Contact center resource allocation based on work bidding/auction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for allocating work items in a contact center, comprising:
- (a) providing a set of resources operable to service a work item;
(b) requesting at least some of the resources in the set of resources to submit a bid to service the work item;
(c) receiving at least one bid to service the work item; and
(d) based at least in part on the at least one bid, selecting a resource from among the set of resources to service the work item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contact center for servicing a plurality of contacts received from a plurality of customers is provided. The contact center includes:
- (a) a plurality of workstations 15 corresponding to a plurality of resources 14;
- (b) a central server 10 in communication with the plurality of workstations, comprising:
- (i) at least one queue 42, 46 and/or 66 of contacts; and
- (ii) a bid item selecting agent 74 operable to (a) request at least some of the plurality of resources to submit a bid to service at least one contact; (b) receive at least one bid to service the at least one contact; and (c) select a resource from among the plurality of resources to service the at least one contact.
179 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for allocating work items in a contact center, comprising:
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(a) providing a set of resources operable to service a work item;
(b) requesting at least some of the resources in the set of resources to submit a bid to service the work item;
(c) receiving at least one bid to service the work item; and
(d) based at least in part on the at least one bid, selecting a resource from among the set of resources to service the work item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A table maintained in an electronic memory of a contact center, comprising:
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an identity of at least one work item;
at least one bid received for the at least one work item; and
for each received bid;
an identity of a resource placing the bid; and
at least one of a value of the resource and a value of the work item. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A contact center for servicing a plurality of contacts received from a plurality of customers, comprising:
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a plurality of workstations corresponding to a plurality of resources;
a central server in communication with the plurality of workstations, comprising;
at least one queue of contacts; and
a bid item selecting agent operable to (a) request at least some of the plurality of resources to submit a bid to service at least one contact;
(b) receive at least one bid to service the at least one contact; and
(c) select a resource from among the plurality of resources to service the at least one contact. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A contact center for servicing a plurality of contacts received from a plurality of customers, comprising:
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a plurality of workstations corresponding to a plurality of resources;
a server in communication with the plurality of workstations, comprising;
at least one queue of contacts; and
a bid item selecting means for (a) requesting at least some of the plurality of resources to submit a bid to service at least one contact;
(b) receiving at least one bid to service the at least one contact; and
(c) selecting a resource from among the plurality of resources to service the at least one contact. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification