Method for operating a call-centre

• US 7,483,527 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Kunkel, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US10/507,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265.02, 37926503- 14, 379/266
• US Class Current: 379/265.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

In a call-centre, external telephone calls form customers are distributed to terminals so that they can be answered by agents. The invention relates to a method for operating a call-centre, wherein an external call is initially connected to a free terminal. If an interruption in the conversation occurs, a message recorded by the agent is stored and the connection is allocated automatically. The call is transferred to a separate waiting line. The caller can initialise a new connection to a free terminal i.e. to the same terminal or to a different agent. During the new connection, the message belonging to the waiting connection is automatically played back, whereby the interrupted conversation with the client can be continued in a problem free manner. The inventive method increases the productivity of the call-centres without changing the high level of service.

Claims

1. A method for operating a call center, wherein incoming external telephone calls by callers are automatically distributed to terminals to be answered by call center agents, comprising the process steps:

connecting an external call to a free terminal of an agent;

forwarding the call to a separate hold line, if an acoustic pause occurs, the length of which either the agent no longer wants to tolerate or which is no longer accepted by the call center system;

storing a message created by the agent concerning content of the call between the caller and the agent at the same time or shortly before the call is forwarded;

automatically assigning the stored message to the existing connection;

renewing connection of the held call to a free terminal of an agent after the caller is ready to continue the call; and

playing the stored message assigned to the held connection at the agent'"'"'s terminal in such a way that the message is audible only for the agent.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of storing comprises saving the agent'"'"'s message as an audio file, and the step of playing comprises playing the stored message back acoustically.

3. The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein the stored message is played back automatically immediately prior to establishing the renewed connection to a terminal.

4. The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein the separate hold line is connected to an interactive voice response, so that the renewed connection to a terminal can be initialized by the external caller.

5. The process of claim 1 or 2, wherein the external call is initially connected to a first terminal of a first agent and the held connection is transferred from the hold line to a second terminal of a second agent.