Method and apparatus for automatically distributing calls to available logged-in call handling agents
First Claim
1. An automatic call distribution system, comprising:
- a public telephone network including a public telephone switch;
a first set of call receiving agents associated with a first common service entity, each agent having a telephone connected to the public telephone network and a computer terminal;
a controller for initially receiving a call directed to the first common service entity and automatically establishing without using a telephone switch other than the public telephone switch a direct telephone connection between the public telephone switch and the selected agent'"'"'s telephone for the call between the telephone network and one of the agents,wherein after establishing the telephone connection, the controller is not included in the direct telephone connection; and
a data link separate from the public telephone network providing data communications between each of the agent computer terminals and with the controller;
wherein each agent that previously logged-on with the controller indicates availability to handle calls by entering an availability command on the computer terminal and sending the entered availability command over the data link to the controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic call distribution system includes plural call receiving agents associated with a service entity, each of which has conventional telephone access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A call center controller initially receives a caller communication from the PSTN intended for the service entity and selects one of the call receiving agents to handle the caller communication based on agent availability. The call center controller coordinates the establishment of a direct communications path for that call between the PSTN and the selected agent which is independent of the call center controller. In other words, after setting up the direct call connection, the call center controller is not an intermediary to or otherwise involved in the actual communication between the caller and the agent. Significantly, the call center controller establishes the direct call connection between the incoming call and a selected available call handling agent without the need for a separate private branch exchange (PBX) or automatic call distribution (ACD) switch.
289 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An automatic call distribution system, comprising:
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a public telephone network including a public telephone switch; a first set of call receiving agents associated with a first common service entity, each agent having a telephone connected to the public telephone network and a computer terminal; a controller for initially receiving a call directed to the first common service entity and automatically establishing without using a telephone switch other than the public telephone switch a direct telephone connection between the public telephone switch and the selected agent'"'"'s telephone for the call between the telephone network and one of the agents, wherein after establishing the telephone connection, the controller is not included in the direct telephone connection; and a data link separate from the public telephone network providing data communications between each of the agent computer terminals and with the controller; wherein each agent that previously logged-on with the controller indicates availability to handle calls by entering an availability command on the computer terminal and sending the entered availability command over the data link to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic call distribution system, comprising:
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a public telephone network including a public telephone switch; a first set of call receiving agents associated with a common service entity, each agent having a telephone connected to the public telephone network and a computer terminal; a controller for initially receiving a call directed to the common service entity and automatically establishing using the public telephone switch a direct telephone connection between the public telephone switch and the selected agent'"'"'s telephone for the call between the telephone network and one of the agents, wherein after establishing the telephone connection, the controller is not included in the direct telephone connection; and a data link separate from the public telephone network providing data communications between each of the agent computer terminals and with the controller; wherein each agent that previously logged-on with the controller indicates availability to handle calls by entering an availability command on the computer terminal and sending the entered availability command over the data link to the controller, and wherein the available agent initiates transfer of the call to another of the agents by requesting over the data link a call transfer at the public telephone switch to the telephone number of the another agent.
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11. A method for automatically distributing calls to a plurality of call handling agents each having a telephone connected to a public telecommunications network including a public telephone switch and a computer terminal, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data network separate from the public telecommunications network connecting each of the computer terminals thereby permitting data communications between the computer terminals over the data network; routing a call from a customer to a first common service entity from the public telecommunications network to a call server computer connected to the public telephone switch and to the data network; after logging in with the call server computer, each logged-in agent indicating availability to handle calls by entering an availability command on the agent'"'"'s computer terminal and transmitting the entered availability command over the data network to the call server computer; the call server computer selecting an available, logged-in call handling agent associated with the first common service entity for handling the call in response to the availability command transmitted over the data network; the call server computer requesting the public telephone switch to route the call to the selected call agent; in response to the call server computer request, the public telephone switch establishing an independent communications path between the selected call agent and the customer that does not include the call server computer or a telephone switch other than the public telephone switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification