Abstract:
A call center management system comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) adapted for modeling call center behavior, and the behavior of objects within a call center, as Petri Net directed graphs. Once developed, the Petri Net graphs can be compiled as software modules for use in CTI management of a call center. In another aspect the composed Petri Nets are assembled into high-level Petri Nets, and a Petri Net engine is employed to manage a call center. Management techniques and concepts taught are extended to network management as well.
Abstract:
A routing system is provided for intelligent routing of instant messages between clients connected to a data network (61) and customer service representatives connected to the network. The system comprises at least one instant message server (15) and at least one intermediate server (25) connected to and addressable on the network, the intermediate server capable of routing and accessible to the instant message server. Clients connecting to the instant message server through instant message software assert a connection link advertised by the instant message server to establish bi-directional communication between the client machine and the intermediate server. In preferred application, the intermediate server interacts with the client for identification of client and client software. The client request is then routed to an appropriate customer service representative running compatible software according to enterprise rules establishing an active instant message connection between the client and the selected customer service representative.
Abstract:
A system (9) for presenting a recorded message on behalf of an agent receiving a call at an agent station (51) in a call center (15), the agent station (51) having a telephony interface for receiving calls and a personal computer with a video display unit (PC/VDU), has a telephony switching apparatus (27) enhanced by a computer-telephony integration (CTI) processor (31), an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system executing a voice treatment option (VTO) software, coupled to the telephony switching apparatus (27) and the CTI processor (31); and a data repository (47) having recorded messages stored on behalf of the agent and accessible to the CTI processor (31). The CTI processor (31) routes incoming calls to the telepony interface for the agent, uses data associated with the calls for selecting appropriate recorded messages, and causes, by controlling the IVR, a retrieved recorded message to be played to a caller upon the agent picking up the routed call. The system is useful with both conventional telephone systems (23) anddata network telephony (13), such as over the Internet.
Abstract:
A fuzzy logic routing system (Fig. 2) used in a telephony environment. The system includes a telephony switch (25) and an IP router (35) to create needs expressions from a caller. A data search is conducted for capabilities of service agents. If a match is found between the needs expressions and the capabilities expressions the system routes the call to the appropriate agent.
Abstract:
A system for providing and managing IP telephone calls establishes separate and distinct call legs between IP-capable appliances (29, 31) and routers (19, 21, 23) and between routers, and creates calls, changes calls, and manages telephony functions by joining and disjoining calls legs. In some instances one or more call legs disjoined from an active call are maintained as established to be joined later to other call legs to create other active calls. By managing IP calls as separate and distinct legs functions of intelligent, connection-oriented telephony networks may be simulated in IP telephony systems. The management is provided by software running on processors coupled to routers in the IP network.
Abstract:
A routing software application for predicting a best routing destination from a pool of considered routing destinations for an incoming event into a communications routing system has a detection module for detecting the arrival of the event for routing; at least one instance of an information gathering routine for gathering and compiling information about the considered destinations; at least one reporting module for organizing and reporting the gathered information; and a processing module for computing values from the gathered information and selecting the best routing destination based on isolation of the best computed value. In a preferred embodiment scalar load information per media type and per destination and agent skill information related to at least media skills per type of media per destination is processed by the processing module, which isolates, identifies, and selects at least the best destination for routing.
Abstract:
A software application for recommending workforce resource allocation in a communication center based on requirements of events represented in a queue has a first interface for accessing information from the queue (1300), a second interface for accessing information from data source about workforce availability and state information (1302), a processing component for processing queue information and workforce information (1303), and a message generation and delivery component for generating a workforce allocation and recommendation based on processing results (1304) and sending the recommendation to a target entity (1305).
Abstract:
A method for routing transaction requests in a hosted communication network (23) comprises steps for preparing a customer data repository including specific customer data and customer transaction history, receiving a new transaction request (67), identifying the initiator of the transaction request (69), consulting the customer data repository and determining potential profitability of a new transaction based on the transaction request according to the repository information (71), and routing the transaction request to an available resource based on the identified potential profitability (77). To accomplish the method, a router accesses categorized information concerning customer demographics, transaction histories, product preferences and the like, and applies formulas developed to determine a profit potential for each incoming transaction request. In some embodiments, product promotions are included in the process.