Call features for automatic call distribution system
First Claim
1. An Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) controller arranged to be coupled through at least one packet-based network to a plurality of remote telephone stations and one or more attendant telephone stations, the ACD controller comprising:
- call reception logic that controls the establishment of telephone sessions between the remote telephone stations and the one or more attendant telephone stations;
wherein the call reception logic operates to;
receive one or more data packets including call initiation signals from a particular one of the remote telephone stations,monitor if an attendant availability parameter is met;
if the attendant availability parameter is not met, to send at least one data information message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station via the at least one packet-based network; and
, if the attendant availability parameter is met, to establish an audio channel between the particular remote telephone station and a particular one of the attendant telephone stations, wherein the data information message comprises an alert request option,monitor for receipt of one or more data packets including an alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station in response to the alert request option; and
, if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, to send an alert message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station when the attendant availability parameter is met, andsend an alert mode message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, the alert mode message enabling an alert mode icon to be displayed on the display of the particular remote telephone station, wherein the alert mode icon indicates to a user the remote telephone station is in alert mode and can proceed with normal operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Call features for an Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) system implemented within a packet-based telephone environment are disclosed. Within a packet-based network, data messages are transferred between the ACD system and customer telephone stations while the customer waits for an attendant to become available. These data messages allow the customer to be informed of his/her current status within the priority order and further allows the customer to initiate a number of customer oriented operations. These operations include selecting music to listen to while waiting, requesting to be alerted when an attendant becomes available, and initiating a browser session for accessing data information. Overall, the status reports in combination with the initiating of one or more of the customer oriented operations can make the time spent waiting for an attendant a more productive and pleasant experience for the customer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) controller arranged to be coupled through at least one packet-based network to a plurality of remote telephone stations and one or more attendant telephone stations, the ACD controller comprising:
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call reception logic that controls the establishment of telephone sessions between the remote telephone stations and the one or more attendant telephone stations; wherein the call reception logic operates to; receive one or more data packets including call initiation signals from a particular one of the remote telephone stations, monitor if an attendant availability parameter is met;
if the attendant availability parameter is not met, to send at least one data information message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station via the at least one packet-based network; and
, if the attendant availability parameter is met, to establish an audio channel between the particular remote telephone station and a particular one of the attendant telephone stations, wherein the data information message comprises an alert request option,monitor for receipt of one or more data packets including an alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station in response to the alert request option; and
, if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, to send an alert message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station when the attendant availability parameter is met, andsend an alert mode message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, the alert mode message enabling an alert mode icon to be displayed on the display of the particular remote telephone station, wherein the alert mode icon indicates to a user the remote telephone station is in alert mode and can proceed with normal operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) center comprising:
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one or more attendant telephone stations; an ACD controller arranged to be coupled through at least one packet-based network to a plurality of remote telephone stations and the one or more attendant telephone stations, the ACD controller comprising call reception logic that controls the establishment of telephone sessions between the remote telephone stations and the attendant telephone stations, wherein the call reception logic operates to; receive one or more data packets including call initiation signals from a particular one of the remote telephone stations, monitor if an attendant availability parameter is met;
if the attendant availability parameter is not met, to send at least one data information message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station via the at least one packet-based network; and
, if the attendant availability parameter is met, to establish an audio channel between the particular remote telephone station and a particular one of the attendant telephone stations, wherein the data information message comprises an alert request option,monitor for receipt of one or more data packets including an alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station in response to the alert request option; and
, if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, to send an alert message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station when the attendant availability parameter is met, andsend an alert mode message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, the alert mode message enabling an alert mode icon to be displayed on the display of the particular remote telephone station, wherein the alert mode icon indicates to a user the remote telephone station is in alert mode and can proceed with normal operations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) controller arranged to be coupled through at least one packet-based network to a plurality of remote telephone stations and one or more attendant telephone stations, the method comprising:
controlling establishment of telephone sessions between the remote telephone stations and the one or more attendant telephone stations by; receiving one or more data packets including call initiation signals from a particular one of the remote telephone stations; monitoring if an attendant availability parameter is met;
if the attendant availability parameter is not met, sending at least one data information message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station via the at least one packet-based network; and
, if the attendant availability parameter is met, establishing an audio channel between the particular remote telephone station and a particular one of the attendant telephone stations, wherein the data information message comprises an alert request option;monitoring for receipt of one or more data packets including an alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station in response to the alert request option; and
, if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, sending an alert message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station when the attendant availability parameter is met; andsending an alert mode message within one or more data packets to the particular remote telephone station if the call reception logic receives the alert request activation message from the particular remote telephone station, the alert mode message enabling an alert mode icon to be displayed on the display of the particular remote telephone station, wherein the alert mode icon indicates to a user the remote telephone station is in alert mode and can proceed with normal operations.
Specification