US 10,382,497 B2 · Instant agent

Abstract

A system is described for setting up videoconferencing between a user 1, 3, 5 and an agent 13, 23, 33 with little or no downloads and configuration. A director 500, 1500, 2500 receives requests from users 1, 3, 5 on computing devices 200, 400, 700 for videoconferences through a website. A connection ID device 520 receives input from the user 1, 3, 5 as to which connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 the user 1, 3, 5 is using. A platform selection device 530 then uses lookup device 531 to find compatible videoconferencing format of the connection application 210, 220, 410, 710, 720 in a compatibility table 533 and determines which video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 employs this compatible videoconferencing format. A linking device 540 then sends a link to the video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12 to the user's computing device 200, 400, 700 and agent's computing device 300, 600 to connect and videoconference. In an alternative embodiment, a linking device 540 routes communications from the user's computing device 200, 400, 700 and the agent's computing device 300, 600 to/from the video hosting platform 7, 9, 11, 12. In still another embodiment, the software on the user's end may be in the form of an App which directly links to the director.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for allowing videoconferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software or configuration on the part of the user, comprising:

a. a user's computing device having an existing connection application that is currently loaded on the user's computing device adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices coupled to a common video hosting platform;
b. an agent's computing device adapted to connect to a web server using a connection application, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with the other computing devices coupled to the same video hosting platform;
c. a director coupled to the user's computing device comprising:
i. a web server adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request;
ii. a connection ID device which includes a signal analysis device adapted to identify a communication format of the existing connection application of the user's computing device;
iii. a platform selection device adapted to determine at least one video hosting platform compatible with the existing connection application currently used by the user's computing device;
iv. a linking device adapted to couple the director to the user's computing device, the director to the agent's computing device and the director to one of the compatible video hosting platforms;
v. wherein, the director passes video communications between the user's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform and the director also passes video communications between the agent's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform to perform real-time video conferencing.

5 more elements

A method of providing video conferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software or configuration on the part of the user, comprises the steps of:

a. completing an initial setup of a system to be used;
b. using a user's computing device and an existing web connection application to connect to a standard website of an agent;
c. indicating that the user would like to videoconference with the agent;
d. coupling a director to the user's computing device;
e. employing the director to determine at least one compatible video hosting platform by:
i. automatically determining a format of an existing connection application that is currently on the user's computing device and is being used by the user's computing device,
ii. automatically determining the current video format capabilities of the user's existing connection application,
iii. looking up a compatible video hosting platform in a compatibility table,
f. coupling an agent's computing device to at least one of the video hosting platform to which the user's computing device is coupled and the director;
g. employing the director to pass video communications between the user's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform;
and
h. employing the director to pass video communications between the agent's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform;
and
i. video conferencing the user's computing device with the agent's computing device in real-time without requiring the user to set up an account.

11 more elements

A system for allowing videoconferencing between a user and an agent that does not require prior knowledge of the user, downloading of software, or configuration on the part of the user comprising:

a. a user's computing device having an existing connection application that was previously loaded on the user's computing device, adapted to connect to a web server, and connect to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices coupled to a common video hosting platform;
b. an agent's computing device having a connection application adapted to connect to a web server, and to a video hosting platform and videoconference with other computing devices coupled to a common video hosting platform;
c. a connection ID device adapted to identify a type of supplied connection application of the user's computing device;
d. a director coupled to the user's computing device comprising:
i. a web server adapted to provide web pages upon receiving a request;
ii. a platform selection device adapted to determine at least one video hosting platforms compatible with the existing connection application currently used by the user's computing device;
and
iii. a linking device adapted to couple the user's computing device and the agent's computing device to the same compatible video hosting platform;
e. wherein video communications are passed between the user's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform, and video communications are also passed between the agent's computing device and the coupled video hosting platform to perform real-time video conferencing.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Instant agent

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Instant agent

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Abstract

Claims17