Abstract:
A method for determining a statistical probability that a contact will answer a pending outbound call includes steps for (a) performing a lookup in a data repository to determine presence status of the contact relative to a network server, (b) equating the presence status found to a value, and (c) comparing the presence value to a predetermined system value.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NA 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of telephony including data network telephony (DNT) applications as practiced in interaction with a call center and pertains particularly to methods for determining physical presence of contacts during an outbound calling campaign. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In state-of-art telephony call centers, one way to make contact with clients and potential customers is through an outbound dialing campaign. Call center software for dialing outbound numbers is executed during such a campaign. When a called party picks up a call from the call center, typically the software connects the call to a waiting call center agent or interactive voice response system for call processing purposes. 
         [0006]    Call centers have rather recently been adapted to handle both Internet and telephone network traffic. Call center agents may employ regular plane old telephony service (POTS) telephones, Internet Protocol (IP) telephones, and personal computers (PCs) that have network access to the Internet. 
         [0007]    In the process of an outbound campaign, the outbound dialing application often experiences delays caused by no answer or an answer by a machine. In the first case, the software may allow a specific number of rings before dropping the call for a customer. In the second case, the software may attempt to connect the call even though there is no live party. 
         [0008]    Some state-of-art systems are capable of determining whether a machine or a live person answers a placed call. In the case of a machine, the call is dropped, however some time is wasted in that the call was attempted and had to be processed as a failed attempt. In a robust outbound campaign, the total time it takes to process failed call attempts can be very costly to the center. 
         [0009]    What is clearly needed is an outbound call application that can determine whether or not a target client or potential customer is available to take a call before the call attempt is made. Such a system would greatly reduce the number of failed call attempts that are processed throughout the campaign. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for determining a statistical probability that a contact will answer a pending outbound call. The method includes steps for (a) performing a lookup in a data repository to determine presence status of the contact relative to a network server, (b) equating the presence status found to a value, and (c) comparing the presence value to a predetermined system value. In one aspect, in step (a), the presence status is an instant message presence indication or setting reported to the repository by the network server. In a variation of this aspect, the presence status is one of online or offline. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, in step (a), the presence status includes one or more sub state presence indicators set by the contact the sub state or states taken into account whether the contact is online or offline. In one aspect, in step (a), the network server is an instant message server. Also in one aspect, the outbound call is one of a telephone call or a voice over Internet protocol call. 
         [0012]    In one aspect, in step (c), the probability is determined to be low if the presence value is lower than the system value in comparison and higher if the presence value is equal to or greater than the system value. In a variation of this aspect, in step (c), a finding of a low statistical probability during comparison prevents an outbound call attempt to the contact. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a software application for conducting an outbound dialing campaign from a call center is provided. The application includes a list of contacts associated with call parameters, an automated dialing program, an answer probability determination routine, and a dialing program execution routine. The answer probability determination routine determines the probability that a contact will answer a call for each of the contacts in the list of contacts, the resulting probability determination used as a value to cause execution or not to cause execution of the dialing program for each contact in the list of contacts during the course of the campaign. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, each of the contacts in the list of contacts are instant message users known to an instant message server. In one embodiment, the call parameters include one or a compilation of telephone numbers, or data network equivalents of telephone numbers. In all embodiments, the answer probability determination routine uses current instant message presence information to calculate an answer probability for each contact in the list of contacts. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the software application further includes a call center data analyzer. In this embodiment, the result from the call center data analyzer is used as a weighting factor applied to the value to cause execution or not to cause execution of the dialing program for each contact in the list of contacts during the course of the campaign. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the invention, an automated system is provided for calling contacts from a call center and for routing established calls. The system includes a server node executing an outbound call application, an automated dialer controlled by the outbound call application, a call router for routing established calls to a final destination, and a software routine integrated with the outbound call application for predicting likelihood that contacts will answer calls. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the software routine uses presence information of the contacts relative to a network server as input in predicting likelihood that the contacts will answer calls. In this embodiment, the network server is an instant message server and the contacts are instant message users. Also in this embodiment, the final destination is an agent or an automated system. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the outbound call application accesses call center data of contacts to obtain information to weight the result of the predictive software routine for each contact before executing the automated dialer to dial each contact. In a variation of this embodiment, the contacts are organized in a contact list by priority, the higher priority established by a positive presence indicator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an overview of a communications network that supports an outbound campaign according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for conducting an outbound campaign according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an overview of a communications network  100  that supports an outbound campaign according to an embodiment of the present invention. Communications network  100  includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  101  and an Internet network  102 . A call center  103  is illustrated in this example and may interact with callers accessing the center from anywhere in PSTN  101 . Call center  103  may also handle Internet traffic from users accessing call center services over the network. 
         [0022]    PSTN  101  includes a local telephone switch (LSW)  105  that has connection via a telephone trunk to a central office switch (CS)  118  located within call center  103 . In one embodiment, call center  103  may utilize Centrex equipment hosted by the local telephone company. PSTN  101  and Internet network  102  may be bridged for cross communication at multiple locations in the network infrastructure as is typically known in the art. 
         [0023]    Call center  103  includes a local area network (LAN)  123  that supports internal network communication and access to Internet  102 . LAN  123  may be adapted to support all of the required Internet protocols for network communication. In this example LAN  123  supports an Internet router (IR)  116 . IR  116  has connection to an Internet backbone  107  via a high speed Internet access line  109 . 
         [0024]    There may be other types of communications network segments present in this example without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Wireless cellular networks, private telephone networks, corporate wide area networks (WANs), wireless data network segments, and the like may all be represented. Internet backbone  107  represents all of the lines, equipment, and access networks that make up the Internet network as a whole. Therefore, there are no geographic limitations to the practice of the present invention. 
         [0025]    A plurality of network users  104  ( 1 - n ) is illustrated in this example. Users  104 ( 1 - n ) may be existing clients or potential patrons of call center  103 . The term contact is used liberally throughout this specification to refer to users who might be clients, patrons, or potential customers of a call center. Each user  104 ( 1 - n ) is equipped in this example with a computer appliance and a telephone. A wide variety of computer appliances may be represented such as personal computers, laptop computers, and hand-held devices of various capabilities. The only requirement for a user computer appliance is that it may access Internet network  102  and that it support instant messaging and presence reporting. Session initiation protocol (SIP) and Extensible messaging presence protocol (XMPP) are well known protocols. A SW instance  112  illustrated on a computer appliance of user  104  ( 1 ) is representative of an instant message interface. It may be assumed for the purpose of this discussion that all users  104  ( 1 - n ) use IM services accessible through IMS  111 . 
         [0026]    Computer appliances of users  104 ( 1 - n ) are logically represented herein as connected to Internet backbone  107  via an Internet access line  108 . It will be appreciated that connection methods may vary widely ranging from PSTN access to integrated digital services network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable or satellite access. In this example, telephones of users  104 ( 1 - n ) have connection to LSW  105  in PSTN  101  via telephone network line  106 . Telephone access may also be accomplished via digital and analog cellular telephone access without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0027]    Internet  102  includes an instant message server (IMS)  111  connected to backbone  107 . IMS  111  is adapted as a host for instant message services and may support instant message applications from different providers. IMS  111  maintains the presence information for all users registered in the server, in this example, users  104  ( 1 - n ). IMS  111  has an instance of presence reporting software (PRS)  115   a  provided thereto and executable thereon. PRS  115   a  maintains all of the current presence information for all IM users known to the server. Any user operating an instant messenger application, where the user and the application are known to IMS  111  will have their presence information tracked by the server with the aid of PRS  115   a . The server knows when a user is offline or on line. And which presence indicators the user has applied at the user interface while the user is on line. 
         [0028]    A call center application server (CCAPP)  114  is illustrated within call center  103  and is supported on LAN  123 . CCAPP  114  is adapted to contain all of the center telephony applications that are used by the center. A data repository  122  is illustrated within call center  103  and is supported on LAN  123 . Repository  122  is adapted to contain all of the important call center data including user data, product order data and user transaction histories. There may be more than one repository for holding call center data. One repository is illustrated in this example and is deemed sufficient for explaining the invention. Repository  122  also contains updated presence information  1115   b . Presence information  115   b  is all of the latest presence information obtained from IMS  111  since the last reporting or acquisition of the data depending on whether a push or pull model is used. 
         [0029]    A software (SW) instance  113  is provided to one or more call center applications that represent outbound campaigns; typically any automated outbound calling campaigns that may be used by call center  103  to initiate contact with customers. SW  113  is a routine for leveraging the latest presence information attributed to IM users to determine if they will be available to take a call from call center  103 . LAN  123  supports an outbound dialing server (OBDS)  124 . OBDS  124  is adapted to place outbound calls according to a list of contacts and a specific outbound calling application and to connect calls that are answered to an agent or system of call center  103  for handling. OBDS  124  is adapted with an outbound dialing application (APP)  117  from CCAPP  114 . APP  117  includes routine  113  in a preferred embodiment. 
         [0030]    SW  113  is adapted to simplify and streamline the outbound campaign by elimination altogether or greatly reducing failed call attempts by performing a lookup in repository  122  to determine latest presence information for each contact on the outbound call list before the dialer dials the number for the user. 
         [0031]    OBDS  124  has a computer telephony integrated (CTI) link  125  connecting it to CS  118 . In this way, OBDS  124  may control switch  118  while the campaign is executed. SW  117  on OBDS  124  may perform a lookup in repository  122  to determine, in addition to latest presence information, if any of the contacts need to be called from the perspective of the latest call center data. LAN  123  supports agents  119 - 121 . Agents  119 - 121  each have a LAN-connected PC and a telephone. In this example, telephones are connected to CS  118  via internal telephone wiring. 
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, contact center  103  creates an outbound dialing campaign contact list for the application  117  to use to establish and connect calls to agents or automated treatments. Therefore, the knowledge of users presences status in IMS sever  111  is combined with information already known about users by the call center and is made available to the application as PRS  115   b  in repository  122 . The data is leveraged by call center  103  to enhance the outbound calling campaign in this example. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, call center  103  may contract with instant message service providers to gain access to the presence information. In another embodiment, call center  103  may provide instant message services and may control IMS  111 . Presence data available in IMS  111  may change frequently as users come online and go offline and otherwise set presence status while online from their interfaces. In one embodiment, center  103  monitors the presence information of users in real time. In another embodiment periodic batch updates of the presence information are replicated from IM server  111  to repository  122  as they occur. Having the most current data local to OBDS  124  and application  117  is a time saving convenience but is not a requirement to successfully practice the present invention. 
         [0034]    In practice of the present invention, application  117  is executed on OBDS, in this example, after being called into service from CCAAP  114 . The application uses CS  118  to place calls from the center to a contact list of users. Each contact listed for outbound dialing has a presence state regarding instant message presence and any most recent call center state. For example, a contact might have an order in process with the call center and the purpose of the call might be to confirm delivery date and ask if there are any other needs that might be met. IM presence information for the contact may indicate that the contact is online. The pre-knowledge that the contact is online raises the prospects that the contact will answer the telephone. 
         [0035]    AAP  117  checks presence status for each caller and may also check call center (CC) status to determine if a call is appropriate, needed, not needed, etc. The exact routine will depend in part on the design of the outbound campaign. If a contact has more than one contact number then the most promising number might be used depending on pre-knowledge of the contact. For example, a contact with a cellular number and a PSTN number whose presence data indicates that the contact is online may be better reached using the cell number if, for example, the contact is known to use a dialup connection to access the Internet. Presence data in IMS  111  may also reveal the appliance identification data of the appliance used to connect to the server. Therefore, if the contact is accessing IM services through an IP-capable cell phone, for example, the PSTN number might be used in the outbound call attempt. 
         [0036]    The routine ( 113 ) for determining if the contact will be processed and which number will be used to call the contact can be fine-tuned to increase statistical likelihood that the contact will answer if called. Combining the statistical likelihood that the caller is available with a perceived level of importance in reaching the specific contact might be equated to a numerical threshold value which will ultimately determine whether the contact is skipped or called during the campaign. Moreover, the inventor also provides a sub-routine for re-evaluating a contact should presence information change while the campaign is ongoing. In other words, a contact that was not dialed because of a low likelihood of availability can be moved to a priority position in the call list if the presence information of the contact changes to available. There are many possibilities. 
         [0037]    One with skill in the art of presence reporting software will understand that the fact that a contact is indicated to be online at a computer station does not guarantee that it is the contact or that the contact will answer an incoming call on another line or on the same line. However, statistically speaking, the prospects are much better for a successful connection if the contact is present at the location where a call is to be placed. Presence information may indicate that a contact is offline. That does not guarantee that the contact is not home. Statistically speaking the chance that the caller is not home is much greater if presence information cannot place the contact at a station. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, application  117  may prioritize the contact list by calling only those on the list who are indicated by presence information to be online. Those contacts indicated to be offline may remain unprocessed until or if their presence indication changes to online during the course of the outbound campaign. The exact nature of routine  113  may depend entirely on the nature and purpose of the outbound campaign. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a process flow chart illustrating steps for conducting an outbound campaign according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step  201 , the outbound application analogous to application  117  detects some change in presence status before the contact is processed. It is assumed in this step that presence information for contacts is monitored in near real time. In step  202 , the routine determines if the contact is available according to the latest presence indication. The most current information may be held locally in a data repository analogous to repository  122  containing updated presence data  115   b.    
         [0040]    In step  202 , if it is determined that the contact is not available (offline) then the process moves back to step  201  until or if a change is detected. If the contact is determined to be available (online), then in step  203  the routine performs a lookup of call center status of the contact in perspective of the purpose of the outbound campaign. Call center status might be that the contact is waiting for a call concerning an order being processed. Call center status might indicate that the caller has not paid an invoice on time. There are many variant possibilities. 
         [0041]    In step  204 , the routine determines according to the contact center status if a call is required. If in step  204  it is determined that a call is not required, then in step  205  there might be a determination made if a call might be helpful or appropriate in any event. CC data may prove helpful in determining the exact threshold between a call being required and a call being helpful. It may be a case where a contact has purchased a product but has not registered for the free customer service. CC data may indicate that the contact was called recently and responded negatively to registering for customer service. In this case, it may be determined that a call might not be helpful at the time. The process may return to step  201  in that event. 
         [0042]    In step  204  if it is determined after consulting CC data that a call is required, in step  206  the outbound application selects the call parameters to make the call. It is important to note herein that the call parameters might be a telephone number or some equivalent contact number to a computing device. The invention may be practiced over a telephone network or over a data network using VoIP technology. It is also noted herein that there may be a determination made of which of more than one contact number might be a preferred number to use depending in part on presence information and on call center data. 
         [0043]    In step  205 , if it is determined that a call would be helpful, then the process moves to step  206 . In step  207 , the call is placed in queue for dialing by the outbound dialing server. In one embodiment, the queue is first in first out and all queued outbound calls are attempted. In one embodiment, a step  208  for detecting status change is provided for all calls in queue for dialing. In this case, the status change may indicate that the caller is online but away or online but out to lunch. If the status change is negative in terms of whether a call should be placed, then the outbound event might be deleted from queue in step  209 . In step  208  if there is no status change then in step  210  the system places the outbound call to the contact. At step  211 , presuming the contact answered the call the contact is connected to an agent for servicing. 
         [0044]    It is possible that a status change is detected for the contact that is in queue where the change does not affect the determination to place a call to the contact number. It is also possible that even if there is a status change indicating that the contact has gone offline, the outbound call may still be placed knowing at least that the contact is probably still at the location to be called. There are many situations that may be accurately reflected through presence indication. For example, a contact might be online using a laptop computer from a moving vehicle. In that case, the contact cell number is selected over the resident home number of the contact for the outbound dialer. Presence indication may indicate when a contact will again be online allowing the outbound dialing application to predict when the best time to place an outbound call would be. 
         [0045]    One with skill in the art of automated dialing systems will appreciate that much time can be saved over the course of an outbound dialing campaign by statistically predicting which contacts from a list of contacts will have the highest probability of answering the call after analyzing presence information. By concentrating only on these contacts (those indicated to be present), the call center may increase the efficiency rating of the campaign. Prioritizing the list of contacts according to presence indication puts off those contacts that are statistically less likely to pick up. When or if presence changes are detected for such contacts and the presence information indicates that they are online, they can be reprioritized into the active call list. Likewise, those contacts in queue may be deleted before an attempt is made if presence indication changes lowering the probability of them answering the call. 
         [0046]    There may be more or fewer process steps in this example than the number of steps shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, process step  205  is not required in order to successfully execute the process. Likewise, there may be individual evaluations of presence indicators that are more granular than offline or online. For example, a presence setting may indicate that a contact is online but having lunch or that the contact requests that he or she not be disturbed for a specific period of time. There are many possible scenarios. 
         [0047]    In various applications of the process described above, distribution of outbound calls may be practiced over a number of outbound queues. In one embodiment, varying types of interaction may be pursued other than telephone or VoIP calls. An outbound campaign may include instant messages, emails, voice mails, and so on. In one embodiment, if it is determined that a call would not be helpful but the presence information indicates that the contact is online, an email or a simple messaging service (SMS) message may be sent to the contact. The benefit of being able to form some statistical probability that a contact is likely to answer an outbound call before the attempt is made can be used to greatly reduce the number of delays due to unanswered calls and machine pickups that must be processed as failed attempts. 
         [0048]    The present invention can be practiced over the Internet in combination with a telephone network or in combination with any sub networks (data or telephone) that can be used to reach a contact. The methods and apparatus of the invention should be given the broadest possible interpretation under examination. The spirit and scope of the present invention shall be limited only by the following claims.