System, method and computer readable medium for providing notifications

• US 7,747,695 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Knox, Mark Clinton, Mingus, Scott R., Morris, Corey K., Cordell, Jeffrey William, Sullivan, William David Jr., Sherry, Robert Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US11/926,878
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/220, 709/225, 705/5
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A system, method and computer readable medium for providing automated notifications generates a list of recipients. The notification preferences of the recipients is determined and a notification generated and formatted in accordance with the recipients'"'"' preferences is communicated to the recipient. The notification preferences include a notification type, such as voice, email, SMS etc. The notification may be a notification of an overdue debt which provides the recipient with an avenue to make payment of the debt.

Claims

1. A method for providing notifications using a processing device, the method comprising:

generating a notification list including at least one recipient; and

for each recipient;

determining at least a first notification method and a second notification method;

generating at least one notification; and

providing said at least one generated notification to said recipient in accordance with said first notification method, and providing said generated notification to said recipient in accordance with said second notification method upon failure of said first notification method.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least said first notification method and said second notification method comprises determining a time of a notification and selecting a notification method for a recipient dependent on said time of said notification.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating said at least one notification list comprises polling at least one practice management system.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising polling a plurality of practice management systems.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating at least one notification list comprises receiving a notification list from at least one practice management system.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising receiving a notification list from a plurality of practice management systems.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating at least one notification comprises generating a voice message.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said voice message comprises a component provided from a practice management system.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating a notification comprises providing a payment option in said notification.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said payment option is a hyperlink to a payment system.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving one or more recipient preferences.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said one or more recipient preferences are received from at least one practice management system.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein generating at least one notification comprises generating an overdue debt notification.

14. A system for providing notifications comprising:

at least one list generator;

at least one preference management system; and

at least one notification generator;

wherein said at least one list generator generates at least one notification list comprising at least one recipient; and

wherein the at least one preference management system determines at least a first notification method and a second notification method,

wherein said at least one notification generator is configured to determine at least one recipient on said notification list and to generate a notification to said recipient in accordance with said first notification method and said second notification method of said recipient managed by said at least one preference management system, wherein said at least one notification generator provides said generated notification to said recipient in accordance with said first notification method, and providing said generated notification to said recipient in accordance with said second notification method upon failure of said first notification method.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein said at least one notification generator communicates with at least one practice management system for generating said at least one notification list.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one notification generator communicates with a plurality of practice management systems for generating said at least one notification list.

17. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a notification system for communicating said generated notification to said recipient.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein said notification includes a notification of a debt, said system further comprising a payment system for allowing a recipient to provide a payment on said debt.

19. A computer hardware storage medium comprising instructions executable on at least one processor for:

receiving one or more preferences of at least one responsible party including at least one notification type;

generating at least one notification;

determining a recipient, from the at least one responsible party, of said at least one notification;

determining at least a first notification method and a second notification method based on one or more preferences of the recipient; and

communicating said at least one generated notification to said at least one recipient in accordance with said first notification method, and communicating said at least one generated notification to said recipient in accordance with said second notification method upon failure of said first notification method.

20. The computer hardware storage medium according to claim 19 further comprising instructions for receiving one or more preferences of at least one service provider;

wherein said at least one responsible party is determined in accordance with one or more preferences provided by a service provider.

21. The computer hardware storage medium according to claim 20 further comprising instructions for communicating with a practice management system of said at least one service provider to determine said at least one responsible party to be a recipient.

22. The computer hardware storage medium according to claim 21 wherein said at least one notification comprises a notification of an overdue debt, and wherein determining at least one responsible party to be a recipient comprises communicating with a practice management system to determine any responsible party having an overdue debt above a predetermined amount.

23. The computer hardware storage medium according to claim 21 wherein determining said at least one responsible party to be a recipient is performed at a frequency specified in said one or more preferences provided by said service provider.