摘要:
A packet switching system in which a remote real-time clock is accurately synchronized to a standard real-time clock via X.25 (CCITT) controlled high-speed transmission links. Synchronization is achieved by the transmission of an interrupt packet and a data packet between a remote processor controlling the remote real-time clock and an administrative processor controlling the standard real-time clock. Synchronization involves the following steps: (1) assembling an interrupt packet comprising the least significant bits of the remote real-time clock for transmission to the administrative processor by the remote processor, (2) calculating bits representing the difference between the transmitted least significant bits of the remote real-time clock and the least significant bits of the standard real-time clock by the administrative processor, (3) assembling a data packet comprising bits representing the state of the standard real-time clock and the difference bits for transmission to the remote processor by the administrative processor, (4) adding the difference bits to the bits representing the state of the remote real-time clock by the remote processor, and (5) adding a predefined value to the most significant bits of the remote real-time clock by the remote processor if the transmitted least significant bits of the standard real-time clock are numerically greater than the least significant bits of the remote real-time clock.
摘要:
A method for scheduling personnel (e.g., agents) in a work environment based on personnel "skill" levels. The method facilitates true skills-based scheduling of agents in a telephone call center using a simulation tool to predict what fraction of scheduled agents from each "skill group" will be available to each "call type" during each time interval being scheduled. A feedback mechanism is used to adjust net staffing and skills usage data between iterations of a call handling simulation until a given schedule being tested through the simulator meets some acceptance criteria.
摘要:
A method, using a call processor, for selecting one of a plurality of call centers in a telephone network. The method begins by generating a routing plan comprising one or more rules that control how calls are to be distributed among the call centers. For each call to be distributed, the rules in the routing plan are executed for a set of valid call center destinations until a destination for the call has been selected or until all rules have been executed. If all rules have been executed and more than one call center is still a valid destination for the call, the remaining call center destinations are then further evaluated according to the rules to select a destination for the call.
摘要:
This invention relates to a central office (CO) based automatic call distributor (ACD) system arrangement for providing resource control and call event data processing services for a plurality of ACD systems, served by a switching system. The arrangement comprises a switching system, having a control processor complex (CPC), a special Event and Control Link (ECL) processor that performs ACD end-user call event data partitioning and ACD end-user resource allocation message screening, and one or more Management Information System (MIS) processors that perform data processing to derive statistics associated with calls to an ACD. The ECL receives, partitions, and transmits call event data messages from the CPC to the MIS processors. The ECL also screens resource allocation request messages, sent by ACD end-users to control the allocation of ACD resources, by checking that the messages match a predetermined format, and by verifying that the end-user making the request has permission to make the requested resource allocation changes. Finally, the ECL interfaces with multiple MIS processors. These MIS processors can be located at the CO, the premises of an enhanced service provider, or on an end-user's premises. Advantageously, end-user call event data partitioning and resource allocation message screening is performed by the ECL without increasing the complexity of the CPC program, and an ACD end-user has a choice of options of using his own MIS processor, sharing an MIS processor provided by an enhanced service provider, or sharing an MIS processor provided in the switching system.
摘要:
A method for planning, scheduling and managing personnel in an environment in which there is a varying workload by time of day and by day of week to be staffed with a team having a variable number of servers. The method begins by organizing the team of servers into a plurality of management units, each management unit having one or more groups of individual servers. One or more tour templates, each describing a bounded work shift having work rules and operating constraints, are then defined. A forecast is then generated of an event load expected to occur during a forecast time period and a number of servers required to service the expected event load during the forecast time period. The method then allocates expected event load among the plurality of management units according to a predetermined number of servers expected to be available at each management unit during the forecast time period. Thereafter, the tour templates are correlated with the forecast to generate a set of tours for each management unit, each tour defining a work schedule for the forecast time period for a theoretical server of the management unit. The individual servers of each management unit are then assigned to to the generated tours for the management unit.
摘要:
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for predictive dialing in a multi-operator telephone system which improves the productivity of operators while simultaneously reduces customer "unattended" calls. These objectives are achieved by generating a prediction of the number of operators expected to be available at the end of a predetermined time interval in the future, as well as a prediction of the number of calls expected to be successfully completed during that time interval. The predicted number of calls is then weighted by an "weighting" factor which is controlled by variations in the percentage of unattended calls and variations in the average operator idle-time between calls. The system dynamically adjusts the number of calls dialed based on short term comparisons of the weighted predicted number of calls versus the predicted number of operators, and based on periodic adjustment of the weighting factor.
摘要:
A method for planning, scheduling and managing personnel in an environment in which there is a varying workload by time of day and by day of week to be staffed with a team having a variable number of servers. The method defines one or more tour templates, each describing a bounded work shift having work rules and operating constraints. Per-server preferences for particular kinds of work schedules within the limits imposed by the tour templates are also defined, as are various selection policy rules for determining which servers work when the number of servers exceeds the demand therefor. After generating a forecast of an event load expected to occur during a forecast time period and a number of servers required to service the expected event load during the forecast time period, the method correlates the tour templates with the forecast to generate a set of optimal tours, each tour defining a daily work schedule for the forecast time period for a theoretical server. Then, the individual servers are automatically scheduled to the generated tours according to the preferences and the selection policy rules.