Call-Modeling System for Real-Time Sales Conversation Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sales phone conversations are largely unanalyzed, preventing optimization for desired outcomes due to the lack of accessible content for modeling, despite advances in automatic speech recognition and natural language processing.

Innovation Solution

A call-modeling system that analyzes voice conversations in real-time using features such as transcripts, emotional signals, and personality traits to generate probabilities for possible outcomes and provide on-call guidance to improve conversation outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sales conversations are analyzed using advanced speech recognition and natural language processing, then the ability to optimize conversations for desired outcomes is improved, but the device complexity and computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversation optimization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the conversation analysis into distinct modules: automatic speech recognition (ASR) for transcription, natural language processing (NLP) for topic modeling, and separate analytics components for different conversation aspects. This modular architecture manages complexity by dividing the overall system into independent, manageable components that can be developed and maintained separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components such as transcription services that convert speech to text, and NLP layers that bridge raw conversation data with actionable insights. These intermediaries simplify the processing pipeline by transforming complex data formats into standardized structures that downstream analytics components can efficiently process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If real-time analysis of conversations is performed to provide on-call guidance, then the ability to influence conversation outcomes is improved, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time optimization capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing topic models, preparing transcription frameworks, and establishing analysis pipelines before conversations occur. Historical conversation data is processed in advance to create reference models and patterns that can be quickly matched against ongoing conversations, reducing real-time computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial analysis by focusing on key conversation elements and critical moments rather than processing every aspect of the conversation with equal depth. Analytics are applied selectively to portions of the conversation that most influence outcomes, such as objection handling segments or closing attempts, rather than uniformly analyzing the entire conversation stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive features including transcripts, emotional signals, and personality traits are extracted, then the measurement precision of conversation analysis is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversation feature extraction accuracyVSAvoidfeature detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The feature extraction process is segmented into specialized components: ASR systems handle transcript generation, separate affective computing modules detect emotional signals through voice tone and speech patterns, and personality analysis components process linguistic patterns independently. Each segment focuses on specific features, improving detection accuracy while managing complexity through division of labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual or rule-based feature detection with automated machine learning models. Instead of programming explicit rules for detecting emotions or personality traits, the system uses trained ML models that automatically identify these features from raw conversation data, reducing the difficulty of measurement while improving precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10360911B2Analyzing conversations to automatically identify product features that resonate with customers
Publication Date: 2019.07.23 ZOOMINFO CONVERSE LLC
  • US10360911B2 patent drawing
  • US10360911B2 patent drawing
  • US10360911B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A product functionality identification system to automatically determine product features that are a favorite of customers by analyzing conversations of representatives with the customers. The product functionality identification system retrieves recordings of various conversations, extracts features of the conversations, and analyzes the features to determine a set of features that is indicative of favorite functionalities of a product for one or more customers. A favorite functionality is one of multiple product features that is determined to be a favorite of one or more customers. The set of features is further analyzed to generate a favorite functionality manifest, which includes information regarding the favorite functionalities (a) as a summary of what is discussed in the conversations or (b) verbatim from the conversations.