Abstract: The method and apparatus is for contact manipulation and retrieval in a communication system. The method has the steps of: receiving a message having contact information; converting the contact information to contact data having a predetermined searchable format; storing the contact data; and searching the stored contact data. The contact data may be searched for at least one item of information. The apparatus implements the method.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is for converting messages and responses between text messages of a user and voice responses of at least one agent in an automatic contact distribution system having a plurality of agents. In one embodiment, the method includes sending a text message in a text format from first location via a network; receiving the text message from the network at a second location; and converting the text message from a text format to a voice message in a voice format. The method further includes converting a voice response in the voice format from an agent to a text response in the text format, the voice response being in response to the text message; and sending the text response from the second location to the first location via the network. Thus, the user appears to communicate with the agent on a text basis, and the agent appears to communicate with the user on a voice basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for routing a plurality of different types of Internet messages within a host to a plurality of agents. The method includes the steps of determining the message type of each of the plurality of different types of Internet messages and inserting a message type identifier into a packet of each message type of the plurality of different message types. The method further includes the steps of routing the packets to an Internet message distributor and distributing the messages within the Internet message distributor to the plurality of agents based upon the inserted message type identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing enterprise information to a client through a call center of the enterprise. The method includes the steps of detecting an identity of the client based upon call associated information received through a call connection between the client and the call center, presenting the client with a plurality of options based upon the identity of the client and presenting the client with enterprise information based upon a selected option of the plurality of options.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing a graphical user interface for a plurality of users under a predetermined format substantially controlled by an employer of the plurality of users. The method includes the steps of disposing a proxy server between the plurality of users and an information resource used by at least one user of the plurality of users and converting information exchanged between the predetermined format substantially controlled by the employer of the user and a predetermined format of the information resource.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is for converting messages and responses between text messages of a user and voice responses of at least one agent in an automatic contact distribution system having a plurality of agents. In one embodiment, the method includes sending a text message in a text format from first location via a network; receiving the text message from the network at a second location; and converting the text message from a text format to a voice message in a voice format. The method further includes converting a voice response in the voice format from an agent to a text response in the text format, the voice response being in response to the text message; and sending the text response from the second location to the first location via the network. Thus, the user appears to communicate with the agent on a text basis, and the agent appears to communicate with the user on a voice basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing a call with a client detected by a call center to an agent of the call center. The method includes the step of providing a call object for the call, collecting attributes of the call within the call object, associating an agent object with the call object and displaying client data to an agent of the call center based upon a view process of the associated agent object.

Abstract: Resources of a contact center are allocated by electronically monitoring at least one operational parameter of the contact center and performing a comparison between the operational parameter and a threshold value for the operational parameter. An indication of an action to be taken to affect allocation of resources of the contact center is then developed based on the comparison. This allocation also may be performed using an apparatus having a processing unit coupled with a memory, and instructions that are storable in the memory and executable by the processing unit. The instructions could be for monitoring at least one operational parameter of the contact center, performing a comparison between the operational parameter and a threshold value for the operational parameter, and developing an indication of an action to be taken to affect allocation of resources of the contact center.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is for contact manipulation and retrieval in a communication system. The method has the steps of: receiving a message having contact information; converting the contact information to contact data having a predetermined searchable format; storing the contact data; and searching the stored contact data. The contact data may be searched for at least one item of information. The apparatus implements the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for allocating resources within a call center based upon a predetermined business rule of an enterprise controlling the call center. The method includes the steps of analyzing records from a plurality of call transactions based upon the predetermined business rule, recognizing a correlation among the call transaction records based upon the predetermined business rule and adjusting a resource of the call transactions based upon the recognized correlation and predetermined business rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing calls in a call processing center provided for support of enterprise activities of an organization. The method includes the steps of receiving a query about the enterprise activities of the organization from a caller through the call center, translating the query into voice extensible mark-up language, forming an answer to the translated query within an artificial intelligence engine and providing the determined answer to the caller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for routing a plurality of different types of Internet messages within a host to a plurality of agents. The method includes the steps of determining the message type of each of the plurality of different types of Internet messages and inserting a message type identifier into a packet of each message type of the plurality of different message types. The method further includes the steps of routing the packets to an Internet message distributor and distributing the messages within the Internet message distributor to the plurality of agents based upon the inserted message type identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing a graphical user interface for a plurality of users under a predetermined format substantially controlled by an employer of the plurality of users. The method includes the steps of disposing a proxy server between the plurality of users and an information resource used by at least one user of the plurality of users and converting information exchanged between the predetermined format substantially controlled by the employer of the user and a predetermined format of the information resource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling an automatic call distributor by a supervisor from a remote location. The method includes the steps of establishing a telephonic connection between the supervisor and the automatic call distributor and screening the call for the authorized supervisor. The method further includes the steps of transferring a configuration instruction to the automatic call distributor, executing the configuration instruction by the automatic call distributor and returning a configuration result to the supervisor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing a call with a client detected by a call center to an agent of the call center. The method includes the step of providing a call object for the call, collecting attributes of the call within the call object, associating an agent object with the call object and displaying client data to an agent of the call center based upon a view process of the associated agent object.

Abstract: A telecommunication system for transmitting customer data corresponding to a customer, to an agent of an automatic call distributor (ACD) is described. The ACD is connected to the telecommunication system through a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The telecommunication system includes a customer data processor configured to maintain two way communication between the customer and the agent of the ACD, where the customer data processor stores and processes customer data provided by the customer. A data encrypter operatively coupled to the customer data processor encrypts the customer data. The customer data processor transmits the encrypted customer data to the ACD upon receiving a predetermined signal. A customer data interpreter is operatively coupled to the ACD and receives and decrypts the encrypted customer data to facilitate presentation of the customer data to the agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for allocating resources within a call center based upon a predetermined business rule of an enterprise controlling the call center. The method includes the steps of analyzing records from a plurality of call transactions based upon the predetermined business rule, recognizing a correlation among the call transaction records based upon the predetermined business rule and adjusting a resource of the call transactions based upon the recognized correlation and predetermined business rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing enterprise information to a client through a call center of the enterprise. The method includes the steps of detecting an identity of the client based upon call associated information received through a call connection between the client and the call center, presenting the client with a plurality of options based upon the identity of the client and presenting the client with enterprise information based upon a selected option of the plurality of options.