Abstract: A metrics optimization system for managing key performance indicators (KPIs) of a contact center is disclosed. The metrics optimization system includes a monitoring module configured to monitor the KPIs of agents and work items. The metrics optimization system further includes a ranking module configured to rank the monitored KPIs based on predefined rules. The metrics optimization system further includes a display module configured to display the KPIs to a first supervisor from a plurality of supervisors based on the ranks of the monitored KPIs. The metrics optimization system further includes an analysis module configured to analyze performance of the first supervisor to improve the displayed KPIs. The metrics optimization system further includes an assign module configured to assign the displayed KPIs to a second supervisor based on the performance of the first supervisor.

Abstract: An optimization system for generating a visual representation of business goals in a contact center is disclosed. The optimization system includes a monitor module configured to monitor current status of the business goals of the contact center. The optimization system further includes a computing module configured to compute values of the business goals and generate the visual representation. The optimization system further includes a drag module configured to enable a user to change value of a business goal from an actual operating value to a desired operating value. The optimization system further includes a display module configured to display modification in values of associated business goals due to the change in the value of the business goal.

Abstract: A system for authenticating an agent-initiated interaction between a customer and an agent is provided. A secure code generation module to generate a first secure code for an agent-initiated interaction between a customer and an agent and to provide the first secure code to an agent device; and a secure code verification module to receive a second secure code from an authentication device, determine whether the second secure code corresponds to the first secure code, and to provide an indication that the second secure code corresponds to the first secure code based on the determination that the second secure code corresponds to the first secure code or provide an indication that the second secure code does not correspond to the first secure code based on the determination that the second secure code does not correspond to the first secure code is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for automated routing or work requests is provided. Particularly, a system for routing work requests in a distributed computing system to minimize an energy cost associated with operating the system is provided. A resource utilization module configured to receive resource utilization information; the resource utilization information including indications of utilization corresponding to a plurality of computing resources is disclosed. Furthermore, an energy consumption module configured to receive energy consumption information; the energy consumption information including indications of energy consumption corresponding to the plurality of computing resources is disclosed. Additionally, a routing module configured to route a work request to one of the plurality of computing resources based at least in part on the received utilization information and the received energy consumption information to minimize energy costs of the plurality of computing resources is disclosed.

Abstract: A participant managing system which identifies potential invitees to a conference. A storage means maintains storing records of associations of persons at least one or more key words. During the preparation of the conference the system responds to the user's input of key words by identifying persons. The user is not obliged to make any selection of persons, only a selection of subjects by key words.

Abstract: A system for automated assignment of monitoring customer-agent interactions is provided. A metadata extraction module configured to extract metadata related to each of a plurality of customer-agent interactions is disclosed. Further, a resource attribute collection module configured to collect attributes about each of a plurality of supervisor resources in the communication system is disclosed. Additionally, an assignment module configured to assign one of the plurality of supervisor resources to monitor one of the plurality of customer-agent interactions based on the extracted metadata and the collected attributes is disclosed.

Abstract: Access to a resource in a virtual environment is controllably granted by: a) receiving, from a user of the environment, a request for access to the resource; b) allocating the request to a queue of requests for the resource; c) determining a maximum permissible rate of access of users to the resource; d) providing a mechanism which is operable to grant users of the virtual environment with access to the resource at a rate no greater than the maximum permissible rate; e) allocating requests from the queue to the mechanism at a controlled allocation rate no greater than the maximum permissible rate; f) upon allocation of the request from the user to the mechanism, the mechanism granting the user with access to the resource within the virtual environment.

Abstract: A system for prioritizing intervention of live agents into automated customer engagements in a communication system is disclosed. The system includes an intervention prioritization module configured to identify a live agent to intervene into an automated customer engagement in a communication system based on a confidence factor corresponding to the automated customer engagement and one or more live agent attributes corresponding to the live agent. The system further includes a live agent conference module configured to cause the identified live agent to intervene into the automated customer engagement.

Abstract: A system for automated assignment of monitoring customer-agent interactions is provided. A metadata extraction module configured to extract metadata related to each of a plurality of customer-agent interactions is disclosed. Further, a resource attribute collection module configured to collect attributes about each of a plurality of supervisor resources in the communication system is disclosed. Additionally, an assignment module configured to assign one of the plurality of supervisor resources to monitor one of the plurality of customer-agent interactions based on the extracted metadata and the collected attributes is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delegating a message. An audio message from a prioritized list of audio messages is received by a computing device. The audio message identifies a first sender designated priority and a first recipient prioritization attribute. A delegate for responding to the audio message is determined. A delegation action identifier identifying a delegation action of a plurality of delegation actions is determined. A first delegation action directs a delegate to generate a response and send the response to the sender without notifying a delegator. A second delegation action directs the delegate to generate the response and send the response to both the sender and the delegator. A third delegation action directs the delegate to generate the response and send the response to the delegator.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of allocating calls coming into a call center from a caller location remote from the call center, receiving a call from a caller which includes information from an RFID chip located in close proximity to the caller location; decoding the information from the RFID chip to determine one or more parameters relating to the information; using said one or more parameters to allocate the call from the caller at the call center to ensure calls are handled in accordance with the parameters. This has the advantage of much more efficient management of the of the calls within the call center and ensures that the calls are sent to the agent with the most appropriate skill set.

Abstract: A method and system for improving performance within a contact center are provided. The method includes monitoring one or more Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) corresponding to the contact center having one or more agents associated thereto. The method further includes determining a weighted sum of the KPIs based on a weight assigned to each key performance indicator. Further, the method includes modifying one or more parameters within the contact center to improve the weighted sum of the KPIs when the weighted sum of the KPIs crosses beyond a threshold level.

Abstract: A method of providing access to a network of contact centers comprises providing contact links on one or more web pages which when activated initiate contacts to the contact centers. The network addresses associated with the links and to which the contacts are automatically directed are dynamically specified in the web pages and are obtained from a database. The database is dynamically updated in response to statistical updates received periodically or continually from the individual contact centers. In this way the contacts can be directed in advance to the most appropriate destination without having to evaluate each contact as it enters the contact center network, thereby reducing processing time and delays.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing an interactive voice response (IVR) system are disclosed. In the methods, prompts are issued from the IVR system and user input made in response to the prompts from the IVR system is received. One method involves displaying the prompts issued by the IVR system to an operator; and receiving input data from the operator, the data defining whether any change to the IVR system is recommended and/or any recommended changes to the IVR system. Another method involves detecting the occurrence of an unexpected event by comparing the user input against a predefined set of rules, each rule being associated with one or more of the unexpected events; and taking a predefined action in response to the detection of one or more of the unexpected events.

Abstract: A peer to peer contact center is provided by individual user terminals registering with a server which acts as a proxy to receive contacts from callers to the contact center. The server redirects the calls to individual terminals according to simple rules without subjecting the calls to any contact center treatment. The individual terminal receiving a call subjects the call to a contact center treatment while holding the call, and then determines from among the registered terminals the most suitable terminal for handling the call. The call is then transferred to the selected terminal. In this way the complex infrastructure of traditional contact centers is dispensed with and each individual terminal acts as a mini contact centre in respect of the calls distributed to it in a dumb or semi-dumb fashion by the server.

Abstract: Work assignment methods and systems are provided that dynamically redistribute a percent allocation of contacts after an outage at a contact center. In general, a work assignment mechanism, upon receiving information that a contact center is removed from a system of available contact centers, dynamically recalculates a percentage allocation of each available contact center in the system. Subsequently received contacts are distributed among the available contact centers in accordance with the recalculated percentage allocation. When a contact center is returned to the system from an outage, the percentage allocation of contacts can be incrementally increased to the returning contact center.

Abstract: An Estimated Wait Time (EWT) computing system for computing estimated wait time for customers in a contact center is provided. The EWT computing system includes an analysis module for analyzing each incoming contact to determine attributes corresponding to the incoming contact. The EWT computing system further includes a categorization module for categorizing the incoming contact based on the determined attributes and a past history of the incoming contact or similar contacts. The EWT computing system further includes a computing module for computing an estimated wait time for the incoming contact based on a category of the incoming contact and availability of suitable agents for handling the incoming contact. The EWT computing system further includes a reporting module for reporting the estimated wait time to the incoming contact.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of handling contacts at a contact center. The method includes the steps of identifying a characteristic associated with a contact received at the contact center, and labeling a contact entity representing the contact with a label identifying the characteristic. In response to receipt of a request from an agent of the contact center to handle the contact based on the label of the contact entity, the contact is assigned to the agent and in response to the agent successfully handling the contact, an agent record associated with the agent, is updated to indicate a proficiency in handling contacts associated with the characteristic.

Abstract: An agent login optimization system for optimizing login of agents at communication managers of a contact center is provided. The agent login optimization system includes a monitoring module for monitoring predetermined activities at a plurality of communication managers in the contact center. The monitoring includes monitoring call traffic at the plurality of communication managers and monitoring login requests of agents. The agent login optimization system further includes a determination module configured to determine a suitable communication manager from the plurality of communication managers based upon the monitoring to login an agent. The agent login optimization system further includes an agent login module for logging the agent into the suitable communication manager.

Abstract: A method and system for improving performance within a contact center are provided. The method includes monitoring one or more Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) corresponding to the contact center having one or more agents associated thereto. The method further includes determining a weighted sum of the KPIs based on a weight assigned to each key performance indicator. Further, the method includes modifying one or more parameters within the contact center to improve the weighted sum of the KPIs when the weighted sum of the KPIs crosses beyond a threshold level.