Efficient system and method for running and analyzing multi-channel, multi-modal applications

• US 7,174,534 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Mandyam, Srinivas, Vedati, Krishna, Chong, Kelvin, Reddy, Vikranth Katpally, Bhalodia, Janak, Gopalan, Janakiraman, Syrtsov, Pavel
• Primary Examiner(s): STEELMAN, MARY J
• Application Number:
  US10/053,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709/225, 709/201, 709/207, 709226-228, 717/100, 717/105, 455/558, 455/452.2, 370/352, 715/500
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A system for developing, running and analyzing multi-modal applications includes a development platform, a run-time engine, and a data-mining module. Once a mobile application is built and tested on the development platform, it can be automatically deployed on the run-time system, which maintains and manages the application. Further, the data-mining system allows access to reporting and analysis tools that aid in understanding end-user behavior and preferences. This data can be used to further enhance applications by redesigning and redeploying them in a rapid and efficient manner.

Claims

1. A method for handling an interrupted transaction during operation of a multi-channel application comprising a number of workflow dimensions and being capable of operating over a plurality of channels in a multi-channel system, comprising:

transmitting a first request from a first-type of device for a first session with the multi-channel application over a first channel, wherein the first request comprises a unique identifier associated with a user of the first-type of device;

associating the first-type of device with the unique identifier such that the first-type of device is designated a first-type of registered device;

instantiating the multi-channel application for operation with the first-type of registered device over the first channel by enabling selected ones of the workflow dimensions used by the application when operating with the first-type of registered device over the first channel;

storing session data while the first-type of registered device communicates with the multi-channel application over the first channel, and associating the session data with the unique identifier;

transmitting, if the first session is interrupted before completion of the transaction, a second request to continue the transaction via a second-type of registered device over a second channel, wherein the second request includes the unique identifier;

presenting the user with an option to continue the transaction from a previous point of execution of the multi-channel application; and

reconstructing the transaction up to the previous point of execution of the multi-channel application based on the stored session data; and

continuing the transaction with the multi-channel application over a second channel by instantiating the multi-channel application for operation with the second-type of registered device over the second channel by enabling other selected workflow dimensions used by the application when operating with the second-type of registered device over the second channel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second-type of registered device is different than the first-type of registered device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first personalized interface on the first-type of registered device during the first session with the multi-channel application over the first channel; and

displaying a second personalized interface on the second-type of registered device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second channel comprises a different medium than the first channel.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the session data comprises transaction specific information regarding the transaction.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction specific information comprises at least one of current state information associated with a workflow path of the transaction and memory objects associated with the transaction.

7. A system for handling an interrupted transaction during operation of a multi-channel application capable of operating over a plurality of channels in the system, the system comprising:

a first-type of device configured to transmit a first request for a first session with the multi-channel application over a first channel, wherein the first request comprises a unique identifier associated with a user of the first-type of device;

a server configured to serve different instantiations of the multi-channel application, wherein the multi-channel application comprises a number of workflow dimensions;

wherein the server is further configured to;

receive the first request,

associate the first-type of device with the unique identifier such that the first-type of device is designated a first-type of registered device,

instantiate the multi-channel application for operation with the first-type of registered device over the first channel by enabling selected ones of the workflow dimensions used by the application when operating with the first-type of registered device over the first channel, and

store session data during the first session while the first-type of registered device communicates with the multi-channel application over the first channel, and associating the session data with the unique identifier; and

a second-type of registered device configured to transmit a second request to the server to continue the transaction via a second-type of registered device over a second channel, if the first session is interrupted before completion of the transaction, wherein the second request includes the unique identifier, and

wherein the server is further configured to;

present the user with an option to continue the transaction from a previous point of execution of the multi-channel application,

reconstruct the transaction up to the previous point of execution of the multi-channel application based on the stored session data, and

continue the transaction with the multi-channel application over a second channel by instantiating the multi-channel application for operation with the second-type of registered device over the second channel by enabling other selected workflow dimensions used by the application when operating with the second-type of registered device over the second channel.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the second-type of registered device is different than the first-type of registered device.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the first-type of registered device is configured to display a first personalized interface during the first session with the multi-channel application over the first channel.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the second-type of registered device is configured to display a second personalized interface, and to store other session data while the second-type of registered device communicates with the multi-channel application over the second channel.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the second channel comprises a different medium than the first channel.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the session data comprises transaction specific information regarding the transaction.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the transaction specific information comprises at least one of current state information associated with a workflow path of the transaction and memory objects associated with the transaction.