Abstract:
A method and system for procuring and servicing telecommunications offerings, including a customer browser loaded on a customer client computer, a back office browser loaded on a back office client computer, and a server program loaded on a server computer. The customer browser is configured to submit a procurement inquiry, the procurement inquiry specifying a selected telecommunications offering from among voice, Internet and mobile telecommunications offerings. The back office browser is configured to submit a service inquiry, the service inquiry specifying a search criteria with respect to an order for a telecommunications offering, a customer agent assigned for servicing a telecommunications offering order, and a move, change or disconnection (MCD) of a telecommunications offering order. The server program is configured to receive the procurement and service inquiries, generate procurement data pertaining the to the selected telecommunications offering and service data pertaining to the search criteria, and transmit the procurement and service data.
Abstract:
A data acquisition and remote administration system for use during a communication session between at least one client computer and a computerized voice mail server computer system with the at least one client computer and the voice mail server computer system each having a mechanism for establishing a communication link therebetween with the means for establishing a communication link including address and connection information necessary to establish the communication link. The client computer has an application component and includes a mechanism for logging into the voice mail server computer system, once the communication link is established, for authorizing access to information of the voice mail server computer system. Once access is authorized, the system has a mechanism for requesting information, stored in an internal data base of the voice mail server computer system via use of a KERMIT data transfer protocol. The voice mail server computer system receives the KERMIT data transfer protocol and compiles a data set from the internal data base of the voice mail server computer system and transmits the compiled data set to the client computer using the KERMIT data transfer protocol. The client computer includes a mechanism for receiving the complied data set from the voice mail server computer system and storing the complied data set in a temporary storage area prior to sending the received data set to the application component.
Abstract:
A system and method for procuring and servicing telecommunications offerings on-line, including a server. The server including a server program configured to transmit data for generating a customer GUI on a customer computer, the customer GUI including a telecommunications offerings region, including a voice telecommunications offerings sub-region for providing access to voice telecommunications offerings, an Internet telecommunications offerings sub-region for providing access to Internet telecommunications offerings, and a mobile telecommunications offerings sub-region for providing access to mobile telecommunications offerings. The server program further configured to generate a back office GUI on a back office computer, the back office GUI including a search region located in a central portion thereof and including a search for dropdown list, a search criteria sub-region, and reset and search buttons. The back office GUI also including a tab region located in an upper portion thereof and including log off, user home, manage agents, customer home, shop, and cart tabs.
Abstract:
An data packet network telephony system provides identification information of an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to a call center terminal and provides a call center agent with the ability to cause an end user terminal making an Internet telephone call to display selected web pages and or to synchronize displays between the agent and end user terminals. In one embodiment, customer identification information is provided in-band. In another embodiment, customer identification information is accomplished out of band, in some cases using an identifier of the PSTN gateway as an index into a table to identify an end user terminal. In another embodiment, an agent may enter DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency tones) to push web pages to an end user terminal. In still other embodiments, a second communications link between the end user terminal and the agent's terminal is established, allowing for data sharing/synchronization.
Abstract:
An Interaction Object Model (IOM) Interface to a data repository includes objects representing files in the data repository; standardized information about each file, the information associated in the IOM with each object, and an updating interface communicating with the data repository, keeping objects conformal with the files in the data repository. An interaction interface to system function modules requiring data associated with the files in the data repository is provided, wherein through the interaction interface the system function modules are enabled to retrieve required data from the IOM without accessing the data files in the data repository directly. A principle use is in a multimedia call center, storing text and non-text transactions of the call center.
Abstract:
In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.
Abstract:
A user defines their own call-coverage path (141) or other call-processing information by drawing a graphical flowchart (200) using an interactive GUI of a PC-based software application (140). Once the flowchart is drawn, it is activated with the push of a button, and that flowchart is now the logic that is applied to a user's coverage path. The call-coverage path (the flowchart) remains resident on the user's PC (103) and the communications switching system (101) retrieves call-coverage information from the PC whenever it must perform call coverage for that user. A plurality of different flowcharts may be drawn and stored on the PC, and then recalled and activated at any time as the present call-coverage path for the user. A call-coverage path may be activated by and/or for the user from anywhere on a LAN (104), WAN, or the Internet, so that the call-coverage path my be controlled remotely. Furthermore, the coverage-path system has the ability to consult with an on-line personal scheduling system 145 (such as a calendar program) executing on the user's PC or another machine networked with the user's PC. A call-coverage path may then be administered to contain logic (203) that refers to the personal scheduling system to obtain data, rather than having to have the data defined within the coverage-path system itself.
Abstract:
A telephony call center has agent workstations having telephones connected to station-side ports of a telephone switching apparatus adapted to receive and switch conventional telephone calls to the telephones, and also computer platforms connected on a local area network (LAN). A processor also connected on the LAN has a wide area network (WAN) port and is adapted to receive and distribute computer-simulated telephone calls from the WAN to computer platforms at the agent stations. At individual agent stations the telephone and computer platform is connected by a Telephone Application Programming Interface (TAPI)-compliant bridge. Status of calls of both types at agent workstations is communicated to a network-level router by the processor having a WAN connection, which may also receive computer-simulated calls. The router may then make routing decisions based on agent status relative to both kinds of calls.
Abstract:
A call re-directing system associated with a call center integrates an interface on a computer station at an agent station having a telephone, a CTI-application executing on a processor connected to a telephony switch, and an 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:
An automated monitoring system monitors telephone resources in a call center. The call center may include agent stations at which agents are stationed to handle calls. A monitoring server monitors calling activity by the agents to maintain state information about the agents and to gather statistics about the calling activity of the agents. These statistics are forwarded to a client program run on a workstation or other type of computer system. The client program provides a graphical user interface and depicts the state information about the agents as part of the interface. The graphical user interface may also display statistics regarding the calling activity of agents, agent supervisors, business clients of the call center, and the call center in aggregate.