IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,410,007
Granted Patent B2
US 10,410,007 · App. 15/086,424 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Selection of robot operation mode from determined compliance with a security criteria

Inventors: George Erhart (Loveland, CO); David Skiba (Golden, CO); Valentine C. Matula (Granville, OH)
Assignee: Avaya Inc.
G06F21/6218G06F21/56Y10S901/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,410,007
App. No.
15/086,424
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robotic customer service agent (“robot”) is provided to a service location. The robot may present a number of security concerns that, whether realized or not, present barriers to acceptance. A robot is provided that is determined to be in compliance with a security criteria. The security criteria may be related to software (e.g., running anti-virus software), hardware (e.g., an added camera is secure), communication (e.g., no unexpected communications), or other aspect. Should the robot be in compliance, it may operate in a secure mode, such as to perform or access more sensitive information. If the robot is not in compliance, the robot is operated in a non-secure mode, such as to block data transmissions, information capturing, or other process or operation that may present a security risk.

Claims (39)

1. A system, comprising:

a network interface;

a data repository;

a microprocessor in communication with the network interface and provided with instructions to cause the microprocessor to:

communicate with a robot configured to perform a customer service task at a service location, wherein the customer service task comprises a physical action within the service location;

access a security criteria from the data repository;

determine whether the robot is in compliance with the security criteria; and

operate the robot to perform the customer service task in a secure mode, when the determination indicates that the robot is in compliance with the security criteria, and operate the robot in a non-secure mode, when the determination indicates that the robot is not in compliance with the security criteria.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, the security criteria a trusted anti-virus software application being executed by the robot.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein, the security criteria comprises a security audit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, the operation of the robot in the non-secure mode comprises restricting an area of travel of the robot.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, the security criteria comprises a trusted cleaning cycle whereby sensitive data is purged from the robot.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the security criteria comprises a prohibition of the robot transmitting a signal not associated with the performance of the customer service task.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-secure mode comprises a shut-down of the robot.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the security criteria comprises blocking the robot from gathering data not required for the performance of the customer service task.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the blocking disables a component of the robot operable to gather the data not required for the performance of the customer service task.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor comprises a portion of a customer communication device operated by a user at the service location.

11. A robot, comprising:

a network interface;

a microprocessor in communication with the network interface and provided with instructions to cause the microprocessor to:

access a security criteria from a data repository;

determine whether the robot is in compliance with the security criteria;

operate the robot in a secure mode to perform a customer service task in a service location, when the determination indicates that the robot is in compliance with the security criteria, wherein the customer service task comprises a physical action within the service location; and

operate the robot to perform the customer service task; and

wherein the operation of the robot is in a non-secure mode, when the determination indicates that the robot is not in compliance with the security criteria.

12. The robot of claim 11 , wherein the security criteria comprises a signal from a contact center indicating compliance with a security criteria of the contact center.

13. The robot of claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor, while the robot is performing the customer service task, determines the robot is not in compliance with the security criteria, disables at least one component of the robot.

14. The robot of claim 11 , wherein the security criteria is provided by a signal from a communication device associated with a user at the service location.

15. The robot of claim 11 , wherein the non-secure mode comprises the blocking of a component, blocking of an operation, blocking of a communication, limiting a speed of a component of the robot, limiting a force applied by a component of the robot, or limiting a location accessible to the robot.

16. A system, comprising:

means to access, by at least one microprocessor, a security criteria from a data repository;

means to determine, by the at least one microprocessor, whether a robot is in compliance with the security criteria;

means to operate, by the at least one microprocessor, the robot to perform the customer service task; and

wherein the means to operate the robot to perform the customer service task comprise a secure mode, when the means to perform the determination determines that the robot is in compliance with the security criteria; and

wherein the means to operate the robot to perform the customer service task comprise a non-secure mode, when the means to perform the determination determines that the robot is not in compliance with the security criteria.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the security criteria comprises a signal from a contact center indicating compliance with a security criteria of the contact center.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising, means to disable at least one component of the robot, by the microprocessor, upon determining that the robot, while engaged in the customer service task, is not in compliance with the security criteria.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the security criteria is provided by a signal from a communication device associated with a user at the service location.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the means to operate the robot in the non-secure mode comprise limiting at least one operational feature of the robot.

Assignments (17)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2026
From: AVAYA LLC
To: PULSELINK SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 074909/0627 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PARTIAL RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
To: AVAYA LLC (F/K/A AVAYA INC.); AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.
Reel/Frame 074981/0940 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PARTIAL RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: AVAYA LLC (F/K/A AVAYA INC.); AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.
Reel/Frame 074944/0573 →
(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 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 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 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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2016
From: ERHART, GEORGE; SKIBA, DAVID; MATULA, VALENTINE C.
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 038154/0145 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62212409 · Aug 31, 2015
Related Publication 20170286708A1 · Oct 5, 2017