Automated sales support method & device
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorSteven Todd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.
Claims34
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A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the processing unit is further configured to store a record of the occurrences in a history.
A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the processing unit is further configured to access the history and generate a report from the history.
A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the on-line communication channel is e-mail, an asynchronous on-line discussion group, a synchronous on-line discussion group or instant messaging.
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A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the communication is between the customer and a representative of the employer or the customer and a customer peer.
A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the salesperson is an electronic agent.
A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein the processing unit is configured to:
- receive the communication from the customer on the on-line communication channel;
- determine whether the salesperson is associated with the customer;
- and
- determine whether the target item for the salesperson is in the communication that has been received when the salesperson is associated with the customer.
A device for providing a salesperson with notification of consumer interactions with an employer of the salesperson, the device comprising:
- a memory unit;
- and
- a processing unit disposed in communication with the memory unit, the processing unit configured to:
- define a target item for the salesperson;
- associate the salesperson with a customer;
- monitor an on-line communication channel for an occurrence of a communication involving the customer and including the target item;
- and
- notify the salesperson upon the occurrence,
- wherein target items comprise alphanumeric characters, alphanumeric strings, emoticons, names of product offerings or codes.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.