Abstract: A video communications system 100, a video switching system 108 and method are provided for establishing video communications with a video communications device 104 utilizing the agent selection and reporting features of an automatic call distributor (ACD) 102. The ACD 102 receives an initial request from the video communications device 104 and rejects the initial request. A computer system 112 detects the initial request and acquires destination information in the initial request identifying the video communications device 104. The computer system 112 sends a simulated call to the ACD 102 requesting an agent for video communications. The ACD 102 selects an agent and notifies the computer system 112 which agent is selected. The computer system 112 then instructs an agent terminal 110 associated with the selected agent to establish video communications with the video communications device 104. The ACD 102 generates reports relating to the video communications.

Abstract: A method and system (100) establishes voice communications between a computer user (102) and an agent (104) of a business over a computer network, such as the Internet (108). Using a user computer (106), the computer user (102) views advertisments of the business' products or services on the Internet (108) via customized home pages (200). When the user (102) wishes to order a product or ask additional questions about a product, the user (102) activates a "call me" button (210). A return call screen (300) is then presented to the user (102) with areas to insert a name (302), a telephone number (304) and a time to call (306). This information is packetized in a call request which is transmitted over the Internet (108) to a telephone switching system (112) associated with the business. The telephone switching system (112) subsequently dials the telephone number (304) at the time to call (306).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying a call record by a source automatic call distributor to a host computer of a telephone call received from a PSTN and overflowed from the source automatic call distributor to a destination automatic call distributor in a call distribution system using telescripted call control. The call record is stored under a call identifier of the source automatic call distributor in a memory of a host computer serving both the source automatic call distributor and the destination automatic call distributor. The method comprises the steps of executing a telescript sequence by the source automatic call distributor which sends a call identifer assigned by the source automatic call distributor and an identifier of the source automatic call distributor to a call overflow identification table of the host and transferring the call to the destination automatic call distributor along with the call identifier of the source automatic call distributor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for identifying a call record of a telephone call received from a PSTN and overflowed from a source automatic call distributor to a destination automatic call distributor, the call record having been stored under a call identifier of the source automatic call distributor in a memory of a host computer serving both the source automatic call distributor and the destination automatic call distributor. The method includes the step of storing a call action provided message in a call overflow table of the host computer including a call identifier assigned by the source automatic call distributor and an identifier of the source automatic call distributor. An overflow request is transferred over an ISDN facility to the destination automatic call distributor including the call identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for identifying a call record of a telephone call to be overflowed from a source automatic call distributor to a destination automatic call distributor. The call record is of a type having been previously stored under a call identifier of the source automatic call distributor in a memory of the host computer serving both the source automatic call distributor and destination automatic call distributor in an area of the memory reserved for the source automatic call distributor. The method includes the step of storing a call action provided message in a call overflow table of the host computer including the call identifier of the telephone call and an identifier of the source automatic call distributor.

Abstract: An audio communications interface 102 provides substantially automatic audio communications between a remote agent telephone 107 and a telephonic switch 104 through a telephonic console 106 connected to the telephonic switch 104. A remote agent dials a specified telephone number on the agent telephone 107 to access the audio communications interface 102. The audio communications interface 102 receives the dialed number from a telephone network 108 connected to the agent telephone 107 and generates a call signal which is transmitted to the telephonic switch 104 through the telephonic console 106. In response to the call signal, the telephonic switch 104 establishes audio communications with the agent telephone 107 through the console 106 and audio communications interface 102. A method for establishing audio communications through the audio communications interface 102 and data communications through an agent terminal 112, a computer network and a host computer 110 with the telephonic switch 104 is provided.

Abstract: A monitoring system (200) and method for an automatic call distributor (100) which selectively interconnects an incoming telephone call from a caller and one of a plurality of agents are provided. The monitoring system (200) detects a length of time the agent is talking and a length of time the caller is talking during the incoming telephone call. Pauses in the incoming telephone call are timed, as is the length of time of the total incoming telephone call. The automatic call distributor (100) contains a first bus (204) on which voice signals from the agent to the caller are transmitted and a second bus (208) on which voice signals from the caller to the agent are transmitted. A digital signal processor (210) monitors the first and second busses (204) and (208) to detect voice signals from the agent and the caller, respectively. The detected information regarding the incoming telephone call is reported to the agent and/or supervisory personnel.

Abstract: A video switching system 108 automatically establishes video communications between an agent terminal 110 and a video communications device 104. A telephonic switch, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD) 102, selects which agent terminal 110 receives the video communications and generates reports relating to the video communications. A programmable switch 105 receives an initial request from the video communications device 104 to establish video communications. A computer system 112 detects the initial request and instructs the ACD 102 to select the agent terminal 110 which is to receive the video communications. The ACD 102 selects the agent terminal 110, or an agent associated with the agent terminal 110, using known methods and transmits the selected agent terminal 110 to the computer system 112. The computer system 112 instructs the programmable switch 105 to route the video communications to the selected agent terminal 110.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for substantially automatically monitoring active incoming telephone calls being routed through a telephone switch, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD). The monitoring system includes a timing circuit which measures the length of time of each of the active incoming telephone calls routed through the ACD. The length of time of the active calls are sent to an organizing circuit which organized the calls in order of decreasing duration. Each of the active calls are then monitored by decreasing duration at a supervisor telephone. Concomitantly, a display video circuit sends a unique identification code to a supervisor terminal uniquely identifying the agent who is handling the currently monitored call. The calls to be monitored are further defined by selecting a call exceed duration value. Until the length of a call exceeds or equals the call exceed duration value, the call is not monitored.

Abstract: An apparatus 200 and method for detecting when an interruption occurs between an agent associated with a telephonic switch, such as an automatic call distributor 100, and a caller during an incoming telephone call. The automatic call distributor 100 routes incoming telephone calls generated by callers at external telephonic units 102 to agents located at agent telephonic units 106. Additional information concerning incoming telephone calls is displayed to the agents on agent terminals 118. The apparatus 200 includes a detection circuit 210 for detecting when an agent and a caller are concomitantly talking during an incoming telephone call. A caller audio signal detector 216 detects caller audio signals representative of the speech of a caller on a first bus 204 in the automatic call distributor 100. Similarly, an agent audio signal detector 222 detects agent audio signals representative of the speech of an agent on a second bus 208 in the automatic call distributor 100.

Abstract: A system 200 and method for monitoring audio power level of speech of an agent in an automatic call distributor 100 is provided. The system 200 comprises an agent audio power circuit for detecting the audio power level of the agent's speech. The audio power circuit includes an agent maximum circuit 216 for comparing the detected audio power level to a predetermined maximum threshold power level. An agent minimum circuit 218 compares the detected audio power level to a predetermined minimum threshold power level. When the detected audio power level exceeds, or equals, the maximum threshold power level, or when the detected audio power level is less than, or equals, the minimum threshold power level, an appropriate message is displayed on an agent terminal 118 to "Speak Softer" or to "Speak Louder". An agent gain control 220 may be provided for automatically adjusting the audio power level of the agent's speech.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor (20) having a multiport switch (22) controlled by a central processing unit (26) in conjunction with a main memory (24) for connecting calls made from customers at customer telephonic units (16) through an external telephonic switching network (18) with agents stationed at a plurality of agent telephonic sets (12) coupled with the call distributor (20), an automated port conversation announcement system having a hard disk (25) for storing a postconversation voice messages in the voice of a particular agent stationed at an agent telephonic set (12), and a digital audio source card circuit (30) for playing a postconversation voice message in the voice of the particular agent to the customer at the customer telephonic unit (16) connected with the agent telephonic unit (12) in response to a disconnection from the agent telephonic set (12) at which the particular agent is stationed of a two way voice path established between the multiport switch (22) and the agent telephonic set (12).

Abstract: An automatic call distributor system (28) with an automatic call distributor (20) for selectively interconnecting telephonic calls from external telephonic units (32) of an external telephonic network (34) to a plurality of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interior telephonic units (30) with ISDN characteristics and a microprocessor (50) in the ISDN telephonic unit (30) for controlling the ISDN telephonic unit (30) to alter and enhance performance characteristics of the ISDN telephonic unit (30) in an automatic call distribution environment.

Abstract: A digital signal processing system for interfacing with a central control having at least a control port. The system has a control processor having an interface port connected to the control port of the central control. The control processor also has at least first, second and third ports. At least first, second and third kernel processors for running software application tasks have first, second and third ports connected to the first, second and third ports of the control processor, respectively, each of the kernel processors having a plurality of channel ports connected to a bus for providing a plurality of channels. The control processor in response to data received from the central control establishes one of a plurality of software application tasks in each of the kernel processors.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution system (10) with a computer controlled (14) multiport switch (12) provided with groups of remote data terminals (56) and remote internal telephonic units (54) which communicate with local data terminals (28), local internal telephonic units (22) and external telephonic units (18) of an external telephonic network (20) through the multiport switch (12) by means of local and remote internal telephonic multiplexing equipment (38 and 52) and local and remote wireless transceivers (44 and 48) to enable wireless expansion of the system (10) with the addition of remote units (54 and 56).

Abstract: A circuit is provided for detecting out of range or specification voltages of a power supply output and for disabling the power supply in response thereto. Disabling of the power supply is effected in time delay fashion and a signal is generated to indicate impending disabling of the power supply. The signal may be used to trigger dumping of logic circuit information to registers pending shutdown of the power supply.