IP Library Granted Patent US 9,172,758
Granted Patent B1
US 9,172,758 · App. 14/635,527 · Granted Oct 27, 2015

Agent-assisted and directed web-channel customer care apparatus, method, and computer program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,172,758
App. No.
14/635,527
Granted
Oct 27, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

An agent-assisted and directed web-channel customer care apparatus, method, and computer program is provided to receive, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel and create a web session utilizing a web session server. Session identification is received from the web session server and a unique identifier is transmitted to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via a web session. Communications is simultaneously maintained with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.

Claims (64)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel;

determining, by a multimodal application, a type of the inbound messaging channel;

creating a web session utilizing a web session server based on the type of the inbound messaging channel;

transmitting a unique identifier to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via the web session;

directing a user, by the multimodal application, to an appropriate web channel based on the type of the inbound messaging channel; and

simultaneously maintaining communications with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inbound messaging channel comprises a voice data channel, a chat messaging data channel, a short message service data channel, an electronic mail data channel, or a Smartphone data channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inbound message comprises voice data, chat messaging data, short message service data, electronic mail data, or Smartphone data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

delivering content data to the second device via the web session server; and

receiving delivery confirmation data from the web session server, when the content data is received at the second device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

querying a database for customer information and receiving the customer information from the database; and

transmitting the customer information to the second device via the web session server.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving another inbound message from the first device, via the inbound messaging channel; and

transmitting support data to the second device based on the other inbound message,

wherein the other inbound message comprises a request for technical assistance.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing the web session server to end the web session with the second device when receiving a confirmation message data from the second device that technical assistance is not required.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer executable program configured to cause a processor to:

receive, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel;

determine a type of the inbound messaging channel;

create a web session utilizing a web session server based on the type of the inbound messaging channel;

transmit a unique identifier to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via the web session;

direct a user to an appropriate web channel based on the type of the inbound messaging channel; and

simultaneously maintain communications with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the inbound messaging channel comprises a voice data channel, a chat messaging data channel, a short message service data channel, an electronic mail data channel, or a Smartphone data channel.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the inbound message comprises voice data, chat messaging data, short message service data, electronic mail data, or Smartphone data.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program is further configured to cause the processor to:

deliver content data to the second device via the web session server; and

receive delivery confirmation data from the web session server when the content data is received at the second device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program is further configured to cause the processor to:

query a database for customer information and receiving the customer information from the database; and

transmit the customer information to the second device via the web session server.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program is further configured to cause the processor to:

receive another inbound message from the first device, via the inbound messaging channel; and

transmit support data to the second device based on the other inbound message,

wherein the other inbound message comprises a request for technical assistance.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the computer executable program is further configured to causes the processor to instruct the web session server to end the web session with the second device when receiving a confirmation message data from the second device that technical assistance is not required.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory comprising instructions,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel,

determine a type of the inbound messaging channel,

create a web session utilizing a web session server based on the type of the inbound messaging channel,

transmit a unique identifier to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via the web session,

direct a user to an appropriate web channel based on the type of the inbound messaging channel, and

simultaneously maintain communications with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein

the inbound messaging channel comprises a voice data channel, a chat messaging data channel, a short message service data channel, an electronic mail data channel, or a Smartphone data channel, and

the inbound message comprises voice data, chat messaging data, short message service data, electronic mail data, or Smartphone data.

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

deliver content data to the second device via the web session server; and

receive delivery confirmation data from the web session server when the content data is received at the second device.

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

query a database for customer information and receiving the customer information from the database; and

transmit the customer information to the second device via the web session server.

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

receive another inbound message from the first device, via the inbound messaging channel; and

transmit support data to the second device based on the other inbound message,

wherein the other inbound message comprises a request for technical assistance.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the web session server to end the web session with the second device when receiving a confirmation message data from the second device that technical assistance is not required.

Assignments (9)
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 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 035783, FRAME 0284 Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044169/0009 →
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 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded May 28, 2015
From: WEST CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035783/0284 →