Apparatus for Customer Relations Management

• US 20150046341A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proximiant Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Proximiant Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Fang, Xu, Zhichen
• Application Number:
  US14/452,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

An apparatus has a server connected to a network, the server including a processor coupled to at least one data repository and software executing on the processor from a non-transitory medium, the software providing a service comprising receipt of a transaction record related to a transaction between a business and a customer, the record in the form of a digital file generated at a location of the business, processing of the transaction record, determining contextual meaning of individual portions of the record, inserting into the record an executable link on or proximate a portion processed for contextual meaning, the link to a resource associated with the contextual meaning of the portion linked, and transmitting the record with the inserted link to the customer.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a server connected to a network, the server including a processor coupled to at least one data repository and software executing on the processor from a non-transitory medium, the software providing a service comprising;

receipt of a transaction record related to a transaction between a business and a customer, the record in the form of a digital file generated at a location of the business;

processing of the transaction record, determining contextual meaning of individual portions of the record;

inserting into the record an executable link on or proximate a portion processed for contextual meaning, the link to a resource associated with the contextual meaning of the portion linked; and

transmitting the record with the inserted link to the customer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transaction record is a transaction receipt.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein different portions of the transaction record identify the seller and identity of different items purchased by customer, and wherein the seller identification is made a link to an agent of the seller, and identity of items purchased are linked to information sites presenting additional information about the items.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transaction record is one of a receipt, an invoice, a shipping notice, a service order, a ticket to travel or to an event, reservation information, or any other document motivated by a transaction between a business and a customer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the executable link asserted by the customer initiates a browser application to service a link to a business web site, an email application to generate an email to the business, a telephony application to initiate a voice transaction to a site for the business, a texting application to initiate a text message to an agent for the business, or a chat program to initiate a chat session with an agent of the business.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the executable link has a time limit, after which the link is no longer operable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server provides execution of a communications initiated by the link.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the service registers a plurality of businesses as subscribers, and processes transaction records from the plurality of businesses, inserting links into the records to initiate communication between the customers and the businesses.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein transaction records from individual registered businesses are received and processed in batches.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein individual ones of the businesses provide templates facilitating processing of their transaction records.

11. A method comprising steps:

(a) receiving at a server connected to a network, the server including a processor coupled to at least one data repository and software executing on the processor from a non-transitory medium, a transaction record related to a transaction between a business and a customer, the record in the form of a digital file generated at a location of the business;

(b) processing of the transaction record, determining contextual meaning of individual portions of the record;

(c) inserting into the record an executable link on or proximate a portion processed for contextual meaning, the link to a resource associated with the contextual meaning of the portion linked; and

(d) transmitting the record with the inserted link to the customer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the transaction record is a transaction receipt.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein different portions of the transaction record identify the seller and identity of different items purchased by customer, and wherein the seller identification is made a link to an agent of the seller, and identity of items purchased are linked to information sites presenting additional information about the items.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the transaction record is one of a receipt, an invoice, a shipping notice, a service order, a ticket to travel or to an event, reservation information, or any other document motivated by a transaction between a business and a customer.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the executable link asserted by the customer initiates a browser application to service a link to a business web site, an email application to generate an email to the business, a telephony application to initiate a voice transaction to a site for the business, a texting application to initiate a text message to an agent for the business, or a chat program to initiate a chat session with an agent of the business.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the executable link has a time limit, after which the link is no longer operable.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the server provides execution of a communications initiated by the link.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the service registers a plurality of businesses as subscribers, and processes transaction records from the plurality of businesses, inserting links into the records to initiate communication between the customers and the businesses.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein transaction records from individual registered businesses are received and processed in batches.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein individual ones of the businesses provide templates facilitating processing of their transaction records.