Patent Application
20150227901
This invention relates generally to the field of matching users (e.g., customers, clients, or the like) with specialists, and more particularly embodiments of the invention relate to apparatuses and methods for presenting customized specialists to the users.
Determining ways of matching customers with specialists in a manner that efficiently increases the chances that the customers utilize the products (e.g., goods and services) provided by the specialists helps to improves the customer service of a business.
Embodiments of the present invention address the above needs and/or achieve other advantages by providing apparatuses (e.g., a system, computer program product, and/or other device) and methods that help present specialists to a customer in a customized way to provide the customer with improved service.
Embodiments of the invention provide a specialist presentation tool (e.g., application, program, software, or the like) that works in conjunction with an online banking application, a website, another application, a communication channel, or runs a portion of an application on a user computer system. The specialist presentation tool presents a specialist from an institution to a user in a digital environment, or other like environment. As described herein, a user may be a customer of an institution (“customer” or “client” may be used interchangeably within this specification). The institution may be a financial institution, or any other type of institution that presents recommendations of specialists to a user. In the example when the user is as customer of a financial institution, the specialist may be, but is not limited to a financial solutions advisor (hereinafter “FSA”), loan officer, account manager, or other like financial institution advisor. The specialist may be presented to the user based on triggers that occur when the user takes actions, or when actions are taken with respect to a user account. The triggers may comprise a threshold level of net worth, assets with the institution (e.g., number or amount), assets with multiple institutions, deposits into user accounts, payments made from user accounts, stock sales or purchases, transactions entered into with a particular merchant, or other like triggers specifically described herein or not specifically described herein. Other triggers include determining when the user selects or searches for a product within an online banking application, over a website, at an automated teller machine (ATM), at device at a physical teller, within an application running on a user computer system, or the like. The triggers may determine when to present a specialist and what type of specialist to present (e.g., FSA, mortgage, or the like).
The determination of the one or more specialists to present to a user from a group of specialists (e.g., a FSA group) that satisfy the trigger may be based on one or more conditions that match the specialist with the user. The conditions may include but are not limited to locations of the user and specialists, profile information of the user and specialists, social networking contacts or information for the user and specialists, or the like. The location condition (e.g., geographic area, county, city, region, area code, radius, distance, or the like) may include the location of the user with respect to the location of the specialists in order to determine one or more specialists that are available to work with the user (e.g., in the same geographic area, county, city, region, area code, radius, distance, within “X” miles from each other, or the like).
The social networking account contacts of the user may also be a condition used to suggest specialists to the users. In one embodiment the specialists may be presented to the user based on the contacts within the user's one or more social networking accounts that have a relationship (e.g., worked with, used in the past, used recently, provided favorable ratings or endorsements to, provided a recommendation for, or the like) with the specialists (hereinafter described as “common contacts” or “common connections” interchangeably). In some embodiments, the specialists with the most common contacts with the user are presented to the user. In other embodiments the specialists may be presented to the user along with information indicating that contacts in the user's social networking account may use the specialist for various products, endorse the specialist, or recommend the specialist. For example, when a specialist works with five clients (or any other number of clients) that are contacts with a first user over a social networking account, the specialist may be presented to the first user as a suggested specialist. The number of common contacts (e.g., 5, or other like number) may also be presented to the first user, or in some embodiments the names of the contacts (e.g., client 1, client 2, client 3, or the like) may be presented to first user with authorization from the clients. In other embodiments, the number of endorsements (e.g., likes, or other indicator of approval) received by the specialist from the contacts may be presented to the first user along with the specialist. In addition the types of products (e.g., insurance, mortgage, investment accounts, or the like) that the common contacts use from the specialist could also be presented to the first user with authorization from the clients.
Moreover, social networking account information (e.g., user profile information), or other profile information, may also be a condition for matching specialists to users. For example, when the specialist and the user attended the same school, previously lived in the same city, have the same interests, or the like, the specialist may be presented to the user as a suggest specialist.
The presentation of the specialist may occur at a point in time in which the user is most likely interested in receiving information or having a conversation with a specialist (e.g., when the user receives a bonus). The presentation of the specialist may include the presentation of the specialist's name, the specialist's expertise, a profile of the specialist providing information about the specialist, or the like. The presentation of the specialist may include or allow for access to a pre-recorded video from the specialist related to a product in which the user may be interested. The user and specialist may set up an appointment by adding a meeting notice to the calendars of the user and/or the specialist. In other embodiments of the invention the presentation of the specialist may occur when an annual review (e.g., or other time interval review) is due for accounts owned by the user. Moreover, the user may be able to subscribe to a specialist feed (e.g., newsletter, blog, or the like) to receive ongoing information from the specialist or receive facts regarding the specialist.
Embodiments of the invention comprise systems, computer program products, and methods for presenting a specialist within an institution to a user (e.g., a customer of the institution). One embodiment of the invention comprises identifying a trigger for a user with accounts at a financial institution; identifying a condition for associating one or more specialists with the user; identifying a specialist based on the trigger and the condition; and presenting an indication of the specialist in an online banking account of the user.
In further accord with an embodiment, the invention comprises receiving an indication from the user to view specialist information for the specialist, and presenting the specialist information to the user in a specialist profile in the online banking account.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises receiving an indication from the user to initiate a communication with the specialist, and notifying the specialist of the indication from the user.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the trigger comprises at least one of receiving a deposit into a user account, reaching a threshold level of net assets, reaching a threshold level associated with the accounts, identifying a search the user is performing within the online banking application, receiving a request for information made by the user, entering stock transactions, identifying a transaction with an institution, or identifying a payment made to another institution.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the condition comprises at least one of a user location compared to a specialist location, user profile information compared to specialist profile information, social networking contacts of the user associated with the specialist, or expertise of the specialist as it relates to the product in which the user is interested.
In further accord with an embodiment, the invention comprises identifying a product associated with the trigger, and providing a video from the specialist for the product associated with the trigger.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises receiving an indication from the user to view specialist information about the specialist, determining if the user initiated a communication with any of the one or more specialists, and notifying the specialist to initiate a communication with the user when the user fails to initiate the communication with any of the one or more the specialists.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, identifying a condition comprises determining when the user has an assigned specialist, and wherein identifying the specialist based on the trigger and the condition comprises identifying the assigned specialist, and wherein presenting the indication of the specialist in the online banking account of the user comprises presenting an indication of the assigned specialist in the online banking account of the user.
In still another embodiment, the invention comprises receiving an indication from the user to authorize the specialist to view the user's accounts for analysis before a communication.
The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.
Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Although some embodiments of the invention described herein are generally described as involving a “financial institution” or “bank,” one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the invention may involve other businesses or institutions that take the place of or work in conjunction with the financial institution or bank to perform one or more of the processes or steps described herein as being performed by a financial institution or bank. Still in other embodiments of the invention the financial institution or bank described herein may be replaced with other types of businesses or institutions that offer account services to customers.
As illustrated by block 104 in
As illustrated by block 106 in
Block 206 of
In other embodiments of the invention, the trigger may be specific to receiving a presentation of a specific specialist 7, such as an FSA specialist. For example, a user 9 may achieve a threshold level of net assets with the institution and in response may trigger a presentation of one or more FSAs to the user 9. Other specific triggers for an FSA may include the user 9 reaching a threshold level of assets (e.g., number of accounts, total amount in the accounts, or the like) with the institution. In other embodiments the financial institution may be able to determine assets that the user 9 has with multiple institutions, such that a threshold level of assets that would result in a trigger may include a determination of assets across multiple institutions. This situation may occur when the user incorporates the user's accounts from other institutions into an online banking account of a primary institution, such as when the user provides the account number and password for accounts at other institutions and the primary institution accesses the accounts and displays information about the outside accounts alongside the primary institution accounts. Alternatively, the outside account information may be determined by performing a financial worthiness check, or through partnerships with other institutions. The trigger may also be based on an influx of a threshold level of cash or other assets into one or more accounts of the user, a sale or purchase of stock, or the like. For example, during a bonus period the user 9 may deposit an amount of money into an account that may trigger a presentation of an FSA that can help invest the money for the user 9.
In other embodiments of the invention the triggers may be based on payments that the user 9 makes to institutions, or transaction history for transactions the user 9 enters into with institutions. For example, the user 9 may make a payment for a mortgage to another institution, which may trigger the presentation of a loan officer specialist 7 to discuss refinancing options with the user 9. In another example, the user 9 may make a payment to an institution for life insurance or other insurance, which may trigger the presentation of an insurance specialist 7 to discuss insurance options with the user 9. In another example, the user may make a payment to an institution for school loans, which may trigger the presentation of a financial aid specialist 7 to discuss loan payment options with the user 9. In yet another embodiment, the user 9 may enter into a transaction to purchase baby related products, which may indicate that the user is having a child, and thus the transaction may trigger the presentation of a financial advisor specialist 7. The payment or transaction information may be determined based on payment or transaction records that are incorporated directly or indirectly into a payment application or transaction application within an online banking account, such as payments made with a user account, statements that may be automatically incorporated from other institutions, information that is manually incorporated by users 9, or other like means.
Based on the triggers associated with specialist types, a group of specialists 7 may be identified that could be presented to the user 9. In some embodiments one or more specialists 7 from the group of specialists identified are presented to the user 9. However, in some embodiments the group of specialists may be further narrowed down in other ways to provide more customized specialists 7 to the user 9.
As illustrated by block 208, in some embodiments of the invention after a trigger is identified, the financial institution identifies one or more conditions for presenting one or more specialists 7 from the group of specialists. For example, a condition may be the location of the user 9 (e.g., home, residence, route of the user, current location, or the like) with respect to a location of the specialist 7, such as within the same city, town, area, zip code, within ‘X’ miles from each other, or the like. Another condition may include information that may be identified from the social networking accounts that the user 9 allows the institution to access, as will be explained in further detail later with respect to
As illustrated by block 210 in
Block 212 of
As illustrated by block 214 of
As illustrated by decision block 218, a determination is made if the user 9 decided to initiate a communication with the specialist 7. As illustrated in block 220, the user 9 may initiate a communication, which may comprise calling the specialist 7 over the phone, sending the specialist 7 an e-mail communication, sending an instant message communication, making a video call to the specialist 7, sending a text message, or initiating any type of communication through a communication channel. In one embodiment of the invention, the specialist 7 may be communicating with other clients, and as such the user 9 may have to leave a message for the specialist 7. In some embodiments, initiating the communication includes when user 9 makes a selection indicating that the user 9 requests and approves contact from the specialist 7, and as such the specialist 7 is notified to contact the user 9. For example, the user 9 may select a request contact feature 448 in the specialist presentation section 430 or the specialist profile interface 500, and the specialist 7 receives notification to contact the user 9. In some embodiments, the user 9 may also be able to request the communication channel through which the user 9 wishes to receive the communication from the specialist 7. In other embodiments of the invention, the user 9 may select a schedule meeting feature 450 in the specialist presentation section 430 or the specialist profile interface 500, and a specialist calendar may be provided to the user 9 to request a particular date and time on which to meet in person or have another type of communication over another communication channel.
Returning to block 218, the user 9 may not initiate the communication. As illustrated by block 222, a determination is made when the user 9 views the profile of the specialist 7 or otherwise provides an indication of interest in the specialist 7 without contacting the specialist 7. For example, other then viewing a profile of specialist 7, the indication of interest may include selecting a feature indicating that the user would like more information from the specialist 7, selecting a feature for information about a particular product through the specialist 7, selecting information provided by the specialist 7 on the profile (e.g., news articles posted by the specialist 7 or financial tools suggested by the specialist 7), or the like. As illustrated by block 224, when the determination is made that the user 9 has provided an indication of interest, the specialist 7 may initiate a communication with the user 9 in the same or similar ways as was described with respect to the user 9 initiating the communication with the specialist 7.
Before the communication occurs, regardless of who initiated the communication, as illustrated by block 226, the specialist 7 may receive authorization from the user 9 to view the user accounts to gather information. For example, the notification from the user 9 to the specialist 7 requesting communication may also include approval from the user 9 to allow the specialist 7 to view the accounts of the user 9, and to provide customized communication regarding the user accounts before or during the communication. In other embodiments the initiation of the communication from the specialist 7 may also include a request from the specialist 7 to view the user's accounts, which the user 9 may accept or decline prior to the communication. In some embodiments, the request may occur during the communication instead of before the communication. As illustrated by block 228, the communication between the specialist 7 and user 9 occurs.
In some embodiments of the invention, when a trigger occurs the specialist presentation system 1 may determine if the user 9 already has a dedicated specialist 7 for products associated with the trigger. The dedicated specialist 7 may be a specialist 7 that has previously worked with the user 9 or that otherwise has a relationship with the user 9. In the situations where the user 9 has a dedicated specialist 7 the specialist presentation system 1 may present the dedicated specialist 7 to the user 9 when a trigger occurs, when a follow up with the user 9 may be needed, or in another like scenario. For example, in some embodiments if the user 9 has a dedicated investment specialist 7 for an investment account that has yearly or quarterly reviews, the specialist presentation system 1 may present the dedicated specialist 7 the user 9 in order to remind the user 9 to set up the yearly or quarterly meetings. Instead of the specialist 7 having to call the user 9 repeatedly to set up the meeting the user 9 may be reminded to set up the meeting automatically on the user's own terms without the specialist 7 having to provide regular reminders.
In some embodiments of the invention the specialist presentation system may also incorporate information from one or more of the user's social networking accounts. As illustrated in block 302 of
In still other embodiments, the institution may gain access to the user's social networking account by becoming a contact of the user 9. For example, if the user 9 and the institution are contacts over a social network the institution may have access to the names of the user's contacts. In some embodiments the user 9 may sign into a website or application using a name and password of a social networking account, and thus, the website or application may have access to information from the user's social networking account. For example, the user 9 may sign into media websites that are affiliated with the social networking account, and thus, the media websites may have access to the user's social networking information. In other embodiments of the invention user 9 may have a public social networking account or set preferences within a social networking account that allows one or more applications or websites to access the social networking account of the user 9, and thus, permission to access the social networking account of the user 9 may not be required.
As illustrated by block 304 in
As illustrated in block 308, of the one or more contacts identified (e.g., all contacts or a limited number of contacts from the social networking account of the user 9) the institution identifies one or more specialists 7 that have worked with the one or more contacts or otherwise have a relationship with the one or more contacts. For example, after retrieving the name and/or other information (e.g., location, school, company, or the like) of the contacts in the social networking account of the first user 9, the institution may identify one or more specialists 7 that have worked with the one or more contacts in the past. For example, the names and/or other information may be compared against the records of the institution, such as the financial institution, in order to determine the contacts that are also clients of one or more of the specialists 7.
As illustrated by block 310, the institution identifies if a second user (or multiple second users) identified as a contact of the first user has agreed to allow the institution to use the second user as a reference. In one embodiment, during the course of interactions between the specialists 7 and the clients, the clients (e.g., first user, second user, or other users) may authorize the institution to use the clients as references for other potential clients. In other embodiments, the clients may endorse the specialist by providing an indication (e.g., a like feature, a service endorsement feature, tag feature, or the like) that indicates that the client was happy with the service provided by the specialist 7. The endorsement may be created and stored by the social networking account, or may be created and stored within the financial institution systems (e.g., the online banking account), or both. In other embodiments of the invention, after identifying the contacts in the social networking account of the first user that are also clients of the institution, the institution may communicate with the contacts (e.g., second user, or multiple second users) and ask for permission to use the contacts as references, either generally (e.g., for any potential client) or specifically for the first user. In some embodiments of the invention if the clients that are contacts of the first user agree to be used as references (e.g., provide recommendations or endorsements), then the clients may receive discounts, products, promotions, or the like from the institution.
As explained in further detail later, when the contacts agree to be used as references the number of contacts of the first user 9 that are associated with the specialists 7, or in some embodiments of the invention, the name of one or more of the contacts may be displayed to the user 9.
As illustrated block 312, the institution identifies one or more other conditions for associating the user 9 and the specialist 7, as was previously discussed with respect to block 208 of
As illustrated by block 316, the institution presents an indication of the one or more specialists 7 that meet the trigger, have relationships with the contacts of the user 9, and/or meet the desired conditions associated with the user 9. For example, as previously discussed with respect to block 212 of
As illustrated by block 318, along with the indication of the specialist 7, the institution may also present the number of contacts in the user's social networking account with which the specialist 7 has a relationship. For example, as illustrated in
As illustrated by block 320 of
Block 322 illustrates that in some embodiments, the first user 9 may also allow the specialist 7 to use the first user 9 as a reference. For example, after the first user 9 works with the specialist 7, the first user 9 may agree to let the specialist 7 use the first user 9 as a reference for other potential clients. The first user 9 may update preferences in an application or respond to a reference or endorsement request from the specialist 7 in order to allow the specialist 7 to use the first user 9 as a reference.
As illustrated by block 324, the institution may present an indication of the specialist 7 and/or the specialist profile to one or more of the contacts of the first user 9 that have accounts with the institution, such as financial accounts at a financial institution. For example, the financial institution may identify the names or other information of the contacts of the first user 9 through the first user's social networking account and identify the contacts that have accounts with the financial institution. The financial institution may then present an indication of the specialist 7 to the contacts with accounts at the financial institution through a website, application, online banking application, user computer system, or other channel. For example, the financial institution may present the specialist 7 to a second user 9 (e.g., in an online banking account of the second user). Additionally, the financial institution may also include an indication to the one or more contacts of the first user 9 that the first user 9 is associated with the specialist 7 and/or endorses or recommends using the specialist 7, as illustrated by block 326 in
As illustrated by block 328, the profile of the specialist is viewed and/or a communication is initiated and/or undertaken between the one or more contacts of the first user 9 (e.g., the second user 9) and the specialist 7 as was previously described with respect to blocks 214 to 228 described in
In some embodiments of the invention, as previously described above, the financial institution may present a specialist 7 and/or a specialist profile to a user 9 on a user computer system 30 outside of an online banking application 17. For example, in one embodiment a user 9 may be searching for products through a search engine or another website unrelated to an online banking application 17 using a user computer system 30. A specialist application 27 may be utilized to present the specialist 7 in the website on the user computer system 30, in an application running on the user computer system 30, or through a portion of the specialist application 27 that may be located on the user computer system 30. With respect to the website, the user 9 may view products on the website and initiate a trigger. In response to the trigger, a specialist application 27 that is receiving information from the website identifies the trigger and presents a specialist 7 in a section of the website that may be specified for presenting information on a subscription or payment basis. The specialist 7 may be presented in the website in the same or similar manner as is described within this specification for the online banking application 17.
In some embodiments of the invention instead of a website, the user 9 may be using an application when initiating a trigger. In response, the specialist application 27 that is receiving information from the application the user 9 is using, identifies the trigger and presents a specialist 7 in a section of the application that may be specified for presenting information on a subscription or payment basis. The specialist 7 may be presented in the application in the same or similar manner as is described within this specification for the online banking application 17.
In some embodiments of the invention a portion of the specialist application 27 may be running on the user computer system 30 on a constant basis, during specific times, when activated by the user 9, or the like. The portion of the specialist application 27 running on the user computer system 30 may monitor the user 9 (e.g., with the permission of the user 9) and in response to a trigger may present an indication of a specialist 7 to the user 9 through a pop-up window, indicator icon, or other type of alert. The presentation of the indication of a specialist 7 may be accompanied by a notification of the trigger event. For example, in the case of assets with the financial institution, once the assets reach a threshold level an indication of the assets of the user 9 and the indication of the specialist 7 may be presented to the user 9 in a pop-up window on the user computer system 30. The specialist 7 may be presented in the application in the same or similar manner as is described within this specification for the online banking application 17.
In other embodiments of the invention, the specialist application 27 may run in the background of the specialist presentation system 1, such that when a trigger occurs the specialist presentation system 1 may alert or notify the user 9 of the specialist 7 through various communication channels, such as but not limited to text message, e-mail, instant message, application notification, or the like. The specialist 7 may be presented in the communication channel or may include a link to an interface that is used to display the specialist 7 in the same or similar manner as is described within this specification for the online banking application 17.
The network 2 may be a global area network (GAN), such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or any other type of network or combination of networks. The network 2 may provide for wireline, wireless, or a combination of wireline and wireless communication between devices on the network.
As illustrated in
The processing device 14 is operatively coupled to the communication device 12 and the memory device 16. The processing device 14 uses the communication device 12 to communicate with the network 2 and other devices on the network 2, such as, but not limited to, the specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, other bank systems 50, and social networking systems 60. As such, the communication device 12 generally comprises a modem, server, or other device for communicating with other devices on the network 2.
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The specialist computer systems 40 are operatively coupled to the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, other financial institution systems 50, or the social networking systems 60 through the network 2. The specialist computer systems 40 have devices the same or similar to the devices described for the user computer systems 30 (e.g., communication device, processing device, memory device with computer-readable instructions, datastore, or the like). Thus, the specialist computer systems 40 communicate with the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, other financial institution systems 50, and/or social networking systems 60 in the same or similar way as previously described with respect to the user computer systems 30. The specialist computer systems 40, in some embodiments, are utilized by the specialists 7 to create profiles, access accounts, utilize institution tools, communicate or facilitate communication with the users 9, or the like.
The other financial institution systems 50 are operatively coupled to the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or social networking systems 60 through the network 2. The other financial institution systems 50 have devices the same or similar to the devices described for the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or social networking systems 60 (e.g., communication device, processing device, memory device with computer-readable instructions, datastore, or the like). Thus, the other financial institution systems 50 communicate with the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or social networking systems 60 in the same or similar way as previously described with respect to each system. The other financial institution systems 50, in some embodiments, are comprised of systems and devices that store and access account information or other information within or outside of the bank.
The social networking systems 60 are operatively coupled to the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or other financial institution systems 50 through the network 2. The social networking systems 60 have devices the same or similar to the devices described for the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or other financial institution systems 50 (e.g., communication device, processing device, memory device with computer-readable instructions, datastore, or the like). Thus, the social networking systems 60 communicate with the online banking system 10, specialist system 20, user computer systems 30, specialist computer systems 40, and/or other financial institution systems 50 in the same or similar way as previously described with respect to each system. The social networking systems 60, in some embodiments, are comprised of systems and devices that store and access information for the social networking accounts of users 9, institutions, and the like.
It is understood that the systems and devices described herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention. It is further understood that one or more of the systems, devices, or the like can be combined or separated in other embodiments and still function in the same or similar way as the embodiments described herein.
Any suitable computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be utilized. The computer usable or computer readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires; a tangible medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other tangible optical or magnetic storage device.
Computer program code/computer-readable instructions for carrying out operations of embodiments of the present invention may be written in an object oriented, scripted or unscripted programming language such as Java, Pearl, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program code/computer-readable instructions for carrying out operations of the invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.
Embodiments of the present invention described above, with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods or apparatuses (the term “apparatus” including systems and computer program products), will be understood to include that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instructions, which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Alternatively, computer program implemented steps or acts may be combined with operator or human implemented steps or acts in order to carry out an embodiment of the invention.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ to Bertanzetti et al., entitled “Specialist Presentation Using a Social Networking Account,” which is filed concurrently herewith, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ to Bertanzetti et al., entitled “Specialist Presentation,” which is filed concurrently herewith, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, modifications, and combinations of the just described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
