Apparatus and methods for multi-mode asynchronous communication

Abstract

A method includes receiving at a host device a first communication associated with a transaction from at least one electronic device included in a set of electronic devices. The host device includes at least a memory, a processor, and a database. The first communication received at a first time and via a first communication mode. The method includes sending a response to the first communication at a second time after the first time and independent of the first time. The host devices receives a second communication associated with the transaction from the at least one electronic device at a third time. The first communication, the response to the first communication, and the second communication are displayable in a persistent record of the transaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at a host device a first communication associated with a user interaction from at least one electronic device from a plurality of electronic devices, the host device including at least a memory, a processor and a database, the first communication being received at a first time via a first communication mode;   sending at a second time, a response to the first communication, the second time being later than the first time, and independent of the first time; and   receiving at the host device a second communication associated with the user interaction from the at least one electronic device, the second communication being received at a third time, the first communication, the response to the first communication, and the second communication being displayable in a persistent record of the user interaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving the second communication includes receiving the second communication via a second communication mode different from the first communication mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the response to the first communication includes sending the response using at least one of the first communication mode, a second communication mode or a third communication mode different from the first communication mode and the second communication mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication mode is one of a voice message, an SMS message, text message, an e-mail or an instant message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising completing the user interaction at a fourth time, later than the third time and independent of the first time, the second time or the third time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving identification information associated with the at least one electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication is associated with a first step of the user interaction, the second communication is associated with a second step of the user interaction, the memory configured to store the first communication and the second communication, the user interaction being a customer service transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a third communication associated with the user interaction, the third communication being received from a second electronic device, the third communication displayable in the display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database includes data associated with the at least one electronic device, the database accessible to authenticate the at least one electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a fourth communication from a third electronic device, the fourth communication being unrelated to the user interaction, the fourth communication being displayable in a different record. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interaction is completed asynchronously. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising routing the first communication based at least in part on a content of the first communication. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 sending from an electronic device a first communication associated with a customer service transaction at a first time;   receiving a response to the first communication at a second time;   sending a second communication associated with the transaction at a third time, the first communication, the response and the second communication being displayable on the electronic device in a persistent record of the transaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first communication is sent via a first communication mode of the electronic device and the second communication is sent via a second communication mode of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second communication is sent from a second electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second communication is sent from a second electronic device, the first communication, the response, and the second communication being displayable on the second electronic device in a persistent record of the transaction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , the transaction being a first transaction, the method further comprising:
 sending from the electronic device a third communication associated with a second transaction, the third communication being displayable in a record of the second transaction different from the record of the first transaction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the transaction is completed asynchronously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first communication is based on a pre-defined message presented on the electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing data associated with the transaction, the data accessible after the transaction is completed. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the response is based at least in part on one of a profile, a behavior, or a preference associated with a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause a processor to:
 receive at a host device a first communication associated with a transaction from at least one electronic device from a plurality of electronic devices, the host device including at least a memory, a processor and a database, the first communication being received at a first time via a first communication mode;   send at a second time, a response to the first communication, the second time being later than the first time, and independent of the first time; and   receive at the host device a second communication associated with the transaction from the at least one electronic device, the second communication being received at a third time, the first communication and the second communication being displayable in a persistent record of the transaction regardless of a difference between the first time and the third time.