Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center using a variety of scheduling criteria. Monitoring schedules for the service representatives may be based on monitoring periods having scheduling criteria, such as a time interval, a scheduling rule, a number of calls, a monitoring length, a random indicator, call type information, agent performance level information, call traffic information, and others. The method and system record a customer call if the scheduling criteria of the associated monitoring period is met.

Abstract: A system for determining the performance of a user responding to a call includes a processor, a memory, and an interface. The system presents stored audible and textual information to a user to simulate a call, and generates scores to determine the performance of the user in responding to the calls.

Abstract: A communication system for reproducing a voice and video session includes a call center having a voice server and a video server. The call center also includes agent and supervisor workstations with computers and associated voice instruments. The voice server records and communicates voice segments associated with the session using a voice path. The computers at the agent and supervisor workstations retrieve the video segment captured and stored by the video server, and display the video segment adjusted in time to reproduce the session.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by logging sessions. The logged sessions may be selectively played back based on a number of scheduling criteria, including time interval, a scheduling rule, a number of calls, a monitoring length, a random indicator, call type information, agent performance level information, call traffic information, and others. The method and system plays back those portions of the logged sessions that meet the scheduling criteria.

Abstract: A system is provided for transferring a voice component and a data component of a service call. The system includes a first call distribution circuit which receives a service call comprising a voice component. A first voice instrument and a first contact control server are coupled to the first call distribution circuit. The first voice instrument receives the voice component. The first contact control server generates a data component related to the voice component. A first workstation, coupled to the first contact control server, receives the data component. A second call distribution circuit receives the voice component in an ISDN-supported transfer call via a first communication path from the first call distribution circuit. The ISDN-supported transfer call specifies an identifier associated with the first voice instrument. The second call distribution circuit determines the identifier from the ISDN-supported transfer call.

Abstract: A system is provided for routing calls. The system includes a plurality of call centers coupled to a public switched telephone network which supports a caller identification feature and a transfer feature. A trunk interface, coupled via a link to the public switched telephone network, receives a call from the public switched telephone network over the link. A database stores customer profile information and call center information. A processor is coupled to the trunk interface and the database. The processor identifies a customer placing the call utilizing the caller identification feature, retrieves from the database customer profile information associated with the identified customer, and selects one of the call centers in response to the customer profile information and the call center information. The processor routes the call to the selected call center, after which the link is released utilizing the transfer feature.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring the performance of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by determining an interval within which to monitor the service representative's performance in responding to calls, as well as by determining a number of calls or length of time for monitoring the representative within the interval. The invention automatically and randomly determines the precise time within the interval for monitoring the agent for a pre-determined period of time or for a pre-determined number of calls and records the performance of the service representative at the automatically and randomly determined time with or without notification to the agent. The recorded performance may then be listened to and annotated by a call center supervisor.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring the performance of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by determining an interval within which to monitor the service representative's performance in responding to calls, as well as by determining a number of calls or length of time for monitoring the representative within the interval. The invention automatically and randomly determines the precise time within the interval for monitoring the agent for a pre-determined period of time or for a pre-determined number of calls and records the performance of the service representative at the automatically and randomly determined time with or without notification to the agent. The recorded performance may then be listened to and annotated by a call center supervisor.

Abstract: A method and system generate performance data relating to the efficiency of an organization and include the steps of and instructions for describing a plurality of performance variables associated with the organization. The performance variables describe measurable properties of the organization. The invention further maps each of the performance variables to a normalized performance variable mapping that has a neutral value and at least one inflection point of the performance variable within a normalized range of values. Each inflection point describes effects of the normalized performance variable in changing from a positive influence to a negative influence on the organization's efficiency. Then the invention assigns a weighting factor to each of the normalized performance variables to produce a plurality of weighted normalized performance variables. The method and system calculate the efficiency of the organization as a function of the plurality of weighted normalized performance variables.

Abstract: This invention permits transferring calls along with data that identifies, for example, the caller's name, pertinent account information, any transaction information acquired prior to the need to transfer the call and why the caller is being transferred between a plurality of call centers. The method and system of the invention, therefore, coordinate a voice component and a data component of a call to transfer the call from a first call center across a communication path such as a switching network to a second call center. The first call center includes the necessary network control circuitry to direct an associated switching network to transfer to the second call center the voice component of the call together with an identifier for uniquely identifying the call. The identifier may be generated using DNIS and/or ISDN protocol principles. The method and system also generate and direct a transfer screen from the first call center to the second call center.

Abstract: A system for integrating a plurality of call center agent subsystem modules to assist a call center agent in efficiently responding to customer calls includes a workstation that has a central processing unit for interfacing the call center agent with a call distribution system. Within the workstation, there are a plurality of modules that are integrated in a way that significantly improves the call center agent's ability to provide completely responsive and efficient service to customers. The integrated modules of the present invention deliver at a single place under the control of the call center agent voice, data, and images by which the agent can completely service a customer call.

Abstract: This invention permits transferring calls along with data that identifies the caller's name, pertinent account information, any transaction information acquired prior to the need to transfer the call and why the caller is being transferred between a plurality of call centers. The method and system of the invention, therefore, coordinate a voice component and a data component of a call to transfer the call from a first call center across a communication path such as a switching network to a second call center. The first call center includes the necessary network control circuitry to direct an associated switching network to transfer to the second call center the voice component of the call together with an identifier for uniquely identifying the call. The identifier may be generated using DNIS and/or ISDN protocol principles. The invention also generates and directs a transfer screen from the first call center to the second call center. The unique identifier also attaches to the transfer screen.

Abstract: A method and system permit monitoring the performance of a call center agent or similar service representative in servicing calls in a call center by determining an interval within which to monitor the service representative's performance in responding to calls, as well as by determining a number of calls or length of time for monitoring the representative within the interval. The invention automatically and randomly determines the precise time within the interval for monitoring the agent for a pre-determined period of time or for a pre-determined number of calls and records the performance of the service representative at the automatically and randomly determined time with or without notification to the agent. The recorded performance may then be listened to and annotated by a call center supervisor.

Abstract: A method and system for generating performance data relating to the efficiency of an organization and including the steps of describing a plurality of performance variables associated with the organization. The performance variables describe measurable properties of the organization. The invention further maps each of the performance variables to a normalized performance variable mapping that has a neutral value and at least one inflection point of the performance variable within a normalized range of values. Each inflection point describes effects of the normalized performance variable in changing from a positive influence to a negative influence on the organization's efficiency. Then the invention assigns a weighting factor to each of the normalized performance variables to produce a plurality of weighted normalized performance variables. The method and system calculate the efficiency of the organization as a function of the plurality of weighted normalized performance variables.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution (ACD) switching system having a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuits for selectively connecting a plurality of telephone trunks to a plurality of agent workstations. The ACD switching system includes at least a first line interface module having a shelf control module for controlling a plurality of carrier card slots. At least one of the carrier card slots includes a carrier card for supporting a plurality of agent/trunk interface circuit "subcards" in closely-aligned parallel relation to the carrier card. Each carrier card and the shelf control module include digital processing circuits and an HDLC transceiver to facilitate the interconnection of first and second agent/trunk interface circuits upon a call processing request for service. In the preferred embodiment, control information used to effect the interconnection of the agent/trunk interface circuits is transmitted throughout the switching system in a dedicated timeslot along a digital voice PCM bus.

Abstract: A novel plug-in card module for use in a rack module having means for supporting a plurality of such modules in an abutting side-by-side relation. The plug-in module comprises a printed circuit board having at least two pairs of card receiving and guiding rails transversely disposed thereon. Each of the guide rail pairs comprise first and second oppositely-disposed elongate rails removably secured to the printed circuit board. The plug-in module preferably includes at least first and second electrical connectors longitudinally disposed on the printed circuit board in back-to-back or side-by-side relation, each of the electrical connectors disposed adjacent an associated pair of elongate guide rails. To provide increased modularity and ease of circuit component replacement, the plug-in module includes a plurality of individually-removable electrical circuit boards.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for predictive dialing in a multi-operator telephone system which improves the productivity of operators while simultaneously reduces customer "unattended" calls. These objectives are achieved by generating a prediction of the number of operators expected to be available at the end of a predetermined time interval in the future, as well as a prediction of the number of calls expected to be successfully completed during that time interval. The predicted number of calls is then weighted by an "weighting" factor which is controlled by variations in the percentage of unattended calls and variations in the average operator idle-time between calls. The system dynamically adjusts the number of calls dialed based on short term comparisons of the weighted predicted number of calls versus the predicted number of operators, and based on periodic adjustment of the weighting factor.

Abstract: A time slot interchange switch matrix incorporates processor-controlled diagnostic functions to provide programmable on-line/off-line diagnostic monitoring. The switch matrix output can be tri-stated during program-selected time slots while remaining electrically connected to the PCM buses, allowing redundant switch matrices to share on-line time slot interchange switching in any programmable manner. Inject and monitor circuitry enables the switching function of the on-line switch matrix to be tested time slot by time slot under program control using unused time slots. Parity checking, including verification of check circuitry, is provided for input PCM data, control memory addressing output, and data memory output through the tri-state output drivers. In addition to on-line inject and monitor testing, the off-line switch matrix selectively monitors the output of the on-line matrix to confirm that it is driving the PCM buses.