UNIVERSAL WORKFLOW-BASED ROUTING

• US 20070038499A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yahmadi, Imed, Ezerzer, Ran, Aljane, Ali, Seebauer, William, Borodow, Eli, Margulies, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention facilitates the creation and implementation of Workflow Templates and also the designation of linkage between these templates and specific projects dealing with different media type handling. Workflow Templates are used to automatically generate user interface views which will be used by agents, knowledge workers, supervisors and customers. Such Workflow Templates provide the means to create, define and store the name and definition of and “trigger points” for each workflow item. The trigger points for when a document is used are also determined when creating the template. Further, in creating a Workflow Templates the administrator can instruct the system to save scripts associated with the template that can be saved as XML, EDI, JSP, CGI, VXML, etc. so as to be able to automatically generate documents or logic flows consistent with the target media type for the anticipated interactions with customers.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a workflow template comprising the steps of:

creating a workflow template associated with a workflow item, wherein said workflow template defines one or more trigger points for said workflow item; and

linking said workflow template to a project.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more trigger points specifies an action to be taken with respect to said workflow item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of creating a workflow template comprises the step of associating a Web page or VXML code to collect input from a party.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said party is a call center supervisor, call center customer, or a call center agent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said project is selected from the group consisting of:

a phone/IVR project, Web callback project, email project;

chat project; and

a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a workflow template comprises the step of defining one or more routing rules for said workflow item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said routing rules is based on preference as identified by a supervisor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said routing rules is based on preference as identified by an agent or knowledge worker.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a workflow template comprises the step of selecting a presentation for said workflow item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said workflow item comprises a document.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of linking said workflow template to a project comprises the step of selecting an entry point and exit point to be applied to said workflow template.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of linking said workflow template to a project comprises the step of selecting a CGI, JSP, VXML, XML, EDI, or HTML page/script.

13. A method of workflow-based routing comprising the steps of:

executing a workflow template associated with a workflow item and at least one trigger point; and

routing said workflow item in response to activation of said trigger point.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of generating a user interface in response to activation of said trigger point.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of querying input from a party in response to activation of said trigger point.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said trigger point is a key performance indicator trigger.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said trigger point is a trigger for supervisor intervention.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said workflow template is linked to a project dealing with both time varying media and non-time varying media workflow template handling.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said workflow template is associated with a script selected from the group consisting of:

XML, EDI, JSP, CGI, VXML, and a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said trigger point comprises one or more skill-oriented triggers.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of routing said workflow item is dependent on an individual work item preferences.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of routing said workflow item is performed automatically based on an individual work item preference as defined by a supervisor.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of routing said workflow item is dependent on the individual work item preference of a specific agent or knowledge worker.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said preferences are arranged and presented to a workforce as a pick list allowing for selection of preferred work items.

25. A workflow document rendering method comprising the steps of:

storing a workflow template, and

storing database pointer information to render said workflow template.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of associating one or more media types with said workflow template.

27. A system comprising:

a multi-media automatic call distributor for facilitating an interaction, and

a server for routing a document associated with said interaction.

28. A workflow supervisor manager method comprising the steps of:

viewing workflow document and agent performance, and

scoring agent or knowledge worker based on the efficient handling of said workflow item.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of selecting specific said workflow items based on a plurality of search criteria consisting of:

company, customer, agent, knowledge worker, specific workflow item, and a combination thereof.