Virtual reality enabled transaction processing system

• US 20040103038A1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Firstpoint Contact Technologies, LLC (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Firstpoint Contact Technologies, LLC (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bonifazi, Carlo, Shambaugh, Craig R., Dezonno, Anthony J., Sumner, Roger A., Beckstrom, Robert P., Michelson, Mark J., Power, Mark J., Hodson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US10/304,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2226/04 Transmission or communication means, e.g. internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

A transaction processing system includes at least one agent computer, where each agent computer has a processor, an agent display device, and a memory storage subsystem. The processor is operatively coupled to the agent display device and to the memory storage subsystem, and a virtual reality (VR) processor is operatively coupled to the processor. Also included is a VR agent interface configured to provide a common transaction-based VR environment between the agent and the caller to permit a transaction to be initiated and completed in the common VR environment.

Claims

1. A transaction processing system configured to route callers to an associated agent, the system comprising:

at least one agent computer having a processor, an agent display device, and a memory storage subsystem, the processor operatively coupled to the agent display device and to the memory storage subsystem;

a virtual reality (VR) processor operatively coupled to the processor; and

VR agent interface configured to provide a common transaction-based VR environment between the agent and the caller to permit a transaction to be initiated and completed in the common VR environment.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the caller accesses a caller computer, the caller computer further including a caller display device and a VR caller interface.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the VR caller interface facilitates the display of a representation of the agent on the caller display screen.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein the VR agent interface provides the agent with at least one representation of document organizer, the document organizer providing access to a plurality of documents, the VR caller interface configured to present the document organizer to the caller.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the caller display screen provides the caller with instructions and facilitates presentation to the caller of documents in the document organizer.

6. The system according to claim 4 wherein the representation of the document organizer is selected from the group consisting of a filing cabinet, book shelf, desk, enclosure having drawers, ordered list, tree diagram, and office furniture.

7. The system according to claim 2 wherein the VR agent interface provides the agent with at least one representation of a product organizer, the product organizer providing access to a plurality of products, the VR caller interface configured to present the document organizer to the caller.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the VR environment provided to the agent is substantially identical to the VR environment provided to the caller.

9. The system according to claim 2 wherein the VR agent interface communicates with the VR caller interface to provide the common transaction-based VR environment such that documents selected by the agent are simultaneously presented to the caller, and documents selected by the caller are simultaneously presented to the agent.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one representation of document organizer is presented to the agent and to the caller, the document organizer providing access to a plurality of documents.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein documents selected by the agent are simultaneously presented to the caller, and documents selected by the caller are simultaneously presented to the agent.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the agent points out specific portions of the selected documents shown on the agent display device, the specific portions of the documents being presented to the caller on a caller display device.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the caller selects products or services to purchase and the transaction is completed.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein completion of the transaction results in automatically accessing one or more financial accounts of the caller to provide for payment of the transaction.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the caller is presented with a real-time representation of the financial accounts to determine if sufficient funds exist in the account to pay for the transaction.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the caller disables presentation of the financial accounts to the agent.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the caller disables presentation of selected information to the agent and the agent disables presentation of selected information to the agent.

18. A method for providing a common environment to agents of a transaction processing system and callers routed to the agent, the method comprising:

running a VR (virtual reality) software application on an agent computer, the computer having a station processor, an agent display device, and a memory storage subsystem;

operatively coupling the station processor to the agent display device and to the memory storage subsystem;

operatively coupling a virtual reality (VR) processor to the station processor; and

displaying a common VR environment to the agent and the caller to permit a transaction to be initiated and completed in the common VR environment.

19. A transaction processing system configured to route callers to an associated agent, the system comprising:

at least one agent computer having means for processing, means for displaying, and means for storing the means for processors operatively coupled to the means for displaying and to the means for storing;

means for generating a virtual reality environment operatively coupled to the means for processing; and

means for providing VR agent interface configured to provide a common transaction-based VR environment between the agent and the caller to permit a transaction to be initiated and completed in the common VR environment.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the caller accesses a caller computer, the caller computer further including a caller display device and a VR caller interface.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the VR agent interface provides the agent with at least one representation of document organizer, the document organizer providing access to a plurality of documents, the VR caller interface configured to present the document organizer to the caller.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the representation of the document organizer is selected from the group consisting of a filing cabinet, book shelf, desk, enclosure having drawers, ordered list, tree diagram, and office furniture.

23. The system according to claim 20 wherein the VR agent interface communicates with the VR caller interface to provide the common transaction-based VR environment such that documents selected by the agent are simultaneously presented to the caller, and documents selected by the caller are simultaneously presented to the agent.

24. The system according to claim 19 wherein the caller selects products or services to purchase and the transaction is completed.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein completion of the transaction results in automatically accessing one or more financial accounts of the caller to provide for payment of the transaction.