Intelligent virtual queue
First Claim
1. A queue system for a telephony call center, comprising:
- a queue for sequencing real and virtual calls, wherein each virtual call is associated with an original caller;
a router adapted to select an agent for each virtual call; and
an outdialer adapted to place calls originated at or near the time a virtual call reaches the head of the queue from the call center to original callers for which virtual calls are originated;
wherein after an incoming call is queued, the caller can disconnect, having the active call virtually placed in the original position in the same queue, and a return call is placed to the original caller by the outdialer, and wherein each call placed by the outdialer, when answered by the original caller, is connected to the agent selected enabling the disconnected caller to be served in the order they originally held in queue.
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0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A call queueing system for a call center establishes virtual calls for callers, and allows the callers to disconnect and await a later callback when the virtual call is routed to an agent. Callers are connected to an IVR and informed that they may disconnect and await the callback. An IVR may also be used when the callback is made, informing the caller of the nature of the new call, and that they are now being connected to an agent. In some instances virtual calls may be sequenced in the same queue with real calls. The virtual call system may be initiated in a call center by exceeding load threshold, at particular time frames, and the like. A key is associated with each virtual call in a manner that the origination number of the call for whom the virtual call is entered may be retrieved when the call is routed to an agent. The system is adapted to work with all intelligent routing systems.
400 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A queue system for a telephony call center, comprising:
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a queue for sequencing real and virtual calls, wherein each virtual call is associated with an original caller; a router adapted to select an agent for each virtual call; and an outdialer adapted to place calls originated at or near the time a virtual call reaches the head of the queue from the call center to original callers for which virtual calls are originated; wherein after an incoming call is queued, the caller can disconnect, having the active call virtually placed in the original position in the same queue, and a return call is placed to the original caller by the outdialer, and wherein each call placed by the outdialer, when answered by the original caller, is connected to the agent selected enabling the disconnected caller to be served in the order they originally held in queue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A Computer-Telephony Integrated (CTI) call center, comprising:
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a switching apparatus connected to a network by a trunk line, to a number of telephones at agent stations by low-bandwidth ports, and to a CTI processor by a CTI link; a call queue sequencing real and virtual calls implemented in the switching apparatus; a virtual call originator, after the original call is queued, informs a caller that the caller may disconnect without losing place in queue, and originates a virtual call occupying the same place in the same queue associated with the original caller; a router adapted to select an agent for each virtual call as the virtual call reaches the head of the queue; and an outdialer adapted to place calls at or near the time of agent selection, from the call center to original callers for which virtual calls are originated; wherein each call placed by the outdialer, when answered by the original caller, is connected to the agent selected, enabling the disconnected caller to be served in the order they originally held in queue. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for routing calls, comprising steps of:
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(a) receiving and queuing a call from a client at a call center; (b) informing the client he/she may disconnect and retain the same place-in-queue; (c) entering a virtual call in the queue in the same place of the disconnected call originally placed by the caller, thereby enabling the disconnected caller to be served in the order they originally held in queue; (d) sequencing the queue until the virtual call reaches the head of the queue; (e) selecting an agent to deal with the original caller for which the virtual call was established; (f) placing an outbound call to the original caller; and (g) when the original caller answers the outbound call, connecting the caller to the agent selected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification