IP Library Granted Patent US 9,712,677
Granted Patent B1
US 9,712,677 · App. 15/158,767 · Granted Jul 18, 2017

Integrating two-dimensional barcodes and embedded links with call center operation

Inventor: Karl H. Koster (Sandy Springs, GA)
H04M3/5232G06Q30/0267G06Q30/0625H04M3/44H04M3/5231H04W4/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,712,677
App. No.
15/158,767
Granted
Jul 18, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

In various embodiments, advertising campaigns can be defined that incorporate technologies such as two-dimensional barcodes or embedded links in electronic material, for directing a user to communicate with a call center. For instance, in particular embodiments, the reading of a two-dimensional barcode by a user with a smart phone may cause various forms of communication requesting a return communication. The communication from the smart phone may be sent to, and received at, the call center, where a calling campaign associated with an advertising campaign is identified using information associated with the communication. A responding communication may be initiated from the call center to the user.

Claims (31)

1. A call center system comprising:

a dialer configured to originate voice calls and comprising a processor configured to:

receive a message as a result of a mobile device operated by a user reading a two-dimensional barcode provided on an advertisement, the message requesting a voice call;

select an available agent from among a plurality of agents for handling the voice call to the user of the mobile device,

cause the dialer to originate the voice call to the mobile device, and

cause the voice call to be connected to a phone being used by the available agent in response to the user answering the voice call.

2. The call center system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to update a queue associated with the voice call so that the voice call has a higher priority relative to at least one other voice call in the queue.

3. The call center system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the dialer to send a response communication to the mobile device prompting the user to select a time for a subsequent voice call in response to the user not answering the voice call.

4. The call center system of claim 3 , wherein the response communication is a SMS message.

5. The call center system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the dialer to send a response communication to the mobile device acknowledging receipt of the message.

6. The call center system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a calling campaign based on content in the message, and the plurality of agents are assigned to the calling campaign.

7. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a processor in a dialer configured to originate voice calls, cause the processor to:

receive a message as a result of a mobile device operated by a user reading a two-dimensional barcode provided on an advertisement, the message requesting a voice call;

select an available agent from among a plurality of agents for handling the voice call to the user of the mobile device,

cause the dialer to originate the voice call to the mobile device, and

cause the voice call to be connected to a phone being used by the available agent in response to the user answering the voice call.

8. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed further cause the processor to update a queue associated with the voice call so that the voice call has a higher priority relative to at least one other voice call in the queue.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed further cause the processor to cause the dialer to send a response communication to the mobile device prompting the user to select a time for a subsequent voice call in response to the user not answering the voice call.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the response communication is a SMS message.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed further cause the processor to cause the dialer to send a response communication to the mobile device acknowledging receipt of the message.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the computer-executable instructions when executed further cause the processor to determine a calling campaign based on content in the message, and the plurality of agents are assigned to the calling campaign.

13. A method for integrating use of a two-dimensional barcode with a dialer configured to originate voice calls, the method comprising:

receiving a message at the dialer as a result of a mobile device operated by a user reading a two-dimensional barcode provided on an advertisement, the message requesting a voice call;

selecting an available agent from among a plurality of agents for handling the voice call to the user of the mobile device;

originating the voice call by the dialer to the mobile device; and

connecting the voice call to a phone being used by the available agent in response to the user answering the voice call.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising update a queue associated with the voice call so that the voice call has a higher priority relative to at least one other voice call in the queue.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending a response communication to the mobile device prompting the user to select a time for a subsequent voice call in response to the user not answering the voice call.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the response communication is a SMS message.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending a response communication to the mobile device acknowledging receipt of the message.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining a calling campaign by the dialer based on content in the message, and the plurality of agents are assigned to the calling campaign.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALVARIA CAYMAN (WEM); ALVARIA CAYMAN (CXIP)
Reel/Frame 073360/0209 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: ALVARIA CAYMAN (WEM); ALVARIA CAYMAN (CXIP)
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 066850/0334 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: NOBLE SYSTEMS, LLC
To: ALVARIA CAYMAN (CX)
Reel/Frame 066850/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: JEFFRIES FINANCE LLC
To: ALVARIA, INC.; NOBLE SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066850/0428 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: JEFFRIES FINANCE LLC
To: ALVARIA, INC.; NOBLE SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066850/0384 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Mar 12, 2024
From: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION, A GEORGIA CORPORATION
To: NOBLE SYSTEMS, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066794/0435 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
To: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056193/0363 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 6, 2021
From: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION; ASPECT SOFTWARE, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 057674/0664 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 6, 2021
From: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION; ASPECT SOFTWARE, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 057261/0093 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2020
From: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 052495/0287 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2016
From: KOSTER, KARL H
To: NOBLE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038644/0062 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14863717 · Sep 24, 2015
Continuation 14242081 · Apr 1, 2014
Continuation 13957094 · Aug 1, 2013
Continuation 13461515 · May 1, 2012