Method and apparatus for processing web calls in a web call center

• US 8,380,783 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Jones, Bryce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BURGESS, BARBARA N
• Application Number:
  US09/477,991
• Time in Patent Office: 4,794 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/226, 709/227, 709/231, 709/206, 709/204, 379/265.09, 379/265.01, 379/265.02, 370/270, 370/352, 370/386
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing

Abstract

A web call server provides call processing for web calls. The call processing for web calls comprises routing, queuing, and/or provision of web service applications. For routing, the web call server receives a call request message. In response to receiving the call request message, the web call server identifies a web call center resource. The web call server then generates and transmits a routing instruction to route the web call to the web call center resource. For queuing, the web call server receives a call request message for a web call. The web call server then determines whether any web call center resource is available to handle the web call in response to receiving the call request message. The web call server then transfers a web call indicator to a web call queue in response to the determination that all web call center resources are unavailable. For web service applications, the web call server receives a call request message for the web call. The web call server then identifies the web service application for the web call. After identifying the web service application, the web call server generates and transmits an instruction to provide the web service application to the web call.

Claims

1. A method of operating a call server for routing voice calls to a plurality of call center resources in a call center the method comprising:

receiving a voice call originating from a user device including a cookie;

processing the cookie from the user device to select a first call center resource;

generating a routing instruction indicating a first route for the voice call originating from the user device to the first call center resource; and

transferring the routing instruction to be used when routing the voice call from the user device to the first call center resource over which voice communications will be exchanged.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a redirect instruction in the call server;

processing the redirect instruction to select a second call center resource;

generating a second routing instruction indicating a second route for the voice call originating from the user device to the second call center resource; and

transferring the second routing instruction to be used when routing the voice call from the user device to the second call center resource over which voice communications will be exchanged.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice call comprises a Get Document request in Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon caller entered information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon a domain name or an Internet Protocol address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon one or more of a day or a time of day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based on a least busy agent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based on a least congested route.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based on one or more of a class of service or a quality of service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the cookie to select a web service application.

11. A communication system for routing voice calls, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of call center resources for handling the voice calls; and

a call center server configured to receive a voice call originating from a user device and including a cookie, process the cookie from the user device to select a first call center resource, generate a routing instruction indicating a route for the voice call from the user device to the first call center resource, and transfer the routing instruction to be used when routing the voice call from the user device to the to the first call center over which voice communications will be exchanged.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the call center server is further configured to receive a redirect instruction, process the redirect instruction to select a second call center resource, generate a second routing instruction indicating a second route for the voice call from the user device to the second call center resource, and transfer the second routing instruction to be used when routing the voice call from the user device to the second call center resource over which voice communications will be exchanged.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the voice call comprises a Get Document request in Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.

14. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon caller entered information.

15. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon a domain name or an Internet Protocol address.

16. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based upon one or more of a day or a time of day.

17. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based on a least busy agent.

18. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based on a least congested route.

19. The communication system of claim 11, wherein processing the cookie from the user device to select the first call center resource is further based one or more of a class of service or a quality of service.

20. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the call center is further configured to process the cookie to select a web service application.