Abstract: Call-center (FIG. 1) performance is improved by assigning different service-time objectives (222) to different types of calls or to call queues (21) for different types of calls, and then selecting (212), for an agent (25) who has just become available (200) to handle a call, a waiting call that is farthest along in exceeding its assigned service-time objective. The objectives represent limits on the amount of time that calls should spend waiting for agents before being handled. For example, a video call may need to be serviced within tens of seconds of its arrival, and a voice-only call may need to be serviced within minutes, while e-mail may need a response within hours of its arrival. Relative distance of calls from their assigned service-time objectives is preferably determined by determining (206) the calls' present or anticipated wait times and computing (210) weighted percentages of the assigned service-time objectives that are represented by the present or anticipated wait times.

Abstract: The maximum wait time for callers in a call center (FIG. 10) is lowered by selecting, for an agent (25) who has just become available to handle a call, a highest-priority waiting call that would most likely wait the longest if it were not selected at this time. Anticipated wait times are computed for the calls at the heads of the non-empty highest-priority call queues that correspond to the agent's skills or splits (202-210). The anticipated wait time of a call is computed as the call's present (elapsed) wait time plus the average rate of advance of calls in the call's queue (210). The call with the longest anticipated wait time is then selected first and is assigned to the available agent for handling (212-216). The process is repeated each time that any agent becomes available.

Abstract: A call-distribution function (150) of an ACD system (101) improves the equity of distribution of calls to agents (106-108) by basing the distribution on the agents' individual occupancies. Illustratively, determining an agent's occupancy involves either determining (304) how many calls the agent has handled within a predetermined time interval, or determining (305) how much time of a predetermined time interval the agent has spent on handling of calls. The occupancy is periodically re-determined, and a next call is allocated to the presently least-occupied one of agents who are available to take the call, or to an agent to whose occupancy the allocation will be most beneficial, such as an available agent to whom allocation of the call will maximize convergence of actual and target occupancies.

Abstract: An ACD system (101) is programmable by an operator of the ACD system to automatically change the work of a call center agent (106-108) in order to maximize the agent's productivity and to provide a variety of work balanced with "breather" time in order to prevent agent burn-out. The conditions for changing the agent's work and the agent's alternative duties when the conditions are met are both programmed by the operator via a vectoring capability (150) of the ACD system and a scripting language (FIGS. 2-23) for defining the vectors. When an agent becomes available to handle a call from a particular call queue (121-129), the agent's corresponding vector is executed, and the conditions specified by the vector are checked against the present status of the call center to determine if they are met. If the conditions are not met, the agent is caused to handle a call from the particular call queue.

Abstract: In a telecommunications system that includes a plurality of user terminals and terminal translations that define attributes of the individual terminals, shared use of the terminals by a plurality of users, or use by a user of different ones of the terminals at different times, is facilitated. Each terminal's physical translations, which include for each terminal those attributes that are independent of the users of the terminal and which include a physical extension number, are associated with the corresponding terminals. Each terminal's default terminal translations, which include for each terminal those attributes that are dependent on the users of the terminal and which include a call-coverage path, also are associated with the corresponding terminals. Each user's logical translations, which include for each user those attributes that are independent of the terminals used by the user and which include a logical extension number and a call-coverage path, are associated with the corresponding users.

Abstract: Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) equipment is improved by matching the information needs of an incoming caller with the particular expertise of a telemarketing agent who handles such calls. Each incoming call is assigned up to three prioritized skill numbers that estimate skill requirements of the calling party. Each agent possesses up to four skill numbers that represent various particular abilities of that agent. Numbers 1 through 9 are used. Upon arrival of the incoming call, a search is made for a match between the first caller skill number and an available agent possessing that skill. If no match is found, a similar search is made with respect to the second caller skill number. After a predetermined delay, a search is made with respect to the third caller skill number. When a match is found, the incoming call is connected to the agent possessing that skill. The longer that an incoming call remains unanswered, the larger the pool of agents becomes that will be allowed to handle the call.

Abstract: After a telephone switching system user has dialed sufficient digits to identify a call as extending beyond the system, the system attempts to route the call over trunks which will result in the least expense to the user. If all of these trunks are busy, the system then searches to find an idle trunk in identified groups of trunks. If an idle identified trunk is found, a warning tone is returned to the user and before the system will seize the identified trunk and complete the call, the user must signal with a predetermined code within a certain time period. In a nonpredetermined code is signaled, the call is terminated by the system.