0818 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2013
From: TRANSCEND PRODUCTS, LLC
To: INCONTACT, INC.
Reel/Frame 030858/0934 →