Conditional attribute mapping in work assignment
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- analyzing, by a processor, via a work assignment mechanism, a work item for one or more attributes, wherein the work item represents a contact received at a contact center, via a network, from a first communication device;
determining, by the processor, from the one or more attributes, a preferred attribute and a conditional attribute for the work item at a first time;
placing, by the processor, the work item in a first work pool for service by a first resource in a first resource pool, wherein the first work pool is an unordered collection of like work items, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one resource possessing the preferred attribute;
after placing the work item in the first work pool, receiving, by the processor, an alternative assignment condition input associated with the work item, wherein the alternative assignment condition input increases a number of resources included in a work assignment decision for the work item;
additionally placing, by the processor and in response to receiving the alternative assignment condition input and while the work item is placed for service by the first resource in the first resource pool, the work item in a different second work pool for service by a second resource in a second resource pool such that the work item is placed in both the first work pool and the second work pool until the work item is assigned to the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool and wherein the second work pool is an unordered collection of like work items and wherein the second resource pool includes at least one resource having the conditional attribute and not the preferred attribute; and
routing, by the processor, the work item to a communication device of the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool from one of the first work pool or the second work pool.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contact center, methods, and mechanisms are provided for assigning work items to resources using attributes that conditionally expand a selectable pool of resources. The work item is first analyzed for any required, preferred, and conditional attributes and then queued in multiple resource attribute sets for work assignment. Work items are assigned to resources by considering a match between the analyzed attributes of a work item and a resource while observing alternative assignment conditions. When met, the alternative assignment conditions cause the work item to be queued in additional resource attribute sets thereby expanding the pool of selectable resources. Once assigned, the work item may be removed from queues not selected in the work assignment.
15 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
analyzing, by a processor, via a work assignment mechanism, a work item for one or more attributes, wherein the work item represents a contact received at a contact center, via a network, from a first communication device; determining, by the processor, from the one or more attributes, a preferred attribute and a conditional attribute for the work item at a first time; placing, by the processor, the work item in a first work pool for service by a first resource in a first resource pool, wherein the first work pool is an unordered collection of like work items, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one resource possessing the preferred attribute; after placing the work item in the first work pool, receiving, by the processor, an alternative assignment condition input associated with the work item, wherein the alternative assignment condition input increases a number of resources included in a work assignment decision for the work item; additionally placing, by the processor and in response to receiving the alternative assignment condition input and while the work item is placed for service by the first resource in the first resource pool, the work item in a different second work pool for service by a second resource in a second resource pool such that the work item is placed in both the first work pool and the second work pool until the work item is assigned to the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool and wherein the second work pool is an unordered collection of like work items and wherein the second resource pool includes at least one resource having the conditional attribute and not the preferred attribute; and routing, by the processor, the work item to a communication device of the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool from one of the first work pool or the second work pool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A contact center, comprising:
a work assignment mechanism contained in memory and executed by a processor, the work assignment mechanism including; a work assignment engine that analyzes a work item for one or more attributes, wherein the work item represents a contact received at a contact center, via a network, from a first communication device; a conditional attribute manager that determines, from the one or more attributes, a preferred attribute and a conditional attribute for the work item at a first time, places the work item in a first work pool for service by a first resource in a first resource pool, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one resource possessing the preferred attribute, after placing the work item in the first work pool, receives an alternative assignment condition input associated with the work item, wherein the alternative assignment condition input increases a number of resources included in a work assignment decision for the work item, and additionally places, in response to receiving the alternative assignment condition input and while the work item is placed for service by the first resource in the first resource pool, the work item in a different second work pool for service by a second resource in a second resource pool such that the work item is placed in both the first work pool and the second work pool until the work item is assigned to the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool, wherein the second resource pool includes at least one resource having the conditional attribute and not the preferred attribute; and a routing engine that routes the work item to a communication device of the resource in the first or second resource pool from one of the first work pool or the second work pool. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
12. A server, comprising:
-
a processor; and a computer readable medium, coupled to the processor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the processor to; analyze a work item received at a contact center for one or more attributes, wherein the work item is received, via a network, from a first communication device; determine, from the one or more attributes, a preferred attribute and a conditional attribute for the work item at a first time; place the work item in a first work pool for service by a first resource in a first resource pool, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one resource possessing the preferred attribute; after placing the work item in the first work pool, receive an alternative assignment condition input associated with the work item, wherein the alternative assignment condition input increases a number of resources included in a work assignment decision for the work item; additionally place, in response to receiving the alternative assignment condition input and while the work item is placed for service by the first resource in the first resource pool, the work item in a different second work pool for service by a second resource in a second resource pool such that the work item is placed in both the first work pool and the second work pool until the work item is assigned to the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool, and wherein the second resource pool includes at least one resource having the conditional attribute and not the preferred attribute; and route the work item to a communication device of the first or second resource in the first or second resource pool from one of the first work pool or the second work pool. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification