Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided for enabling a caller on hold to listen to one or more ongoing calls. The method includes receiving an incoming call, determining a subject category and at least one keyword associated with the incoming call, and determining an ongoing call based on the subject category and the at least one keyword. In one embodiment, keywords associated with calls may be stored in a database.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a contact center system based upon open standards. The contact center system can include at least one agent node, a portal server, and an application server. An agent node can include a standard HTTP browser that communicates over a standard Internet Protocol network using standard protocols. The portal server can be configured to communicate with an agent node via an agent portal, which can consist of multiple agent portlets to present information. The application server can be configured to execute contact center applications that can collect and distribute information via the agent portlets and transfer calls to agents.

Abstract: A method, system and program for entering a prospective caller in a call queue, specifically to a selection of methods and systems allowing a caller to enter a call queue utilizing an untethered form of communication based on information conveyed over a network that does not originate from a telephone or softphone. A prospective caller, who would normally use a telephone to call and enter a call queue, can do so with other means over the network, such as Instant Messaging, E-Mail, SMS, etc. When the system receives such a request, it is placed in the appropriate call queue and handled in manner similar to a call made from a telephone, not requiring the caller to hold on the telephone while in the queue.

Abstract: A system and method for providing customer activities while in queue allows for one or more customers to interact with one or more customer activities while waiting to speak with a live agent. The customers engage the customer activities while holding in a queue where the customer activities reduce the boredom, frustration, and perceived hold duration associated with holding to speak to a live agent. The customers are offered one or more options of the customer activities to interact with and the system and method monitors the customers' selections and interaction with the customer activities. As agents become available, each customer is transferred to an agent along with information regarding the customer's interaction with a selected customer activity. Upon completion of the interaction between the agent and the customer, the customer has the option to return to the selected customer activity and continue interacting with the selected customer activity.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

Abstract: An operator network is capable of routing incoming customer care calls to specific customer care representatives based on a subscriber profile and customer service representative (CSR) skill set. The device profile is retrieved from the mobile handset while the incoming customer care call is in a queue waiting to be connected to a CSR. The retrieved device profile is also used to determine an appropriate CSR to handle an incoming customer care call.

Abstract: A method for facilitating incoming and outgoing calls in a mobile communication system using a server or software located on a third-party server is provided. An electronic attendant allows users to perform various tasks using one or more speech terminals coupled to the server through a public and private communications network. The method also provides for access to a corporate information system (“CIS”) using the one or more speech terminals. The server recognizes both voice and digital signals from the speech terminals. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining data for multi-channel communication queuing associated with different media formats such as telephone, email, and fax. A list of agent data includes information related to types of communication media an agent can access. The data can further include information related to an agent's skills, a list of media routes, statistics for communication channels of specified media types, statistics for an agent, and journals for work items. Priority values for the media routes, the maximum number of queued items for the media routes, and times for escalating a work item can also be included.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

Abstract: A method for the enhancement of a call on-hold operation by the utilization of on-hold calling party feedback information, wherein the method comprises the steps of initiating a primary call from an operator of a communication device, receiving the primary call at a call center, and placing the primary call received at the call center from the communication device in a primary on-hold status state, and placing the on-hold received primary call in an incoming call queue at the call center. Further, the primary call is placed in a secondary on-hold status by the actions of the communication device in order for the communication device to receive a secondary call, the primary call's position in the call queue is maintained, and a response from the communication device is transmitted to the call center upon the call center's suspension of the on-hold status of the primary call.

Abstract: A communications system and method, for analyzing at least two characteristics for each of at least a portion of a plurality of communications, selected from the group comprising artificial neural network parameters, stochastic parameters, cost parameters, and utility parameters, and determining in dependence thereon an optimum routing of the plurality of communications, based on the at least two characteristics for each of the at least a portion of the communications.

Abstract: A network-based call center for managing a company's interactions with its customers uses resources supplied by an application service provider. The call center stores sensitive information on a database within the company's private network, behind a firewall. When a call center resource or another client or server obtains new sensitive information, the resource writes the information to the database and then erases the information. When a resource needs sensitive information stored on the database, the resource requests the information from the database, uses it, and then erases the information. The call center further provides a browser-based tool, running on the Internet, for enabling non-technical personnel of the company to provision a call center from the resources of the application service provider.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a service for providing call reports to a subscriber related to non-answered calls for calls attempted between at least two parties. Using telecommunications switch triggers, call status related to answered, busy, and unanswered calls is collected in a record and used to populate a report. The report is then provided to a report formatter that formats the report so that it is suitable for presentation to a subscriber. The reported call information can be provided to the report formatter in near real time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling a dynamic hospitality contact center (DHCC) that leverages the assets of a hospitality center's communications systems including internal telecommunications networks, information systems, data networks, and applications, of public telecommunications networks, of public data networks, and/or of various communications devices to facilitate improved access, sharing, notification, and/or management of incoming calls and associated data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting termination of a first connection between a first caller and a first agent during a communication session between the first caller and the first agent. The method also includes storing information indicating a state of the communication session at the termination of the first connection, and communicating the information to the first agent or to a second agent in response to establishment of a second connection between the first caller and the first agent or the second agent to facilitate a continuation of the communication session.

Abstract: A method and system to process communications in an automatic communication distributor is described. The method may comprise receiving a communication and identifying an originating location from which the communication originates. Thereafter, a determination is made when the originating location corresponds to a predefined high priority geographical area and a priority to the communication is assigned based on the originating location. The call may be assigned a higher priority when the originating location corresponds to the high priority geographical area than when the originating location does not correspond with the high priority geographical area. The communication is queued based on the assigned priority. A method is also provided to assign an agent using an automated call distributor based on a distance between the originating location of the communication and the determined geographical locations of the potential respondents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining data for multi-channel communication queuing associated with different media formats such as telephone, email, and fax. A list of agent data includes information related to types of communication media an agent can access. The data can further include information related to an agent's skills, a list of media routes, statistics for communication channels of specified media types, statistics for an agent, and journals for work items. Priority values for the media routes, the maximum number of queued items for the media routes, and times for escalating a work item can also be included.

Abstract: The present invention provides for efficient monitoring of operator services calls. A packet gateway is provided in association with a telephony switch, such that circuit-switched connections through a switching fabric of the telephony switch are supported by the packet gateway. The packet gateway provides an interface between the switching fabric and a packet network, which supports operator terminals as well as monitor terminals from which interactions between operators and callers may be monitored. Upon setting up the circuit-switched connection for the operator services call, the gateway will establish voice sessions with both the operator terminal and the monitor terminal. The voice sessions with the operator terminal facilitate bi-directional communications with the caller via the circuit-switched connection over the packet fabric. The voice interaction between the caller and operator is provided to the monitor terminal over another voice session for monitoring by the monitor.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for managing use of experts by callers waiting within a hold queue are provided. First, a call on hold in a hold queue is transferred to an expert system responsive to a request by the caller to speak with an expert. Then, responsive to detecting an answer by a party at the expert system, an authentication of the identity of the answering party is required. If the authenticated identity of the answering party matches an expected expert identity, then the call is connected to the expert, such that the expert is required to authenticate an identity before providing service to a call from the hold queue.

Abstract: Multi-media call centers are able to receive incoming contacts or calls in a plurality of different types of medium. For example, as email, fax, chat, web-based and other types of contact. Incoming contacts are routed to one of a plurality of agents. Each agent has one or more skills, for example, a particular agent has knowledge about sales for product X and about technical support for product Y. Associated with each skill is a queue into which incoming calls are placed until an agent with that skill becomes available. Typically further subdivision of these queues is made such that for a particular skill, there is one queue for each possible medium. Often the queues referred to above build up and end user's experience significant waiting times before reaching a call center agent. This leads to dropped calls and customer dissatisfaction. To avoid this customers are able to switch between queues of different media types (but the same skill type) in order to reduce waiting times.

Abstract: A communications system and method, wherein a plurality of communications are received, each having associated classification information, information representing characteristics of at least three potential targets are stored; and an optimum target for each communication based on the communication classification, and target characteristics is determined in a combinatorial optimization. The optimization preferably comprises a cost benefit optimization. Predicted availability of a target may be another optimization factor.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning tasks can receive requested tasks, keep a requested-task queue, keep one or more worker statuses associated with respective workers, and assign the requested tasks from the requested-task queue to selected ones of the workers. In one embodiment, the requested tasks are telephone calls received by a network based contact center, and the workers are telephone agents associated with the network based contact center.

Abstract: The present invention allows a queue management system (QMS) to use presence information from a presence system to efficiently match requestors of information with qualified resources capable of providing the necessary response. The resources for information may be humans or automated systems, which may be configured to facilitate communications with the requestors using different types of communication technologies. Further, these resources may be associated with different skill sets, experience, or areas of expertise. Thus, the resources may provide different roles, and any given resource may provide multiple roles, in addition to facilitating communications using different mediums.

Abstract: Call features for an Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) system implemented within a packet-based telephone environment are disclosed. Within a packet-based network, data messages are transferred between the ACD system and customer telephone stations while the customer waits for an attendant to become available. These data messages allow the customer to be informed of his/her current status within the priority order and further allows the customer to initiate a number of customer oriented operations. These operations include selecting music to listen to while waiting, requesting to be alerted when an attendant becomes available, and initiating a browser session for accessing data information. Overall, the status reports in combination with the initiating of one or more of the customer oriented operations can make the time spent waiting for an attendant a more productive and pleasant experience for the customer.

Abstract: A tiered service model for a digital multimedia contact center assigns an entering contact to an initial service tier based on routing criteria for the contact and may escalate or de-escalate the contact to a different service tier if the routing criteria changes. The routing criteria is initially determined based on a media type associated with the contact. The digital multimedia contact center contains a set of media routers, each of which passes a contact of a particular media type to a workflow engine which executes workflows to direct the processing of contacts at service tiers that require agent activity. Agents are allocated to contacts by a dynamic automate contact distributor and the appropriate media router is used to route the contact to an agent. The workflow engine also executes workflows for agents to control the allocation of agents to contacts.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller while waiting in a hold queue is detected. The advancement token is stored for redemption in a future call by the caller according to an authenticated identifier for the caller, wherein future redemption of the advancement token will cause adjustment of a waiting position. In particular, a caller in the call hold queue may earn advancement tokens by answering questions posed by other callers in the call hold queue, where the questions are answered in a manner such that the other callers do not need additional aid from a representative. In addition, a caller may redeem advancement tokens earned in a previous hold queue while waiting in current hold queue, where the redeemable advancement tokens are accessible across multiple call centers according to the caller identification.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a call when a call recipient is unavailable by using virtual interaction queuing techniques over IP networks are disclosed. The method includes queuing the call in a queue associated with a call center, obtaining a messaging preference of the caller, disconnecting the call, generating at least one IP-based message for the caller according to the caller's messaging preference, and transmitting the at least one IP-based message to the caller over an IP network, so as to begin a virtual interaction between the caller and the call center after the call is disconnected.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamic queuing utilizes a SIP messaging structure within a call center's architecture for interacting with a caller. The method and system can be used for ACD services developed for IP telephony using SIP as the signaling protocol. A SIP subscriber can also interact with an ACD system in the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) work space. In the latter case, a PSTN-to-IP gateway carries the bearer path and call level signaling between the two spaces, and corresponding Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) signaling links are used for linking the ACD specific signaling between the two spaces.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides for receiving a call from a caller, the call being associated with a first merchant; placing the call in a queue; determining a second merchant; and establishing a connection, the connection enabling communication between the caller and the second merchant while the call is in the queue.

Abstract: A method is provided that identifies and categorizes the reason a customer contacts a customer service center, i.e. the customer's goal or problem. In addition, the method allows the customer to be categorized into a set of behavior-based groupings. This integration of goal and customer categorization establishes the foundation to optimally direct the customer's request through an appropriate center. This method can collect information regarding the customer's behavior and can use that behavioral information to determine the optimal manner for handling the customer request.

Abstract: A method and system for providing prioritized access to a messaging system includes receiving at an access controller for a messaging system a request for connection by a user to the messaging system. The access controller determines whether the messaging system is available. The access controller further queues the request if the messaging system is not available.

Abstract: A call processing apparatus (SW) comprises a first queue (Q1) for temporary storage of an incoming call and several parallel second queue systems (Q21–Q23), each corresponding to a different recipient (R1–R3). A recipient selection logic (RS) selects an optimal recipient for the call and terminates it after it has propagated through the first queue. The recipient selection logic then selects a second queue system (Q21–Q23) that corresponds to the selected recipient (R3). Instead of a real call, a virtual call corresponding to the incoming call is placed in the selected second queue system. A callback function (CF) and a call connection (CC) function detect the virtual call's propagation through the second queue system, and establish a callback call to the client (C1), whereby an optimal recipient can be selected for the call and telecommunication resources are not consumed during waiting.

Abstract: An approach for providing interactive voice response services is disclosed. A voice response platform receives a call and generates an automated menu in response. The menu, according to one embodiment, includes an option to transfer the call to an available agent and in response thereto the voice response platform transmits a request for the available agent to an intelligent call router (ICR) over a communications network. The intelligent call router receives the request for the available agent and transmits identification information for the available agent to the voice response platform. The voice response platform then transfers the call to the available agent based on the identification information for the available agent.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for estimating hold queue wait times are provided. Call times are individually estimated for multiple calls within a call center. In particular, call times may be estimated according to representative profiles, caller profiles, and current caller activity of the multiple calls within the call center. The identity of each caller may be authenticated and a caller profile accessed from a central server according to authenticated caller identities. The central server may be accessible to multiple call centers, where each call centers accesses and updates caller profiles according to a single caller identifier for each caller. In addition, call times estimates and factors utilized to calculate call time estimates may be output to a caller, preferably according to an output interface specified by the caller in the caller profile.

Abstract: There is provided, in a first form, a system and method for the holistic presentation of multiple media queue depths, which allows the customer to decide what media channel they want to use to make a call based on resource availability across multiple media. Further, this embodiment allows the call center to “cost” media channel services based on their business rules, salaries, calculated return on relationship, cost of different services, etc.

Abstract: A need exists to provide software support in a simple and effective manner over long periods of time. At the same time there is a need to allow contact centers to route calls appropriately when those calls relate to complex software support queries. This needs to be achieved without requiring complex call routing methods and apparatus at the contact center. The present invention addresses these problems by using software error codes or the like to route calls in a contact center.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the allocation of agents to channels associated with the contact center. In particular, the present invention provides a contact center that allows agents to be efficiently allocated among channels, without requiring centralized control applications. Instead, the contact center of the present invention provides centralized agent and channel information fields to permit coordination between independent channel and agent work station applications. The present invention allows channels to be added to a contact center without requiring extensive modifications to the various components of the contact center.

Abstract: An alert engine module receives an alert for an event in a generic communications format and delivers an alert for the event to a target address in a communications format that is preferred by a user based on the alert content. The generic format can be an e-mail message, such as a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) message. The alert engine can be operative to transform the alert based on a header and/or format of a target address.

Abstract: In a call center having agent stations including personal computers having video display units (PC/VDUs), connected on a LAN with a server tracking status for call center entities, a system for agent information includes a software application executing on individual PC/VDUs at agent stations. The software application draws on status information from the server and renders the information to the agent using the PC/VDU through output apparatus of the PC/VDU. Rendering may be by text, graphics, or audio, depending on such as conditions and user selection.

Abstract: A trigger signal from a remote location can be used to automatically trigger a call from a telecommunications device. The device is preferably a programmable telephone which stores a dialling program which monitors a communications channel for a trigger signal. The user, who may be a call centre customer, selects an option to automatically initiate a call rather than holding for an agent. The call centre system then places a contact request in the call queue alongside identifiers relating to real time holding calls. When the contact request reaches the top of the queue, a trigger signal is sent to the customer's device where it activates the dialling program, causing a call to be made to the call centre. This incoming call is recognised at the call centre as relating to the contact request at the top of the queue and the call is connected directly to an agent, bypassing the other holding calls.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for promoting use of experts to callers waiting within a hold queue are provided. First, use of experts by callers waiting in a hold queue is promoted by offering callers an incentive to speak to an expert while waiting to speak with an official representative. The caller continues to progress in the hold queue while speaking with an expert. In addition, the caller may receive an additional adjustment in the hold queue, a financial incentive, and a rewards points incentive, for interacting with an expert while holding. Second, use of experts by callers waiting in a hold queue is promoted by authenticating the identity of third party experts, in order to verify that an expert has the skills needed to help a caller and to provide the caller with the identity of the expert for accountability.

Abstract: A telephone user who is at a first telephone station and is placed on hold at a second station is prevented from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station. The objectionable audio signal is detected while the call is in process and the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected. In response to detection of the end of the objectionable audio signal, the user is coupled to the second telephone station.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for publishing hold queue characteristics are provided. Characteristics of an on hold system are monitored. Then, responsive to a selection by a caller of a format and interface for publishing the characteristics, the characteristics are transferred to the selected interface in the selected format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing calls in an automatic call distributor. The method includes the steps of learning a set of desired resource relationships for servicing a plurality of call processing load conditions in the automatic call distributor and, afterwards, distributing resources of the automatic call distributor based upon call processor loading and the learned desired set of resource relationships.

Abstract: A computer system and method is disclosed that includes a call queue server that receives incoming calls and routes the calls to a telephone at the agent's workstation only after the agent accepts the request to take the call. A system and method is disclosed that includes a plurality of call queue servers, a queue monitor server, and a plurality of agent workstations, for distributing calls across multiple call center locations. Each call queue server receiving an incoming call sends a notification to the queue monitor server that in turn notifies each of the remaining call queue servers about the call. Each call queue server is thus able to maintain a current view of all activity across multiple call centers.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for managing caller profiles across multiple hold queues according to authenticated caller identifiers are provided. An identity of a caller of a call received at an on hold system is authenticated. The call is then placed in a hold queue. A caller profile associated with the identity of the caller is retrieved, such that services available to the caller while on hold are specified according to the caller profile. In particular, the caller profile is preferably retrieved from at least one caller profile server according to the caller identifier, where the at least one caller profile server is accessible to multiple on hold systems. Further, the identity of a caller may be authenticated by authenticating a voice sample received from the caller, such that a single identity for the caller may be authenticated at multiple call centers.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a call hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller is detected at a calling queue. The position of the caller within the calling queue is adjusted, in response to redemption of the advancement token, such that the caller is allowed control over the position within the calling queue by earning advancement tokens. In particular, a caller may earn advancement tokens by participation in competitions or surveys or by redemption of membership points.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention, a customer of a service provider would be placed in hold while waiting to speak to a customer service representative. The method and system of the invention would recognize the telephone number of the caller using a “caller ID” system. If this call is the first time the caller has ever called, the caller would be presented with an audible listing of listening choices that would include but not be limited to the latest news, the weather (of the caller's location), financial headlines, or a selection of music stations (via cable radio, for example). The caller would then speak or type his/her preference into the keypad and the selection would be played. If the caller does not like the selection, the caller can then speak another selection or type the new selection as many times as the caller prefers. The caller selection is recorded in a caller preference database.