Abstract:
Each agent in a work setting is able to take work breaks as needed to devote personal time to attend to personal matters. An agent module is associated with a computing device of each agent and a central module is central to all of the agents. The agent module receives a request from the agent for a work break and forwards the request to the central module for processing thereat. The central module examines the request according to a set of rules to determine whether and/or when the request for the work break from the agent is to be approved, and grants the request based on the set of rules. Thereafter, the central module notifies the agent by way of the agent module that the request has been granted. Thus, the agent may take the requested work break.
Abstract:
An aural volume feedback system is implemented in a center having a plurality of agents working thereat. Each agent is situated at a work station for being in calling contact with a client. At the work station, a microphone transforms aural speech of the agent into an electrical format, and a volume detector samples the electrical format and generates based on the sampling an instantaneous volume level. The volume detector compares the generated volume level to a predetermined threshold to determine that the agent is speaking excessively loudly, and thereafter outputs a trigger signal. A feedback generator receives the trigger signal, and based thereon generates a feedback to be perceived by the offending agent at the work station, where the perceived feedback hopefully causes the offending agent to reduce the aural volume thereof.
Abstract:
To respond to a call from a client to an organization, the call is directed to a lower-level agent associated with the organization for answering thereby. The lower-level agent employs a computing system of the organization, where the computing system includes an actuation device for initiating contact with a higher-level agent of the organization if it is determined that the calling client is calling regarding a matter worthy of escalation from the lower-level agent to the higher-level agent. A selection from the lower-level agent is received during the call of the actuation device to escalate the call from the lower-level agent to the higher-level agent, and in response to the received selection of the actuation device the call is escalated from the lower-level agent to the higher level agent.
Abstract:
An aural volume feedback system is implemented in a center having agents each situated at a work station in calling contact with a client. At the work station, a first microphone closer to the agent transforms aural speech thereof into an electrical format forwarded toward the client. A second microphone farther from the agent transforms aural speech thereof into an electrical format forwarded toward a volume detector which samples same and generates based thereon an instantaneous volume level. The volume detector compares the generated volume level to a predetermined threshold to determine that the agent is speaking excessively loudly, and outputs a trigger signal. A feedback generator receives the trigger signal, and generates a feedback to be perceived by the offending agent at the work station, where the perceived feedback hopefully causes the offending agent to reduce the aural volume thereof.
Abstract:
An application instantiated on a computing device of a professional receives a selection of a client by a professional to place a call to the client by way of an identifier of the client, and upon receiving the selection of the client, presents to the professional a number of options for an identifier of the professional to be provided with the placed call to the client. The application receives from the professional a selection of one of the options for the identifier of the professional, places the call from the professional to the client, and in doing so provides the selected identifier of the professional with the placed call. The selected and provided identifier of the professional represents a favored location at which the professional or an associate thereof may be reached. The client may ascertain the provided identifier of the professional from the placed call and employ same to place a future call toward the professional or the associate thereof.
Abstract:
A receiving box receives items for later retrieval by an enterprise. Upon an amount of received items being detected within the receiving box, a report is sent to the enterprise. A detector detects an amount of the received items in the receiving box and outputs a corresponding signal. A controller receives the signal and determines based thereon whether a triggering event has occurred. The triggering event represents that the receiving box has an amount of received items therein such that a person or service should be dispatched from the enterprise to the receiving box to empty same. A reporter is employed by the controller to report the triggering event as a message to the enterprise upon the controller determining that the triggering event has occurred.
Abstract:
An application instantiated on a computing device of a professional receives transmitted information on an incoming call from a client and displays same, including an identifier of the client by which the professional can place a return call thereto. Upon the professional selecting the identifier of the client, the application presents a number of options for an identifier of the professional to be provided with the return call, receives a selection of one of the options, places the return call from the professional to the client, and in doing so provides the selected identifier of the professional. The provided identifier of the professional represents a favored location at which the professional or an associate may be reached. The client may ascertain the provided identifier from the return call and employ same to place a future call toward the professional or the associate.
Abstract:
A chatting party initiates a computer chat with a chatted-to party by way of a computing system of a chatting service acting on behalf of the chatted-to party. The computing system collects from the chatting party in connection with the chat identifying information identifying the chatting party, and an initial indication of the general nature of the chat. A priority is then assigned to the chat based at least in part on the collected identifying information and the collected initial indication of the general nature of the chat, and the chat is assigned to the attention of one of the chatted-to party, an agent at the chatting service on behalf of the chatted-to party, and an automated chat engine of the chatting service for chatting with the chatting party. The chat is assigned based at least in part on the assigned priority of the chat.