System and method for scheduling, establishing and maintaining an open communication channel with an advisor

• US 9,185,238 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outlook Amusements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Outlook Amusements, Inc.
• Inventors: Khan, Burhan, Seale, Kristine, Freeland, Stephen Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US14/260,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.1, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.12, 379/202.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.04, 379/209.01, 379/210.01, 379/265.02, 379/265.09, 379/265.128, 455/407, 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/450, 455/504, 455/509, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/35 Pay as you go
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5231 with call back arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A system is provided for scheduling and maintaining an open communication channel between multiple parties. The system includes a client device connected to a host device via a network. The client device is configured to interact with a website in order to schedule a communication with an advisor. The client device can then be used to participate in the scheduled communication with the advisor. During the communication, a telephone application may be configured to monitor the communication channel between the parties. If the application determines that the client connection has been lost, the application may ask the advisor whether he/she wants to reestablish a connection with the client. If the answers is yes, then the application may ask the client if he/she wants to reestablish a call with the advisor. If the answer is yes, then the application will rejoin the client with the advisor over the communication channel.

Claims

1. A method for reestablishing communication between a client and an advisor, comprising:

establishing an open communication channel between a client device and an advisor device;

determining whether said client device is connected to said open communication channel;

sending a first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel;

sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device when an affirmative response is received from said advisor device in response to said first set of verbal instructions; and

reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel when an affirmative response is received from said client device in response to said second set of verbal instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of establishing an open communication channel between a client device and an advisor device further comprises:

receiving a request from said client to communicate with said advisor; and

establishing said open communication channel on a telephony network with said advisor device;

allowing said client device to connect to said open communication channel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of receiving a request from said client to communication with said advisor further comprises:

receiving a request from said client to communicate with said advisor at a predetermined time and for a predetermined length of time, and

requiring said client to pay for predetermined length of time before one of establishing said open communication channel on said telephony network with said advisor device and allowing said client device to connect to said open communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending a first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device further comprises:

determining whether said advisor device is connected to said open communication channel; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and said advisor device is still connected to said open communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending a first set of verbal instruction to said advisor device further comprises instructing said advisor to interact with said advisor device a first way if said advisor wants to said client device to rejoin said open communication channel, and to interact with said advisor device a second way if said advisor wants to close said open communication channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device further comprises sending said second set of verbal instructions to said client device if said advisor interacts with said advisor device in said first way.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device further comprises instructing said client to interact with said client device in a first way if said client wants to further communicate with said advisor via said open communication channel, and to interact with said client device a second way if said client does not want to further communicate with said advisor via said open communication channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel further comprises reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel if said client interacts with said client device in said first way.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a period of time that said open communication channel has been established between said client device and said advisor device is at least one of greater than a lower threshold time period and less than an upper threshold time period; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and if said period of time is at least one of greater than said lower threshold time period and less than said upper threshold time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether an account of said client has a monetary amount greater than a lower threshold monetary amount; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and if said monetary amount is greater than a lower threshold monetary amount.

11. A system for reestablishing communication between a client and an advisor, comprising:

a computing system in communication with at least one network and comprising at least one memory device for storing machine readable instructions adapted to perform the steps of;

establishing an open communication channel over said at least one network and between a client device and an advisor device;

determining whether said client device is connected to said open communication channel;

sending a first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel;

sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device when an affirmative response is received from said advisor device in response to said first set of verbal instructions; and

reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel when an affirmative response is received from said client device in response to said second set of verbal instructions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said step of establishing an open communication channel between a client device and an advisor device further comprises:

receiving a request from said client to communicate with said advisor; and

establishing said open communication channel on a telephony network with said advisor device;

allowing said client device to connect to said open communication channel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said step of receiving a request from said client to communication with said advisor further comprises:

receiving a request from said client to communicate with said advisor at a predetermined time and for a predetermined length of time, and

requiring said client to pay for predetermined length of time before one of establishing said open communication channel on said telephony network with said advisor device and allowing said client device to connect to said open communication channel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said step of sending a first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device further comprises:

determining whether said advisor device is connected to said open communication channel; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and said advisor device is still connected to said open communication channel.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said step of sending a first set of verbal instruction to said advisor device further comprises instructing said advisor to interact with said advisor device a first way if said advisor wants to said client device to rejoin said open communication channel, and to interact with said advisor device a second way if said advisor wants to close said open communication channel.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said step of sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device further comprises sending said second set of verbal instructions to said client device if said advisor interacts with said advisor device in said first way.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said step of sending a second set of verbal instructions to said client device further comprises instructing said client to interact with said client device in a first way if said client wants to further communicate with said advisor via said open communication channel, and to interact with said client device a second way if said client does not want to further communicate with said advisor via said open communication channel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said step of reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel further comprises reconnecting said client device to said open communication channel if said client interacts with said client device in said first way.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether a period of time that said open communication channel has been established between said client device and said advisor device is at least one of greater than a lower threshold time period and less than an upper threshold time period; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and if said period of time is at least one of greater than said lower threshold time period and less than said upper threshold time period.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether an account of said client has a monetary amount greater than a lower threshold monetary amount; and

sending said first set of verbal instructions to said advisor device when said client device is no longer connected to said open communication channel and if said monetary amount is greater than a lower threshold monetary amount.

21. A method for reestablishing communication between a first party and a second party, comprising:

establishing a telephone line between a first telephone and a second telephone, wherein said first telephone is being used by said first party and said second telephone is being used by said second party;

determining whether said first telephone is connected to said telephone line;

sending a first communication to said second telephone over said telephone line if said first telephone is no longer connected to said telephone line;

receiving a first command from said second telephone over said telephone line, wherein said first command (i) is received after said first communication has been sent to said second telephone and (ii) indicates whether said second party wishes to further communicate with said first party;

sending a second communication to said first telephone over a new telephone line if said first command indicates that said second party wishes to further communicate with said first party;

receiving a second command from said first telephone over said new telephone line, wherein said second command (i) is received after said second communication has been sent to said first telephone and (ii) indicates whether said first party wishes to further communicate with said second party; and

reconnecting said first telephone to said telephone line if said second command indicates that said first party wishes to further communicate with said second party.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of establishing a telephone line between a first device and a second device further comprises:

receiving a request from said first party to communicate with said second party; and

establishing said telephone line between a host service and said second telephone;

connecting said first telephone to said telephone line.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of receiving a request from said first party to communication with said second party further comprises:

receiving a request from said first party to communicate with said second party at a predetermined time and for a predetermined period of time, and

requiring said first party to pay for said predetermined period of time before one of establishing said telephone line between a host service and said second telephone and connecting said first telephone to said telephone line.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of sending a first communication to said second telephone further comprises:

determining whether said second telephone is connected to said telephone line; and

sending said first communication to said second telephone when said first telephone is no longer connected to said telephone line and said second telephone is still connected to said telephone line.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of sending a first communication to said second telephone further comprises instructing said second party to press a first button on said second telephone if said second party wants said to reconnect said second telephone to said telephone line, and to press a second button on said second telephone if said second party wants to end the telephone call between the first and second parties.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending a second communication to said first telephone further comprises sending said second communication to said first telephone if said second party presses said first button on said second telephone.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of sending a second communication to said first telephone further comprises instructing said first party to press a first button on said first telephone if said first party wants to further communicate with said second party via said telephone line, and to press a second button on said first telephone if said first party does not want to further communicate with said second party via said telephone line.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said step of reconnecting said first telephone to said telephone line further comprises reconnecting said first telephone to said telephone line if said first party presses said first button on said first telephone.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether a period of time that said telephone line has been established between said first telephone and said second telephone is at least one of greater than a lower threshold time period and less than an upper threshold time period; and

sending said first communication to said second telephone when said first telephone is no longer connected to said telephone line and if said period of time is at least one of greater than said lower threshold time period and less than said upper threshold time period.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether a monetary account of said first party has a value that is greater than a lower threshold value; and

sending said first communication to said second telephone when said first telephone is no longer connected to said telephone line and if said value is greater than a lower threshold value.