Method and apparatus for improving transaction success rates for voice reminder applications in E-commerce

• US 8,392,192 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oon-Gil Paik, Samuel Seungmin Cho
• Original Assignee: Oon-Gil Paik, Samuel Seungmin Cho
• Inventors: Cho, Samuel Seungmin, Paik, Oon-Gil
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, JAKIEDA R
• Application Number:
  US12/563,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 704/260
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis speech synthesis per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving transaction success rates for voice reminder applications in e-commerce. In one embodiment of the invention, the voice reminder applications in e-commerce utilizes a network-based text-to-speech (TTS) alert system, which can generate a purchase reminder associated with a recipient'"'"'s potential purchase. The network-based text-to-speech (TTS) alert system can also deliver the purchase reminder to a recipient'"'"'s voicemail and leave a transaction identifier number and a centralized or a recipient-specific call-back phone number to the recipient'"'"'s voicemail. A recipient can utilize the transaction identifier number, the centralized or the recipient-specific call-back phone number, and optionally a recipient-specific password to make a phone call to retrieve the purchase reminder previously delivered to the recipient'"'"'s voicemail by the network-based text-to-speech (TTS) alert system. Then, the recipient can authorize and/or complete a transaction related to the purchase reminder over the same phone call.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call to a recipient'"'"'s voicemail for improvement of transaction success rates, the method comprising:

transmitting the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call to a recipient'"'"'s voice-capable device at a recipient'"'"'s desired date and time or at a recipient'"'"'s desired dynamic event;

delivering the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call to the recipient'"'"'s voicemail because the recipient'"'"'s voice-capable device routes the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call to the recipient'"'"'s voicemail, wherein a text-to-speech (TTS) alert system delivering the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call is configured to detect a routing scheme to the recipient'"'"'s voicemail to record at least a portion of a message from the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call, a centralized or a recipient-specific call-back phone number, and/or a transaction identifier number in the recipient'"'"'s voicemail;

identifying a recipient using the recipient-specific call-back phone number and/or the transaction identifier if the recipient calls back to the text-to-speech (TTS) alert system; and

re-transmitting and replaying the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call when the recipient calls back to the text-to-speech (TTS) alert system, wherein the recipient is given an opportunity to authorize, authenticate, and/or complete a transaction if the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call involves a transaction of products or services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call is a TagToe reminder and the text-to-speech alert system is a TagToe system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call is a purchase reminder call and integrates an interactive voice response (IVR) interface to enable the recipient to authorize, authenticate, and/or complete the transaction of products or services during the purchase reminder call to the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call includes at least some product-related and price-related information for a product or a service associated with an e-commerce provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the text-to-speech (TTS) reminder phone call includes an option for the recipient to either delay or cancel the transaction of products or services.