Abstract:
A computerized Internet-Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) routing system has a routing processor for receiving and forwarding IPNT calls based on information stored in an associated database regarding operation and status of possible destinations for the call. In some embodiments destinations are call centers adapted for receiving IPNT calls at workstations associated with a central processor, and the information in the database at the routing processor is collected and processed at the call centers that are potential destinations for the calls. The information is collected processed and forwarded to the database for the purpose of enhancing call-routing efficiency and accuracy.
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 a 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, switches the call to a selected agent.
Abstract:
An Internet Protocol Network Telephony call center having a plurality of agents for serving clients also processes e-mails addresses to the call center, but not to specific agents. An e-mail server receives and routes the e-mail, and includes a router and a database storing skill set information regarding agents. The router extracts information from the e-mails, matches key words in the extracted information with key words from the skill sets, and routes the e-mails to appropriate agents having the necessary skills to respond to the service requirements in the e-mails.
Abstract:
A telephone call distribution system for determining destination for an incoming telephone call in a telephony network including a service control point (SCP) operates with a plurality of workstations each comprising a telephone coupled to the telephony network and a proximate computer station having a video display unit (PC/VDU), the PC/VDU connected to the SCP via a wide area network (WAN), and a personal router associated with each PC/VDU. The SCP broadcasts data pertaining to the incoming telephone call and a request for a destination to individual ones of the PC/VDUs via the WAN, and the personal routers negotiate a destination based on individual routing rules and the data pertaining to the call. At least one of the individual routers responds to the SCP with a destination for the call. In some instances the workstations are associated with a call center, and the call center may be CTI-enhanced. Individual routers in this instance may be executed on a server on a local area network connecting workstations at the call center, the server providing individual routers to workstations in a client-server relationship.
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:
An Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT) call-routing system has a call-routing processor on a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, and receives and re-routes incoming calls to remote computer stations adapted to receive such calls. The call-routing processor, upon routing a call to a selected one of remote stations, sets a semaphore that the remote station is busy and routed no more calls to that remote station until the semaphore is reset. In one embodiment, after a return signal that the call is answered, the semaphore is set to continue for a pre-determined average call-duration time, after which it is reset, and further calls may be routed, even though no signal is returned that the call has been completed. In some embodiments the remote stations comprise call centers wherein a central call-center managing processor re-routes calls to computer agent workstations connected to the managing processor on a local area network (LAN).
Abstract:
A telephone call-routing system comprises a routing intelligence adapted to receive real-time activity reports on busy status of remote telephone stations, and to route incoming calls based on the busy status. In a preferred embodiment the routing intelligence sets a busy semaphore for each station to which a call is routed at the time the call is routed, before a real-time signal is returned that the station is in fact busy. The semaphore is initially set to busy for a first period of time substantially equal to the known latency for returning the real-time busy signal. After the first period of time, and with return of a real-time busy signal, the semaphore is reset to busy for a second period of time substantially equal to the historical average elapsed time for calls in the call-routing system, after which the semaphore is released. After the first period of time, and in the absence of the real-time busy signal, the semaphore is immediately released so further calls may be routed to the station.
Abstract:
A telephone call-routing system includes an initial call-processing system having a first telephone line adapted for receiving calls from customers and a processor system, and a remote call-in center comprising a computerized telephony switch connected to a plurality of telephones at operator workstations. The processor system is adapted to route calls to individual ones of the telephones, and is connected by a telephony line to the initial call processing system. A telephony server is connected to the telephony switch by a first high-speed data link and has a digital network communication link to the processor system. The telephony server is adapted to monitor activity of the telephony switch and to report the activity to the processor system over the digital network link. The processor system selects a destination for an incoming call based on the activity reported to the processor system by the telephony server, and immediately routes the call to the selected destination, setting a semaphore for destination busy, and forwarding a data packet associated with the call by the destination phone number to the telephony server over the digital network link.