Abstract: A software-based distributed architecture allows rapid provisioning and flexible management of fault-tolerant call centers for interaction between companies' agents and outside customers via multi-media messages, using both real time and non-real time messages. The real time messages include web-based chat, forms and applications sharing, PSTN calls, and incoming and outgoing Voice over IP calls. The non-real time messages include web call-back requests, voice messages, fax messages, and email messages. The architecture provides for sharing of non-dedicated resources among multiple companies, mirrored hot backup, dynamic resource provisioning and allocation, dynamic load balancing, and implementation of service controls on individual companies in accordance with subscription service limits.

Abstract: A software-based distributed architecture allows rapid provisioning and flexible management of fault-tolerant call centers for interaction between companies' agents and outside customers via multi-media messages, using both real time and non-real time messages. The real time messages include web-based chat, forms and applications sharing, PSTN calls, and incoming and outgoing Voice over IP calls. The non-real time messages include web call-back requests, voice messages, fax messages, and email messages. The architecture provides for sharing of non-dedicated resources among multiple companies, mirrored hot backup, dynamic resource provisioning and allocation, dynamic load balancing, and implementation of service controls on individual companies in accordance with subscription service limits.

Abstract: A software-based distributed architecture allows rapid provisioning and flexible management of fault-tolerant call centers for interaction between companies' agents and outside customers via multi-media messages, using both real time and non-real time messages. The real time messages include web-based chat, forms and applications sharing, PSTN calls, and incoming and outgoing Voice over IP calls. The non-real time messages include web call-back requests, voice messages, fax messages, and email messages. The architecture provides for sharing of non-dedicated resources among multiple companies, mirrored hot backup, dynamic resource provisioning and allocation, dynamic load balancing, and implementation of service controls on individual companies in accordance with subscription service limits.

Abstract: A network-based call center for managing a company's interactions with its customers uses resources supplied by an application service provider. The call center stores sensitive information on a database within the company's private network, behind a firewall. When a call center resource or another client or server obtains new sensitive information, the resource writes the information to the database and then erases the information. When a resource needs sensitive information stored on the database, the resource requests the information from the database, uses it, and then erases the information. The call center further provides a browser-based tool, running on the Internet, for enabling non-technical personnel of the company to provision a call center from the resources of the application service provider.

Abstract: A software-based distributed architecture allows rapid provisioning and flexible management of fault-tolerant call centers for interaction between companies' agents and outside customers via multi-media messages, using both real time and non-real time messages. The real time messages include web-based chat, forms and applications sharing, PSTN calls, and incoming and outgoing Voice over IP calls. The non-real time messages include web call-back requests, voice messages, fax messages, and email messages. The architecture provides for sharing of non-dedicated resources among multiple companies, mirrored hot backup, dynamic resource provisioning and allocation, dynamic load balancing, and implementation of service controls on individual companies in accordance with subscription service limits.