Methods and apparatus for automated monitoring and action taking based on decision support mechanism
First Claim
1. An automated method for use in accordance with a user-interactive business-related processing system, the method comprising the automated steps of:
- monitoring one or more interactions a user has with one or more applications associated with the business-related processing system;
processing data obtained in association with the monitoring operation to compute a decision value representative of whether or not the user may need intervention with respect to the one or more applications, wherein the decision value is computed in accordance with a decision policy based on a combination of formal and heuristic reasoning, and further wherein the computed decision value is based on one or more attributes comprising at least one of;
(i) an attribute representative of a business value associated with the user or the one or more applications;
(ii) an attribute representative of a frustration level attributable to the user with respect to the one or more interactions;
(iii) an attribute representative of an estimated profit opportunity associated with the user; and
(iv) an attribute representative of availability of resources capable of taking the action;
proactively offering the intervention to the user when the computed decision value represents a result indicative that the user is likely to need the intervention; and
an individual monitoring one or more computed decision values, and the individual adjusting the decision policy, when necessary or desired, so as to improve business-related performance, wherein the individual is able to adjust the decision policy without a need for programming expertise.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for use in accordance with such systems as web sites operating electronic commerce (e-commerce) applications, interactive voice response (IVR) systems and workflow systems for providing automated monitoring of user activity and personalized action taking based on such activity, in accordance with an on-line decision support mechanism which combines formal and heuristic reasoning. In a web-based system, for example, the on-line decision support provided in accordance with the invention can be used in a wide variety of e-commerce applications requiring automated, real-time, intelligent interventions, including targeted promotions and discounts, assisting with navigation through self-help material, supporting dynamic price negotiations, and even selecting large portions of page content.
135 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated method for use in accordance with a user-interactive business-related processing system, the method comprising the automated steps of:
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monitoring one or more interactions a user has with one or more applications associated with the business-related processing system; processing data obtained in association with the monitoring operation to compute a decision value representative of whether or not the user may need intervention with respect to the one or more applications, wherein the decision value is computed in accordance with a decision policy based on a combination of formal and heuristic reasoning, and further wherein the computed decision value is based on one or more attributes comprising at least one of;
(i) an attribute representative of a business value associated with the user or the one or more applications;
(ii) an attribute representative of a frustration level attributable to the user with respect to the one or more interactions;
(iii) an attribute representative of an estimated profit opportunity associated with the user; and
(iv) an attribute representative of availability of resources capable of taking the action;proactively offering the intervention to the user when the computed decision value represents a result indicative that the user is likely to need the intervention; and an individual monitoring one or more computed decision values, and the individual adjusting the decision policy, when necessary or desired, so as to improve business-related performance, wherein the individual is able to adjust the decision policy without a need for programming expertise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for use in accordance with a user-interactive business-related processing system, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processor coupled to the user-interactive business-related processing system and operative to;
(i) process data obtained in association with one or more interactions a user has with one or more applications associated with the business-related processing system to compute a decision value representative of whether or not the user may need intervention with respect to the one or more applications, wherein the decision value is computed in accordance with a decision policy based on a combination of formal and heuristic reasoning, and further wherein the computed decision value is based on one or more attributes comprising at least one of;
(i) an attribute representative of a business value associated with the user or the one or more applications;
(ii) an attribute representative of a frustration level attributable to the user with respect to the one or more interactions;
(iii) an attribute representative of an estimated profit opportunity associated with the user; and
(iv) an attribute representative of availability of resources capable of taking the action;
(ii) proactively cause the offering of the intervention to the user when the computed decision value represents a result indicative that the user is likely to need the intervention; and
(iii) permit an individual to monitor one or more computed decision values, and to adjust the decision policy, when necessary or desired, so as to improve business-related performance wherein the individual is able to adjust the decision policy without a need for programming expertise; and
memory, coupled to the at least one processor, for storing at least one of the obtained data and the computed decision value.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network-based system, the system comprising:
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at least one server operative to execute one or more electronic commerce-based applications for use by at least one customer via a network; and at least one decision engine coupled to the at least one server and operative to;
(i) process data obtained in association with one or more interactions the customer has with the one or more electronic commerce-based applications to compute a decision value representative of whether or not an action should be taken with respect to the customer, wherein the decision value is computed in accordance with a decision policy based on a combination of formal and heuristic reasoning, wherein the computed decision value is based on one or more attributes comprising at least one of;
(a) an attribute representative of a business value associated with the customer or the one or more applications;
(b) an attribute representative of a frustration level attributable to the customer with respect to the one or more interactions;
(c) an attribute representative of an estimated profit opportunity associated with the customer; and
(d) an attribute representative of availability of resources capable of taking the action; and
(ii) proactively taking the action with respect to the customer when the computed decision value represents a result indicative that the action should be taken with respect to the customer;wherein the decision engine permits an individual to monitor one or more computed decision values, and to adjust the decision policy, when necessary or desired, so as to improve business-related performance, and further wherein the individual is able to adjust the decision policy without a need for programming expertise. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An article of manufacture for use in accordance with a user-interactive business-related processing system, the article comprising [a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed] a computer readable medium encoded with a computer program executed by a computer to implement the steps of:
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processing data obtained in association with one or more interactions a user has with one or more applications associated with the business-related processing system to compute a decision value representative of whether or not the user may need intervention with respect to the one or more applications, wherein the decision value is computed in accordance with a decision policy based on a combination of formal and heuristic reasoning, and further wherein the computed decision value is based on one or more attributes comprising at least one of;
(i) an attribute representative of a business value associated with the user or the one or more applications;
(ii) an attribute representative of a frustration level attributable to the user with respect to the one or more interactions;
(iii) an attribute representative of an estimated profit opportunity associated with the user; and
(iv) an attribute representative of availability of resources capable of taking the action;proactively causing the offering of the intervention to the user when the computed decision value represents a result indicative that the user is likely to need the intervention; and permitting an individual to monitor one or more computed decision values, and adjust the decision policy, when necessary or desired, so as to improve business-related performance, wherein the individual is able to adjust the decision policy without a need for programming expertise.
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Specification