Virtual call center
First Claim
1. A method of providing call center functionality at a representative station, the representative station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a data communications link between a system computer and the station computer;
receiving computer log-in information from the station computer via the data communications link;
establishing a voice communications link between the station telephone and a telecommunications switch;
receiving telephone log-in information from the station telephone via the voice communications link;
establishing a link between the system computer and the switch such that call control commands provided from the station computer are transmitted to the switch via the system computer to control telephone calls that are received at the switch.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Call center functions are provided to a plurality of remotely located customer service representatives (CSRs) via a data network, such as the Internet. Each CSR station includes a telephone and a computer. Separate log-in procedures for the computer and the telephone improve system security. Incoming calls are routed to an available CSR. A call control server provides call control pages that include a set of clickable commands (e.g., transfer, hold, conference, speed-dial buttons, and the like) and telephone digits to CSR computers that allow CSRs to remotely control telephone calls. A merchant server can also provide a merchant application page to CSR computers to allow CSRs to process customer calls.
367 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of providing call center functionality at a representative station, the representative station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data communications link between a system computer and the station computer; receiving computer log-in information from the station computer via the data communications link; establishing a voice communications link between the station telephone and a telecommunications switch; receiving telephone log-in information from the station telephone via the voice communications link; establishing a link between the system computer and the switch such that call control commands provided from the station computer are transmitted to the switch via the system computer to control telephone calls that are received at the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15)
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12. A method of providing call center functionality at a representative station the representative station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data communications link between a system computer and the station computer; receiving computer log-in information from the station computer via the data communications link; establishing a voice communications link between the station telephone and a telecommunications switch by sending a signal from the system computer to the switch based on said step of receiving computer log-in information said signal requesting the switch to place a call to the station telephone; and placing a call from the switch to the station telephone; receiving telephone log-in information from the station telephone via the voice communications link; establishing a link between the system computer and the switch such that call control commands provided from the station computer are transmitted to the switch via the system computer to control telephone calls that are received at the switch.
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16. A method of providing call center functionality at a representative station, the representative station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data communications link between a system computer and the station computer; receiving computer log-in information from the station computer via the data communications link; establishing a voice communications link between the station telephone and a telecommunications switch; receiving telephone log-in information from the station telephone via the voice communications link by placing a telephone call to the station telephone;
prompting a person answering the call to provide a telephone password;receiving the telephone password; comparing the received telephone password to a list of one or more authorized telephone passwords; permitting the station telephone to receive telephone calls received at the switch if the received telephone password is an authorized telephone password; establishing a link between the system computer and the switch such that call control commands provided from the station computer are transmitted to the switch via the system computer to control telephone calls that are received at the switch.
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17. A method of processing a telephone call at one of a plurality of remote stations, each remote station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an incoming telephone call at a telecommunications switch; identifying an available authenticated station to process the received call; forwarding the received call to the telephone of the identified station; sending a call control page to the computer of the identified station, said call control page including a plurality of selectable call control commands; receiving a signal from the identified station corresponding to an actuated call control command; and controlling the received call based on the signal corresponding to the actuated call control command. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of providing remote call center functionality at a remote station, the station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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using the station computer to log-in to a call control server via a data communications link; using the station telephone to log-in to a telecommunications switch via a voice communications link; receiving a telephone call at the switch; selecting the remote station from one or more stations to receive the call; transferring the call to the station telephone; sending a call control page from the call control server to the station computer, the call control page including one or more selectable call control commands; and actuating one of the call control commands on the call control web page, a signal corresponding to the actuated command being provided from the station computer to the switch via the call control server to control the received call. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of processing a telephone call at one of a plurality of remote stations, each remote station including a computer and a telephone, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an incoming telephone call at a telecommunications switch; answering the call and prompting the caller to provide information; storing information received from said caller; identifying an available station to process the received call; sending a signal to a merchant server indicating that the received call will be forwarded to the computer of the identified station, said signal including the address of the computer of the identified station; forwarding the received call to the telephone of the identified station; sending one or more pages, including at least some of said information received from said caller, from the merchant server to the computer of the identified station based on the the address of the computer; sending a call control web page from a call control server to the computer of the identified station; actuating a call control command in the call control web page, a signal corresponding to said actuated command being forwarded to the switch to control the received call. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of providing secure communications between a system and a user station, the user station including a telephone and a computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a data link between the station computer and a data server; authenticating the user via computer; placing a call to the station telephone in response to said step of authenticating; authenticating the user by telephone; providing information to the user via telephone or via said data link only if the user has been authenticated by computer and by telephone. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification