Customer support using managed real-time communities

• US 20070291737A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvaria Cayman
• Original Assignee: Aspect Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Mohan, PrabhuRam
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5125 with remote located operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5233 Operator skill based call distribution

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for routing a call received by an organization. The method includes the steps of determining a subject matter of the received call, routing the call to an agent of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call and routing the call to a client of the organization when an agent of the organization is not available.

Claims

1. A method of routing a call received by an organization comprising:

determining a subject matter of the received call;

routing the call to an agent of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call; and

routing the call to a client that is qualified to handle the call of the organization when an agent of the organization is not available.

2. The method of routing calls as in claim 1 further comprising determining whether a qualified agent is available.

3. The method of routing calls as in claim 1 wherein the step of determining that a agent is not available further comprises comparing a time in queue with a threshold value.

4. The method of routing calls as in claim 1 wherein the step of routing the call to the client further comprises identifying a client qualified to service the call from a plurality of clients of the organization.

5. The method of routing calls as in claim 4 wherein the step of identifying the client further comprises searching an employee skills list of each of the plurality of clients based upon the determined subject matter of the call.

6. The method of routing calls as in claim 5 wherein the step of searching the employee skills list further comprises selecting an employee of the client to receive the call by matching a set of skills of the employee with the subject matter of the call.

7. The method of routing calls as in claim 6 further comprising determining a location of the selected employee.

8. The method of routing calls as in claim 7 wherein the step of determining a location of the employee further comprises detecting an Internet presence of the selected employee.

9. The method of routing calls as in claim 7 wherein the step of determining a location of the employee further comprises detecting a telephone presence of the selected employee.

10. The method of routing calls as in claim 7 wherein the step of detecting a telephone presence of the selected employee further comprises sending a text message to a telephone of the employee notifying the employee of the call.

11. The method of routing calls as in claim 7 further comprising routing the call to the detected location of the selected employee.

12. An apparatus for routing a call received by an organization comprising:

means for determining a subject matter of the received call;

means for routing the call to an agent of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call; and

means for routing the call to a client of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is not available.

13. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 12 further comprising means for determining whether a qualified agent is available.

14. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 12 wherein the means for determining that a qualified agent is not available further comprises means for comparing a time in queue with a threshold value.

15. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 12 wherein the means for routing the call to the client further comprises means for identifying a client qualified to service the call from a plurality of clients of the organization.

16. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 15 wherein the means for identifying the client further comprises means for searching an employee skills list of each of the plurality of clients based upon the determined subject matter of the call.

17. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 16 wherein the means for searching the employee skills list further comprises means for selecting an employee of the client to receive the call by matching a set of skills of the employee with the subject matter of the call.

18. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 17 further comprising means for determining a location of the selected employee.

19. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 18 wherein the means for determining a location of the employee further comprises means for detecting an Internet presence of the selected employee.

20. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 18 wherein the means for determining a location of the employee further comprises means for detecting a telephone presence of the selected employee.

21. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 18 wherein the means for detecting a telephone presence of the selected employee further comprises means for sending a text message to a telephone of the employee notifying the employee of the call.

22. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 18 further comprising means for routing the call to the detected location of the selected employee.

23. An apparatus for routing a call received by an organization comprising:

a call processor that determines a subject matter of the received call;

a call assignment processor that routes the call to an agent of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is available to handle the call and that routes the call to a client of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is not available.

24. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 23 further comprising a timing processor that determines that an agent is not available when a time value exceeds a threshold value.

25. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 23 further comprising a client skills list that identifies a client qualified to service the call from a plurality of clients of the organization.

26. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 25 further comprising a matching processor that searches an employee skills list of each of the plurality of clients based upon the determined subject matter of the call.

27. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 26 further comprising a client availability list that determines a location of the selected employee.

28. The apparatus for routing calls as in claim 27 further comprising a text message that is sent to a telephone of the employee notifying the employee of the call.