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 telephonic switching system 100 including a telephonic switch 102 services telephone calls received from telephonic units 104 through a telephonic network 106. The telephone calls are received at input ports 107 and placed in virtual memory spaces 118 by the telephonic switch 102. There is one virtual memory space 118 for each input port 107, or voice channel, in the telephonic switch 102 such that all telephone calls received by the switch 102 are placed in a different virtual memory space. Virtual agents 119 service the telephone calls in the virtual memory spaces 118. Each virtual agent 119 is associated with one of the virtual memory spaces 118. The virtual agents 119 may connect the telephone calls to any of a number of resources. Exemplary resources include a voice response unit 108, local agent units 110 and/or remote agent units 112.

Abstract: A call recording system and method records telephone calls routed by a telephonic switch 104 to agents located at computer terminals 108. A call information circuit 110 associated with the telephonic switch 104 detects information, such as DNIS via a DNIS circuit 112 and/or information provided by the caller, relating to the telephone calls. The computer terminal 108 includes a recording device 114 which records the telephone calls based on the call information relating to the calls. The recordings of the calls are stored in a storage device 116. To facilitate later replaying a call, a call sequence indicator 118 attaches a call sequence number to a recording of telephone call. Alternatively, or in addition to, a call time indicator 118 attaches a time and day indicator to the recording based on when the call was received. An automatic recorder 122 automatically records specified telephone calls based on the call information.

Abstract: An interface circuit 104 provides audio and data communications between a telephonic switch 102 and an agent computer 106. The agent computer 106, telephonic switch 102 and interface circuit 104 are comprised by a communications system 100. The interface circuit 104 includes an integrated circuit 204 for receiving signals from, and transmitting signals to, the telephonic switch 102. A driver circuit 206 interconnects a data interface 200 in an agent terminal 112 to provide data communications from the integrated circuit 204 to the agent computer 106. An audio level control 208 provides audio communications between the integrated circuit 204 and the agent computer 106 and a headset.

Abstract: A system 100 and method for interconnecting a remote computer 102 and a computer service provider 104 via a telephonic switch 122 is provided. The telephonic switch 122 connects the remote computer 102 to the computer service provider 104 based on information received from the remote computer 102. An adult material circuit 126 in the telephonic switch 122 detects a request from the remote computer 102 to prohibit access to adult material available on the computer service provider 104. The request may be contained in automatic number identification information or dialed number identification service information. The telephonic switch 122 further comprises a caller prompting circuit 132 which prompts the remote computer 102 for instructions regarding whether to deny access to adult material.

Abstract: A call path system generates a graphical representation of a call path of a selected type of telephone call routed by a telephonic switch 100. An administrator computer system 110 includes a computer 112 and administrator display 114 for generating and displaying the graphical representation. The graphical representation may be a block diagram 200 consisting of telephone call type 202, application 204, scripts 206, agent group 208, agents/staff 210, supervisor 214 and a particular agent group I 212. Each of the blocks include available selections in the particular category. Such as a listing of agent groups 304, a listing of telephone types 300, a listing of available DNIS numbers 302 and a listing of agents/staff 306. The call path system further permits an administrator, via the administrator computer system 110 to select and any of the above. Applications may be modified such that the telephonic switch 100 thereafter routes telephone calls in accordance with the modified applications.

Abstract: An agent speech detector system 100 includes an agent terminal 112 which detects whether an agent speaks during a telephone call routed to the agent by a telephonic switch 102. An interface circuit 104 may interconnect the agent terminal 112 and the telephonic switch 102. A call begin circuit 216 detects the beginning of a telephone call and notifies a speech detector 218. The speech detector 218 monitors the voice of the agent until a call termination circuit 220 indicates that the telephone call has terminated. If the speech detector 218 detects that the agent did not speak during the telephone call, it notifies a communications circuit 222 which automatically transmits this information to a supervisor computer system 105.

Abstract: An announcement system 100 and method is provided which plays announcements recorded in the voice of an agent servicing a call routed by a telephonic switch 106 at substantially any time during the call. A call information circuit 136 detects information relating to the call, such as DNIS and ANI. This information is transmitted to a computer terminal 110 at which the agent is stationed and logged on. A CPU 120 may automatically select and play an announcement stored in a memory circuit 124 based on this information. Further, the agent may select and play an announcement at substantially anytime via an input device 112. The CPU 120 may select a particular announcement to play based on the time of day (morning, afternoon or evening) determined from a clock 130. An administrator system 128 permits an administrator to control the recording, storing and playing of announcements.

Abstract: A telephone switching system (100) including an automatic call distributor (102) for routing incoming telephone calls over a telephone network (116) to agent telephonic units (112, 114) is provided. Data relating to each of the incoming telephone calls is collected by the automatic call distributor (102), in particular a central processing unit (110). As each incoming telephone call is being routed to an agent telephonic unit (112, 114) over a telephone network (116), its associated data is substantially simultaneously transmitted over a computer network (126) to an agent computer terminal (122, 124). The agent located at the agent telephonic unit (112 or 114) which receives an incoming telephone call has first party call control via the associated agent computer terminal (122 or 124).