Interactive dialing system

• US 8,649,501 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Convergent New Intermediate Holdco LLC
• Original Assignee: Convergent Resources Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Whitaker, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S
• Application Number:
  US13/729,143
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 379/266.08, 37926511-26513, 379/266.07
• US Class Current: 379/266.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5175 Call or contact centers supervision arrangements

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for processing an outbound call to a target. The methods and systems of the present disclosure may provide an interface between a human controller and an automated dialing system to prompt the human controller for permission to place the outbound telephone call to the target.

Claims

1. A system for placing an outbound call to a target, the system comprising:

a computer database that stores data comprising a plurality of telephone numbers for multiple targets, wherein each of the plurality of telephone numbers is associated with one of the multiple targets; and

a computerized, programmable, automated dialing system in communication with the computer database and in communication with a communications network, wherein the dialing system is programmed to;

access the database and select one of the plurality of telephone numbers for one of the multiple targets;

visually display for a human controller at a pacing engine computer system a first interface that prompts the human controller through the first interface to obtain permission to place an outbound call to the target;

receive via the first interface permission from the human controller to place the outbound call to the target; and

in response to receiving the permission from the human controller, place the outbound call to the target via the communications network using the selected one of the plurality of telephone numbers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dialing system is further programmed to present information through the first interface to the human controller to facilitate selecting a call center agent for the outbound call.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the dialing system is programmed to receive an identifier for the selected call center agent through the first interface.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the dialing system is programmed to route the outbound call through a second interface at a call agent computer system to the selected call center agent.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the dialing system is programmed to present information about the target through the second interface to the selected call center agent.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a telephone network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the telephone network comprises a VoIP telephone network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the dialing system is programmed to present a game through the first interface to the human controller, and wherein an object of the game includes obtaining the permission from the human controller to place the outbound call to the target.

9. A computer-implemented method for placing an outbound call to a target, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer database, a plurality telephone numbers for multiple targets, wherein each of the plurality of telephone numbers is associated with one of the multiple targets;

selecting by a computerized, programmable, automated dialing system that is in communication with the computer database one of the plurality of telephone numbers to use in placing the outbound call to the target;

prompting through a pacing engine computer system that is in communication with the computerized, programmable, automated dialing system a human controller for permission to place the outbound call;

receiving through the pacing engine computer system permission from the human controller to place the outbound call to the target; and

in response to receiving the permission from the human controller, placing the outbound call by the computerized, programmable, automated dialing system to the target using the selected one of the plurality of telephone numbers.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising routing the outbound call to a call center agent.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the automated dialing system is in communication with a communications network configured to place the outbound call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications network comprises a telephone network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the telephone network comprises a VoIP network.