System and method for establishing a data session and a voice session for training a user on a computer program

• US 6,196,846 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virtual Village, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Virtual Village, Inc.
• Inventors: Berger, Michael A., Overheu, Andrew K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US09/089,122
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 434/330, 434/350, 434/362, 434/323, 434/365, 434/118, 463/41, 463/42, 340/825.52, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 379/93.08
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

A system for establishing a data session and a voice session for training a user on a computer program includes a customer workstation coupled to a selected agent workstation by a data network and a voice network. The customer workstation generates a session request in response to user input requesting assistance regarding the computer program. The data network and the voice network establish a data session and a voice session, respectively, between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation in response to the session request.

Claims

1. A system for establishing a data session and a voice session for training a user on a computer program, comprising:

a customer workstation operable to execute the computer program and to generate a session request in response to user input requesting assistance in operating the computer program;

an agent workstation operated by an instructor to train the user on the computer program;

a data network coupled to the customer workstation and the agent workstation, the data network operable to establish the data session between the customer workstation and the agent workstation in response to the session request; and

a voice network coupled to the customer workstation and the agent workstation, the voice network operable to establish the voice session between the customer workstation and the agent workstation in response to the session request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer workstation comprises:

a processor operable to execute the computer program and a training session application;

an output device operable to display the computer program and an activation area associated with the training session application;

a communication device operable to communicate using the data network; and

a voice instrument operable to communicate using the voice network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the activation area comprises a help button the activation of which initiates the generation of the session request.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the session request comprises:

a user profile;

a network address associated with the customer workstation; and

status information associated with the computer program.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the status information identifies the computer program and a task associated with the computer program with which the user requests assistance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent workstation initiates a remote control session with the customer workstation in response to the establishment of the data session, and the agent workstation is operable to control the customer workstation remote from the customer workstation during the remote control session.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the agent workstation comprises:

a communication device operable to communicate using the data network;

a voice instrument operable to communicate using the voice network;

a processor operable to control the customer workstation remote from the customer workstation during the data session; and

an output device coupled to the processor and operable to display the images appearing on the customer workstation during the data session.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data network comprises:

a memory that stores session information associating the customer workstation with a plurality of agent workstations; and

a server coupled to the memory and operable to establish a network connection with the customer workstation in response to validating the user as a subscriber of the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the session information comprises:

a telephone extension associated with the customer workstation;

a plurality of telephone extensions associated with the plurality of agent workstations; and

a plurality of network addresses associated with the plurality of agent workstations.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the voice network comprises:

a voice server coupled to the data network and operable to select a particular agent workstation in response to the session request; and

a switching device coupled to the voice server and operable to establish the voice session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation using the session information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the voice network further comprises a memory operable to store an availability queue that identifies the availability of the plurality of agent workstations, and wherein the voice server is further operable to select a particular agent workstation using the availability queue.

12. A method for establishing a data session and a voice session for training a user on a computer program, comprising:

receiving a session request communicated by a customer workstation that is executing the computer program, in response to a user requesting assistance in operating the computer program;

selecting one of a plurality of agent workstations in response to the session request;

establishing a data session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation; and

establishing a voice session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the session request is generated by activating a help button displayed at the customer workstation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps of establishing are performed without intervention from the user.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

initiating a remote control session between the selected agent workstation and the customer workstation in response to establishing the data session; and

controlling the customer workstation remote from the customer workstation during the remote control session.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the customer workstation comprises:

a processor operable to execute the computer program and a training session application;

an output device operable to display the computer program and an activation area associated with the training session application;

a communication device operable to communicate the session request using a data network; and

a voice instrument operable to communicate using [the] a voice network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the activation area comprises a help button that enables a user to request assistance in operating the computer program.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the session request comprises:

a user profile;

a network address associated with the customer workstation; and

status information associated with the computer program.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the status information identifies the computer program and a task associated with the computer program with which the user requests assistance.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of establishing a data session further comprises:

storing session information associating the customer workstation with the selected agent workstation;

validating the user as a subscriber of the system; and

establishing the data session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation based upon the session information and the session request.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the session information comprises:

a telephone extension associated with the customer workstation;

a telephone extension associated with the selected agent workstation; and

a network address associated with the selected agent workstation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of establishing a voice session further comprises:

receiving the session information at a switching device; and

establishing a voice call between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation using the session information.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the particular agent workstation based upon information that identifies the availability of the plurality of agent workstations.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the particular agent workstation based upon information that identifies the qualifications of the plurality of agent workstations.

25. A system for establishing a voice session and a data session for training a user on a computer program, comprising:

a customer workstation operable to execute the computer program and to generate a session request in response to user input requesting assistance in operating the computer program;

a plurality of agent workstations;

a validation server coupled to the customer workstation, the validation server operable to validate the user as a subscriber of the system in response to the session request;

a data server operable to maintain a connection with the validation server, the data server further operable to store session information associated with the session request;

a voice server coupled to the data server and operable to select a particular agent workstation in response to the session request; and

a switching device coupled to the voice server, the switching device operable to establish the voice session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation;

wherein the data server is further operable to establish the data session between the customer workstation and the selected agent workstation.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the customer workstation comprises:

a processor operable to execute the computer program and a training session application;

an output device operable to display the computer program and an activation area associated with the training session application;

a communication device operable to communicate the session request to the data server; and

a voice instrument operable to communicate with the switching device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the activation area comprises a help button the activation of which initiates the generation of the session request.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the session request comprises:

a user profile;

a network address associated with the customer workstation; and

status information associated with the computer program.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the status information identifies the computer program and a task associated with the computer program with which the user requests assistance.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the agent workstation initiates a remote control session with the customer workstation in response to the establishment of the data session, and the agent workstation is operable to control the customer workstation remote from the customer workstation during the remote control session.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the agent workstation comprises:

a communication device operable to communicate with the data server;

a voice instrument operable to communicate with the switching device;

a processor operable to control the customer workstation remote from the customer workstation during the data session; and

an output device coupled to the processor and operable to display images appearing on the customer workstation during the data session.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the session information comprises:

a telephone extension associated with the customer workstation;

a plurality of telephone extensions associated with a plurality of agent workstations; and

a plurality of network addresses associated with the plurality of agent workstations.

33. The system of claim 25, further comprising a memory coupled to the voice server and operable to store an availability queue that identifies the availability of the plurality of agent workstations, wherein the voice server is further operable to select the particular agent workstation using the availability queue.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the voice server is further operable to identify the user using automatic number identification techniques.