Online interaction processing

• US 7,013,263 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mindfabric Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Chan, Wayne, Limerick, Thomas, Isaka, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Knepper, David D.
• Application Number:
  US10/104,546
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to process online interactions from numerous sources, coming from different time frames and systems. One embodiment includes a facilitator, an interaction processor, and an action generator. The facilitator facilitates interactions in one or more devices, where interactions typically occur. The processor can consolidate and analyze interactions from multiple sources, in different formats, and collected at different time frames, to extract intelligence from them. The processor processes such interactions, and generates an interaction descriptor for each interaction. A descriptor can include a generalization of the corresponding interaction, and at least a part of the interaction. Descriptors for different types of interactions can be represented by the same format to allow the processor to analyze them together. The action generator can improve on future interactions; refer an interaction to be responded by a human representative if necessary; and allow users to extract information from the analysis, and generate reports regarding the interactions. Future interactions can then be significantly enhanced, with customers having higher satisfaction level, and companies more accurately charting their future.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing online interactions, said method comprising:

accessing two online interactions;

generating two interaction descriptors from the two online interactions using grammatical and semantic processing; and

analyzing the two descriptors together to determine a piece of information related to the interactions;

wherein the two interactions are from different time frames,

wherein one descriptor includes a generalization of the corresponding interaction, and

wherein the two interactions are from different modes of communication.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein one interaction is an instant message, and the other interaction is an email.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein one interaction is from a mobile device and the other interaction is from a desktop device.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the two interactions are from two physical locations.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the two interactions have two different transport protocols.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the two interactions have two different data formats.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the two interactions are in two different languages, and the method further comprises normalizing the two interactions into one language.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the interactions includes a pre-determined representation, and the method further comprises normalizing the pre-determined representation into a standard representation.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein one descriptor includes at least a part of the corresponding interaction.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein one descriptor includes an identifier for identifying the corresponding interaction.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1

wherein a corporation pays for the computer-implemented method,

wherein the generalization is related to a subject matter of the corresponding interaction, and

wherein the subject matter is related to an interest of the corporation.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein a person initiates one of the interactions, the generalization is related to an interest of the person, and the interest is extracted from the interaction.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein a person initiates one of the interactions, and the generalization is related to the state of the person.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 further comprising facilitating the interactions before accessing the interactions.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of information includes a rule generated based on the two interactions.

16. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of information enhances future interactions.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of information is for generating a report related to the interactions.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein the piece of information is for changing the mode of communication of one of the interactions.

19. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein future interactions can be modified based on an input from a user who has accessed the piece of information.

20. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1

wherein one interaction includes a statement and a response to the statement,

wherein based on the piece of information, a human representative is activated to call the initiator of that interaction,

wherein based on the piece of information, the response to the statement is modified, and

wherein the modified response is sent to the initiator.