Customer support using managed real-time communities
First Claim
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1. A method of routing a call from a client of a plurality of clients of an organization to connect with one of a plurality of agents of the organization wherein the clients are not agents, employees, or affiliates of the organization comprising:
- determining a subject matter of the call;
routing the call to an agent of the plurality of agents of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call;
qualifying another client of the plurality of clients as a qualified client qualified to handle the call based upon the subject matter of the call and a skill level of the qualified client; and
automatically assigning and transferring the call to the qualified client of the plurality of clients when an agent of the organization is not available.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for routing a call received by an organization. The method includes the steps of determining a subject matter of the received call, routing the call to an agent of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call and routing the call to a client of the organization when an agent of the organization is not available.
27 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of routing a call from a client of a plurality of clients of an organization to connect with one of a plurality of agents of the organization wherein the clients are not agents, employees, or affiliates of the organization comprising:
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determining a subject matter of the call; routing the call to an agent of the plurality of agents of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call; qualifying another client of the plurality of clients as a qualified client qualified to handle the call based upon the subject matter of the call and a skill level of the qualified client; and automatically assigning and transferring the call to the qualified client of the plurality of clients when an agent of the organization is not available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for routing a call from a client of a plurality of clients of an organization to connect with one of a plurality of agents of the organization wherein the clients are not agents, employees, or affiliates of the organization comprising:
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means for determining a subject matter of the call; means for routing the call to an agent of the plurality of agents of the organization when a agent of the organization is available to handle the subject matter of the call; means for qualifying another client of the plurality of clients as a qualified client qualified to handle the call based upon the subject matter of the call and a skill level of the qualified client; and means for assigning and routing the call to the qualified client of the plurality of clients of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is not available. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for routing a call from a client of a plurality of clients of an organization to connect with one of a plurality of agents of the organization wherein the clients are not agents, employees, or affiliates of the organization comprising:
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a call processor that determines a subject matter of the call; a call assignment processor that routes the call to an agent of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is available to handle the call, that qualifies another client of the plurality of clients as a qualified client qualified to handle the call based upon the subject matter of the call and a skill level of the qualified client, and that assigns and transfers the call to the qualified client of the plurality of clients of the organization when a qualified agent of the organization is not available. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification