IP Library Granted Patent US 11,563,826
Granted Patent B2
US 11,563,826 · App. 17/332,850 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Detecting under-utilized features and providing training, instruction, or technical support in an observation platform

Inventors: Guy R. Van Buskirk (Grapevine, TX); Steven Paul Russell (Menlo Park, CA); Ravi Shankar Kumar (Richardson, TX)
Assignee: Theatro Labs, Inc.
H04L67/60G06Q30/00H04L65/1066H04L67/564H04L67/63H04W84/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,563,826
App. No.
17/332,850
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first communication, received from a first communication device operated by a first user, is parsed according to a policy to determine associated metadata comprising a first set of attributes. The policy dictates rules for use of the metadata. The first set of attributes is compared to attributes of a plurality of communication devices. Based on the comparing, at least one recipient communication device for the first communication is identified from the plurality of communication devices, wherein at least one of the first set of attributes matches at least one of the attributes of the plurality of communication devices. Based on the policy and the metadata, at least one of a feature available to the at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of the at least one identified recipient communication device as perceived by a particular user associated with the at least one recipient communication device is determined.

Claims (68)

1. A method of monitoring feature availability and use in an observation platform, said method comprising:

parsing a first communication, with a computer system according to a policy, to determine metadata associated with said first communication, wherein said metadata comprises a first set of attributes and wherein said first communication is received at said computer system from a first communication device operated by a first user, wherein said policy dictates rules for use of said metadata;

comparing, by said computer system, said first set of attributes to attributes of a plurality of communication devices associated with said observation platform;

identifying, by said computer system, at least one recipient communication device from said plurality of communication devices for said first communication based on said comparing wherein at least one of said first set of attributes matches at least one of said attributes of said plurality of communication devices; and

determining, by said computer system based on said policy and said metadata, at least one of a feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of said at least one identified recipient communication device for a particular user associated with said at least one recipient communication device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

storing said metadata by said computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing, by said computer system, historical attributes to attributes of a plurality of communication devices associated with said observation platform; and

determining, by said computer system based on said comparison of historical attributes, that said feature that is available to said at least one identified recipient communication device is being under-utilized by the particular user.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the computer system based on the metadata, whether the first user is customer in a retail setting or an associate in the retail setting.

5. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by said computer system via comparison with said metadata of said plurality of communications devices, that said feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device is an under-utilized feature.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:

determining, by said computer system, that said under-utilized feature is under-utilized based on one of a geographic location of said at least one identified recipient communication device and a pattern of geographic locations of said at least one identified recipient communication device.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:

responsive to the determining said feature is an under-utilized feature, providing, by said computer system, assistance to said particular user.

8. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising:

determining, by said computer system based on said behavior, said particular user is reissuing commands to said at least one identified recipient communication device without obtaining a desired result.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

delivering, from said computer system to said at least one identified recipient communication device, one of a training module for educating the particular user with phrases to achieve the desired result and corrective actions to achieve the desired result.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

using, by said computer system, said metadata to anticipate that the first user is in need of technical support.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

connecting, by said computer system, said first communication device to a technical support representative.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

connecting, by said computer system, said first communication device to a training module.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, by the computer system based on the metadata, a readiness of the first user to receive a training module.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:

scheduling, by the computer system based on input from the first user, a time for training.

15. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for monitoring feature availability and use in an observation platform, said method comprising:

parsing a first communication, with a computer system according to a policy, to determine metadata associated with said first communication, wherein said metadata comprises a first set of attributes and wherein said first communication is received at said computer system from a first communication device operated by a first user, wherein said policy dictates rules for use of said metadata;

comparing, by said computer system, said first set of attributes to attributes of a plurality of communication devices associated with said observation platform;

identifying, by said computer system, at least one recipient communication device from said plurality of communication devices for said first communication based on said comparing wherein at least one of said first set of attributes matches at least one of said attributes of said plurality of communication devices; and

determining, by said computer system based on said policy and said metadata, at least one of a feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of said at least one identified recipient communication device for a particular user associated with said at least one recipient communication device.

16. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

storing said metadata by said computer system.

17. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by said computer system via comparison with said metadata of said plurality of communications devices, that said feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device is an under-utilized feature.

18. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to the determining said feature is an under-utilized feature, providing, by said computer system, assistance to said particular user.

19. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

using, by said computer system, said metadata to anticipate that the first user is in need of technical support; and

connecting, by said computer system, said first communication device to a technical support representative.

20. The non-transitory computer-usable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

using, by said computer system, said metadata to anticipate that the first user is in need of technical support; and

connecting, by said computer system, said first communication device to a training module.

21. An observation platform comprising:

a first communication device configured to send a first communication; and

a computer system configured to:

parse said first communication, by a processor of said computer system according to a policy, to determine metadata associated with said first communication, wherein said metadata comprises a first set of attributes and wherein said first communication is received at said computer system from a first communication device operated by a first user, wherein said policy dictates rules for use of said metadata;

compare, by said processor of said computer system, said first set of attributes to attributes of a plurality of communication devices associated with said observation platform;

identify, by said processor of said computer system, at least one recipient communication device from said plurality of communication devices for said first communication based on said comparing wherein at least one of said first set of attributes matches at least one of said attributes of said plurality of communication devices; and

determine, by said processor of said computer system based on said policy and said metadata, at least one of a feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device and behavior of said at least one identified recipient communication device for a particular user associated with said at least one recipient communication device.

22. The observation platform of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

store said metadata.

23. The observation platform of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, via comparison with said metadata of said plurality of communications devices, that said feature available to said at least one identified recipient communication device is an under-utilized feature.

24. The observation platform of claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

responsive to the determining said feature is an under-utilized feature, provide assistance to said particular user.

25. The observation platform of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

use, by said computer system, said metadata to anticipate that the first user is in need of technical support; and

connect, by said computer system, said first communication device to a technical support representative, wherein said technical support representative is one of associated with an organization employing the observation platform and a third-party unassociated with the organization employing said observation platform.

26. The observation platform of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

use, by said computer system, said metadata to anticipate that the first user is in need of technical support; and

connect, by said computer system, said first communication device to a training module.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070779/0538 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0950 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2024
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066524/0966 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059051/0030 →
FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: THEATRO LABS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059232/0505 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2021
From: VANBUSKIRK, GUY R.; RUSSELL, STEVEN PAUL; KUMAR, RAVI SHANKAR
To: THEATRO LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056378/0139 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 16799073 · Feb 24, 2020
Continuation 15459288 · Mar 15, 2017
Continuation 13833572 · Mar 15, 2013
Continuation In Part 13739504 · Jan 11, 2013
Continuation In Part 13665527 · Oct 31, 2012
Continuation In Part 13401146 · Feb 21, 2012
Provisional Application 61487432 · May 18, 2011
Provisional Application 61445504 · Feb 22, 2011
Related Publication 20210289042A1 · Sep 16, 2021
Cited By (9)
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