Patent Application
20160012409
Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer hardware and software. In particular, one or more aspects of the disclosure generally relate to computer hardware and software for configuring a computing device based on a particular user using local positioning technology.
Many people are increasingly using mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, wearable devices (e.g., augmented reality glasses, smart watches, and the like), and other types of personal computing devices and mobile computing devices, for a variety of different purposes. As these devices grow more and more popular, users of such devices increasingly demand greater functionality and convenience from such devices, and various organizations and other business entities in turn may be presented with new opportunities to engage and interact with customers and potential customers via such devices.
Although it may be possible for an organization to provide all sorts of information to its customers and potential customers via their mobile devices, it may still remain difficult to engage and interact with customers and potential customers via such devices at the right time, in the right place, with the right information, and/or in an otherwise contextually-relevant way.
Aspects of the disclosure relate to various systems and techniques that provide effective, efficient, scalable, and convenient ways of engaging customers and potential customers in contextually-relevant ways, particularly in ways that involve configuring a computing device based on a particular user using local positioning technology, such as indoor positioning technology.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a customer assistance computing platform that includes at least one processor, memory, and a communication interface may receive, via the communication interface, from a customer computing device, one or more attributes associated with a beacon signal received by the customer computing device and an identifier associated with the customer computing device. Subsequently, the customer assistance computing platform may determine an identity of a customer using the customer computing device based on the identifier associated with the customer computing device. The customer assistance computing platform then may determine a location of the customer using the customer computing device based on the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal received by the customer computing device. Once the customer assistance computing platform determines the identity of the customer, the customer assistance computing platform can receive one or more configuration instructions specific to the identity of the customer, and the customer assistance computing platform can be configured based on the one or more configuration instructions.
In some embodiments, the beacon signal received by the customer computing device may be associated with at least one beacon deployed at a banking center. In addition, the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal received by the customer computing device may, in some instances, include a unique identifier associated with the at least one beacon deployed at the banking center.
In some embodiments, the identifier associated with the customer computing device may include user account information associated with a mobile banking application on the customer computing device. In some instances, the customer assistance computing platform may receive, via the communication interface, from the customer computing device, biometric input information captured by the mobile banking application on the customer computing device. In addition, determining the identity of the customer using the customer computing device may, in some instances, include confirming the identity of the customer using the customer computing device based on the biometric input information captured by the mobile banking application on the customer computing device.
In some embodiments, determining the location of the customer using the customer computing device may include accessing beacon deployment information that maps identifiers for a plurality of beacons to corresponding deployment locations of the plurality of beacons. In some instances, determining the location of the customer using the customer computing device may include determining that the customer using the customer computing device is located in a specific area of the banking center.
In some examples, a notification can be provided to the customer computing device indicating that the customer may visit the customer assistance computing platform. The configuration instructions can include language preferences for the customer, font preferences for the customer, or suggested actions for the customer. The configuration instructions may also be generated based on observed patterns in a previous customer interaction at the customer assistance computing platform or another customer computing platform/communication interface. The customer assistance computing platform can be one of a kiosk, ATM, or ATA. In one example, the configuration instructions can provide different levels of service depending on the customer. The configuration instructions may include a personalized greeting for the customer upon detection of the customer computing device and may include disability features if required for the particular customer.
These features, along with many others, are discussed in greater detail below.
The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
It is noted that various connections between elements are discussed in the following description. It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect, wired or wireless, and that the specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.
Computing system environment 100 may include computing device 101 having processor 103 for controlling overall operation of computing device 101 and its associated components, including random-access memory (RAM) 105, read-only memory (ROM) 107, communications module 109, and memory 115. Computing device 101 may include a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media may be any available media that may be accessed by computing device 101, may be non-transitory, and may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, object code, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of computer readable media may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by computing device 101.
Although not required, various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or as a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions. For example, a computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a processor to perform steps of a method in accordance with aspects of the disclosed embodiments is contemplated. For example, aspects of the method steps disclosed herein may be executed on a processor on computing device 101. Such a processor may execute computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium.
Software may be stored within memory 115 and/or storage to provide instructions to processor 103 for enabling computing device 101 to perform various functions. For example, memory 115 may store software used by computing device 101, such as operating system 117, application programs 119, and associated database 121. Also, some or all of the computer executable instructions for computing device 101 may be embodied in hardware or firmware. Although not shown, RAM 105 may include one or more applications representing the application data stored in RAM 105 while computing device 101 is on and corresponding software applications (e.g., software tasks), are running on computing device 101.
Communications module 109 may include a microphone, keypad, touch screen, and/or stylus through which a user of computing device 101 may provide input, and may also include one or more of a speaker for providing audio output and a video display device for providing textual, audiovisual and/or graphical output. Computing system environment 100 may also include optical scanners (not shown). Exemplary usages include scanning and converting paper documents, e.g., correspondence, receipts, and the like, to digital files.
Computing device 101 may operate in a networked environment supporting connections to one or more remote computing devices, such as computing devices 141, 151, and 161. Computing devices 141, 151, and 161 may be personal computing devices or servers that include any or all of the elements described above relative to computing device 101. Computing device 161 may be a mobile device (e.g., smart phone) communicating over wireless carrier channel 171.
The network connections depicted in
The disclosure is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the disclosed embodiments include, but are not limited to, personal computers (PCs), server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, smart phones, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
Computer network 203 may be any suitable computer network including the Internet, an intranet, a wide-area network (WAN), a local-area network (LAN), a wireless network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a virtual private network (VPN), or any combination of any of the same. Communications links 202 and 205 may be any communications links suitable for communicating between workstations 201 and server 204, such as network links, dial-up links, wireless links, hard-wired links, as well as network types developed in the future, and the like.
Computing environment 300 also may include one or more location beacons, such as location beacon 314, location beacon 316, and location beacon 318. Each location beacon (e.g., location beacon 314, location beacon 316, and location beacon 318) may be configured to transmit one or more radio signals that may be detected and/or received by other devices located in close proximity of and/or otherwise within a predetermined distance of the particular location beacon. In one or more embodiments, any and/or all of the location beacons included in computing environment 300 (e.g., location beacon 314, location beacon 316, and location beacon 318) may implement Bluetooth Low Energy (also referred to as “Bluetooth LE,” “Bluetooth Smart,” or “BLE”) technology to transmit low-power radio signals. The particular signal(s) transmitted by a particular location beacon may include one or more attributes, such as a unique identifier assigned to and/or otherwise associated with the particular location beacon, that may enable the particular location beacon to be identified by a device receiving the particular signal(s) transmitted by the particular location beacon. As illustrated below, by detecting a particular signal transmitted by a location beacon (which may, e.g., be positioned at a specific location) and subsequently identifying the location beacon transmitting the particular signal, a computing device may be able to determine that it located at and/or near the specific location where the location beacon is positioned.
For example, in one or more arrangements discussed below, the one or more location beacons (e.g., location beacon 314, location beacon 316, and location beacon 318) may be positioned at and/or near banking center 304, and may be specifically positioned at and/or near different areas of banking center 304, such as at a welcome area, at a teller counter or window, at a waiting area, at an external alcove where an automated teller machine (ATM) is located, at an external window where drive-up services are provided, at a parking lot, and/or in one or more other distinct areas of banking center 304. In addition, each location beacon may transmit a radio signal that may be detected and/or received by other devices at banking center 304, such as customer computing device 302, which may enable such devices to determine that they are present at banking center 304 and/or located at and/or near a particular area of banking center 304.
In one or more embodiments, customer computing device 302 may include at least one processor 306, communication interface 308, and/or memory 310. A data bus may interconnect processor 306, communication interface 308, and/or memory 310. Memory 310 may include one or more program modules comprising instructions that when executed by processor 306 cause customer computing device 302 to perform one or more functions described herein. For example, memory 310 may include customer assistance client module 312, which may include instructions that when executed by processor 306 cause customer computing device 302 to perform one or more functions described herein. Communication interface 308 may include one or more wired and/or wireless communication interfaces (e.g., network interfaces, radio interfaces, or the like) that are configured to support communication between customer computing device 302 and one or more other devices and/or networks. In one or more arrangements, communication interface 308 may include at least one network interface that facilitates communication between customer computing device 302 and one or more devices and/or networks that are located remotely from banking center 304, and communication interface 308 may further include at least one radio interface that facilitates communication between and/or enables customer computing device 302 to receive wireless radio signals from one or more location beacons (e.g., location beacon 314, location beacon 316, and location beacon 318) and/or other radio transmitters that may be located at and/or near banking center 304.
Computing environment 300 also may include one or more computing platforms. For example, computing environment 300 may include customer assistance computing platform 324. Customer assistance computing platform 324 may include one or more computing devices configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. For example, customer assistance computing platform 324 may include one or more computers (e.g., laptop computers, desktop computers, servers, server blades, or the like).
Computing environment 300 also may include one or more networks, which may interconnect customer computing device 302, customer assistance computing platform 324, and/or one or more other computing devices. For example, computing environment 300 may include private network 320 and public network 322. Private network 320 and/or public network 322 may include one or more sub-networks (e.g., LANs, WANs, or the like). Private network 320 may be associated with a particular organization (e.g., a corporation, financial institution, educational institution, governmental institution, or the like) and may interconnect one or more computing devices associated with the organization. For example, customer assistance computing platform 324 may be associated with an organization, such as the financial institution that operates, controls, and/or is otherwise associated with banking center 304, and private network 320 may be operated by and/or otherwise associated with the organization, and may include one or more networks (e.g., LANs, WANs, VPNs, or the like) that interconnect customer assistance computing platform 324 and one or more other computing devices associated with the organization. Public network 322 may connect private network 320 and/or one or more computing devices connected thereto (e.g., customer assistance computing platform 324) with one or more networks and/or computing devices that are not associated with the organization. For example, customer computing device 302 might not be associated with the organization that operates and/or is associated with private network 320, and public network 322 may include one or more networks (e.g., the Internet) that connect customer computing device 302 to private network 320 and/or one or more computing devices connected thereto (e.g., customer assistance computing platform 324).
Customer assistance computing platform 324 may include at least one processor 326, communication interface 328, and/or memory 330. Memory 330 may include one or more program modules comprising instructions that when executed by processor 326 cause customer assistance computing platform 324 to perform one or more functions described herein. For example, memory 330 may include customer assistance server module 332, which may include instructions that when executed by processor 326 cause customer assistance computing platform 324 to perform one or more functions described herein. Communication interface 328 may include one or more wired and/or wireless communication interfaces (e.g., network interfaces, radio interfaces, or the like) that are configured to support communication between customer assistance computing platform 324 and one or more other devices and/or networks. For example, communication interface 328 may include at least one network interface that facilitates communication between customer assistance computing platform 324 and one or more other devices and/or networks (e.g., private network 320, public network 322, customer computing device 302, and/or other devices and networks).
Computing environment 300 also may include a banking center associate computing device 334. Banking center associate computing device 334 may include one or more processors, memories, and/or communication interfaces, similar to those that may be included in customer computing device 302. In some instances, banking center associate computing device 334 may be used by an associate, employee, or agent of an organization that may operate the banking center 304, such as the financial institution that may operate the banking center 304, and/or may be used by any other individual associated with such the organization. Banking center associate computing device 334 may be configured to connect to private network 320 and/or may communicate with customer assistance computing platform 324 via private network 320 and one or more communication interfaces. Additionally or alternatively, banking center associate computing device 334 may be configured to connect to public network 322 and/or may communicate with one or more computing devices via public network 322 and one or more communication interfaces. In some instances, multiple banking center associate computing devices, each being similar to banking center associate computing device 334, may be present at a particular banking center, such as banking center 304, even though only one such banking center associate computing device is illustrated in the example depicted in
At step 2, customer computing device 302 may extract one or more attributes from the wireless signal received from the location beacon. For example, in extracting one or more attributes from the beacon signal, customer computing device 302 may identify and/or otherwise determine a unique identifier assigned to and/or otherwise associated with the particular location beacon from which the beacon signal was received. If, for instance, a location beacon is deployed at a banking center, such as banking center 304, the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal received by the customer computing device may include a unique identifier associated with the location beacon deployed at the banking center. Additionally or alternatively, in extracting one or more attributes from the beacon signal, customer computing device 302 may identify and/or otherwise determine one or more other attributes associated with the beacon signal, such as a frequency of the beacon signal, an amplitude of the beacon signal, a round trip time (RTT) value and/or a round trip delay (RTD) value for the beacon signal, an estimated range to the location beacon transmitting the beacon signal, and/or the like.
At step 3, customer computing device 302 may send, to the customer assistance computing platform 324, the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal and/or one or more identifiers associated with customer computing device 302. For example, customer computing device 302 may send, to customer assistance computing platform 324, any and/or all of the attributes extracted from the beacon signal. Additionally or alternatively, customer computing device 302 may send, to customer assistance computing platform 324, information that includes one or more identifiers that are assigned to customer computing device 302, one or more software applications running on customer computing device 302, one or more users of and/or user accounts associated with customer computing device 302, and/or one or more other identifiers that are otherwise associated with customer computing device 302. For instance, customer computing device 302 may send, to customer assistance computing platform 324, an identifier and/or other data that is linked to, and can be used by customer assistance computing platform 324 to identify, customer computing device 302. Additionally or alternatively, customer computing device 302 may send, to customer assistance computing platform 324, an identifier and/or other data that is linked to, and can be used by customer assistance computing platform 324 to identify, a user of customer computing device 302 (e.g., login information entered by the user of customer computing device 302 to access and/or use one or more functions provided by customer computing device 302, a username associated with the user of customer computing device 302 and used in accessing a mobile banking application and/or a mobile banking website on customer computing device 302, and/or other information).
At step 4, customer assistance computing platform 324 may receive the one or more attributes and/or the one or more identifiers from customer computing device 302. For example, customer assistance computing platform 324 may receive, via communication interface 328, from customer computing device 302, the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal received by customer computing device 302 and one or more identifiers associated with customer computing device 302. In some embodiments, the one or more identifiers associated with the customer computing device may include user account information associated with a mobile banking application on the customer computing device. For example, at least one identifier of the one or more identifiers that may be received by customer assistance computing platform 324 from customer computing device 302 at step 4 may include user account information associated with a mobile banking application installed on, running on, and/or otherwise associated with customer computing device 302. Such user account information may, for example, include a username, password, account number, and/or other user-specific information that may be used in accessing various functions of the mobile banking application and/or a mobile banking website (which may, e.g., be provided by the financial institution operating banking center 304).
In some instances, in addition to receiving one or more attributes associated with a beacon signal and at least one identifier from customer computing device 302, customer assistance computing platform 324 also may receive biometric input information from customer computing device 302. Such biometric input information may, for instance, be captured by a mobile banking application installed on, running on, and/or otherwise associated with customer computing device 302. For example, at and/or after step 4, customer assistance computing platform 324 may receive, via communication interface 328, from customer computing device 302, biometric input information captured by a mobile banking application on the customer computing device. The biometric input information received by customer assistance computing platform 324 from customer computing device 302 may, for example, include information associated with one or more fingerprints, retina scans, voiceprints, facial images, and/or other biometrics associated with the user of customer computing device 302.
At step 5, customer assistance computing platform 324 may determine the identity of a customer based on the one or more identifiers received from customer computing device 302. For example, customer assistance computing platform 324 may determine an identity of a customer using customer computing device 302 based on the identifier associated with the customer computing device (which may, e.g., have been received at step 4). In instances in which customer computing device 302 also sent, and customer assistance computing platform 324 received, biometric input information, customer assistance computing platform 324 may use the received biometric input information in identifying and/or authenticating the customer using customer computing device 302. For example, in determining the identity of the customer using customer computing device 302 in such instances, customer assistance computing platform 324 may confirm the identity of the customer using customer computing device 302 based on the biometric input information (which may, e.g., have been captured by the mobile banking application on the customer computing device).
At step 6, customer assistance computing platform 324 may determine the location of the customer based on the one or more attributes received from customer computing device 302. For example, customer assistance computing platform 324 may determine a location of the customer using customer computing device 302 based on the one or more attributes associated with the beacon signal received by customer computing device 302. In one or more embodiments, the location of the customer using the customer computing device may be determined based on information identifying the known deployment location of the location beacon from which the customer computing device received the beacon signal. In some embodiments, determining the location of the customer using the customer computing device may thus include accessing beacon deployment information that maps identifiers for a plurality of location beacons to corresponding deployment locations of the plurality of location beacons. The deployment locations of the plurality of location beacons (which may, e.g., be mapped in the beacon deployment information) may, for example, include two or more different banking centers that are operated by the financial institution, specific areas of various banking centers operated by the financial institution, and/or other areas associated with the financial institution.
In some embodiments, determining the location of the customer using the customer computing device may include determining that the customer using the customer computing device is located in a specific area of a banking center, such as banking center 304. For example, in addition to determining that the customer using customer computing device 302 is located at and/or near a particular banking center, such as banking center 304, customer assistance computing platform 324 may determine that the customer using customer computing device 302 is located in a particular area of the banking center, such as in the main lobby of the banking center, in a teller line, in a waiting area, in or outside of a particular office, in an automated teller machine (ATM) vestibule, in a parking lot outside of the banking center, at an external ATM outside of the banking center, in a particular drive-up service lane outside of the banking center, and/or the like.
At step 7, customer assistance computing platform 324 may receive one or more configuration instructions based on the identity of the customer. At step 8, the customer assistance computing platform 324 may then be configured based on the configuration instructions. The one or more configuration instructions may cause the customer assistance computing platform 324 to implement one or more user-specific settings such as content customized to individual customer. At step 9, after the one or more configuration instructions are received by the customer assistance computing platform 324, which can be at a banking center, a notification indicating that the customer may visit the customer assistance platform 324 may be generated. At step 10, the notification can then sent to customer computing device 302 indicating that the customer may visit the customer assistance computing platform 324. The notification can also indicate to the customer computing device 302 that the customer assistance computing platform 324 has been pre-configured for use by the customer. Finally at step 11, the customer computing device 302 can receive the notification that the customer assistance computing platform 324 is ready for the user and/or has been pre-configured for use by the customer. In presenting the notification, customer computing device 302 may, for example, display, cause to be displayed, and/or otherwise present a graphical user interface similar to graphical user interface 500 as seen in
In certain examples, the one or more configuration instructions may specify language preferences for the user, font preferences for the user, commonly-used/suggested actions for the user, and/or the like. Moreover, the configuration instructions may also include a personalized greeting for a customer in proximity to the customer assistance computing platform 324. For example, after detecting the customer's device, the customer assistance computing platform 324 could announce a greeting like “Hello” or can greet the customer by name and can issue a greeting based on the customer's language preference such as saying “Hola” instead of “Hello” to a Spanish-preference customer. The configuration instructions may also include customizable options for matching the customer with certain personnel. The configuration instructions can also be configured to display certain transaction history; current products used, and unacknowledged fraud alerts. The configuration instructions may also include disability assistance features such as displaying large print or an announcement regarding its location to the customer in proximity to the customer assistance computing platform, such as “I'm here please plug your headphone into the jack.”
Additionally, in other examples, the one or more configuration instructions may be generated based on observed patterns in previous user interaction/behavior with the customer assistance computing platform 324 or another customer assistance computing platform. In this example, the one or more configuration instructions may stage/setup one or more transactions commonly performed by the user, such as requesting access to a safe deposit box and/or presenting information about current interest rates on various products. The transactions that are commonly performed by the user can be presented to the user before other options are presented.
The configuration instructions may also provide additional options for preferred customers that are not available to other customers. For example, the preferred customer may be provided with an option to have a face-to-face conversation with a financial services advisor or a small business customer may have an option to discuss matters with a small business banker.
It is contemplated that the configuration instructions can be modified by the customer by logging into the customer account on the customer computing device or any other computing device. Once the customer is logged into the customer account, the customer can be provided with various options for altering the configuration instructions. For example, the customer can customize the language preferences, font preferences, commonly-used/suggested actions, display features, and make other adjustments. For modification of the configuration instructions, the customer computing device 302 may, for example, display, cause to be displayed, and/or otherwise present a graphical user interface similar to graphical user interface 600 as seen in
In some embodiments, one or more events different from those discussed above may be performed if, for instance, the customer computing device 302 that is detected and/or otherwise recognized at banking center 304 by customer assistance computing platform 324 is determined to belong to a person who is not a current customer of the financial institution operating banking center 304. For example, in these instances, customer assistance computing platform 324 may generate and/or send a prompt to customer computing device 302 asking the user of customer computing device 302 to download and/or install a certain application, view certain content (e.g., advertising content about opening an account and/or other information about services that may be available at banking center 304), and/or perform other actions. Additionally or alternatively, one or more events of those discussed above may be repeated for a second customer who may be using a second customer computing device similar to customer computing device 302.
As illustrated above, systems and methods for providing enhanced retail customer experiences using indoor positioning technology are presented. In one or more example embodiments, a user may be identified based on a detection of a personal device of the user (e.g., a mobile computing device used by the user) at a particular location, such as a banking center. After the user is identified, the customer computing device can receive one or more configuration instructions that are specific to the user. In one example, after the one or more configuration instructions are received by the customer computing device, which can be at a banking center, a notification may be presented on the user's personal device indicating that the user may visit the kiosk and/or that the kiosk has been pre-configured for use by the customer. In some instances, the user's personal device may be detected using indoor positioning system technology. Additionally or alternatively, after the user's personal device is detected at the banking center, biometric data may be captured and used in identifying the user. In capturing and using biometric data in identifying the user, facial recognition techniques, fingerprint recognition techniques, and/or other biometric analysis techniques may be employed. After the user is placed in one or more queues, the user's personal device may present a picture of an associate at the banking center that the user will be meeting with. After the user's personal device is detected at the banking center, the user may be pre-authenticated to conduct one or more transactions. The pre-authentication may allow the user to conduct only specific types of transactions (e.g., small withdrawals, deposits, loan payments, and the like). Additionally or alternatively, the pre-authentication may be based on the detection of the user's personal device and/or information about one or more appointments scheduled by the user (which may, e.g., be obtained by integrating with a bank-by-appointment system). In some instances, a customer with an appointment may be placed in a special queue of customers who are early for their appointments but waiting to meet with a banking center associate.
One or more aspects of the disclosure may be embodied in computer-usable data or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices to perform the operations described herein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by one or more processors in a computer or other data processing device. The computer-executable instructions may be stored on a computer-readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid-state memory, RAM, and the like. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents, such as integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects of the disclosure, and such data structures are contemplated to be within the scope of computer executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.
Various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, an apparatus, or as one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions. Accordingly, those aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, an entirely firmware embodiment, or an embodiment combining software, hardware, and firmware aspects in any combination. In addition, various signals representing data or events as described herein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the form of light or electromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, or wireless transmission media (e.g., air or space). In general, the one or more computer-readable media may comprise one or more non-transitory computer-readable media.
As described herein, the various methods and acts may be operative across one or more computing servers and one or more networks. The functionality may be distributed in any manner, or may be located in a single computing device (e.g., a server, a client computer, and the like). For example, in alternative embodiments, one or more of the computing platforms discussed above may be combined into a single computing platform, and the various functions of each computing platform may be performed by the single computing platform. In such arrangements, any and/or all of the above-discussed communications between computing platforms may correspond to data being accessed, moved, modified, updated, and/or otherwise used by the single computing platform. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the computing platforms discussed above may be implemented in one or more virtual machines that are provided by one or more physical computing devices. In such arrangements, the various functions of each computing platform may be performed by the one or more virtual machines, and any and/or all of the above-discussed communications between computing platforms may correspond to data being accessed, moved, modified, updated, and/or otherwise used by the one or more virtual machines.
Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. For example, one or more of the steps depicted in the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and one or more depicted steps may be optional in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.
