Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for providing customer service

US6978307B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
16References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 2001
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q30/02
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus of the present invention establishes a real-time communication session with a remote communication device in order to enable a customer service representative at the remote communication device to diagnose an operational problem associated with the apparatus. The foregoing apparatus utilizes a communication interface, an input interface, and logic. The communication interface is configured to establish a real-time communication session with a remote communication device. The input interface is configured to receive a request for contacting a customer service representative and to receive input data from a user of the apparatus during the established communication session. The logic is configured to transmit, to the communication interface and in response to the request, a command signal instructing the communication interface to establish the real-time communication session. The logic is further configured to transmit, during the real-time communication session, the input data to the remote communication device via the communication interface. The apparatus is configured to perform at least one non-telephonic function, and the remote communication device is configured …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.