Methods and apparatus for determining measures of agent-related occupancy in a call center
First Claim
1. A method of determining an occupancy measure for an agent in a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent, the at least one value comprising one or more of (i) a non-zero initial occupancy value, and (ii) a limit specifying a maximum effect on the occupancy measure determination of a designated activity that may be performed by the agent; and
generating an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A call center is configured to include a capability for generating measures of occupancy for one or more agents. At least one value characterizing an occupancy measure determination for a given agent is stored in a memory associated with the call center, and used in generating an occupancy measure for that agent. In an illustrative embodiment, a set of stored values for the given agent includes an initial occupancy value for the agent, expressed in terms of a percentage. The occupancy measure for the agent may then be set to the initial occupancy value upon a log-in by the agent, so as to avoid undue oscillation in the occupancy measure after log-in. The set of stored values for the given agent may also include, for example, a limit which specifies a maximum amount of time for a designated activity which is to be considered as occupied time in generating the occupancy measure, or a limit which specifies a maximum effect of a designated activity in generating the occupancy measure. The designated activity may be, for example, after call work or auxiliary work performed by the agent.
76 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of determining an occupancy measure for an agent in a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent, the at least one value comprising one or more of (i) a non-zero initial occupancy value, and (ii) a limit specifying a maximum effect on the occupancy measure determination of a designated activity that may be performed by the agent; and
generating an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for processing communications in a call center, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent, the at least one value comprising one or more of (i) a non-zero initial occupancy value, and (ii) a limit specifying a maximum effect on the occupancy measure determination of a designated activity that may be performed by the agent; and
a processor coupled to the memory and operative to generate an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An article of manufacture containing software which, when executed in a processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:
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storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for an agent in a call center, the at least one value comprising one or more of (i) a non-zero initial occupancy value, and (ii) a limit specifying a maximum effect on the occupancy measure determination of a designated activity that may be performed by the agent; and
generating an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value.
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31. A method of determining an occupancy measure for an agent in a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent; and
generating an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value;
wherein the storing step includes storing the at least one value for a designated activity performed by the agent, the designated activity being a designated type of non-call activity performed by the agent, and wherein the designated type of non-call activity includes at least one of after call work performed by the agent, auxiliary work performed by the agent, a training session attended by the agent, a meeting attended by the agent, and a scheduled break taken by the agent.
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32. An apparatus for processing communications in a call center, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent; and
a processor coupled to the memory and operative to generate an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value;
wherein the at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent includes at least one value for a designated activity performed by the agent, the designated activity being a designated type of non-call activity performed by the agent, and wherein the designated type of non-call activity includes at least one of after call work performed by the agent, auxiliary work performed by the agent, a training session attended by the agent, a meeting attended by the agent, and a scheduled break taken by the agent.
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33. A method of determining an occupancy measure for an agent in a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent; and
generating an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value;
wherein the storing step includes storing, for each activity in a set of activities that the agent engages in, an indicator of a corresponding portion of that activity which may be designated as at least one of work time, idle time, and ignored time in computation of the occupancy measure.
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34. An apparatus for processing communications in a call center, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing at least one value characterizing at least a portion of an occupancy measure determination for the agent; and
a processor coupled to the memory and operative to generate an occupancy measure for the agent based on the at least one value;
wherein the memory stores, for each activity in a set of activities that the agent engages in, an indicator of a corresponding portion of that activity which may be designated as at least one of work time, idle time, and ignored time in computation of the occupancy measure.
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Specification