System and method for establishing a real-time agent pool between computer systems
US5958014A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M7/12
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for establishing a data connection between a computer and a live agent selected from an agent pool. A computer user uses the computer to connect via a network with an information server. While browsing information on the server, the customer can request to speak with an unspecified live agent. An agent queuing manager receives the customer's request and selects an appropriate live agent from a continuously updated pool of available agents. Then, the agent queuing manager establishes a data connection between the live agent and the customer. The data connection is preferably an audio connection, although a real time text "chat" mode is also available. The agent queuing manager maintains the agent pool by monitoring when agents log in and out of agent terminals, as well as when the agents are engaged with a computer user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.