Network based predictive dialing
First Claim
1. A system for initiating a plurality of information communication contacts from a centralized location, said information communication contacts being directed to a plurality of predetermined target addresses, said system comprising:
- means for receiving, at said centralized location, a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target addresses and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target addresses;
means for initiating said information communication contacts to said plurality of target addresses from said centralized location;
means for storing information associated with said communication initiation;
means for identifying a plurality of general purpose communication devices located geographically distant from said centralized location as at least one group of agent devices; and
means for providing information communication between a contacted one of said plurality of target addresses and one or more agent devices from said group of agent devices, said information communication adapted to allow said one or more agent devices to communicate through said system with said contacted one of said plurality of target addresses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for predictive dialing from a centralized or network based apparatus available to calling agents geographically separated from both the apparatus and other agents. A user communicates call management information via a network connection to a predictive dialing apparatus to configure the apparatus for the user'"'"'s particular needs. Thereafter the apparatus may instigate a calling campaign unattended, utilizing technology such as interactive voice response, or upon calling agents connecting to the apparatus. Agents connecting to the apparatus do so utilizing various network connections and network elements. The apparatus communicates call management information as well as call statistics to the user via a network connection.
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Citations
89 Claims
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1. A system for initiating a plurality of information communication contacts from a centralized location, said information communication contacts being directed to a plurality of predetermined target addresses, said system comprising:
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means for receiving, at said centralized location, a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target addresses and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target addresses; means for initiating said information communication contacts to said plurality of target addresses from said centralized location; means for storing information associated with said communication initiation; means for identifying a plurality of general purpose communication devices located geographically distant from said centralized location as at least one group of agent devices; and means for providing information communication between a contacted one of said plurality of target addresses and one or more agent devices from said group of agent devices, said information communication adapted to allow said one or more agent devices to communicate through said system with said contacted one of said plurality of target addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for initiating a plurality of information communication contacts with a plurality of target addresses, said system comprising:
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call management means for storing a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target addresses and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target addresses; predictive dialing means for initiating said information communication contacts to said plurality of target addresses, said predictive dialing means being coupled to said call management means to provide information communication therebetween; and a first network means for providing information communication between said system and one or more agents located geographically distant from said system, said information communication provided by said first network means adapted to allow said one or more agents to communicate through said system using ones of a plurality of general purpose communications devices. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for initiating a communication to a plurality of predetermined addresses, said system comprising:
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means for receiving a set of parameters including said plurality of predetermined addresses and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of predetermined addresses; means for initiating said communication to said plurality of predetermined addresses, said initiating means being coupled to said receiving means to provide information communication therebetween; and a first network means for providing information communication between said system and one or more management network elements located geographically distant from said system, said management network elements for transmission of said parameters. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for initiating a plurality of information communication contacts from a centralized location, said information communication contacts being directed to a plurality of predetermined target addresses, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at least centralized location, a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target addresses and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target addresses; initiating said information communication contacts to said plurality of target addresses from said centralized location; storing information associated with said communication initiation; and providing information communication between contacted ones of said plurality of target addresses and one or more agents located geographically distant from said centralized location, said information communication adapted to allow said one or more agents to communicate through said system using a general purpose communication device. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A networked system for initiating a plurality of outbound information communication contacts directed to a plurality of predetermined target network elements connectable to said system through a network, ones of said communication contacts to be handled by one or more agent network elements connected to said system through said network, said system comprising:
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a centralized communication apparatus comprising; call management means for receiving a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target network elements and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target network elements, said call management means also for generating communication information comprising information associated with said system initiating contact with said plurality of target network elements; and communication means for initiating said outbound information communication contacts to said plurality of target network elements, said communication means being in information communication with said call management means, said communication means adapted for interfacing said one or more agent network elements and contacted one of said predetermined plurality of target network elements; at least one call management network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said call management network element for communicating a set of communication parameters to said call management means through said network; at least one agent network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said at least one agent network element comprising a general purpose information communication device, said agent network element for information communication with at least one target network element of said plurality of target network elements, said agent network element also for information communication with said communication apparatus; and at least one target network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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Specification