Abstract:
A method is disclosed for distributing a customer-initiated call placed with a contact center to one or more remotely located agents trained to service calls for one or more contact centers comprising the steps of receiving the customer-initiated call at a contact center; deriving an array of caller information from the customer-initiated call; transmitting the array of caller information to a coordination center servicing one or more contact centers; identifying at least one remotely located agent trained and authorized to receive said customer-initiated call for the contact center; directing the customer-initiated call to the identified remotely located agent; the coordination center tracking the number of calls received by the remotely located agent for said contact center and providing payroll services for the contact center on behalf of the remotely located agent; the coordination center maintaining statistical records of each customer-initiated call and providing the statistical records to the contact center; establishing simultaneous communication between the coordination center, the remotely located agent and the contact center; monitoring the content of communications taking place in the customer-initiated call and providing access to the content to the contact center; and the contact center rendering assistance to the remotely located agent.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Call centers handle an increasing volume of telephonic inquiries for sales, information, customer support and other services. Typical call centers provide the ability to route a plurality of incoming, customer-initiated calls to agents which provide sales, information, or support on behalf of an entity (hereinafter referred to as the “client”) interested in establishing or maintaining a relationship with the customer. With the advent of electronic telecommunications, incoming “calls” are no longer necessarily telephonic communications but can also encompass the broad range of new communication channels such as e-mail, interactive chat, instant messaging, video conferencing, voice messaging, and the like. Throughout this text, the generic term “calls” is used to designate the entire range of communication formats which a modem call center is capable of handling. Similarly, throughout this text, the term “contact center” is used to designate a generic call center which may be equipped to handle not only telephonic communications but also the other modes of communication discussed above. An ACD is utilized to selectively route the incoming calls. An ACD generally refers to a device that receives incoming voice calls, answers with a taped announcement, holds the calls with background music or a message, then automatically assigns the call on a first come first serve basis to the next available agent. In the present context, the required call routing system must be able to process, in addition to voice calls, the electronic types of communications described above. For purposes of this document the term Intelligent Queuing and Routing Engine (“IQRE”) shall be used to describe such a call routing system. The IRQE will normally consist of an enterprise management system which, among its other components, incorporates an ACD to manage voice communications.  
           [0002]    Modern IRQE systems selectively route incoming calls based on a number of factors such as the number called or dialed, the originating number, the queued sequence of the caller, the geographic location of the caller, accumulated caller history, and other relevant criteria. Once the IRQE has evaluated the inbound caller&#39;s information, if any, the IRQE searches for an available agent to service the call. Availability of agents may be dependent on any number of factors such as the skill level or schedule of the agent. The number of agents within the contact center and available to the IRQE is often limited by the physical space available for the agents to operate. A frequent problem experienced by contact centers is that there are often too few agents to handle the number of incoming customer calls. In those situations, the customer is frequently put on hold and made to wait until an agent becomes available. Many potential customers, when faced with an extended wait, simply terminate the call before the contact center has the opportunity to conduct a business transaction, thereby causing an economic loss. Additionally, customers calling for support or information may become disgruntled or unsatisfied with a business that is unable to provide a sufficient number of agents to service the call in a timely manner.  
           [0003]    For most applications, an agent requires a direct communication link with both the customer who initiates the call and a central repository where data about the call and/or customer can be inputted and accessed. The agent communicates with the customer through either a telephone line or other method such as e-mail or Internet chat, and records whatever transactions take place through a computer terminal or a personal computer networked with the contact center&#39;s record system. Modem advancements in the field of electronics, computers and telecommunications have created standardized network protocols and hardware, yielding a constantly advancing global information infrastructure which can be used to establish reliable communication links. Local area networks (“LANs”) based at a single geographic location have given rise to wide area networks (“WANs”) which efficiently interconnect LANs spread over large geographic regions through the Internet or through private wireless or landline networks. In addition, home and business computers currently sold through normal retail channels offer integrated or optional components to communicate through standard networks including LANs, WANs, the Internet or a combination of the three.  
           [0004]    Many problems experienced in conventional contact centers result from the use of fixed facilities that are both physically and geographically confined. Large call centers may select a geographically attractive location only to find a limited workforce in that area. Large contact centers typically pay for the training of their agents and simultaneously experience a high turnover rate. Furthermore, should the volume of calls exceed the capacity of the contact center, the traditional way to address the problem is either through outsourcing of services, through physical expansion of the facilities which is costly and time consuming, and/or by simply not answering, or “abandoning”, the excess portion of the call volume.  
           [0005]    In response, recent developments in the fields of telecommunications and information technology have been used to enable remotely situated contact center agents (sometimes called “home agents” and referred henceforth herein as “remote agents”) to increase the number of call-takers available to handle contact center volume without necessitating an expansion of physical facilities. The benefits of using remote agents are obvious. Remote agents may work from home, reducing the need to physically expand contact center locations, and the equipment and software needed to implement remote communications is widely available. It is also attractive to recruit individuals for positions as remote agents since candidates can be offered the benefit of foregoing long commutes to geographically distant offices, flexible schedules, and reduced reliance on child care or other similar circumstances. Furthermore, remote agent opportunities are particularly beneficial to persons with disabilities who may have special needs and require more flexible working conditions and schedules.  
           [0006]    Previous attempts have been made to implement remote agent operations such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,780 to Sand (the &#39;780 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,551 to Conn et al. (the &#39;551 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,890 to Danielsen (the &#39;890 patent); all of which are incorporate herein by reference.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,780 to Sand (the &#39;780 patent) describes a work at home agent ACD comprising an ACD host switch, an agent switch, an intelligent agent workstation, a data network, a home agent server (“HAS”), a host processor, and a management information system (“MIS”), whereby call traffic routed through a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) is distributed by the ACD host switch to the agent switch and received by the workstation. The workstation receives voice signals from the agent switch and also transmits connection status, order processing, and other information via the data network to the HAS. The HAS transmits the data to a host processor which in turn communicates with the MIS which monitors the distribution traffic and controls the ACD host switch to optimize call distribution, particularly when caller traffic justifies maintaining an open voice path to the remote agent to reduce call setup time.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,551 to Conn et al. (the &#39;551 patent) describes a home agent telecommunication system comprising one or more home agents having a voice terminal and a computer terminal to access a transaction processing center. The transaction processing center may comprise a catalog order facility, a travel reservation entity, a stock brokerage, or the like. A customer call is received by a local exchange carrier (“LEC”) which is routed to a PSTN and received by a second exchange which serves the geographic area encompassed by the transaction processing center. The transaction processing center designates the home agent assigned to receive the call which is routed across a combined voice and data line. The perceived benefit of this system is that the home agent is not continuously connected to the transaction processing center on a line that may remain idle much of the time.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,890 to Danielsen (the &#39;890 patent) describes a remote agent operation for automatic call distributors utilizing ISDN comprising a remote agent position, a customer telephone, and a remote database, whereby a session initiates when the remote agent position is located near a local switch which connects to an ACD host switch via a telecommunications network. A front-end process to direct calls from the customer telephone to an available remote agent position. The local switch converts message data from a SS7 network format to an ISDN standard used by the remote agent position. The perceived benefit of this system is the economical placement of remote agents using ISDN to nearby local telecommunication switching systems instead of requiring them to be close to the ACD host switch.  
           [0010]    However, none of the systems in the prior art describe a remote agent system capable of servicing multimedia contacts in one or more different contact centers. A typical contact center may only require the use of remote agents during certain periods of high inbound call traffic. Therefore, it is costly and inefficient to pay for a dedicated remote agent that is not being utilized during periods of low caller traffic. Conversely, should an unexpected surge in caller traffic occur, current systems lack the ability to immediately access a base of highly qualified, motivated remote agents. In circumstances such as these, which are commonplace in the field of the subject invention, it is of great benefit to have a pool of remote agents which can be assigned to more than one contact center and be efficiently utilized when and where they are most needed.  
           [0011]    Moreover, past attempts to implement remote agent systems have only achieved limited success because they effectively only relocate agents from a fixed facility to a remote facility which does nothing to improve the efficiency of utilization of agents. The mere act of relocating an agent does not erase the fact that the agent remains a dedicated employee who must be compensated regardless of whether there is a sufficient call volume to keep him or her occupied during an entire shift. It would be very attractive for a contact center to be able to utilize non-dedicated remote agents, that is, agents who not only work from a remote location but also are not dependent on a single contact center for all of their work. Such a system would allow a contact center to schedule an agent for very brief periods of time (30 minutes, for example) and for non-contiguous blocks of time, possibilities which would not be feasible with a dedicated agent. These possibilities would open up because the remote, non-dedicated, agent would be able to “fill-in” empty bocks of time within his or her work schedule by making him or herself available to other contact centers during those times. In such a system, a contact center could schedule as many agents as it needs for exactly the time blocks needed without risking the quality of the services provided or the dissatisfaction of the remote agents utilized.  
           [0012]    Past attempts to implement remote agent systems have, in addition, been expensive because remote agents are simply treated as regular employees of the contact center and, consequently, it is necessary for the contact center to equip their remote locations similarly to those of a local agents. This can be very expensive when a large number of remote agents are needed.  
           [0013]    In addition, the simple relocation of agents to remote locations does not provide any incentive for the remote agent to be more efficient since he or she is not personally vested in the additional expense incurred in equipping the remote location.  
           [0014]    From the remote agent&#39;s point of view, working for a singular contact center has distinct disadvantages. Most notably, the income base of the remote agent may be negatively affected if the singular contact center is not able to efficiently utilize him or her. For example, many contact centers servicing catalog sales may experience a flood of calls during the holiday season whereby there is sufficient work for the remote agent to handle the overflow. However, during the off-season, the contact center may not have the additional call volume and thus will be unable to fully utilize or employ the remote agent. Furthermore, should a remote agent wish to handle additional work, he or she is locked into the schedule of a single contact center and its ability to provide work to the agent. If more than one contact center is available for assignment, a remote agent will be able to choose from a wider range of work schedules and expected call volumes thus permitting a better fit to the particular lifestyle circumstances of the agent.  
           [0015]    Consequently, there is a need in the art for a remote agent system whereby the remote agents are capable of servicing calls for a singular contact center as well as a plurality of different contact centers.  
           [0016]    There is a further need in the art for a remote agent system that permits flexibility in scheduling a single remote agent to multiple contact centers so as to allow for maximum efficiency in utilizing the working hours available to the agent.  
           [0017]    There is a further need in the art for a remote agent system that permits the remote agent to select assignment from among a choice of work schedules and call volume levels pertaining to one or more contact centers.  
           [0018]    There is a further need in the art for a remote agent system that incorporates the ability for remote agents to become personally vested in the success and efficiency of the system by making a personal investment in the procurement of physical equipment needed to establish the remote location, in the acquisition of skills through specialized training, and in the payment of recurring expenses associated with providing contact center services.  
           [0019]    There is a further need in the art for a remote agent system that permits maximum flexibility in the scheduling of agents so that a contact center can schedule the number of agents it expects to need during the times they are needed.  
           [0020]    There is a further need in the art for a remote agent system which provides a highly dynamic system for handling emergency crisis cases with previously trained and authorized remote agents that can be summoned in the event their services are needed, even on an infrequent basis.  
           [0021]    Finally, there is also a need in the art for a contact center system which permits performance evaluation and management of the remote agent in real-time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0022]    The present invention solves significant problems in the art by providing a method of providing Intelligent Queuing and Routing Engine (“IRQE”) services to one or more remotely located agents trained to service calls for one or more of client contact centers, comprising the steps of receiving a customer-initiated call (which can consist of a voice communication, e-mail, internet chat, or other type of communication) at a contact center, routing the customer-initiated call through the contact center&#39;s IRQE via an electronic telecommunications network to a voice or data network switch, the voice or data switch transmitting an array of caller information relating to the customer-initiated call to a network coordinator servicing a one or more different contact centers, the network coordinator identifying at least one remotely located agent trained and authorized to receive the customer-initiated call for the contact center, and the network coordinator routing the customer-initiated call from the customer to the designated remote agent.  
           [0023]    The array of caller information resolved from the voice or data network switch may include the caller&#39;s telephone number, whether they are calling from a business or residential line, past caller history and/or caller demographics.  
           [0024]    The network coordinator is able to track the number of calls handled by a remotely located agent for the contact center and can provide payroll services for the contact center on behalf of the remotely located agent. Alternatively, the remote agent may be engaged and compensated directly by the network coordinator who in turn has an agreement in place with the contact center for compensation for its services. The network coordinator may also maintain statistical records of each customer-initiated call and provide them to the contact center.  
           [0025]    As an alternative to processing the calls through the contact center&#39;s IRQE, incoming customer-initiated calls may be routed directly to the voice or data network switch, bypassing the contact center entirely until a transaction is logged by the remotely located agent. In order to facilitate communication between the network coordinator, the contact center and the remote agent without interfering with the handling of the customer-initiated call, electronic mail, electronic chat or instant messaging may be utilized.  
           [0026]    By accessing the features of the voice and/or data network switch, the network coordinator may monitor the communication taking place in the customer-initiated call and provide the contact center with access to the communication. Using the same technology, the remotely located agent handling a customer-initiated call may request assistance from the contact center wherein a supervisor at the call center may tap into the voice and/or data network switch to assist in servicing the customer-initiated call.  
           [0027]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network coordinator system that pools a plurality of remote agents that are specially trained to accept and process calls for one or more different contact center clients. The network coordinator may provide quality control, voice and data connections, flexible scheduling, recruiting and a training infrastructure to enable the system.  
           [0028]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly dynamic system for handling emergency crisis cases with previously trained and authorized remote agents that can be summoned in the event their services are needed, even on an infrequent basis. For example, federal regulations in the United States require airlines to provide contact center services in the event of an aviation emergency. However, it would be impractical to maintain a large full-time contact center that is only utilized a few times every year. Using the system in the present invention, hundreds of remote agents could be trained to handle inquiry calls from concerned family members in the event an emergency occurs and those remote agents could be contacted and put online in minutes.  
           [0029]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a viable vocation to a highly qualified workforce that for various reasons must or prefers to work from home. For many individuals with disabilities, infirmities or other limitations on their physical capacity, it may be impossible to travel to a traditional workplace. By providing them with the opportunity to work from home or some other convenient remote location, this undervalued workforce may be utilized to the mutual benefit of both the contact center and remote agent.  
           [0030]    It is another object of the present invention to enable the gainful employment of individuals who, because of lifestyle or health reasons, are unable to abide by a traditional work schedule. The present invention would permit individuals to work during off-hours, to work in blocks of time that are non continuous, and to have a schedule which varies from week to week.  
           [0031]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote agent system that incorporates the ability for remote agents to become personally vested in the success and efficiency of the system by making a personal investment in the procurement of physical equipment needed to establish the remote location, in the acquisition of skills through specialized training, and in the payment of recurring expenses associated with providing contact center services.  
           [0032]    An advantage of the invention is that, through a network coordinator, contact centers clients have access to a large pool of highly trained, motivated individuals that are generally compensated based upon performance, such as, without limitation, the number of calls handled in a predetermined time frame. The contact center clients minimize the capital outlay necessary to service highly fluctuating customer initiated inbound calls. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the operation of the present invention illustrating the general telecommunication pathways for voice communications.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the operation of the present invention illustrating the general telecommunication pathways for non-voice communications.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the operation of the present invention illustrating the multi-client servicing design of the network. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, remote agents have the opportunity to select from one or more client training courses which are paid for, partly or entirely, by the remote agent. For example, a remote agent may select training to handle sales for a catalog ordering company and an airline reservation company. Moreover, the remote agent is required to pay for adequately equipping his or her home and/or office to handle the particular type of operation needed by the client, for training, and for recurring operating expenses such as telephone and ISP charges. Because the remote agent has a personal investment in the equipment, training, and recurring expenses, the remote agent has a vested interest in his or her success which greatly reduces the turnover rate.  
         [0037]    Once training is completed and the remote agent is authorized to handle calls for one or more clients, the remote agent is provided with the appropriate communications connections to service each client. The equipment can comprise both a voice and data connection. The voice and data path may be combined using well known configurations such as integrated services digital network (“ISDN”) or a digital subscriber line (“DSL”) (including the several available service variants such as ADSL, SDSL, HDSL and the like) whereby data and voice are distinguished as packets of information split into a plurality of channels. In a preferred embodiment, “voice over internet protocol” or “VoIP” is utilized to connect the voice path from the voice switch to the remote agent. Plain old telephone service (“POTS”) or other technologies such as an off premises extension (“OPX”) may also provide a data and voice connection to handle transactions.  
         [0038]    At the core of the system is a network coordinator. The network coordinator is able to directly communicate with both the remote agent and the call center client. The network coordinator maintains a database on each of the remote agents which describes what call center clients the remote agent is trained and authorized to work for. The network coordinator also maintains a live database of service schedules posted by, or on behalf of, the contact center client, which are “advertised” to those remote agents who are trained and authorized to serve that client. The network coordinator can be integrally tied to every transaction as the remote agents are generally paid in proportionate relation to the volume of calls handled, be it on a per-call basis, an hourly basis or on a fixed price basis. In a preferred embodiment, the network coordinator tracks each call transaction between the remote agent, the customer and the call center client. The network coordinator then assembles real-time statistics on every aspect of the transaction. Because the network coordinator is directly tied to the voice and/or data network switch, it can provide seamless supervisory assistance and silent monitoring abilities for each client call center. The network coordinator can also manage remote agents to ensure that they meet the agreed upon service requirements of the contact center. The service requirements can specify parameters such as, for example, the maximum number of rings before a call is answered, the maximum hold time, the maximum length of a conversation, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the remote agents, network coordinator and call center client all have real-time e-mail and/or electronic chat capability for instantaneously communicating with each other.  
         [0039]    The remote agent&#39;s computer generally runs two applications simultaneously. The first application is tied to a network coordinator that oversees the entire remote agent process for one or more clients. The first application provides call connection status, remote agent availability and other real-time information to the network coordinator. This permits the network coordinator to determine which remote agents are actively handling calls and which agents are idle. If one or more remote agents scheduled to handle calls for a particular client are idle for an extended period of time, the network coordinator may give the remote agents the opportunity to handle calls for a client for which they are trained that needs additional assistance. The second application is a direct connection to a transactional computer for call processing. For example, a remote agent handling sales for a catalog would enter in the customer&#39;s selection of merchandise, shipping address and credit card information. This may be accomplished using whatever protocol and terminal emulation is necessary for ordering processing. For example, for a mainframe system, the remote agent may utilize a 3270 terminal emulation through a TCP/IP-based telnet application. However, the terminal connection may be web-based (HTML), ANSI, VT-100 or other configuration depending on the network type being utilized.  
         [0040]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, both the call centers and the remote agents are customers of the network coordinator. Call centers pay a usage fee to access the remote agents trained for its facility. Remote agents pay a monthly service fee. The remote agents are utilized both on a scheduled and overflow emergency basis.  
         [0041]    Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, in a first preferred embodiment a customer-initiated voice call  10  may travel by local lines  20 ,  60  through a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) or through the Internet  200  to a contact center client  210 . The contact center client  210  typically has an existing IRQE and/or public branch exchange (“PBX”) system  40  that has the ability to receive and transfer calls to remote locations. A PBX is a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between enterprise users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. Most PBX switches also have the ability to be networked together via leased lines. This allows remote offices to be “tied” together reducing call traffic and producing substantial long distance rate savings.  
         [0042]    Calls from the contact center PBX/IRQE  40  may be forwarded to the remote agent coordination center  220  by a second connection  50 . The second connection  50  may comprise a high-bandwidth connection such as a 1.544 Mbps DS-1, 44.4736 Mbps DS-3, 800 service, or comparable connection. The second connection  50  in turn connects the call to a voice switch  70 . Alternatively, the customer-initiated call  10  may bypass the contact center client  210  and PBX/IRQE  40  altogether and connect directly  30  to the voice switch  70 .  
         [0043]    The voice switch  70  is connected to a network coordinator  100  through a direct connection  110 . The network coordinator  100  maintains a live database of service schedules posted by the contact center client which are “advertised” to remote agents who are trained and authorized to serve that client. Alternatively, the service schedules may be posted by the network coordinator  100  based on instructions from the contact center client. The service schedules comprise blocks of time during which the client would like remote agents to service calls from its contact center. All the available remote agents  90  trained and authorized to service calls for the particular contact center client  210  may review the service schedule and select or accept those blocks of time during which they would like to service the particular client&#39;s contact center. The network coordinator as well as the client are able to monitor which advertised time slots have been accepted by the remote agents and which remain unfilled in order to make appropriate staffing decisions.  
         [0044]    The network coordinator  100  has the ability to be integrally tied to every transaction if it is so desired by the contact center client. This ability allows the network coordinator to gather necessary call statistics which may be needed since the remote agents  90  are generally paid in proportion to the volume of calls handled, be it on a per-call basis, an hourly basis or on a fixed price basis or through some other performance based methodology.  
         [0045]    The direct connection  110  between the network coordinator  100  and the voice switch  70  enables the network coordinator to provide seamless supervisory monitoring of the calls without any intrusiveness. Furthermore, the network coordinator  100  may provide this “silent monitoring” to the contact center client  210  through data connection  50  to enable the client to evaluate the audio transactions that take place between the remote agent  90  and the customer  10 . The direct connection  110  from the network coordinator  100  to the voice switch  70  enables either the network coordinator  100  or the contact center client  210  to provide supervisory assistance to the remote agent  90  as needed. The network coordinator  100  may also provide real-time call statistics to the contact center client  210  to evaluate the performance of the remote agent  90 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote agent  90 , the network coordinator  100  and the contact center client  210  have real-time email or electronic chat capability so that information may be distributed without interrupting any ongoing voice connections.  
         [0046]    The remote agent  90  is equipped with voice communication means, such as a telephone  94  and data communication means provided by a networked workstation or personal computer  92 . The voice communications means  94  and data communication means  92  are themselves networked to allow for seamless processing of voice and data. The telecommunication connections to and from the remote agent  90  are well known within the industry. In a preferred embodiment, “voice over internet protocol” or “VoIP” is utilized to connect the voice path  80  from the voice switch  70  to the remote agent  90 . Alternatively, voice communications  80  between the voice switch  70  and the remote agent  90  may be established by an off premises extension (“OPX”). An OPX generally refers to any telephone extension not located on the same premise as the telephone system of which it is a part.  
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment, a data connection between the remote agent  90  and a data switch  140  at the client contact center  210  travels through a data switch  170  at the coordination center  220  via data lines  160  and  162 . The data switch  170  at the coordination center  220  acts as a concentration point for all remote agents which service the subject contact center. Alternatively, the remote agent  90  may have a direct data connection  164  to the data switch  140  at the client contact center  210 . The data received by the data switch  140  at the client contact center  210  is extended through a data path  130  to the PBX/IRQE  40  for caller transaction information. In a preferred embodiment, the data paths  164  and  160  which originate from the remote agent may utilize POTS, DSL or ISDN depending on the bandwidth requirements and available equipment. The data path  162  which connects the data switches  140  and  170  is best established using a data frame relay but may me also established using other technologies such as Virtual Private Network (“VPN”), T1, NxT1, and the like. This is sized based on the contact centers application bandwidth demand. Frame relay is a telecommunication service designed for cost-efficient data transmission for intermittent traffic between LANs and between end-points in a WANs. Frame relay puts data in a variable-size unit called frames and leaves any necessary error correction (retransmission of data) up to the end-points, which speeds up overall data transmission. The data path between the data switch  140  and the PBX/IRQE  40  at the contact center  210  is preferably a high-speed LAN connection  130 .  
         [0048]    In a preferred embodiment the network coordinator  100  provides payroll support for the contact center client or clients serviced by the remote agent  90 . Alternatively, if the remote agent  90  is engaged directly by the network coordinator through an agreement with the client contact center, no payroll services are provided by the network coordinator. The network coordinator  100  inherently monitors the call status, duration, availability and other information relating to the remote agent  90 . This information may be compiled for accounting on a per-call basis, hourly basis, sales basis or whichever method of compensation is agreed upon. The accounting information may be directly delivered from the network coordinator  100  to the contact center client  210  through a data connection  120  to the data switch  140 .  
         [0049]    Referring next to FIG. 2 of the drawings, in a second preferred embodiment a customer-initiated “electronic call” (that is, customer initiated electronic communications via electronic chat, e-mail, video-conferencing, and the like)  310  may travel by local data lines  320  through the Internet  330  to a contact center client  210 . The contact center client  210  is equipped with a data switch  340  that has the ability to receive and link the electronic calls to remote locations.  
         [0050]    Electronic calls from the contact center data switch  340  may be forwarded to the coordination center  220  by a data connection  390 . In an alternate embodiment, the customer-initiated electronic call  310  may bypass the contact center client  210  altogether and connect directly  400  to the remote agent coordination center  220 . In either scenario, the electronic call is received by a data switch  350  at the coordination center  220  which then queries the network coordinator  380  through a data connection  420 . The network coordinator  380  in turn forwards the electronic call to a suitable remote agent  90 . The data connections  390  and  400  may comprise a high-bandwidth data connection such as a frame relay, NxT1, VPN or comparable connection. The data connection  420  between the network coordinator  380  and the data switch  350  at the coordination center  220  is preferably a high-speed LAN connection.  
         [0051]    The network coordinator  380  maintains a live database of service schedules posted by the contact center client which are “advertised” to remote agents who are trained and authorized to serve that client. Alternatively, the service schedules may be posted by the network coordinator  380  based on instructions from the contact center client. The service schedules comprise blocks of time during which the client would like remote agents to service electronic calls from its contact center. All the available remote agents  90  trained and authorized to service electronic calls for the particular contact center client  210  may review the service schedule and select or accept those blocks of time during which they would like to service the particular client&#39;s contact center. The network coordinator as well as the client are able to monitor which advertised time slots have been accepted by remote clients and which remain unfilled in order to make appropriate staffing decisions.  
         [0052]    The network coordinator  380  has the ability to be integrally tied to every transaction if it is so desired by the contact center client. This ability allows the network coordinator to gather necessary call statistics which may be needed since the remote agents  90  are generally paid in proportion to the volume of electronic calls handled, be it on a per-call basis, an hourly basis or on a fixed price basis or through some other performance based methodology.  
         [0053]    The remote agent  90  is equipped with data communication means provided by a networked workstation or personal computer  430 . The telecommunication connections to and from the remote agent  90  are well known within the industry. In this preferred embodiment the remote agent  90  is has a direct data connection  410 , preferably a high-bandwidth data connection such as a DSL, ISDN, Cable Modem, or comparable connection, to the data switch  350  at the coordination center  220 . Alternatively, the direct data connection  410  may utilize POTS depending on the bandwidth requirements and available equipment. The direct connection  410  between the data switch  350  and the remote agent  90  enables the network coordinator to link the remote agent  90  to the customer and provides data access for seamless supervisory monitoring of the electronic calls. In an alternate embodiment, the remote agent may also be connected directly to the data switch  340  at the contact center client&#39;s location through a direct data connection  440  similar to that which connects it to the network coordinator. This would allow the contact center client  210  to monitor the electronic call in the same fashion the network coordinator  380  can. The direct data connections  410 ,  440  also enable either the network coordinator  380  or the contact center client  210  to provide assistance to the remote agent  90  as needed. The network coordinator  380  may also provide real-time call statistics to the contact center client  210  to evaluate the performance of the remote agent  90 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote agent  90 , the network coordinator  380  and the contact center client  210  have real-time email or electronic chat capability so that information may be distributed without interrupting any ongoing connections.  
         [0054]    In a preferred embodiment the network coordinator  380  provides payroll support for the contact center client or clients serviced by the remote agent  90 . Alternatively, if the remote agent  90  is engaged directly by the network coordinator through an agreement with the client contact center, no payroll services are provided by the network coordinator. The network coordinator  380  inherently monitors the call status, duration, availability and other information relating to the remote agent  90 . This information may be compiled for accounting on a per-call basis, hourly basis, sales basis or whichever method of compensation is agreed upon. The accounting information may be directly delivered from the network coordinator  380  to the contact center client  210  through the data connection  390 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 3 is illustrative of the general operation of the system whereby multiple contact center clients  210   a - c  are serviced by multiple remote agents  90   a - e . As an example, remote agent  90   b  is trained and authorized to service calls from both call center client  210   a  and call center client  210   b . Remote agent  90   b  is scheduled to work from 4:00 p.m. to    6 : 00   p.m. for call center client  210   a . The schedule of remote agent  90   b  is registered with the network coordinator  100  whereby only authorized and scheduled remote agents may log on to the system to accept calls. The number of remote agents assigned to handle calls is predetermined by the call center client based on anticipated needs. However, suppose that in the example, remote agent  90   b  finds that call center client  210   a  overestimated its need for remote agents and remote agent  90   b  is idle. The network coordinator  100  may determine that call center client  210   b  requires additional assistance than previously forecasted. The network coordinator  100  then confirms that remote agent  90   b  has been trained and authorized to handle calls for call center client  210   b  and that the remote agent is idle. The network coordinator  100  then sends email to remote agent  90   b  offering a switch to accept customer-initiated calls for call center client  210   b . The remote agent  90   b  may then switch over and begin accepting calls for call center client  210   b.    
         [0056]    From the remote agent&#39;s point of view, working for multiple contact centers has many advantages. Initially, the income base of the remote agent is not necessarily affected if one contact center is not able to efficiently utilize him or her since other contact centers will likely be available to provide work. Secondly, by working for multiple contact centers, a remote agent is not locked into the schedule of a single contact center. Because multiple contact centers are available for assignment, an agent will normally be able to choose from a wider range of work schedules and expected call volumes thus permitting a better fit to the particular lifestyle circumstances of the agent. The benefits derived from being able to service multiple contact centers encourage remote agents to train and qualify to handle multiple contact center clients. This benefit is returned to the contact center clients who gain a large pool of remote agents that may be activated on an ad hoc basis.  
         [0057]    Referring back to FIG. 3, remote agents  90   a ,  9   c , and  90   e  are trained and authorized to accept calls, designated by a solid line, only to a single call center client  40 . However, remote agents  90   b  and  90   d  are trained and authorized to accept calls, designated by dashed lines, to multiple call center clients. By the implementation of the multiple client remote agent network method, the call center clients  40   a - c  greatly expand the size and capacity of their workforce with little to no additional expense. Simultaneously, the remote agents greatly expand their employment opportunities and work schedules by working for multiple call center clients.  
         [0058]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that although the preferred embodiments of the present invention disclose remote agent systems in which customer-initiated calls are routed to remote agents, alternate embodiments of the invention in which the calls are initiated by remote agents and are routed to customers are possible using variants of the disclosed system.  
         [0059]    Accordingly, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.