Abstract:
An integrated router (IR) in a call center monitors and controls both a telephony switch receiving and forwarding connection-oriented, switched telephony (COST) calls and a Data Network Telephony (DNT) processor receiving and forwarding DNT calls. The one IR consults a common data repository storing status of agents on both types of calls, and routes all calls according to a single set of rules, which can take a variety of forms. In one embodiment telephones at agent stations are adapted to handle both OST and DNT calls.
Abstract:
A telephony call center system comprises an Internet connection adapted for receiving data from a WEB server, the data originating from the computer platform of a person browsing the Internet, including data identifying the browsing person, such as a telephone number, and indicating to the WEB server a desire of the browsing person to communicate with an agent at the call center. The communication desired may be (a) a request for an agent at the call center to receive a telephone call from the browsing person, or (b) a request for a call to be placed to the browsing person from the call center. In both (a) and (b) the practical result is a telephone conference between the browsing person and an agent at the call center. In the first instance (a), in response to the data from the WEB server to the call center, the call center provides to the WEB server, for transfer to the browsing person via the Internet, a telephone number of a routing point at the call center. The call center selects an agent, and initiates a watch for an arriving call from the browsing person. On arrival of the call, it is switched to the selected agent. In the other instance (b), in response to the data, the call center enters the browsing person's telephone number to a dialer, and when the dialer completes a call to the browsing person, switched the call to a selected agent.
Abstract:
A telephone call-routing system comprises an initial call-processing unit with a first telephone line adapted for receiving calls from customers, and includes a call-routing processor adapted for routing incoming calls to selected destinations; and a remote call-in center having a computerized telephony switch connected to a plurality of telephones at operator workstations and adapted to route calls to individual ones of the telephones, and also connected by a first outside telephone line to a telephone network. A computer server connected to the telephony switch by a high-speed data link and to the telephone network by a digital network connection is adapted to monitor transactional activity of the computerized telephony switch, to process the activity information according to selected routines, and to communicate processed information to the call-routing processor over the digital network connection, such that the call-routing processor may use the processed information to select destinations to route the incoming calls.
Abstract:
An Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) system has Internet-connected managing computers at plural call centers connected to local agent stations at each call center. The managing computers are adapted to receive IPNT calls from clients at internal routing points. A router coupled to each of the managing computers at the call centers is adapted to execute routing rules to select agent stations for transferring calls received at the routing points, and the agent stations selected can be at any of the call centers involved. In one aspect the router, having selected an agent station at a call center remote from the call center where a call to be routed is first received, requests a routing point address at the remote call center, then transfers the call to that new routing point. The second call center then further routes the transferred call to the final agent station. Statistics may be used in routing, and data regarding client-callers may be routed to the same agent station for display to which calls are routed.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are provided for re-routing mis-routed calls in call-routing systems and call-in centers, wherein provision is made for commands to be sent from an agent receiving a mis-routed call to a routing intelligence over a digital network connection, causing a mis-routed call to be inserted in a queue of calls to be routed ahead of calls received to be routed after the first call was mis-routed. In some embodiments the first agent may simply send back the mis-routed call to be requeued. In other instances the agent may confer with a second agent at a station to which the call is to be forwarded, before the caller is connected to the second agent. In still other instances the first agent, the second agent, and the caller may be conferenced together.
Abstract:
A system for routing Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) calls has a default router connected to a wide area network (WAN) for receiving and routing the calls, the default router having a set of default routing rules, and an intelligent router coupled to the default router. The default router, upon receiving a call, requests routing from the intelligent router, and routes by a returned instruction within a predetermined time. If there is no returned instruction in the predetermined time, the default router routes the call by the default routing rules. In a preferred embodiment the intelligent router is a router performing for a particular organization, such as a commercial entity, and may have access to a company database. In some embodiments routing destinations are call centers on premises of the particular organization or company, and the call centers may each be managed by a managing processor connected to the WAN, which may be the Internet.
Abstract:
In an Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) call-routing system, a call-routing processor connected to a wide area network (WAN) for receiving and forwarding calls is adapted to receive IPNT calls and to route them to remote computer stations based on information available at the routing processor. Remote stations are adapted in a manner that enables an agent at a remote station, upon determining that a call has been mis-routed for any reason, to return the call to the routing processor, which is adapted for re-routing the call based on the fact of return. In some cases the agent who originally receives the call may elicit further information from the caller, and send the new information back to the router with the call. The router in this instance uses the new information in re-routing. Calls may be re-routed cold, by allowing the first agent to talk to the second before the call is connected to the second, or by conferencing the first agent, the second agent, and the caller.
Abstract:
A system for incorporating a remote home agent in a call center is accomplished by the home agent dialing a telephony switch and the telephony switch terminating the home agent's incoming call to a first station side port of the telephony switch. This action provides a continuing connection between the telephony switch and the home agent until the home agent disconnects. Incoming calls selected to go to the home agent may then be switched to the established connection. In one embodiment a physical connection is established between the first station side port to which the home agent is first connected, and a second station side port. Incoming calls selected to go to the home agent are then connected to the second station side port, which is connected to the fist station side port.
Abstract:
A call center having agent stations comprising telephones connected to computer stations by a Telephone Application Programming Interface (TAPI)-compliant bridge has data pertaining to callers stored in a database on a local area network (LAN) to which the computer stations are also connected. Origination data for incoming calls, both conventional calls to the telephones and computer-simulated calls to the computer platforms, is used as a key to extract data pertaining to calls from the database for display on video display units (VDUs) of the computer workstations where the calls are terminated. In some cases, data is only extracted and displayed for calls from previously listed origination points.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for the dynamic processing of royalties are disclosed. Sales records are processed on a transaction basis rather than in batch mode. This process also allows correction of information retroactively, rather than delaying the entire processing of the information. One embodiment includes a system comprising a message broker in communication with a plurality of clients and services, a state machine, a processor and a time manager. The message broker interacts with the processor to execute a common service based on events produced by the state machine. Another embodiment includes a method comprising providing a rate matrix, receiving a sales record from a database and calculating a royalty payment using the sales record and the rate matrix.