Abstract: The method and apparatus teach agents in a communication system, such as an automatic call distribution system. In a first step of one embodiment of the method, a previously stored call transaction having a plurality of dialog portions and decision points is provided to the agent. The call transaction is replayed, and at least one decision of the respective decision point in the call transaction is simulated. This simulation is different than an original decision at the respective decision point in the call transaction. The results are evaluated and presented to the agent. In one embodiment at least one decision is a best practice decision. Also, the method further may overlay preferred paths of a call transaction based on stored best practice call transactions. The apparatus implements the method for replaying call transactions.

Abstract: An integrated contact center capable of generating outbound calls in a plurality forms including at least one instant online communication form for instantly communicating with a customer when he is online. A priority scheme or communication forms is preset for each customer so that the contact center may try the outbound calls according to the scheme until one succeeds. The contact center detects whether the target customer is online or not before an online communication form is tried.

Abstract: A system to monitor a call center includes reception of call center data, determination of respective values of a plurality of measures based on the call center data, determination of a compliance description for each of the plurality of measures, presentation of an indicator in association with each of the plurality of measures, wherein an indicator presented in association with a measure corresponds to a compliance description determined for the measure, reception of a selection of a presented indicator, and presentation of a value of a measure associated with the selected indicator in response to the received selection.

Abstract: A router routes calls to a network of call centers based on estimated call in-queue wait times (EWTs). The router periodically polls all call centers for the EWT and average advance time (AAT) of each queue, and increments each received EWT by a product of the AAT and the number of calls sent to that queue during the network delay time. Between polls, each time that an AAT period expires, its corresponding EWT is decremented by the AAT (but not below zero). When a call is received for processing by a skill/split, the router sends it to the skill/split queue that presently has the shortest EWT, and increments that EWT by the corresponding AAT.

Abstract: A workflow-manager (150) reserves a resource for processing an anticipated real work item by sending a simulated, artificial, work item to the resource before the real work item becomes available. The resource does not process the simulated work item, but rather awaits the real work item. When the real work item becomes available, it is substituted for the simulated work item, and the resource processes it. For example, in an ACD system (101) that processes various types of communications, it is anticipated on a per-type basis how many agents (102-104) Will be needed (202) versus how many are available (204). Any shortfall is cured by generating (210) tokens representing that many simulated communications of that type and enqueuing, dequeuing, and assigning the tokens to agents like any other arriving communications. Any excess is cured by canceling (210) that many outstanding, pending, tokens of that type.

Abstract: An automated transaction distribution system assigns an incoming transaction (call, text chat, email, fax, etc.) to an agent who is selected to handle the transaction. If the best agent to select is not available because he or she is handling another transaction, taking a break, in a meeting, or otherwise unavailable, the incoming transaction may still be assigned if the selected agent is expected to become available within an acceptable time period for that type of transaction.

Abstract: An automated dialer for a call center maximizes agent efficiency in two different ways. In a first method overdial probability is expressed as a probability function of number of agents and total traffic volume; the probability function is set equal to a maximum allowable overdial probability; and the resulting equation is solved for maximum total traffic volume producing the maximum overdial probability. The maximum total traffic volume is then used to determine a new dialing rate by dividing the difference between the calculated maximum traffic volume and known inbound traffic volume by the product of average call length and hit rate, where hit rate is the percentage of connected calls to total dialed outbound calls. In a second method a maximum total traffic volume is calculated from total number of agents times a desired agent utilization factor, and the total traffic volume is used as in the first method to calculate and set a new dialing rate for outbound calls.

Abstract: A system and method of distributing outbound telephony service including voice communications over a computer network is provided. The system includes a master call center, including a computer telephony integration (CTI) system and a digital communication server, located at a first location. The system further includes at least one distributed call center, including a distributed CTI system and a digital communications server, located at at least one remote location. The system is configured to connect at least one connected party with whom voice communications are established at a distributed call center over a local telephone line and then route the voice communications to at least one call center agent interfacing the master call center over a computer network, such as the Internet. The method begins by linking a master call center to at least one distributed call center over a computer network. Next, at least one call list group is distributed to the distributed call center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing staffing-based percentage-allocation routing using real-time data. According to one aspect of the present invention, transaction allocation is determined using both scheduled and actual handling resources. Actual handling resources associated with each of several transaction processing systems, such as automatic call distributors (ACDs), are measured at times t and t+n. Scheduled handling resources associated with each of the transaction processing systems for times t and t+n are also identified. Then, estimated handling resources are calculated for each of the transaction processing systems for time t+n based upon the actual handling resources and the scheduled handling resources. Finally, based upon the estimated handling resources, transaction allocations for each of the transaction processing systems are determined. According to another aspect of the present invention, a virtual call center is provided.

Abstract: A system for granting access to agents at a communication center in response to requests for connection from network-level entities starts a fairness timer having a fairness time period when a first request is received for and agent, monitors any other requests for the same agent during the fairness time, and executes an algorithm at the end of the fairness time to select the network-level entity to which the request should be granted. In a preferred embodiment the fairness time is set to be equal to or greater than twice the difference between network round-trip latency for the longest latency and shortest latency routers requesting service from the communication center.

Abstract: Pacing algorithms and their benefits in predictive dialers in call center activities have been appreciated for a number of years. A predictive dialer automatically dials new customers before the call center agents or attendants finish talking with their current customers. Pacing processes use predictive engines to estimate how many currently busy agents may become available within a given timeframe. Most existing predictive engines predict the agent availability in terms of yes/no decisions on an agent by agent basis. The inventive pacing algorithm is based upon mathematical probability models and provides more accuracy in the dialing of outgoing telephone calls from a call center by taking into account a multi-dimensional probabilistic model as is described.

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 for generating numbers to be automatically dialed, a dialing unit for dialing numbers generated, a queue for queing answered calls, and a stat module for monitoring performance and generating a call generation rate. The system uses an analytical method in one embodiment for determining the call generation rate, wherein the method uses one or more of distribution function of system processes, numerical methods, solving of non-linear equations, or probability techniques.

Abstract: A system for granting access to agents at a communication center in response to requests for connection from network-level entities starts a fairness timer having a fairness time period when a first request is received for and agent, monitors any other requests for the same agent during the fairness time, and executes an algorithm at the end of the fairness time to select the network-level entity to which the request should be granted. In a preferred embodiment the fairness time is set to be equal to or greater than twice the difference between network round-trip latency for the longest latency and shortest latency routers requesting service from the communication center.

Abstract: An automated dialer for a call center maximizes agent efficiency in two different ways. In a first method overdial probability is expressed as a probability function of number of agents and total traffic volume; the probability function is set equal to a maximum allowable overdial probability; and the resulting equation is solved for maximum total traffic volume producing the maximum overdial probability. The maximum total traffic volume is then used to determine a new dialing rate by dividing the difference between the calculated maximum traffic volume and known inbound traffic volume by the product of average call length and hit rate, where hit rate is the percentage of connected calls to total dialed outbound calls. In a second method a maximum total traffic volume is calculated from total number of agents times a desired agent utilization factor, and the total traffic volume is used as in the first method to calculate and set a new dialing rate for outbound calls.

Abstract: A call selection process in a call center is controlled so as to ensure the achievement of target values for one or more interval-based performance metrics. In an illustrative embodiment, a memory in the call center is used to store information regarding contractual target values of one or more interval-based performance metrics such as, for example, an average speed of answering metric, or a percent in service level metric. The call selection process is then adjusted within a given performance interval based at least in part on a comparison of a value of the metric actually achieved during the interval to the corresponding stored target value. For example, a service objective of the call selection process may be adjusted at one or more designated points in the interval if the value of the metric actually achieved to a given one of the points will not allow achievement of the target value within the interval.

Abstract: A service system provides substantially zero delay service and dynamically adjusts resources required to provide the service. According to an embodiment of the present invention, future staffing requirements of the service system are predicted by determining, of a number of customers currently in service, how many will remain in service at a predetermined future time and how many customers to arrive to the system in the future can be expected to remain in service at the predetermined future time. For customers in service, customers may be classified according to one or more attributes known for the customer. The attributes may be helpful to identify a type of service being provided to the customer and determine a remaining service time for the customer. Thus, the customer attributes may provide for more accurate staffing predictions than in the prior art.