Systems and methods for managing inbound calls and outbound calls for a specific agent
First Claim
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1. A method for managing inbound calls and outbound calls for a specific agent of a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining whether the specific agent is available to handle an inbound call or an outbound call;
(b) detecting, by a telephony server, whether a received inbound call by the call center from a caller is available for the specific agent to handle; and
(c) after determining the specific agent is available and detecting there is no received inbound call available for the specific agent to handle;
(1) associating the specific agent, by the telephony server, with a plurality of outbound calls placed from the call center to a plurality of called parties;
(2) after detecting one of the plurality of outbound calls has been answered and the specific agent is still available, routing the one of the plurality of outbound calls to the specific agent to handle; and
(3) detecting, by the telephony server, a subsequent inbound call has been received by the call center from a further caller following the step of associating the specific agent with the plurality of outbound calls;
(4) after detecting the subsequent inbound call, determining whether the specific agent is available;
(5) routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent to handle if the specific agent is available;
(6) placing the subsequent inbound call in a queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is not available; and
(7) after routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent and while the specific agent is handling the subsequent inbound call;
(a) detecting, by the telephony server, a subsequent outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls that has been answered; and
(b) placing the subsequent outbound call in the queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is not available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing calls, both inbound and outbound, for available agents over a plurality of lines, where each call received or placed is pre-identified to be connected to one specific agent and upon the automatic detection of the call being received or answered, the call is either connected to the specific agent or placed in a queue for that specific agent.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for managing inbound calls and outbound calls for a specific agent of a call center, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining whether the specific agent is available to handle an inbound call or an outbound call; (b) detecting, by a telephony server, whether a received inbound call by the call center from a caller is available for the specific agent to handle; and (c) after determining the specific agent is available and detecting there is no received inbound call available for the specific agent to handle; (1) associating the specific agent, by the telephony server, with a plurality of outbound calls placed from the call center to a plurality of called parties; (2) after detecting one of the plurality of outbound calls has been answered and the specific agent is still available, routing the one of the plurality of outbound calls to the specific agent to handle; and (3) detecting, by the telephony server, a subsequent inbound call has been received by the call center from a further caller following the step of associating the specific agent with the plurality of outbound calls; (4) after detecting the subsequent inbound call, determining whether the specific agent is available; (5) routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent to handle if the specific agent is available; (6) placing the subsequent inbound call in a queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is not available; and (7) after routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent and while the specific agent is handling the subsequent inbound call; (a) detecting, by the telephony server, a subsequent outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls that has been answered; and (b) placing the subsequent outbound call in the queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is not available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for managing inbound calls and outbound calls for a specific agent of a call center, the computer-executable instructions being configured, when executed by at least one computer processor, to:
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(a) determine whether the specific agent is available to handle an inbound call or an outbound call; (b) detect whether a received inbound call by the call center from a caller is available for the specific agent to handle; and (c) after determining the specific agent is available and detecting there is no received inbound call for the specific agent to handle; (1) associate the specific agent with a plurality of outbound calls placed from the call center to a plurality of called parties; (2) after detecting one of the plurality of outbound calls has been answered and the specific agent is still available, route the one of the plurality of outbound calls to the specific agent to handle; (3) detect a subsequent inbound call has been received by the call center from a further caller following associating the specific agent with the plurality of outbound calls; (4) after detecting the subsequent inbound call, determine whether the specific agent is available; (5) route the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent to handle if the specific agent is determined to be available; (6) place the subsequent inbound call in a queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is determined not to be available; and (7) after routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent and while the specific agent is handling the subsequent inbound call; (a) detect a subsequent outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls that has been answered; and (b) place the subsequent outbound call in the queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is determined not to be available. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for managing a specific agent of a call center, the system comprising:
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a telephony server configured to; (a) determine whether the specific agent is available to handle an inbound call or an outbound call; (b) detect whether a received inbound call by the call center from a caller is available for the specific agent to handle; and (c) after determining the specific agent is available and detecting there is not the received inbound call for the specific agent to handle; (1) associate the specific agent with a plurality of outbound calls placed from the call center to a plurality of called parties; (2) after detecting one of the plurality of outbound calls has been answered and the specific agent is still available, instruct an automatic call distributor to route the one of the plurality of outbound calls to the specific agent to handle; (3) detect a subsequent inbound call has been received by the call center from a further caller following associating the specific agent with the plurality of outbound calls; (4) after detecting the subsequent inbound call, determine whether the specific agent is available; (5) instruct the automatic call distributor to route the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent to handle if the specific agent is determined to be available; (6) instruct the automatic call distributor to place the subsequent inbound call in a queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is determined not to be available; and (7) after routing the subsequent inbound call to the specific agent and while the specific agent is handling the subsequent inbound call; (a) detect a subsequent outbound call of the plurality of outbound calls that has been answered; and (b) instruct the automatic call distributor to place the subsequent outbound call in the queue associated with the specific agent if the specific agent is determined not to be available. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification