SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING AND TRANSMITTING MESSAGES
First Claim
1. A computer readable medium including programming instructions executed by a computer for scheduling and transmitting messages comprising:
- a) storing a plurality of audio files in an audio database;
b) generating a schedule of queued audio messages, each queued audio message including at least one of the plurality of audio files, wherein each queued audio message comprises a plurality of different attributes, the schedule being generated based on the plurality of different attributes, and one of the plurality of different attributes being a priority level of the associated message;
c) transmitting at least one of the queued audio messages based on the schedule;
d) reconfiguring the schedule based on a user interaction, including utilizing the plurality of audio files to generate an ad-hoc audio message from the plurality of audio files based on the user interaction, wherein the ad-hoc audio message is a composite audio message including a plurality of component audio files combined to create the ad-hoc audio message, and reconfiguring the schedule to include the ad-hoc audio message based on the priority level of the ad-hoc audio message; and
e) delivering the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message in accordance with the reconfigured schedule, wherein the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message are played to a store environment for in-store customers, and wherein delivering the queued and ad-hoc audio messages in accordance with the reconfigured schedule includes;
checking for queued and ad-hoc audio messages that are due and processing the due audio messages if appropriate, including determining if feedback is requested, obtaining the requested feedback from at least one of the in-store customers, and processing the requested feedback, andchecking for overdue messages and processing the overdue messages if appropriate, including;
determining if one or more overdue messages should be currently played;
processing the one or more overdue messages as due audio messages if the one or more overdue messages are to be currently played;
determining if the one or more overdue messages should be rescheduled;
modifying the attributes of the overdue messages that are rescheduled;
determining if there are other overdue actions associated with the overdue messages that are rescheduled; and
executing the other overdue actions if appropriate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for scheduling and transmitting messages is disclosed. The system stores a plurality of audio files in an audio database, generates a schedule of queued messages via the plurality of audio files, transmits the queued messages based on the schedule, and reconfigures the schedule based on a user interaction delivering the queued messages in accordance with the reconfigured schedule. A scheduled plurality of messages can be transmitted in a clear and professional manner. Additionally, “ad hoc” messages can be incorporated into the schedule without significantly disrupting the other messages.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer readable medium including programming instructions executed by a computer for scheduling and transmitting messages comprising:
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a) storing a plurality of audio files in an audio database; b) generating a schedule of queued audio messages, each queued audio message including at least one of the plurality of audio files, wherein each queued audio message comprises a plurality of different attributes, the schedule being generated based on the plurality of different attributes, and one of the plurality of different attributes being a priority level of the associated message; c) transmitting at least one of the queued audio messages based on the schedule; d) reconfiguring the schedule based on a user interaction, including utilizing the plurality of audio files to generate an ad-hoc audio message from the plurality of audio files based on the user interaction, wherein the ad-hoc audio message is a composite audio message including a plurality of component audio files combined to create the ad-hoc audio message, and reconfiguring the schedule to include the ad-hoc audio message based on the priority level of the ad-hoc audio message; and e) delivering the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message in accordance with the reconfigured schedule, wherein the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message are played to a store environment for in-store customers, and wherein delivering the queued and ad-hoc audio messages in accordance with the reconfigured schedule includes; checking for queued and ad-hoc audio messages that are due and processing the due audio messages if appropriate, including determining if feedback is requested, obtaining the requested feedback from at least one of the in-store customers, and processing the requested feedback, and checking for overdue messages and processing the overdue messages if appropriate, including; determining if one or more overdue messages should be currently played; processing the one or more overdue messages as due audio messages if the one or more overdue messages are to be currently played; determining if the one or more overdue messages should be rescheduled; modifying the attributes of the overdue messages that are rescheduled; determining if there are other overdue actions associated with the overdue messages that are rescheduled; and executing the other overdue actions if appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer readable medium including program instructions executed by a computer for scheduling and transmitting messages comprising the steps of:
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a) storing a plurality of audio files in an audio database; b) generating a schedule of queued audio messages, each queued audio message including at least one of the plurality of audio files, wherein each queued audio message comprises a plurality of different attributes, the schedule being generated based on the plurality of attributes, and one of the plurality of different attributes being a priority level of the associated message, wherein at least one of the queued messages comprises a prompt to obtain feedback, and wherein generating the schedule includes; utilizing the plurality of audio files to generate an ad-hoc audio message from the plurality of audio files based on the user interaction, wherein the ad-hoc audio message is a composite audio message including a plurality of component audio files combined to create the ad-hoc audio message, and reconfiguring the schedule to include the ad-hoc audio message based on a priority level of the ad-hoc audio message; c) transmitting the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message based on the schedule, wherein the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message are played to a store environment for in-store customers, and wherein transmitting the queued and ad-hoc audio messages includes checking for queued and ad-hoc audio messages that are due and processing the due audio messages if appropriate; d) obtaining the feedback related to the prompt from at least one of the in-store customers and processing the obtained feedback; and e) checking for overdue messages and processing the overdue messages if appropriate, including; determining if one or more overdue messages should be currently played; processing the one or more overdue messages as due audio messages if the one or more overdue messages are to be currently played; determining if the one or more overdue messages should be rescheduled; modifying the attributes of the overdue messages that are rescheduled; determining if there are other overdue actions associated with the overdue messages that are rescheduled; and executing the other overdue actions if appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A programmable audio message system for scheduling and transmitting messages comprising:
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a) an audio database for storing a plurality of audio files in an audio database; b) a scheduling mechanism coupled to the audio database for generating a schedule of queued audio messages, each queued audio message including at least one of the plurality of audio files, wherein each queued audio message comprises a plurality of different attributes, the schedule being generated based on the plurality of attributes, and one of the plurality of different attributes being a priority level of the associated message, wherein at least one of the queued messages comprises a prompt to obtain feedback, and wherein the scheduling mechanism includes; a mechanism for utilizing the plurality of audio files to generate an ad-hoc audio message from the plurality of audio files based on the user interaction, wherein the ad-hoc audio message is a composite audio message including a plurality of component audio files combined to create the ad-hoc audio message, and a mechanism for reconfiguring the schedule to include the ad-hoc audio message based on a priority level of the ad-hoc audio message; c) a transmission mechanism coupled to the scheduling mechanism for transmitting the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message based on the schedule, wherein the queued audio messages and the ad-hoc audio message are played to a store environment for in-store customers, and wherein transmitting the queued and ad-hoc audio messages includes checking for queued and ad-hoc audio messages that are due and processing the due audio messages if appropriate; d) a mechanism for obtaining the feedback related to the prompt from at least one of the in-store customers and processing the obtained feedback; and e) a mechanism for checking for overdue messages and processing the overdue messages if appropriate, including; a mechanism for determining if one or more overdue messages should be currently played; a mechanism for processing the one or more overdue messages as due audio messages if the one or more overdue messages are to be currently played; a mechanism for determining if the one or more overdue messages should be rescheduled; a mechanism for modifying the attributes of the overdue messages that are rescheduled; a mechanism for determining if there are other overdue actions associated with the overdue messages that are rescheduled; and a mechanism for executing the other overdue actions if appropriate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification