Emergency call load management for call centers
First Claim
1. A network-level transaction load-handling system, comprising:
- routing intelligence in a network for receiving, processing, prioritizing and routing incoming transactions to a destination; and
at least one intelligent peripheral in the network communicating with the routing intelligence for negotiating with a transaction initiator to ascertain priority of the transaction;
characterized in that the routing intelligence monitors transaction loading for individual destinations, and transactions are prioritized or otherwise selectively processed using specific programmed rules based upon a specific input provided to the routing unit with or following the transaction, and selected transactions determined to have priority based upon the input and programmed rules are routed to their original destinations, and further characterized in that transaction selection and prioritization may be at least partly based on negotiation with the transaction initiator by the at least one network-level intelligent peripheral.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An emergency call load handling system in a call network has an interactive voice response (IVR) unit associated with a switching apparatus to which calls may be diverted in special conditions, such as during emergencies or disasters when calls to certain destinations may suddenly increase dramatically. Calls are diverted depending on call destination and/or pre-programmed triggers, such as a call load threshold experienced by the switching apparatus or for a specific destination. The IVR unit in some cases negotiates with callers for priority to further route calls, and may play pre-recorded messages. Low priority calls are typically disposed of to for fire stations, hospitals, government emergency handling centers and the like. In some cases rules may be amended in real time by use of data network connections between call centers and the SCPs involved.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A network-level transaction load-handling system, comprising:
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routing intelligence in a network for receiving, processing, prioritizing and routing incoming transactions to a destination; and at least one intelligent peripheral in the network communicating with the routing intelligence for negotiating with a transaction initiator to ascertain priority of the transaction; characterized in that the routing intelligence monitors transaction loading for individual destinations, and transactions are prioritized or otherwise selectively processed using specific programmed rules based upon a specific input provided to the routing unit with or following the transaction, and selected transactions determined to have priority based upon the input and programmed rules are routed to their original destinations, and further characterized in that transaction selection and prioritization may be at least partly based on negotiation with the transaction initiator by the at least one network-level intelligent peripheral. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A transaction load-handling system, comprising:
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routing intelligence in a network for receiving, processing, prioritizing and routing incoming transactions; one or more subscribing destinations connected by one or more communication links to the routing intelligence; and at least one intelligent peripheral in the network communicating with the routing intelligence; wherein the routing intelligence in communication with the at least one intelligent peripheral monitors transaction loading at the subscribing destinations and negotiates with an initiating party and transactions are prioritized or otherwise selected based on pre-set load thresholds set for each of the one or more destinations, selected transactions are prioritized by the routing intelligence based on specific programmed rules and negotiation with, and input provided by the initiating party, selected transactions determined to have high priority are forwarded to their intended destinations, and transactions having low priority are not forwarded to their intended destinations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for handling transaction loading by network routing intelligence, comprising steps of:
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(a) programming routing criteria for individual subscribing destination points in in routing intelligence in a network; (b) screening transactions for selection and prioritization by monitoring transaction loading for each of the subscribing destinations and prioritizing based on pre-set load thresholds for individual ones of the destinations, and diverting calls when the load thresholds are met; (c) negotiating with, and soliciting input from an initiating party by the routing intelligence; (d) prioritizing the transaction based on the provided input and programmed routing criteria; and (e) forwarding high priority transactions to their destinations and not forwarding low priority transactions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification