METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INITIATING AND ALERTING A CONVERSATION WITH AN AUTOMATED AGENT

• US 20070011270A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Norton, Gray, Erlebacher, Adam, Klein, Stephen, Villany, Jennifer, Pawlika, James
• Application Number:
  US11/424,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for an automated agent to initiate a conversation with a user and alter the conversation based upon various parameters and/or user information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a user to initiate a conversation with an automated agent via interaction with an initiation point of a web site;

gathering a first set of information about the interaction with the initiation point of the web site;

obtaining a second set of information about the user;

initiating the conversation with the user;

altering, by the automated agent, the conversation with the user based upon the first and/or second set of information to provide responses to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the initiation point of the web site includes receiving a click on a web site link.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of information gathered about the user interaction with the web site includes information identifying the originating link.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information includes an initial question by the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second set of information includes a geographic location of the user.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the geographic location of the user is determined at least in part by an IP address associated with the user.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including using the web site information to tailor presented links to return to the web site.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automated agent communicates via instant messaging.

9. A article, comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

receiving a request from a user to initiate a conversation with an automated agent via interaction with an initiation point of a web site;

gathering a first set of information about the interaction with the initiation point of the web site;

obtaining a second set of information for the user;

initiating the conversation with the user;

altering, by the automated agent, the conversation with the user based upon the first and/or second set of information to provide responses to the user.

10. The article according to claim 9, wherein the user interaction with the initiation point of the web site includes receiving a click on a web site link.

11. The article according to claim 9, wherein the set of information gathered about the user interaction with the web site includes information identifying the originating link.

12. The article according to claim 9, wherein the second set of information includes an initial question by the user.

13. The article according to claim 9, wherein the second set of information includes a geographic location of the user.

14. The article according to claim 13, wherein the geographic location of the user is determined at least in part by an IP address associated with the user.

15. The article according to claim 9, further including using the web site information to tailor presented links to return to the web site.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the automated agent communicates via instant messaging.

17. A system, comprising:

an automated agent for being coupled to a network to receive a request from a user to initiate a conversation with via interaction with an initiation point of a web site for gathering a first set of information about the interaction with the initiation point of the web site, obtain a second set of information for the user;

initiating the conversation with the user, and alter the conversation with the user based upon the first and/or second set of information to provide responses to the user.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the user interaction with the initiation point of the web site includes receiving a click on a web site link.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the set of information gathered about the user interaction with the web site includes information identifying the originating link.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second set of information includes an initial question by the user.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second set of information includes a geographic location of the user.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the geographic location of the user is determined at least in part by an IP address associated with the user.

23. The system according to claim 17, further including using the web site information to tailor presented links to return to the web site.