Methods and Systems for Account Management and Virtual Agent Design and Implementation

• US 20100010885A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BeGuided Inc., The InterProse Corporation
• Original Assignee: The InterProse Corporation
• Inventors: Hill, Matthew D., Nelson, Kyle J., Johnson, Greg W., Uhrig, Casey F., Gillespie, Thomas F., McGrew, Scott L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/30 characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/176 Dynamic expression

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for design and use of web-based applications for account management. Some embodiments may comprise a virtual agent or avatar as part of an account collection or management web application. Some embodiments may comprise applications, utilities and tools for account-related web resource design.

Claims

1. A method for web-based account management, said method comprising:

a) presenting an account-related, multi-media message to a user through a virtual agent, wherein said virtual agent comprises animated features that move in coordination with an audible message to emulate speech and human-like gestures;

b) accepting input from said user in response to said multi-media message; and

c) effecting an account transaction based on said input.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said virtual agent comprises animated facial features that move in coordination with said audible message.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said virtual agent comprises animated hand features that move in coordination with said audible message.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein aspects of said animated features are matched to an estimated user preference.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein aspects of said multi-media message are matched to an estimated user preference.

6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising receiving compensation for said transaction.

7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising receiving user account data and selecting said animated features and other virtual agent features based on said account data.

8. A method for web-based account management, said method comprising:

a) receiving user account data;

b) determining a user characteristic based on said account data;

c) presenting an account-related, multi-media message to a user through a virtual agent, wherein said virtual agent comprises attributes and animated features, which move in coordination with an audible message to emulate speech and human-like gestures and wherein said attributes and animated features are adaptive to said user characteristic;

d) accepting input from said user in response to said multi-media message; and

e) effecting an account transaction based on said input.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said user characteristic is a user location.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said user characteristic is user credit data.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said user characteristic is a user language.

12. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said user characteristic is a user purchase history.

13. A method as described in claim 8 further comprising receiving compensation for said effecting said account transaction.

14. A method for designing a web-based account management web site, said method comprising:

a) receiving first node data for a first node, wherein said first node data comprises first node variable values associated with first node variables that define a first account management web page and a corresponding first node icon; and

b) displaying said first node icon in a graphical editor window such that said first node icon represents a first flow chart element in a flow chart that represents said account management web site.

15. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said first account management web page comprises a virtual agent, which is at least partially defined by said first node variable values.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said virtual agent presents an account-related, multi-media message to a user using animated features that move in coordination with an audible message to emulate speech and human-like gestures.

17. A method as described in claim 14 further comprising:

a) receiving second node data for a second node, wherein said second node data comprises node variable values associated with second node variables that define a second account management web page;

a corresponding second node icon and a link; and

b) displaying said second node icon and said link in a graphical editor window such that said second node icon represents a flow chart element in a flow chart representing said account management web site and said link represent a relationship between nodes in said flow chart.

18. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said second account management web page comprises a virtual agent, which is at least partially defined by said second node variable values.

19. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said first account management web page is adaptive to a user characteristic.

20. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said receiving said first node data is accomplished with a node data window.