Electronic message distribution
First Claim
1. An electronic message distributing apparatus for distributing electronic messages from a database to one or more agents, the database storing, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong, the distributing apparatus comprising:
- means for determining, from said database, at least one message class in which an electronic message is deemed to belong;
means for selecting, from a directory of one or more agents, an agent that has a capability to process electronic messages that belong to said at least one message class by providing a response in respect of said at least one message class;
means for causing said electronic message to be rendered to said selected agent for processing thereby; and
means for receiving from said selected agent a signal indicating that said electronic message is processed and that a response to said message is provided in respect of said at least one message class;
wherein, upon receipt of said signal, the distributing apparatus is arranged to determine, from said database, if said set includes one or more message classes in respect of which said electronic message is not processed and, in response to determining that said electronic message has not been processed in respect of one or more message classes in said set, is arranged to select a further agent to which to cause said electronic message to be rendered, which further agent has a capability to process messages which belong to one or more of said unprocessed message classes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to the distribution of electronic messages which fall within one or more message classes or categories. One aspect of the invention provides an electronic message distributing apparatus for distributing electronic messages from a database to one or more agents, the database storing, in respect of each electronic message to be distributes, a set of one or more message classes into which the message is deemed to belong. The apparatus causes the message to be rendered to one or more agents in succession, each having the capability to deal with one or more of the message classes in said set, until the message is processed in respect of all message classes for which there is a capable agent. The invention removes the onus on individual agents to forward messages to other agents if they cannot deal with all aspects of a message themselves. This reduces the likelihood that an inadequate response is sent to the customer.
71 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An electronic message distributing apparatus for distributing electronic messages from a database to one or more agents, the database storing, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong, the distributing apparatus comprising:
-
means for determining, from said database, at least one message class in which an electronic message is deemed to belong;
means for selecting, from a directory of one or more agents, an agent that has a capability to process electronic messages that belong to said at least one message class by providing a response in respect of said at least one message class;
means for causing said electronic message to be rendered to said selected agent for processing thereby; and
means for receiving from said selected agent a signal indicating that said electronic message is processed and that a response to said message is provided in respect of said at least one message class;
wherein, upon receipt of said signal, the distributing apparatus is arranged to determine, from said database, if said set includes one or more message classes in respect of which said electronic message is not processed and, in response to determining that said electronic message has not been processed in respect of one or more message classes in said set, is arranged to select a further agent to which to cause said electronic message to be rendered, which further agent has a capability to process messages which belong to one or more of said unprocessed message classes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An electronic message processing system for distributing electronic messages amongst a plurality of agents, the system comprising:
-
a database arranged to store, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong; and
a directory of one or more agents, said directory including, in respect of each agent, a set of one or more message classes in respect of which the respective agent has a capability of dealing with electronic messages;
a distributing apparatus arranged to distribute electronic messages to one or more of said agents, the distributing apparatus comprising;
means for determining, from said database, at least one message class in which an electronic message is deemed to belong;
means for selecting, from said directory, an agent that has a capability to process electronic messages that belong to said at least one message class by providing a response in respect of said at least one message class;
means for causing said electronic message to be rendered to said selected agent for processing thereby; and
means for receiving from said selected agent a signal indicating that said electronic message is processed and that a response to said message is provided in respect of said at least one message class;
wherein, upon receipt of said signal, the distributing apparatus is arranged to determine, from said database, if said set includes one or more message classes in respect of which said electronic message is not processed and, in response to determining that said electronic message has not been processed in respect of one or more message classes in said set, is arranged to select a further agent to which to cause said electronic message to be rendered, which further agent has a capability to process messages which belong to one or more of said unprocessed message classes. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. In an electronic message processing system for distributing electronic messages amongst a plurality of agents, the system comprising:
- a database arranged to store, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong; and
a directory of one or more agents, said directory including, in respect of each agent, a set of one or more message classes in respect of which the respective agent has a capability of dealing with electronic messages, a method of processing electronic messages, the method comprising;determining, from said database, at least one message class in which an electronic message is deemed to belong;
selecting, from said directory, an agent that has a capability to process electronic messages that belong to said at least one message class by providing a response in respect of said at least one message class;
causing said electronic message to be rendered to said selected agent for processing thereby;
receiving from said selected agent a signal indicating that said electronic message is processed and that a response to said message is provided in respect of said at least one message class;
determining, upon receipt of said signal, if said set includes one or more message classes in respect of which said electronic message is not processed;
selecting, in response to determining that said electronic message has not been processed in respect of one or more message classes in said set, a further agent to which to cause said electronic message to be rendered, which further agent has a capability to process messages which belong to one or more of said unprocessed message classes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a database arranged to store, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong; and
-
30. A computer program product comprising computer program code stored on a computer usable storage medium for, when executed on a computer system, processing electronic messages in an electronic message processing system for distributing electronic messages amongst a plurality of agents, the system comprising:
- a database arranged to store, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong; and
a directory of one or more agents, said directory including, in respect of each agent, a set of one or more message classes in respect of which the respective agent has a capability of dealing with electronic messages, a method of processing electronic messages, the method comprising;determining, from said database, at least one message class in which an electronic message is deemed to belong;
selecting, from said directory, an agent that has a capability to process electronic messages that belong to said at least one message class by providing a response in respect of said at least one message class;
causing said electronic message to be rendered to said selected agent for processing thereby;
receiving from said selected agent a signal indicating that said electronic message is processed and that a response to said message is provided in respect of said at least one message class;
determining, upon receipt of said signal, if said set includes one or more message classes in respect of which said electronic message is not processed;
selecting, in response to determining that said electronic message has not been processed in respect of one or more message classes in said set, a further agent to which to cause said electronic message to be rendered, which further agent has a capability to process messages which belong to one or more of said unprocessed message classes.
- a database arranged to store, in respect of each electronic message to be distributed, a set of one or more message classes into which the respective electronic message is deemed to belong; and
Specification