Abstract: A system for flexible and scalable automated chat-based contact center testing, comprising a test case management platform, “chat cruncher”, contact center manager, chat classifier, and desktop automation engine, and method for using such a system for automated testing of a contact center's chat-based interactions environment and reporting of test results.

Abstract: A system for automated adaptation and improvement of speaker authentication in a voice biometric system environment, comprising a speech sample collector, a target selector, a voice analyzer, a voice data modifier, and a call flow creator. The speech sample collector retrieves speech samples from a database of enrolled participants in a speaker authentication system. The target selector selects target users that will be used to test the speaker authentication system. The voice analyzer extracts a speech component data set from each of the speech samples. The call flow creator creates a plurality of call flows for testing the speaker authentication system, each call flow being either an impostor call flow or a legitimate call flow. The call flows created by the call flow creator are used to test the speaker authentication system.

Abstract: A contact center (120) is desirably tested for operating performance by simulating calls in the contact center (120) in an automated manner. Simulation of calls is achieved with the use of virtual agents that mimic the behavior of human agents that ordinarily deal with caller enquiries in a contact center (120). A set of virtual agents, which can mirror their human counterparts, can be generated and assigned activities and behaviors that simulate the behavior of human agents. These virtual agents can thus be enlisted in testing campaigns placed within the contact center (120), and assigned to answer calls as if they were in fact human agents, in accordance with the usual operation of the contact center environment.

Abstract: A system includes a knot tying device for tying a filament in a knot around an article and a filament delivery device from which is drawn the filament. The filament delivery device may be in the form of a cartridge having a housing sized and arranged to be releasably attached to the knot tying device where the housing has an opening through which pre-cut or loosely coupled lengths of the filament can be drawn. The knot tying device includes a shuttle attachable to the filament where the shuttle is caused to be moved during a knot tying process around an article to be tied and a device for at least pulling the filament away from the article at appropriate times during the knot tying process.

Abstract: A system includes a knot tying device for tying a filament in a knot around an article and a filament delivery device from which is drawn the filament. The filament delivery device may be in the form of a cartridge having a housing sized and arranged to be releasably attached to the knot tying device where the housing has an opening through which pre-cut or loosely coupled lengths of the filament can be drawn. The knot tying device includes a shuttle attachable to the filament where the shuttle is caused to be moved during a knot tying process around an article to be tied and a device for at least pulling the filament away from the article at appropriate times during the knot tying process.

Abstract: A contact centre (120) is desirably tested for operating performance by simulating calls in the contact centre (120) in an automated manner. Simulation of calls is achieved with the use of virtual agents that mimic the behaviour of human agents that ordinarily deal with caller enquiries in a contact centre (120). A set of virtual agents, which can mirror their human counterparts, can be generated and assigned activities and behaviours that simulate the behaviour of human agents. These virtual agents can thus be enlisted in testing campaigns placed within the contact centre (120), and assigned to answer calls as if they were in fact human agents, in accordance with the usual operation of the contact centre environment.