Timeminder for professionals

• US 8,959,030 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwarere, Seye
• Application Number:
  US12/837,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 705/32
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a communication system that provides various automated operations, including searches of public and private resources for third party information, performance of operations to assist a user in response to keyword identification in an audio, text or video stream, and speed dial updates based on calling frequencies to various telephone numbers.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring, by a processor executable virtual assistant module and in substantial real time, a collection of actions by a user, wherein the at least one of the collection of actions is a search for a third party and wherein the third party is a person;

determining, from a profile, a trusted relationship between the third party and an other person;

in response to determining the trusted relationship, automatically contacting the other person to request information about the third party;

receiving, from the other person, a response containing the information about the third party;

based on the monitoring step, determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, a subject identifier associated with the monitored actions; and

generating, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least part of a billing entry based on the subject identifier, the information about the third party, and the monitored actions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of actions monitored by the user is a contact by the user with the third party and further comprising:

determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least one of a contact address of the third party and caller identification of the third party;

determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the subject identifier based on the at least one of a contact address and caller identification of the third party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of actions further comprise a voice session between at least the user and the third party and wherein the monitoring step comprises:

while the voice session is in progress, receiving, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least one of the voice streams exchanged between the user and third party;

while the voice session is in progress, converting, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the at least one of the voice streams into a text equivalent; and

while the voice session is in progress, parsing, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the text equivalent for at least one keyword, wherein the generating step is based on a result of the textual parsing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises providing to the user a list of possible subject identifiers and receiving a user selection of the appropriate subject identifier on the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored collection of actions further comprise a billable search and wherein the billing entry comprises the subject identifier and a description of the search.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored collection of actions further comprise one or more of placement or disconnection of an outbound phone call, receipt or disconnection of an inbound phone call, creation or completion (e.g., sending) of an email or instant message, opening and closing of an email, opening or closing of a file, document or other record and wherein the virtual assistant module timestamps starting and stopping points associated with the determined subject identifier and includes a time interval between the starting and stopping points in the billing entry.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the starting point is one or more of call set up, initial file edit, opening of an e-mail, and initial message sent, wherein the stopping point is one or more of call disconnection, final file edit, closing of an e-mail, and final message sent.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the starting and stopping points is determined by detected presence or physical location of the user and/or an electronic calendar entry.

9. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising processor executable instruction for performing the steps of claim 1.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

locating a message stored on a messaging server relevant to an incoming or outgoing contact, wherein the message is an unread email, an unheard voice message, or an unread instant message; and

querying the user if the user wants to display or review the message.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the incoming or outbound contact is an outbound contact and further comprising:

identifying, by the virtual assistant module, a display segment for the third party to contact, wherein the display segment comprises a calendar item of an event scheduled to occur; and

displaying the display segment to the third party.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor executable virtual assistant module operable to;

monitor, in substantial real time, a collection of actions by a user, wherein the at least one of the collection of actions is a search for a third party and wherein the third party is a person;

determine, from a profile, a trusted relationship between the third party and an other person;

in response to determining the trusted relationship, automatically contact the other person to request information about the third party;

receive, from the other person, a response containing the information about the third party;

based on the monitoring step, determine a subject identifier associated with the monitored actions; and

generate at least part of a billing entry based on the subject identifier, the information about the third party, and the monitored actions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection of actions monitored by the user further comprise a contact by the user with the third party and further comprising:

determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least one of a contact address of the third party and caller identification of the third party;

determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the subject identifier based on the at least one of a contact address and caller identification of the third party.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the collection of actions further comprise a voice session between at least the user and the third party and wherein the monitoring step comprises:

while the voice session is in progress, receiving, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least one of the voice streams exchanged between the user and third party;

while the voice session is in progress, converting, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the at least one of the voice streams into a text equivalent; and

while the voice session is in progress, parsing, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, the text equivalent for at least one keyword, wherein the generating step is based on a result of the textual parsing.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises providing to the user a list of possible subject identifiers and receiving a user selection of the appropriate subject identifier on the list.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least part of the billing entry comprises the subject identifier and a time duration of services to be billed to the third party.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least part of the billing entry comprises a description of the services provided by the user.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the monitored collection of actions further comprise a billable search and wherein the billing entry comprises the subject identifier and a description of the search.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the monitored collection of actions further comprise one or more of placement or disconnection of an outbound phone call, receipt or disconnection of an inbound phone call, creation or completion (e.g., sending) of an email or instant message, opening and closing of an email, opening or closing of a file, document or other record and wherein the virtual assistant module timestamps starting and stopping points associated with the determined subject identifier and includes a time interval between the starting and stopping points in the billing entry.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the starting point is one or more of call set up, initial file edit, opening of an e-mail, and initial message sent, wherein the stopping point is one or more of call disconnection, final file edit, closing of an e-mail, and final message sent.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the starting and stopping points is determined by detected presence or physical location of the user and/or an electronic calendar entry.

22. A method, comprising:

monitoring, by a processor executable virtual assistant module and in substantial real time, a collection of actions by a user, wherein the at least one of the collection of actions is a search for a third party and wherein the third party is a person;

determining, from a profile, a trusted relationship between the third party and an other person;

in response to determining the trusted relationship, automatically contacting the other person to request information about the third party;

receiving, from the other person, a response containing the information about the third party;

determining that the information about the third party has conflicting information;

notifying the third party of the conflicting information;

based on the monitoring step, determining, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, a subject identifier associated with the monitored actions; and

generating, by the processor executable virtual assistant module, at least part of a billing entry based on the subject identifier, the information about the third party, and the monitored actions.