Abstract: An automatic call distribution system (10) with a plurality of different types of display terminals (18, 20) which require display data to be presented to them in different formats employs a formatter (26) which selectively uses formatting information (24) to construct formatted data from unformatted display data in a memory (22) into a formatted display data buffer (28) in accordance with the appropriate formatting information for the particular type of display terminal at which the data is to be displayed and then conveys the buffered data to the display terminal (18, 20) in the appropriate format.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor (10) having a multiport switch (12) controlled by a central processing unit (14) for interconnecting external telephonic units (20) of an external telephonic network (22) with internal telephonic units (18) of the call distributor (10) and a data display terminal (32) coupled with the automatic call distributor and having a display screen (34) employing a programmable window display system and method of establishing a priority for a plurality of different types of information stored (40'-48') for display at a plurality of different window areas (40-48) and in which the priority of the window areas (40-48) controls a selectable order in which nonactive window areas (40-48) overlap on the display screen when there is insufficient room on the screen (36) for full simultaneous display of an active window area and all the nonactive window areas.