Web-based network monitoring tool

• US 7,853,005 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leatherman, Bruce Lee, Hahn, Douglas Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/691,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 379/133, 379/136, 379/246, 379/247, 379/265.02, 379/265.09, 379/137, 379/265.03
• US Class Current: 379/265.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5175 Call or contact centers supervision arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A monitoring tool for use with one or more automatic call distributors (ACD) which automatically and continuously polls or queries the ACDs to monitor not only alarm conditions but other conditions, such as agent staffing levels, call answering time, call routing and traffic conditions. Such continuous and automatic monitoring and querying of the ACD in accordance with the present invention is thus able to improve the overall efficiency of such ACDs by improving the service response time of such ACDs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the status records of the ACDs maybe directed to a website, for example, on an enterprise Intranet website to enable any of the company representatives with access rights to access the performance of the ACD network from any location. Other data, such as the trunk inventory record keeping system (TIRKS) may also be displayed on the website to facilitate troubleshooting of alarm conditions. Another aspect of the invention is the ability to provide automatic paging for predetermined alarm status condition.

Claims

1. A method for providing information regarding the status of an automatic call distributor (ACD), the method comprising:

retrieving, by a server, trunk loading data from an ACD; and

responsive to a request from a web browser, providing a web page indicative of at least a portion of the retrieved data to the web browser;

wherein the trunk loading data includes traffic load information pertaining to a trunk group selected from the group of trunk groups consisting of an inbound trunk group and an outbound trunk group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic load information includes percent occupancy information pertaining to the trunk group.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing said web page includes providing a web page including a graphical portion and a text portion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the percent occupancy information is presented in the graphical portion.

5. A method for providing information regarding the status of an automatic call distributor (ACD), the method comprising:

retrieving, by a call management system, trunk loading data from an ACD; and

responsive to a request from a web browser, providing a web page indicative of at least a portion of the retrieved data to the web browser;

wherein providing said web page includes providing a web page including a hyperlink and wherein, responsive to a user selecting the hyperlink, said method further includes providing additional ACD status information to the user.

6. A method for providing information regarding the status of an automatic call distributor (ACD), the method comprising:

retrieving, by a server, trunk loading data from an ACD; and

responsive to a request from a web browser, providing a web page indicative of at least a portion of the retrieved data to the web browser;

wherein trunk loading data includes alarm condition data for alarms associated with the ACD, and wherein the web page is indicative of said alarm conditions and wherein, responsive to determining from the web page that a predetermined alarm condition is asserted, paging an administrator.

7. A method for providing information regarding the status of an automatic call distributor (ACD), the method comprising:

retrieving, by a call management system, trunk loading data from an ACD including traffic load data pertaining to trunk groups associated with the ACD and alarm data indicative of alarms associated with the ACD;

responsive to a request from a web browser, providing a web page indicative of at least a portion of the retrieved data to the web browser.