Abstract:
An Internet system for providing call-back services for a subscriber includes a web page having a call-back link to a subscription server; a call-back application operating on the subscription server and adapted for accepting input from a browsing person linked to the subscription server by the call-back link; and a call-switching system connected to and responsive to the call-back application on the subscription server. In this system the browsing person, upon activating the call-back link, is linked to the call-back application on the subscription server and prompted for input including a call-back number, and the subscription server, after accepting the input, directs the call-switching system in establishing a telephony link between the subscriber and the browsing person. In some instances the telephony switch is part of a call-center with connected agents, and agents are assigned to represent selected subscribers. In this instance call-back connection is made between a browsing person and an agent. In some embodiments connections can be made either by conventional telephony links or by Internet telephone. In some instances as well provision is made for delivery of a full range of multi-media services from a subscriber to a browsing person.
Abstract:
An Estimated Wait Time (EWT) service for a Web page provider for a Web page provider has an internet-connected facility for monitoring communication status with a communication center (15) having communication equipment hosting agents (39, 47, 49, 41, 51, 43, 53, 45) of the web page provider, and an interactive linmk in a web page hosted by the Web page provider. The interactive link is presented to a user accessing the Web page, and when selected, connects the user to the facility for monitoring communication status. In a preferred embodiment the facility provides a Web page display for the user, displaying parameters regarding the options in a user interface for placing an Internet Phone (IP) call for sending a message, and e-mail, and so forth, or for requesting a call back. In the case of a call back the user may, in some embodiments, provide alternative numbers or addresses and times for call back.
Abstract:
In the figure, a queueing system in a call center (19) is adapted to queue voice mails as well as live telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment the calls include both connection-oriented switched telephony (COST) calls (13) and Data Network Telephony (DNT) calls (12). Callers are enabled to leave voice mails as an alternative to waiting, and records of the voice mails are queued, preferably in the same queue processing the live calls. In some embodiments the call center is enabled to process e-mails, video mails and facsimile messages as well as live calls and voice mail messages, and all types of multimedia communication can be queued in the same queue according to prestored routing rules and priority rules.
Abstract:
A call re-directing system associated with a call center (1010) integrates an interface on a computer station (1021) at an agent station (1020) having a telephone (1022), a CTI-application executing on a processor (1012) connected to a telephony switch (1011), and a DSP-controller to operate with Transfer Connect protocols for re-directing misrouted telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment, data associated with a call is transferred to the new destination of a re-routed call and re-associated with the call.
Abstract:
A system for extracting keywords from interactive text dialog and providing the extracted keywords as a dialog summary displayed in an interactive text window is provided. In preferred embodiments, the system is used with interactive chat communication wherein a communication center connected to the Internet hosts the communication and the communication involves customers of the center and a hosting agent. The system parses (115) all incoming queries (113) for keywords and then provides the keywords as a summary of the dialog. In one embodiment keywords may also be taken from responses to queries and associated in display with the keywords taken from the queries (121). In another embodiment, the keywords are compared to a data repository containing product-related words such that upon finding matches, the matched keywords are displayed alongside, but separately from, the dialog keyword summary and represent product keywords. In another aspect, customer profile keywords may be separately generated and displayed alongside, but separately from, the dialog keyword summary.
Abstract:
A telephony call-waiting system for clients having a computer (112) with a video display unit (PC/VDU) and a public-switched telephony network (PSTN) telephone (111) connected to the PSTN (151) by a single line (150), keeps a status indication of the client's Internet connection status and, during periods of time the PC/VDU is connected to the Internet (101), alerts the clients by an alert signal over the Internet connection of any waiting PSTN calls. In a preferred embodiment the client's PC/VDU is adapted to provide an audio and/or visual alert event when an alert signal is received, and to provide for a user-initiated response to an alert, accepting or rejecting a call. In the event a call is accepted, provision is made for connecting the accepted call to the client's PC/VDU as an IP call. In some embodiments several calls may be dealt with at the PC/VDU, and features are provided such as caller-ID on the client's VDU. Several ways of accomplishing the call-waiting system are taught.
Abstract:
A call center system supports remote agent stations (126) through a network (125) by establishing a data link (119, 129) between a computer platform (131) at the remote agent station (126) and a computer-telephony integration (CTI) processor (111) connected to a telephony switch (109) at a call center (101) and switching incoming calls from the call center (101) to a telephone (133) at the remote agent station (126) while sending data pertaining to the calls via the data link (119, 129) to the computer platform (131) at the remote agent station (126) to be displayed.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the availability of an agent in a multimedia-capable call center is disclosed. A routine implemented by the call-center determines whether an agent is busy or available (100). If the agent is determined to be busy on a video call (102, 104) or busy on a telephone call (106, 108), an Agent Busy result is returned (116). If the agent is determined not to be busy on either a video call (102, 104) or on a telephone call (106, 108), a determination is made as to whether the number of unanswered mails (e.g., electronic mail (e-mail) messages, voice mail messages, and video messages) for the agent exceeds a preset limit (110, 112). If the number of unanswered mails for the agent is determined to exceed the preset limit (110, 112), the Agent Busy result is returned (116). If the number of unanswered mails for the agent is determined to be equal to or less than the preset limit (110, 112), an Agent Available result is returned (114).
Abstract:
A system for balancing outbound dialing rate with agent utilization in a telephony call center, minimizing wait time for answered outdialed calls has a call number generating module (113) for generating numbers to be automatically dialed, a dialing unit (123) for dialing numbers generated, a queue (117) for queuing answered calls, and a stat module for monitoring performance and generating a call generation rate. The system uses an analytical method or a simulation method for determining the call generation rate. In the analytical method, one or more of distribution function of system processes, numerical methods, solving of non-linear equations, or probability techniques is used. In the simulation method, parameters relating to a queing system are estimated in absence of sufficient information by simulating each of the system's processes, predicting behavior of the system on basis of previous experience, and finding optimal point in future to make a next call.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the availability of an agent in a multimedia-capable call center is disclosed. A routine implemented by the call- center determines whether an agent is busy or available (100). If the agent is determined to be busy on a video call (102, 104) or busy on a telephone call (106, 108), an Agent Busy result is returned (116). If the agent is determined not to be busy on either a video call (102, 104) or on a telephone call (106, 108), a determination is made as to whether the number of unanswered mails (e.g., electronic mail (e-mail) messages, voice mail messages, and video messages) for the agent exceeds a preset limit (110, 112). If the number of unanswered mails for the agent is determined to exceed the preset limit (110, 112), the Agent Busy result is returned (116). If the number of unanswered mails for the agent is determined to be equal to or less than the preset limit (110, 112), an Agent Available result is returned (114).