METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING CONTACTS

• US 20110307506A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: In4med Corporation
• Original Assignee: In4med Corporation
• Inventors: Kass, Jason, Bowden, Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/797,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307506A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of an exhibitor interacting with a visitor and acquiring, managing, and qualifying leads, comprises: receiving identification information from the visitor at an input station; matching the identification information to a visitor account; and transmitting a notification of attendance by the visitor at the input station to a contact other than the visitor, defined for the visitor account by the exhibitor. The method may further comprise: collecting behavior information from the visitor defining one or more of type, quality and quantity of interactions between the visitor and the exhibitor, during the interactions; and updating records in a leads database linking the visitor account to the behavior information, while collecting the behavior information. The method may yet further comprise: computing lead qualification analytics as records in the leads database are updated; and updating records in the leads database linking the visitor account to computed lead qualification analytics, while computing lead qualification analytics. In another variation, the method may further comprise: providing substantially continuous, real-time leads database access to an exhibitor-designated contact other than the visitor. A system for an exhibitor interacting with a visitor and acquiring, managing, and qualifying leads, comprises: a first computer at an exhibitor site executing a visitor data collection client; a second computer remote from the exhibitor site executing a lead qualification database server, connected by a communications network to the first computer; and an exhibitor contact terminal connected to the communications network for access to the lead qualification database server of the second computer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of an entity managing contacts, comprising:

receiving identification information from the contact at an input station of the entity;

matching the identification information to a contact account; and

transmitting a notification of interaction between the contact and the input station to a person other than the contact, defined for the contact account by the entity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises:

sending the notification in real-time.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting behavior information from the contact defining one or more of type, quality and quantity of interactions between the contact and the entity, during the interactions; and

updating records in a contacts database linking the contact account to the behavior information, while collecting the behavior information.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein collecting behavior information and updating records in a contacts database linking the contact account to the behavior information are performed in real-time.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the contacts are potential leads, further comprising:

computing lead qualification analytics as records in the leads database are updated; and

updating records in the leads database linking the contact account to computed lead qualification analytics, while computing lead qualification analytics.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein computing lead qualification analytics and updating records in the leads database linking the contact account to computed lead qualification analytics are performed in real-time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing substantially continuous, real-time leads database access to an entity-designated person other than the contact.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

continuously in real-time inventorying a quantity of physical hand-outs distributed during contact interactions.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

tracking and reporting in real-time on the quantity of physical hand-outs in inventory whereby restocking and planning are facilitated.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

requesting an electronic document, performed by the contact;

storing information about the requesting performed by the contact in the contacts database;

placing the electronic document in a storage location accessible through a computer network to the contact;

sending an electronic message to the contact notifying the contact that the electronic document is accessible at the storage location;

accessing the document at the storage location, performed by the contact; and

updating the contacts database to record the accessing performed by the contact.

11. A system for an entity interacting with a contact, comprising:

a first computer at a first site executing a contact data collection client;

a second computer remote from the first site executing a lead qualification database server, connected by a communications network to the first computer; and

a terminal inaccessible to the contact, connected to the communications network for access to the lead qualification database server of the second computer.