Abstract: A method for promoting fairness in a communication center in response to requests for destination numbers (DNs) from network-level routers has steps of determining latency for requests from individual ones of the network-level routers, receiving a request from a first router for which latency is determined, assigning a fairness wait time to the request, the time determined as an inverse function of latency, and answering the request according to rules in effect only after the wait time has expired. In some cases requests arrive with priority, and priority is used a swell as latency in determining wait time. In other cases a second fairness time is imposed, after which a fairness algorithm is called to award a DN according to statistical history and cal priority. The system is useful for communication centers for connection-oriented telephone systems, Internet protocol systems, and for all sorts of digital messaging and mail systems.

Abstract: In a communication center system wherein agents participate in and host communication sessions, a session management system has a data repository storing parameters regarding individual sessions in progress in the communication center system and agent parameters including one or both of minimum and maximum load capabilities for individual agents. A management software executes on a server associated with the communication center system, and calculates agent load level over chat sessions hosted by an individual agent, compares the calculated load level with one or both of minimum and maximum load for said agent, and adjusts agent assignment to sessions accordingly. In the case where agents are overloaded, additional agents are assigned to open sessions, and in the case where agents are underutilized, additional sessions may be assigned to the under-utilized agents. The sessions in a preferred embodiment are chat sessions.

Abstract: A system for balancing outbound dialing rate with agent utilization in a telephony call center, minimizing wait time for answered outdialed calls has a call number generating module for generating numbers to be automatically dialed, a dialing unit for dialing numbers generated, a queue for queing answered calls, and a stat module for monitoring performance and generating a call generation rate. The system uses an analytical method in one embodiment for determining the call generation rate, wherein the method uses one or more of distribution function of system processes, numerical methods, solving of non-linear equations, or probability techniques.

Abstract: A method and system for context-based data completion is described. In one embodiment, information is inputted by a user into a wireless device (or the like), and based on specific addressing data of information provided by the user, additional data is appended to some of the data entered into the wireless device in order to facilitate communication to a separate device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing visual information to a telephone user regarding multiple voicemail services associated with the telephone user. The method includes providing a telephone comprising a display and organizing information relating to messages in the voicemail, wherein the information comprises an identifier indicating with which voicemail service each message is associated. Finally, the information is displayed on the display. Additional information may include the number of messages, a primary phone number from which each message was received, a name associated with each primary phone number, at least one alternative phone number associated with each primary phone number and a length of time for each message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing visual information to a telephone user regarding voicemail associated with a telephone number. The method includes providing a telephone comprising a display and organizing information relating to messages in the voicemail, wherein the information comprises the number of messages, a primary phone number from which each message was received, and a name associated with each primary phone number. Finally, the information is displayed on the display. Additional information may include at least one alternative phone number associated with each primary phone number and a length of time for each message.

Abstract: An Internet system for providing call-back services for a subscriber includes a web page having a call-back link to a subscription server; a call-back application operating on the subscription server and adapted for accepting input from a browsing person linked to the subscription server by the call-back link; and a call-switching system connected to and responsive to the call-back application on the subscription server. In this system the browsing person, upon activating the call-back link, is linked to the call back application on the subscription server and prompted for input including a call-back number, and the subscription server, after accepting the input, directs the call-switching system in establishing a telephony link between the subscriber and the browsing person. In some instances the telephony switch is part of a call-center with connected agents, and agents are assigned to represent selected subscribers. In this instance call-back connection is made between a browsing person and an agent.

Abstract: A system for balancing outbound dialing rate with agent utilization in a telephony call center, minimizing wait time for answered outdialed calls has a call number generating module for generating numbers to be automatically dialed, a dialing unit for dialing numbers generated, a queue for queing answered calls, and a stat module for monitoring performance and generating a call generation rate. The system uses an analytical method in one embodiment for determining the call generation rate, wherein the method uses one or more of distribution function of system processes, numerical methods, solving of non-linear equations, or probability techniques.

Abstract: An Estimated Wait Time (EWT) service for a Web page provider has an internet-connected facility for monitoring communication status with a communication center having communication equipment hosting agents of the web page provider, and an interactive link in a web page hosted by the Web page provider. The interactive link is presented to a user accessing the Web page, and when selected, connects the user to the facility for monitoring communication status. In a preferred embodiment the facility provides a Web page display for the user, displaying parameters regarding the communication status, such as estimated wait time (EWT). In some cases there are options in a user interface for placing an Internet Phone (IP) call, for sending a message, and e-mail, and so forth, or for requesting a call back. In the case of a call back the user may, in some embodiments, provide alternative numbers or addresses and times for call back.

Abstract: In a communication center system wherein agents participate in and host communication sessions, a session management system has a data repository storing parameters regarding individual sessions in progress in the communication center system and agent parameters including one or both of minimum and maximum load capabilities for individual agents. A management software executes on a server associated with the communication center system, and calculates agent load level over chat sessions hosted by an individual agent, compares the calculated load level with one or both of minimum and maximum load for said agent, and adjusts agent assignment to sessions accordingly. In the case where agents are overloaded, additional agents are assigned to open sessions, and in the case where agents are underutilized, additional sessions may be assigned to the under-utilized agents. The sessions in a preferred embodiment are chat sessions.

Abstract: An Internet system for providing call-back services for a subscriber includes a web page having a call-back link to a subscription server; a call-back application operating on the subscription server and adapted for accepting input from a browsing person linked to the subscription server by the call-back link; and a call-switching system connected to and responsive to the call-back application on the subscription server. In this system the browsing person, upon activating the call-back link, is linked to the call back application on the subscription server and prompted for input including a call-back number, and the subscription server, after accepting the input, directs the call-switching system in establishing a telephony link between the subscriber and the browsing person. In some instances the telephony switch is part of a call-center with connected agents, and agents are assigned to represent selected subscribers. In this instance call-back connection is made between a browsing person and an agent.

Abstract: A communication center has a system for managing agent-hosted sessions including systems for storing queries and responses to queries in sessions in associated pairs, and for comparing newly-arriving queries with stored query-response pairs. In the event of a match or near match, stored responses to oft-repeated queries are provided to agents for use, relieving agents of the tasks of responding manually to often-repeated queries. Parsing and sentence structure tools are used, and in some cases aid stations with knowledge workers are provided to allow editing and extra help for agents.

Abstract: An Estimated Wait Time (EWT) service for a Web page provider has an internet-connected facility for monitoring communication status with a communication center having communication equipment hosting agents of the web page provider, and an interactive link in a web page hosted by the Web page provider. The interactive link is presented to a user accessing the Web page, and when selected, connects the user to the facility for monitoring communication status. In a preferred embodiment the facility provides a Web page display for the user, displaying parameters regarding the communication status, such as estimated wait time (EWT). In some cases there are options in a user interface for placing an Internet Phone (IP) call, for sending a message, and e-mail, and so forth, or for requesting a call back. In the case of a cal back the user may, in some embodiments, provide alternative numbers or addresses and times for call back.

Abstract: An emergency call load handling system in a call network has an interactive voice response (IVR) unit associated with a switching apparatus to which calls may be diverted in special conditions, such as during emergencies or disasters when calls to certain destinations may suddenly increase dramatically. Calls are diverted depending on call destination and/or pre-programmed triggers, such as a call load threshold experienced by the switching apparatus or for a specific destination. The IVR unit in some cases negotiates with callers for priority to further route calls, and may play pre-recorded messages. Low priority calls are typically disposed of to for fire stations, hospitals, government emergency handling centers and the like. In some cases rules may be amended in real time by use of data network connections between call centers and the SCPs involved.

Abstract: A system for extracting keywords from interactive text dialog and providing the extracted keywords as a dialog summary displayed in an interactive text window is provided. The system is, in preferred embodiments, used with interactive chat communication wherein a communication center connected to the Internet hosts the communication and the communication involves customers of the center and a hosting agent. The system parses all incoming queries for keywords and then provides the keywords as a summary of the dialog. In one embodiment keywords may also be taken from responses to queries and associated in display with the keywords taken from the queries. In another embodiment, the keywords are compared to a data repository containing product-related words such that upon finding matches, the matching keywords are displayed alongside, but separately from, the dialog keyword summary and represent product keywords.

Abstract: A call re-directing system associated with a call center integrates an interface on a computer station at an agent station having a telephone, a CTI-application executing on a processor connected to a telephony switch, and an DSP-controller to operate with Transfer Connect protocols for re-directing misrouted telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment, data associated with a call is transferred to the new destination of a re-routed call and re-associated with the call.

Abstract: A call re-directing system associated with a call center integrates an interface on a computer station at an agent station having a telephone, a CTI-application executing on a processor connected to a telephony switch, and an DSP-controller to operate with Transfer Connect protocols for re-directing misrouted telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment, data associated with a call is transferred to the new destination of a re-routed call and re-associated with the call.

Abstract: A computerized telephony call center for serving a customer base has a central switch connected to a plurality of telephones at operator workstations and adapted to route calls to individual ones of the telephones, and also connected to a public switched telephone network, and a first processor connected to the central switch by a high-speed data link and to the telephone network by a digital network connection. The first processor is adapted to monitor transactional activity of the central switch, to process the activity information according to selected routines in the processor, and to communicate processed information to a second processor over the digital network connection. The digital network connection may be a TCP/IP connection. In a preferred embodiment the first processor is connected by a local area network (LAN) to network interfaces including a video display unit (VDU) and input apparatus proximate individual ones of the plurality of telephones connected to the central switch.

Abstract: A queueing system in a call center is adapted to queue voice mails as well as live telephone calls. In a preferred embodiment the calls include both connection-oriented switched telephony (COST) calls and Data Network Telephony (DNT) calls. Callers are enabled to leave voice mail as an alternative to waiting, and records of the voice mails are queued, preferably in the same queue processing the live calls. In some embodiments the call center is enabled to process e-mails, video mails and facsimile messages as well as live calls and voice mail messages, and all types of multimedia communication can be queued in the same queue according to prestored routing rules and priority rules.

Abstract: A telephony call-waiting system for clients having a computer with a video display unit (PC/VDU) and a public-switched telephony network (PSTN) telephone connected to the PSTN by a single line, keeps a status indication of the client's Internet connection status and, during periods of time the PC/VDU is connected to the Internet, alerts the client by an alert signal over the Internet connection of any waiting PSTN calls. In a preferred embodiment the client's PC/VDU is adapted to provide an audio and/or visual alert event when an alert signal is received, and to provide for a user-initiated response to an alert, accepting or rejecting a call. In the event a call is accepted, provision is made for connecting the accepted call to the client's PC/VDU as an IP call. In some embodiments several calls may be dealt with at the PC/VDU, and features are provided such as caller-ID on the client's VDU. Several ways of accomplishing the call-waiting system are taught.