U.S. patent application number 15/469083 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-27 for managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a telephone conversation.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Romelia H. Flores, Christian E. Loza, Olivia G. Loza, Tomyo G. Maeshiro.
Application Number | 20180278745 15/469083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63491091 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180278745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Flores; Romelia H. ; et
al. |
September 27, 2018 |
MANAGING SENSITIVE INFORMATION TRANSFER BETWEEN PARTIES IN A
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
Abstract
A communication device associated with a first party monitors a
call between the first party and a second party. The communication
device identifies a request for sensitive information from the
second party during the call. The communication device determines
whether the requested sensitive information matches sensitive
information stored in an encrypted data store by determining
whether a text representation of the requested sensitive
information matches a text representation of the sensitive
information stored in the encrypted data store. The communication
device sends, responsive to determining that the requested for
sensitive information matches the stored sensitive information, the
requested sensitive information to the second party.
Inventors: |
Flores; Romelia H.; (Keller,
TX) ; Loza; Christian E.; (Denton, TX) ; Loza;
Olivia G.; (Denton, TX) ; Maeshiro; Tomyo G.;
(Denton, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
63491091 |
Appl. No.: |
15/469083 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/0407 20130101;
G10L 2015/223 20130101; H04M 3/42153 20130101; H04M 7/0078
20130101; H04M 3/5183 20130101; H04W 12/02 20130101; G10L 15/26
20130101; H04L 63/0428 20130101; H04M 2203/6009 20130101; G10L
2015/088 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/42 20060101
H04M003/42; H04M 3/22 20060101 H04M003/22; G10L 15/18 20060101
G10L015/18 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: monitoring, by a communication device
associated with a first party, a voice call between the first party
and a second party; detecting, by causing a processor to analyze
voice data of the voice call, that a keyword has been spoken in the
voice call; sensing, by the communication device, that textual data
corresponding to the keyword represents a request by the second
party for a sensitive information of the first party, wherein the
sensitive information forms a requested sensitive information;
identifying, by the communication device, the requested sensitive
information; determining whether the requested sensitive
information matches sensitive information stored in an encrypted
data store by determining whether a text representation of the
requested sensitive information matches a text representation of
the sensitive information stored in the encrypted data store; and
sending by the communication device, responsive to determining that
the requested for sensitive information matches the stored
sensitive information, the requested sensitive information to the
second party.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether
the second party is authorized to receive the sensitive information
based upon user preference information associated with the first
party, wherein sending the requested sensitive information is
further responsive to determining that the second party is
authorized to receive the sensitive information.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the requested
sensitive information includes identifying the request using
natural language processing.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the requested
sensitive information includes converting the request from a voice
form to a text form.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: encrypting the
requested sensitive information; and sending the encrypted
sensitive information to the second party.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: converting the
requested sensitive information from a text form to a voice form;
and sending the requested sensitive information to the second party
in the voice form.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving sensitive
information in a voice form from the first party; and storing the
sensitive information in the encrypted data store.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a selection
of a type of sensitive information to be shared; and storing the
selection of the type of sensitive information in the user
preference information.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a selection
of a party authorized to receive sensitive information; and storing
the selection of the authorized party in the user preference
information.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a
selection of a party authorized to receive updates of sensitive
information; and sending updated sensitive information to the
authorized party responsive to receiving an update of the sensitive
information.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for sensitive
information includes a voice request.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested sensitive
information includes one or more of text data, voice data, image
data, and video data.
13. A computer usable program product comprising one or more
computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored
on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the stored
program instructions comprising: program instructions to monitor,
by a communication device associated with a first party, a voice
call between the first party and a second party; program
instructions to detect, by causing a processor to analyze voice
data of the voice call, that a keyword has been spoken in the voice
call; program instructions to sense, by the communication device,
that textual data corresponding to the keyword represents a request
by the second party for a sensitive information of the first party,
wherein the sensitive information forms a requested sensitive
information; program instructions to identify, by the communication
device, the requested sensitive information; program instructions
to determine whether the requested sensitive information matches
sensitive information stored in an encrypted data store by
determining whether a text representation of the requested
sensitive information matches a text representation of the
sensitive information stored in the encrypted data store; and
program instructions to send by the communication device,
responsive to determining that the requested for sensitive
information matches the stored sensitive information, the requested
sensitive information to the second party.
14. The computer usable program product of claim 13, further
comprising: program instructions to determine whether the second
party is authorized to receive the sensitive information based upon
user preference information associated with the first party,
wherein sending the requested sensitive information is further
responsive to determining that the second party is authorized to
receive the sensitive information.
15. The computer usable program product of claim 13, program
instructions to encrypt the requested sensitive information; and
program instructions to send the encrypted sensitive information to
the second party.
16. The computer usable program product of claim 13, further
comprising: program instructions to convert the requested sensitive
information from a text form to a voice form; and program
instructions to send the requested sensitive information to the
second party in the voice form.
17. The computer usable program product of claim 13, further
comprising: program instructions to receive sensitive information
in a voice form from the first party; and program instructions to
store the sensitive information in the encrypted data store.
18. The computer usable program product of claim 13, wherein the
computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage
device in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable
code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing
system.
19. The computer usable program product of claim 13, wherein the
computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage
device in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer
usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data
processing system for use in a computer readable storage device
associated with the remote data processing system.
20. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or
more computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable
storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of
the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of
the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more
memories, the stored program instructions comprising: program
instructions to monitor, by a communication device associated with
a first party, a voice call between the first party and a second
party; program instructions to detect, by causing the one or more
processors to analyze voice data of the voice call, that a keyword
has been spoken in the voice call; program instructions to sense,
by the communication device, that textual data corresponding to the
keyword represents a request by the second party for a sensitive
information of the first party, wherein the sensitive information
forms a requested sensitive information; program instructions to
identify, by the communication device, the requested sensitive
information; program instructions to determine whether the
requested sensitive information matches sensitive information
stored in an encrypted data store by determining whether a text
representation of the requested sensitive information matches a
text representation of the sensitive information stored in the
encrypted data store; and program instructions to send by the
communication device, responsive to determining that the requested
for sensitive information matches the stored sensitive information,
the requested sensitive information to the second party.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method, system,
and computer program product for providing sensitive information
during a telephone conversation. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product
for managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a
telephone conversation.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sensitive information is often requested and provided via
voice-based telecommunications. Sensitive information may include
any information that a user does not wish to become known expect by
certain parties. Examples of sensitive information include, but are
not limited to, credit card information, health insurance account
information or health conditions. For example, a user may call a
service provider, such as an insurance provider, and be requested
by the insurance provider to provide identifying information such
as a birth date during a call. In another example, a user may call
a provider of a product and be requested by the provider to provide
a credit card number. A "call" may be defined as any electronic
telecommunication using any format of communication in which
sensitive information can be transmitted. For example, a call may
include a telephone call, a voice-over-IP (voIP) call, a
teleconferencing call or a mobile telephone call. A provider may
include a human, an application, or one or more machines.
Similarly, a user or caller may include a human, an application, or
one or more machines.
SUMMARY
[0003] The illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and
computer program product. An embodiment of a method includes
monitoring, by a communication device associated with a first
party, a call between the first party and a second party. The
embodiment further includes identifying, by the communication
device, a request for sensitive information from the second party
during the call. The embodiment further includes determining
whether the requested sensitive information matches sensitive
information stored in an encrypted data store by determining
whether a text representation of the requested sensitive
information matches a text representation of the sensitive
information stored in the encrypted data store. The embodiment
further includes sending by the communication device, responsive to
determining that the requested for sensitive information matches
the stored sensitive information, the requested sensitive
information to the second party.
[0004] An embodiment further includes determining whether the
second party is authorized to receive the sensitive information
based upon user preference information associated with the first
party, wherein sending the requested sensitive information is
further responsive to determining that the second party is
authorized to receive the sensitive information.
[0005] In an embodiment, the identifying of the request includes
identifying the request using natural language processing. In
another embodiment, the identifying of the request includes
converting the request from a voice form to a text form.
[0006] An embodiment further includes encrypting the requested
sensitive information, and sending the encrypted sensitive
information to the second party. Another embodiment further
includes converting the requested sensitive information from a text
form to a voice form, and sending the requested sensitive
information to the second party in the voice form.
[0007] An embodiment further includes receiving sensitive
information in a voice form from the first party, and storing the
sensitive information in the encrypted data store. Another
embodiment further includes receiving a selection of a type of
sensitive information to be shared, and storing the selection of
the type of sensitive information in the user preference
information.
[0008] Another embodiment further includes receiving a selection of
a party authorized to receive sensitive information, and storing
the selection of the authorized party in the user preference
information. Another embodiment further includes receiving a
selection of a party authorized to receive updates of sensitive
information, and sending updated sensitive information to the
authorized party responsive to receiving an update of the sensitive
information.
[0009] In an embodiment, the request for sensitive information
includes a voice request. In an embodiment, the requested sensitive
information includes one or more of text data, voice data, image
data, and video data.
[0010] An embodiment includes a computer program product. The
computer program product includes one or more computer-readable
storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of
the one or more storage devices.
[0011] An embodiment includes a computer system. The computer
system includes one or more processors, one or more
computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable
storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of
the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of
the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more
memories.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Certain novel features believed characteristic of the
invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention
itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by
reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative
embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data
processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be
implemented;
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system
in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented;
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of an example configuration
of a device for managing sensitive information transfer between
parties in a telephone conversation in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of an example scenario for
managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a
telephone conversation in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of another example scenario
for managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a
telephone conversation in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment; and
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an example process for
managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a
telephone conversation in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The illustrative embodiments recognize that the presently
available tools or solutions do not address these needs or provide
adequate solutions for these needs. The illustrative embodiments
used to describe the invention generally address and solve the
above-described problems and other problems related to intelligent
insertion of secondary content in live streaming.
[0020] An embodiment can be implemented as a software application.
The application implementing an embodiment can be configured as a
modification of an existing telecommunication transmission system,
as a separate application that operates in conjunction with an
existing telecommunication transmission system, a standalone
application, or some combination thereof.
[0021] Particularly, some illustrative embodiments provide a method
of managing sensitive information transfer between parties in a
telephone conversation. In particular embodiments, the method
addresses the issue of having to transfer sensitive information
over the phone while speaking with a live or automated call agent
offering a product or services. In one or more embodiments, a
communication device, such as a smartphone, associated with the
user executes an application to enable the managing of providing
sensitive information during a telephone call as will be further
described herein.
[0022] As the use of smartphones and other telecommunication
technologies gain increasing popularity, the need to maintain
security of sensitive information also increases. The illustrative
embodiments recognize that transmitting sensitive information over
a voice call is still a large concern not only because data is
exposed on an unsecured call but also because the sensitive
information is propagated over the air exposed to malicious
listeners. Many product and service providers, such as those
utilizing live call center agents require verbal authentication
when the user or client contact them by phone.
[0023] The illustrative embodiments recognize that the
verbalization of private information represents a security issue.
In certain settings, not only private information may be conveyed,
but other sensitive information such as credit card information,
health insurance account information or health conditions may also
need to be verbally confirmed by the client for the call center
live agent to process the request. In other environments, such as a
user interaction with a website, encrypted transmission of
sensitive data is often used. However, the encryption of the human
voice during a call between a user and an agent at a call center is
not generally available.
[0024] Furthermore, some sensitive information required to be
provided during a call may not immediately be available to the user
or tracked by the user. A situation may exist that when the call is
made the reachability of this information is out of the capability
of the user at the present time and the call may need to be
postponed or delayed until the information is obtained. In these
cases, the call process normally needs to be started over again
from the beginning if an alternative resolution cannot be
found.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, sensitive information associated
with a user, such as a credit card number, a Social Security
number, a birth date, health history information, prescription
information or other information that a user wishes to remain
private, is stored in an encrypted database. In particular
embodiments, the application identifies sensitive information from
a user's voice during a phone call, converted from voice to text,
and stored in a database within an encrypted store in association
with the user. In particular embodiments, the sensitive information
is identified from voice data using Natural Language Processing
(NLP). For example, if the user speaks a number during the call
that is recognized as being in a format associated with a credit
card, the application identifies the number as a credit card number
and stores the number in the database and identifies the number as
being a credit card number.
[0026] At a subsequent time, such as during another phone call, a
call center agent may verbally request the sensitive information
during the call, the application recognizes the request, retrieves
the sensitive information associated with request from the
database, and provides the requested sensitive information to the
call center agent. If the call center agent has the capability of
receiving encrypted text information, such as if the call center
agent is running the same or a similar application as the
communication device associated with the user, the application
sends the requested sensitive information to the call center agent
in an encrypted text form. The application associated with the call
center agent may then decrypt the sensitive information, and
display the sensitive information to the call center agent.
[0027] If the call center agent does not have the capability of
receiving encrypted text information, the application associated
with the user communication device converts the sensitive
information from a text form to a voice form, and speaks the
sensitive information to the call center agent over the phone
call.
[0028] In an example use case according to an embodiment, a user
configures the application running on the user's communication
device to indicate that the user is about to establish a call that
the user would like to have the voice data of the call monitored in
case sensitive questions are asked during a phone conversation. In
particular embodiments, the application includes a user preferences
component to allow the user to configure particular phone numbers.
In one or more embodiments, the application detects if the user
configured phone numbers are being called and initiates monitoring
of the call for sensitive information during the call.
[0029] In particular embodiments, the user can further configure
the application to detect particular keywords during the
conversation that are associated with sensitive information such as
"credit card", "account balance", etc. In particular embodiments,
the user can configure the application to further augment the
keywords being listened for during a phone conversation. In one or
more embodiments, the user can configure if and how the user wishes
to be prompted by the application when sensitive information is
requested. For example, in a particular embodiment, the application
can play a particular tone and/or display a notification on a
screen on the user's phone when sensitive information is
requested.
[0030] In one or more embodiments, the user enables the application
to automatically run on their smartphone, or alternately choose to
start up the application when desired at the appropriate time. In
an embodiment, the user begins a call in order to request a product
or service from another party such as insurance, a ticket purchase,
or other products or services in which private and/or sensitive
information may be required to be provided by the user. In
particular embodiments, the other party may include a live agent at
a call center or an automated call center agent.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, during the telephone
conversation associated with the call, the application on the
user's communication device listens to and/or monitors the
telephone conversation between the caller and the agent associated
with the product or service provider using, for example, voice to
text conversion. In an embodiment, when the agent associated with
the product of service provider verbally requests sensitive
information from the caller, the request is recognized/detected by
the application by performing the voice to text conversion and
detecting when a keyword has been spoken. In particular
embodiments, the application can cause a predetermined tone, such
as a beep, to be produced by a speaker of the user's communication
device or cause a display of the user's communication device to
display a notification that sensitive information has been
requested. In particular embodiments, the application causes the
display of the user's communication device to display the sensitive
information to be sent in case the user wishes to review the
sensitive information to be sent and/or approve the sending of the
sensitive information.
[0032] In one or more embodiments, the application sends the
requested sensitive information to a client device associated with
the other party, such as a call center agent of a service provider,
in a text format. In particular embodiments, the sensitive
information is encrypted prior to sending of the sensitive
information and decrypted by the client device associated with the
call center agent. Upon receiving the sensitive information in the
text format, an application associated with the user agent the
sensitive information may be displayed to the call agent, or
alternately text to voice conversion occurs and the sensitive
information is spoken to the call center agent as speech.
[0033] In one or more embodiments, the application associated with
the user's communication device continuously listens to phone
conversations and will automatically learn sensitive information
and/or most frequently used information and stores it securely in a
database in association with the user.
[0034] In particular embodiments, the sensitive information may be
synchronized with other users who have been authorized by the user
to receive such sensitive information. For example, the user may
wish to share sensitive information with family members on a
regular basis. Take, for example, a situation in which an elderly
parent can no longer live on his or her own and decides to live
with one of their children. In such a situation, it may be
important to make sensitive information available to his or her
care givers. In another example, family members may wish to share
credit card information (e.g., number, expiration date or
verification code) across family members such as parents sharing
credit card information with their children while they are away at
college. Instead of keeping this sensitive information written down
somewhere, it may be desirable to have the sensitive information
stored in an electronic secure format and kept up to date as
appropriate through appropriate learning of new sensitive
information. Accordingly, in some embodiments, selected sensitive
information is synchronized between applications running on the
respective user communication devices for users that have been
authorized to receive the sensitive information.
[0035] In some embodiments, the sensitive information is sent to a
server within a communication network and stored within a storage
device instead of, or in addition to, being stored within the
user's communication device. In particular embodiments, requested
sensitive information is retrieved from the storage device by the
server and sent to the requesting party instead of being sent by
the application running on the user's communication device.
[0036] The illustrative embodiments are described with respect to
certain types of sensitive information, formats or types of
sensitive information, contents, transmissions, responses, devices,
data processing systems, environments, components, and applications
only as examples. Any specific manifestations of these and other
similar artifacts are not intended to be limiting to the invention.
Any suitable manifestation of these and other similar artifacts can
be selected within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
[0037] Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented
with respect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data
source over a data network. Any type of data storage device may
provide the data to an embodiment of the invention, either locally
at a data processing system or over a data network, within the
scope of the invention. Where an embodiment is described using a
mobile device, any type of data storage device suitable for use
with the mobile device may provide the data to such embodiment,
either locally at the mobile device or over a data network, within
the scope of the illustrative embodiments.
[0038] The illustrative embodiments are described using specific
code, designs, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and
tools only as examples and are not limiting to the illustrative
embodiments. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are
described in some instances using particular software, tools, and
data processing environments only as an example for the clarity of
the description. The illustrative embodiments may be used in
conjunction with other comparable or similarly purposed structures,
systems, applications, or architectures. For example, other
comparable mobile devices, structures, systems, applications, or
architectures therefor, may be used in conjunction with such
embodiment of the invention within the scope of the invention. An
illustrative embodiment may be implemented in hardware, software,
or a combination thereof.
[0039] The examples in this disclosure are used only for the
clarity of the description and are not limiting to the illustrative
embodiments. Additional data, operations, actions, tasks,
activities, and manipulations will be conceivable from this
disclosure and the same are contemplated within the scope of the
illustrative embodiments.
[0040] Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not
intended to be limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional
or different advantages may be realized by specific illustrative
embodiments. Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may
have some, all, or none of the advantages listed above.
[0041] With reference to the figures and in particular with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, these figures are example diagrams of
data processing environments in which illustrative embodiments may
be implemented. FIGS. 1 and 2 are only examples and are not
intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the
environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. A
particular implementation may make many modifications to the
depicted environments based on the following description.
[0042] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data
processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be
implemented. Data processing environment 100 is a network of
computers in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented.
Data processing environment 100 includes network 102. Network 102
is the medium used to provide communications links between various
devices and computers connected together within data processing
environment 100. Network 102 may include connections, such as wire,
wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.
[0043] Clients or servers are only example roles of certain data
processing systems connected to network 102 and are not intended to
exclude other configurations or roles for these data processing
systems. Server 104 and server 106 couple to network 102 along with
storage unit 108. Software applications may execute on any computer
in data processing environment 100. Clients 110, 112, and 114 are
also coupled to network 102. A data processing system, such as
server 104 or 106, or client 110, 112, or 114 may contain data and
may have software applications or software tools executing thereon.
In particular embodiments, one or more of client 110, 112, or 114
is associated with a call agent of a product or service provider
and is configured to facilitate voice and/or text communication
with a user associated with device 132. In particular embodiments,
a telephone 136 is associated with the call agent and is configured
to facilitate the call agent to have voice communication with the
user during a call.
[0044] Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to
such architecture, FIG. 1 depicts certain components that are
usable in an example implementation of an embodiment. For example,
servers 104 and 106, and clients 110, 112, 114, are depicted as
servers and clients only as example and not to imply a limitation
to a client-server architecture. As another example, an embodiment
can be distributed across several data processing systems and a
data network as shown, whereas another embodiment can be
implemented on a single data processing system within the scope of
the illustrative embodiments. Data processing systems 104, 106,
110, 112, and 114 also represent example nodes in a cluster,
partitions, and other configurations suitable for implementing an
embodiment.
[0045] Device 132 is an example of a user communication device
described herein. For example, device 132 can take the form of a
smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, client 110 in a
stationary or a portable form, a wearable computing device, or any
other suitable device. Any software application described as
executing in another data processing system in FIG. 1 can be
configured to execute in device 132 in a similar manner. Any data
or information stored or produced in another data processing system
in FIG. 1 can be configured to be stored or produced in device 132
in a similar manner.
[0046] Application 105 implements an embodiment described herein in
the manner of a remote server-based application or service.
Application 105 may store sensitive information locally, or use
storage unit 108 that is accessible over network 102 to store
sensitive information in a secure manner within database 109. As
another example, application 134 implements an embodiment described
herein in the manner of a locally operating application or feature
of device 132. In particular embodiments, application 134 stores
sensitive information within a database in memory of device 132,
may use a remote data storage such as storage 108 to store
sensitive information, or may use some combination of local and
remote storage within the scope of the illustrative
embodiments.
[0047] Servers 104 and 106, storage unit 108, and clients 110, 112,
and 114, and device 132 may couple to network 102 using wired
connections, wireless communication protocols, or other suitable
data connectivity. Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be, for example,
personal computers or network computers.
[0048] In the depicted example, server 104 may provide data, such
as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients
110, 112, and 114. Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be clients to
server 104 in this example. Clients 110, 112, 114, or some
combination thereof, may include their own data, boot files,
operating system images, and applications. Data processing
environment 100 may include additional servers, clients, and other
devices that are not shown.
[0049] In the depicted example, data processing environment 100 may
be the Internet. Network 102 may represent a collection of networks
and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one
another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of data
communication links between major nodes or host computers,
including thousands of commercial, governmental, educational, and
other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course,
data processing environment 100 also may be implemented as a number
of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a
local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is
intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for
the different illustrative embodiments.
[0050] Among other uses, data processing environment 100 may be
used for implementing a client-server environment in which the
illustrative embodiments may be implemented. A client-server
environment enables software applications and data to be
distributed across a network such that an application functions by
using the interactivity between a client data processing system and
a server data processing system. Data processing environment 100
may also employ a service oriented architecture where interoperable
software components distributed across a network may be packaged
together as coherent business applications. Data processing
environment 100 may also take the form of a cloud, and employ a
cloud computing model of service delivery for enabling convenient,
on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing
resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,
memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that
can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management
effort or interaction with a provider of the service.
[0051] With reference to FIG. 2, this figure depicts a block
diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative
embodiments may be implemented. Data processing system 200 is an
example of a computer, such as servers 104 and 106, or clients 110,
112, and 114 in FIG. 1, or another type of device in which computer
usable program code or instructions implementing the processes may
be located for the illustrative embodiments.
[0052] Data processing system 200 is also representative of a data
processing system or a configuration therein, such as data
processing system 132 in FIG. 1 in which computer usable program
code or instructions implementing the processes of the illustrative
embodiments may be located. Data processing system 200 is described
as a computer only as an example, without being limited thereto.
Implementations in the form of other devices, such as device 132 in
FIG. 1, may modify data processing system 200, such as by adding a
touch interface, and even eliminate certain depicted components
from data processing system 200 without departing from the general
description of the operations and functions of data processing
system 200 described herein.
[0053] In the depicted example, data processing system 200 employs
a hub architecture including North Bridge and memory controller hub
(NB/MCH) 202 and South Bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub
(SB/ICH) 204. Processing unit 206, main memory 208, and graphics
processor 210 are coupled to North Bridge and memory controller hub
(NB/MCH) 202. Processing unit 206 may contain one or more
processors and may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous
processor systems. Processing unit 206 may be a multi-core
processor. Graphics processor 210 may be coupled to NB/MCH 202
through an accelerated graphics port (AGP) in certain
implementations.
[0054] In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter
212 is coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH) 204.
Audio adapter 216, keyboard and mouse adapter 220, modem 222, read
only memory (ROM) 224, universal serial bus (USB) and other ports
232, and PCI/PCIe devices 234 are coupled to South Bridge and I/O
controller hub 204 through bus 238. Hard disk drive (HDD) or
solid-state drive (SSD) 226 and CD-ROM 230 are coupled to South
Bridge and I/O controller hub 204 through bus 240. PCI/PCIe devices
234 may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-in cards, and
PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card bus controller,
while PCIe does not. ROM 224 may be, for example, a flash binary
input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive 226 and CD-ROM 230 may
use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE), serial
advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, or variants such
as external-SATA (eSATA) and micro-SATA (mSATA). A super I/O (SIO)
device 236 may be coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub
(SB/ICH) 204 through bus 238.
[0055] Memories, such as main memory 208, ROM 224, or flash memory
(not shown), are some examples of computer usable storage devices.
Hard disk drive or solid state drive 226, CD-ROM 230, and other
similarly usable devices are some examples of computer usable
storage devices including a computer usable storage medium.
[0056] An operating system runs on processing unit 206. The
operating system coordinates and provides control of various
components within data processing system 200 in FIG. 2. The
operating system may be a commercially available operating system
for any type of computing platform, including but not limited to
server systems, personal computers, and mobile devices. An object
oriented or other type of programming system may operate in
conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the
operating system from programs or applications executing on data
processing system 200.
[0057] Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented
programming system, and applications or programs, such as
application 105 and 134 in FIG. 1, are located on storage devices,
such as in the form of code 226A on hard disk drive 226, and may be
loaded into at least one of one or more memories, such as main
memory 208, for execution by processing unit 206. The processes of
the illustrative embodiments may be performed by processing unit
206 using computer implemented instructions, which may be located
in a memory, such as, for example, main memory 208, read only
memory 224, or in one or more peripheral devices.
[0058] Furthermore, in one case, code 226A may be downloaded over
network 201A from remote system 201B, where similar code 201C is
stored on a storage device 201D. In another case, code 226A may be
downloaded over network 201A to remote system 201B, where
downloaded code 201C is stored on a storage device 201D.
[0059] The hardware in FIGS. 1-2 may vary depending on the
implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such
as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk
drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the
hardware depicted in FIGS. 1-2. In addition, the processes of the
illustrative embodiments may be applied to a multiprocessor data
processing system.
[0060] In some illustrative examples, data processing system 200
may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), which is generally
configured with flash memory to provide non-volatile memory for
storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. A bus
system may comprise one or more buses, such as a system bus, an I/O
bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented
using any type of communications fabric or architecture that
provides for a transfer of data between different components or
devices attached to the fabric or architecture.
[0061] A communications unit may include one or more devices used
to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter.
A memory may be, for example, main memory 208 or a cache, such as
the cache found in North Bridge and memory controller hub 202. A
processing unit may include one or more processors or CPUs.
[0062] The depicted examples in FIGS. 1-2 and above-described
examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For
example, data processing system 200 also may be a tablet computer,
laptop computer, or telephone device in addition to taking the form
of a mobile or wearable device.
[0063] Where a computer or data processing system is described as a
virtual machine, a virtual device, or a virtual component, the
virtual machine, virtual device, or the virtual component operates
in the manner of data processing system 200 using virtualized
manifestation of some or all components depicted in data processing
system 200. For example, in a virtual machine, virtual device, or
virtual component, processing unit 206 is manifested as a
virtualized instance of all or some number of hardware processing
units 206 available in a host data processing system, main memory
208 is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some portion
of main memory 208 that may be available in the host data
processing system, and disk 226 is manifested as a virtualized
instance of all or some portion of disk 226 that may be available
in the host data processing system. The host data processing system
in such cases is represented by data processing system 200.
[0064] With reference to FIG. 3, this figure depicts a block
diagram of an example configuration of a device for managing
sensitive information transfer between parties in a telephone
conversation in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.
Application 134 is an example of application that executes in
device 132 of FIG. 1. In particular embodiments, application 134 is
an application that runs in the background of device 132 and acts
as a digital repository based on user preferences in which
sensitive information, such as personal data, credit card
information, health insurance membership numbers, and other sorts
of sensitive information is securely stored. In one or more
embodiments, application 134 provides the sensitive information to
a call agent during a subsequent call.
[0065] Application 134 includes a user preferences component 300,
an encrypted data store component 302, an answering engine
component 304 and a voice to text-text to voice engine component
306. User preferences component 300 is configured to allow a user
to manage user preference information. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 3, user preference component 300 includes user
information 308 and historic information 310. User information 308
includes user identity information as well as other configured user
preferences such as phone numbers authorized to allow monitoring
during a call associated with the phone number, particular keywords
that are associated with sensitive information, and other users
authorized to receive updates of sensitive information. Historic
information 310 may include information associated with previous
calls such as keywords associated with sensitive information
previously provided during a call.
[0066] In an embodiment, encrypted store component 302 stores
sensitive information in an encrypted from and may include, for
example, user information 312, credit card information 314, health
information 316, and other sensitive information 318. In particular
embodiments, the sensitive information is stored in an encrypted
text form.
[0067] In an embodiment, answering engine component 304 includes a
question identification component 320, an answer search component
322, an authorization and security component 324, and a feedback
and learning component 326. In at least one embodiment, question
identification component 320 is configured to identify the
particular piece of sensitive information that is being requested
by a live agent. For example, the requested sensitive information
may include a user's date of birth, a mother's maiden name, credit
card information, health information, etc. In at least one
embodiment, answer search component 322, responsive to question
identification component 320 identifying the question and/or
request, is configured to search encrypted data store 302 to find
an answer that satisfies the question and/or request for sensitive
information.
[0068] In an embodiment, authorization and security component 324
is configured to verify that the user has authorized the particular
sensitive information to be provided to the other party, e.g., a
live agent. In an embodiment, feedback and learning component 326
is configured to feedback and/or learn new sensitive information
throughout a conversation. For example, if throughout the
conversation feedback and learning component 326 identifies new
questions that the user receives and is willing to answer, or
identifies a change in an existing answer, answering engine 304 is
configured to store and/or update the new sensitive information or
updated sensitive information.
[0069] In one or more embodiments, voice-to-text-text-to-voice
engine component 306 is configured to convert sensitive information
identified during a conversion in voice form to text form for
storage in encrypted data store. In particular embodiments,
voice-to-text-text-to-voice engine component 306 is configured to
convert sensitive information in text for to voice form for
speaking to the other party during a phone conversation in
situations in which encrypted transfer of sensitive information in
text format is not available or desired.
[0070] With respect to FIG. 4, this figure depicts a block diagram
of an example scenario for managing sensitive information transfer
between parties in a telephone conversation in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment. In the particular scenario illustrated in
FIG. 4, a user 402 associated with device 132 wishes to provide
sensitive information to a live agent 404 associated with a client
device 110. In a particular embodiment, prior to contacting live
agent 404, user 402 may first be located in a safe environment in
which he doesn't mind providing sensitive information over the
phone to a called party. In an embodiment, device 132 starts
listening to the conversation between user 402 and the called party
and stores the sensitive information in encrypted data store 302
for future availability. For example, if user 402 is located at
home and is asked for credit card information by the called party,
device 132 is listening to the conversation and identifies the
credit card information using patterns specific to credit cards,
such a credit card number and expiration date, and stores the
credit card information in encrypted data store 302. In particular
embodiments, device 132 may verify the sensitive information with
existing data and store the sensitive information in encrypted data
store 302 so that the sensitive information will be available in
the future for use without the need for the user to manually enter
the sensitive information into encrypted data store 302.
[0071] In one embodiment, at a subsequent time the user calls live
agent 404. In the particular embodiment, client device 110 includes
an application having the capability to receive encrypted
communications from device 132. In a particular embodiment, device
132 causes a specific notification or alert such as a sound
pattern, a beep, or a vibration to be produced by client device 110
to indicate to the live agent 404 that the calling part is capable
of providing sensitive information as an encrypted transfer. In a
particular embodiment, client device 110 can similarly cause a
specific notification or alert to be produced by device 132. In one
or more embodiments, device 132 begins monitoring the conversation
and uses speech-to-text to understand the conversation. If live
agent 404 requests sensitive information, device 132 detects the
request, retrieves the sensitive information from encrypted data
store 302 matching the request, and sends the requested sensitive
information in text form to client device 110 as an encrypted
transfer 406 over a secure channel. In one or more embodiments,
device 132 and client device 110 handle authentication,
interaction, and validation related to sending sensitive
information with minimal or no human intervention.
[0072] With respect to FIG. 5, this figure depicts a block diagram
of another example scenario for managing sensitive information
transfer between parties in a telephone conversation in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment. In the particular scenario
illustrated in FIG. 5, user 402 associated with device 132 has
previously stored sensitive information within encrypted data store
302 prior to contacting live agent 404. In one embodiment, at a
subsequent time user 402 calls live agent 404. In the particular
embodiment, client device 110 has a telephone 136 to allow voice
communication with the user but does not have an application having
the capability to receive encrypted communications from device
132.
[0073] In an embodiment, user 402 calls live agent 404 and device
132 begins monitoring the conversation and uses speech-to-text
technology to identify when sensitive information is requested.
Upon identifying a request for particular sensitive information,
device 132 retrieves the sensitive information from encrypted data
store 302. In one or more embodiments, device 132 converts the
retrieved sensitive information from a text form to a voice form,
takes control of the conversation, and sends the sensitive
information to one or more of client device 110 and telephone 136
in a voice transfer 408. In a particular embodiment, the sensitive
information is spoken to live agent 404 via telephone 136 during
the conversation. In one or more embodiments, when device 132 is
finished responding to the request for sensitive information,
device 132 returns control of the conversation back to user 402 and
enters the monitoring/listening mode again. In particular
embodiments, if additional new questions are asked by live agent
404 and the questions are answered by user 402, device 132 detects
these new questions and answers. In particular embodiments, when
the call is completed device 132 inquires with user 402 regarding
whether user 402 wishes to augment the sensitive information in
encrypted data store 302 with the response to these new
questions.
[0074] In another example scenario for managing sensitive
information transfer between parties in a telephone conversation in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment, user 402 receives an
update to sensitive information, such as a new plan identification
number for a health plan. In the particular embodiment, device 132
updates this sensitive information in the encrypted data store 302
contained in device 132. In the particular embodiment, user 402 has
configured the user's user preferences to indicate that the user's
spouse and two older children (which are away at college) are to
have this health plan information synchronized to their respective
devices. In the embodiment, device 132 sends the updated sensitive
information to the devices associated with the other users so that,
for example, the sensitive information is made available in a
timely fashion when any of these family members have an appointment
with a doctor or hospital.
[0075] With reference to FIG. 6, this figure depicts a flowchart of
an example process for managing sensitive information transfer
between parties in a telephone conversation in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment. In accordance with various embodiments,
process 600 can be implemented in application 134 or application
105 in FIG. 1.
[0076] In block 602, the application initiates configuring of user
preferences for a user associated with device 132. In block 604,
the application determines whether manual configuration or
automatic configuration has been selected by the user. If manual
setup is selected, in block 606 the application receives a
selection from the user of sensitive information to be shared by
the application. In particular embodiments, the selection of
sensitive information may include a specification of particular
sensitive information type that the user will allow to be shared
during a conversation. In particular examples, sensitive
information types may include credit card information, health
history information, insurance plan information, or other sensitive
information. In block 608, the application receives a selection
from the user of parties authorized to receive sensitive
information. In particular embodiments, the selection includes an
indication of particular telephone numbers that are associated with
parties authorized to receive sensitive information.
[0077] In block 608, the application receives a selection from the
user of parties authorized to receive automatic updates of
sensitive information. In particular embodiments, the parties
authorized to receive updates may include family members of the
user or other parties that the user wishes to receive updates of
sensitive information. In block 610, the application receives a
selection from the user of parties authorized to receive automatic
updates of sensitive information and the process 600 continues to
block 612. In addition, if in block 604 the application determines
that manual setup is not selected the process continues to block
612.
[0078] In block 612, the user initiates a call with a called party,
such as a call center agent, using device 132 to begin a
conversation with the called party. In a particular embodiment, the
user may select a contact or dial a phone number associated with
the call center agent to initiate the phone call. In still other
embodiments, device 132 may receive a call initiated by the call
center agent.
[0079] In block 614, the application enters a monitoring mode in
which the application listens for requests for sensitive
information during the conversation. In block 616, the application
determines whether a voice request for sensitive information has
been spoken by the called party during the conversation. If
sensitive information has not been identified, the process 600
continues to block 618 in which the application determines whether
the call has ended. If the call has ended, the application ends
process 600. If the call has not ended, the process 600 returns to
block 614 in which the application continues within the monitoring
mode.
[0080] If the application determines that sensitive information has
been identified in block 616, process 600 continues to block 620.
In block 620, the application converts the request sensitive
information from a voice representation to a text representation.
In block 622, the application determines whether the requested
sensitive information matches sensitive information stored in the
encrypted data store. In a particular embodiment, the application
determines whether the sensitive information matches sensitive
information stored in the encrypted data store by matching the text
representation of the requested sensitive information to a text
representation of the sensitive information stored in the encrypted
data store. If the application determines that the requested
sensitive information matches sensitive information in the
encrypted data store, process 600 continues to 626. If the
application determines that the requested sensitive information
does not match sensitive information in the encrypted data store,
the application stores the sensitive information in the encrypted
data store in block 624 and process 600 continues to 626.
[0081] In 626, the application determines whether the called party
is authorized to receive the sensitive information based upon user
preferences and retrieves the matching sensitive information from
the encrypted data store if the called party is authorized. In
block 628, the application determines whether encrypted transfer is
available with the called party. If the application determines that
encrypted transfer is available, the application sends the
sensitive information in encrypted text form to the called party in
block 630. In particular embodiments, a client device associated
with the called party is configured to decrypt the encrypted
sensitive information and display the sensitive information to the
called party. The process 600 then continues to block 618 in which
the application determines whether the call has ended.
[0082] If the application determines in block 628 that encrypted
transfer is not available, process 600 continues to 632 in which
the application decrypts the sensitive information and converts the
sensitive information from a text format to a voice format. In 634,
the application sends the sensitive information in voice form to
the called party and continues to block 618 in which the
application determines whether the call has ended.
[0083] If the application determines in block 618 that the call has
not ended, process 600 returns to block 614 in which the
application continues to monitor the conversation for a request for
sensitive information. If the application determines in block 618
that the call has ended, the application ends process 600
thereafter.
[0084] Although various embodiments describe the sensitive
information as being stored in a text form, it should be understood
that in other embodiments other types of sensitive information in
other formats may be stored and provided to a requesting party. In
a particular embodiment, the sensitive information provided to a
requesting party may include audio data, biometric data, image
data, or video data. For example, in particular embodiments the
sensitive information may include a scanned image of a birth
certificate, a medical x-ray image, or a scanned image of a
driver's license.
[0085] In still another embodiment, the sensitive information may
include instructions to cause an activity to occur. For example, in
a particular embodiment, the sensitive information may include
instructions for a machine or human to perform a task associated
with the sensitive information such as fulfilling a
prescription.
[0086] Thus, a computer implemented method, system or apparatus,
and computer program product are provided in the illustrative
embodiments for managing sensitive information transfer between
parties in a telephone conversation and other related features,
functions, or operations. Where an embodiment or a portion thereof
is described with respect to a type of device, the computer
implemented method, system or apparatus, the computer program
product, or a portion thereof, are adapted or configured for use
with a suitable and comparable manifestation of that type of
device.
[0087] Where an embodiment is described as implemented in an
application, the delivery of the application in a Software as a
Service (SaaS) model is contemplated within the scope of the
illustrative embodiments. In a SaaS model, the capability of the
application implementing an embodiment is provided to a user by
executing the application in a cloud infrastructure. The user can
access the application using a variety of client devices through a
thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based
e-mail), or other light-weight client-applications. The user does
not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including
the network, servers, operating systems, or the storage of the
cloud infrastructure. In some cases, the user may not even manage
or control the capabilities of the SaaS application. In some other
cases, the SaaS implementation of the application may permit a
possible exception of limited user-specific application
configuration settings.
[0088] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a
computer program product at any possible technical detail level of
integration. The computer program product may include a computer
readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program
instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects
of the present invention.
[0089] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: 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 static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0090] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0091] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated
circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any
combination of one or more programming languages, including an
object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the
like, and procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The computer
readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's
computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software
package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote
computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the
latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's
computer through any type of network, including a local area
network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may
be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet
using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments,
electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic
circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable
logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program
instructions by utilizing state information of the computer
readable program instructions to personalize the electronic
circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present
invention.
[0092] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
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 readable
program instructions.
[0093] These computer readable 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 machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0094] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0095] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in
the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
* * * * *