Abstract:
A system and method are provided for routing data base information obtained in an automated Internet message response to a subsequently selected live agent. An electronic workforce identifies the customer, pulls customer identification, pulls a record on the customer, provides information requested by customer, and permits the customer to select a live agent, provides the live agent number to determine the network identification number. Accordingly, the live agent receives data base information on a customer at the time the live agent begins conversation with the customer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/419,103, filed Apr. 10, 1995 and having the title “Object Oriented Customer Information Exchange System and Method” which is hereby expressly referenced and incorporated herein by reference. 
     This application is further related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,240 filed on even day herewith and having the title “Computer Telephony Integration System and Method” which is hereby expressly referenced and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to systems and methods for computer telephony and web page synchronization. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Current Internet systems interact problematically with private branch exchange (PBX) switches connected to voice response units and electronic workforces, operating with computer data bases. The on-line customer may wish to modify data stored in a computer data base but needs subsequently to communicate directly with a live agent accessible through an automatic call distribution (ACD) queue. 
     The customer information which has been produced from database storage based upon the customer identification must typically either be reproduced again from the original data base or must be transmitted to the live agent to enable the provide immediate assistance without having to repeat the entire user identification and data query operation which produced user specific information to service the particular call. 
     Unfortunately, currently available methods and systems for routing user information based upon an initial automated user identification to a subsequently determined live agent are slow, cumbersome, and require repetitive presentation of the same customer information first to the voice response unit and electronic workforce, and then directly to the live agent, followed by waiting periods during which the live agent accesses a computer data base indicating customer data by customer ID#. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a customer inquires by Internet and through an automated voice response unit (VRU) or electronic workforce as to information in a computer database on a computer which is network connected to the automated VRU or electronic workforce. The electronic workforce system or VRU makes a customer identification request over the Internet. The customer then provides its ID# or other identification code to permit extraction of customer specific information from the database. The electronic workforce system according to the present invention uses the identifying information to query a computer database for information about the inquiring customer. The information provided in the database may include information about customer characteristics or preferences. This or other information is then provided by the electronic workforce system to the customer via the Internet. In view of the information received, the customer may wish to speak with a live agent. If the customer elects a live agent, a particular live agent is selected through an automatic call distribution (ACD) queue process. 
     According to the present invention, Internet messages on a web server are processed along with switch and computer based information using a voice response unit (electronic workforce) such as an electronic workforce, a switch such as a private branch exchange (PBX), a computer having a data base, and a live agent having direct access to a personal computer and a telephone. 
     According to the present invention, a software agent in the electronic workforce performs intelligent call routing with information about a customer provided to a live agent identified after the call has been received by the electronic workforce and after the customer has made a request for a live agent. 
     According to the present invention, a software agent transfers a call to a live agent and accesses a customer&#39;s record so the live agent can answer the call in a more personal and efficient manner. Thus, a coordinated call and screen transfer operation, i.e., screen popping evolution, is accomplished with the customer identify being established once by the electronic workforce without need for reascertainment by the live agent, because the information about customer identity is passed by network to the correct one of a number of live agents working a switch site. 
     According to the present invention, telephone calls are intelligently routed and transferred by a call center agent performing account handling activities, based upon ANI/DNIS information. The software agent receiving the call obtains calling party information, permitting access to a local table, local or remote database information, or a host computer about the customer or number dialed to route the call to a specific live agent, live agent group, or particular electronic work force (EWF) job description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a block diagram of a combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a block diagram of a live agent personal computer (PC) including mainframe access software and associated desktop control and browser software; 
     FIG. 1 c  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing a browser installed on a customer&#39;s personal computer, the Internet, an electronic workforce, a computer, and a browser installed on the personal computer of a live agent; 
     FIG. 1 d  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing a browser installed on a customer&#39;s personal computer, the Internet, an electronic workforce, a network bus, and a computer; 
     FIG. 1 e  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing electronic workforce and browser which is installed on the personal computer of a live agent; 
     FIG. 1 f  provides an updating process for an agent browser (LAB), according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 1 g  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing electronic workforce  5 , personal computer  8   b , desktop control software  8   b ″, and browser  8   c  which is installed on the personal computer of a live agent, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1 h  shows an updating method according to the present invention, wherein desktop control software  8   b ″ is used to simulate a user request for information from electronic workforce  5 ; 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   b  are a composite display window for an electronic workforce indicating a screen programming process according to which an automated call processing sequence is defined to respond automatically to a customer Internet inquiry and to identify a live agent, according to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   e  shows a method of call processing according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 a  is a block diagram of an Internet computer telephony system according to the present invention. The system of the present invention includes a first telephone  3  used by a customer interested in speaking with a live agent about information in a data base, after initial on-line communication with the data base has proven unsatisfactory. The system further includes a switch  4  such as a private branch exchange (i.e., a PBX), a voice response unit (VRU) such as an electronic workforce  5  made by Edify Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. 
     The Internet computer telephony system according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 a  additionally includes a bus  6  interconnected attached elements in a network, a computer  7  having a database, which may be a mainframe, a minicomputer, or a personal computer (PC). The system further includes a live agent system  8  including a live agent  8   a , a personal computer (PC)  8   b , and a second telephone  8   c  used by live agent  8   a  to communicate with switch  4 . First telephone  3  is a conventional telephone employed by a user to initiate a user call. First telephone is connected to the central telephone network at a telephone switch  4 . Telephone switch  4  is in turn connected to electronic workforce  5 , and second telephone  8   c . Further, electronic workforce  5 , and second telephone  8   c  are each connected to bus  6  which in turn is connected to computer  7 . Electronic workforce  5  is programmed according to the present invention to make an automated response to telephone calls received from switch  4 , as discussed in detail below in connection with FIGS. 3 a - 3   d . Particular details about electronic workforce  5  are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/708,463, filed May 5, 1991 and having the title “Object Oriented Customer Information Exchange System and Method” which is hereby expressly referenced and incorporated herein by reference. 
     The customer initially communicates with electronic workforce  5  through the Internet  6   a  via a personal computer  5   a  which has a browser  5   a ′, and is able to communicate on line with a web page on electronic workforce  5 . 
     Network bus  6  in FIG. 1 a  is a parallel set of electric wires carrying byte wide data signals and control or information signals between network elements including call path server  5   a , electronic workforce  5 , personal computer  8   b , and computer  7 . The network bus can be a Telnet connection, for example. Computer  7  is a general purpose computer having memory for storing a data base as well as other well known computer features. Live agent  8   a  is a human person acting as a telephone operator or service individual. Switch  4  is connected to second telephone  8   c  through an automatic call distribution (ACD) queue. Personal computer  8   a  is a general purpose computer having a ×86 architecture, for example. Personal computer  8   a  is connected through network bus  6  to computer  7  to receive customer information on a desk-top pop-up screen offering a visual depiction of selected data stored in computer  7 . Second telephone  8   c  is a consumer telephone device, for example, connected to switch  4  through an ACD queue. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a block diagram of a live agent personal computer (PC)  8   b  including desktop control software  8   b ″ which is loaded onto internal PC memory for operation. Further installed on PC  8   b  is a browser  8   c  which enables effective Internet communication, as will be discussed in greater detail immediately below. 
     FIG. 1 c  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing browser  5 a′ installed on a customer&#39;s personal computer, the Internet  6   a , electronic workforce  5 , computer  7 , and a browser  8   c  installed on the personal computer of a live agent. This Figure is useful in comprehending Internet communications between a customer and a live agent, while parallel telephone communication is occurring. As changes in the database on computer  7  are taking place, these changes are being reflected on the web page being maintained on electronic workforce  5 . Customer browser  5   a ′ is updated by the customer making an information request to the web page on electronic workplace  5 . Live agent browser  8   c  is separately updated by reference to electronic workplace  5 , as will be discussed in detail below. 
     FIG. 1 d  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing browser  5 a′ installed on a customer&#39;s personal computer, the Internet  6   a , electronic workforce  5 , network bus  6 , and computer  7 . This Figure. is useful in comprehending bilateral browser communications with electronic workforce  5 , and bilateral communications between workforce  5  and computer  7 . As changes in the database on computer  7  take place, these changes are reflected on the web page being maintained on electronic workforce  5 . Customer browser  5   a ′ is updated by the customer making an information request to the web page on electronic workplace  5 . Browser  5   a ′ asks for updates directly from electronic workforce  5 , and browser  5   a ′ receives the updates directly from electronic workforce  5  through the medium of the Internet  6   a.    
     FIG. 1 e  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing electronic workforce  5  and browser  8   c  which is installed on the personal computer of a live agent. Electronic workforce  5  includes web page  5   t . Live agent browser  8   c  includes cycling request block  8   c  ′, according to one embodiment of the present invention. This Figure is useful in comprehending how live agent browser  8   c  is updated, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As changes in the database on computer  7  are taking place, these changes are being reflected on web page  5   t  maintained on electronic workforce  5 . Live agent browser  8   c  is updated by reference to electronic workplace  5  by a request automatically made, either cyclically, regularly, or on a timed basis. 
     The request is considered to be made by a particular software module referred to as the cycling request module  8   c ′. As a result of the cyclic request made (whether regular or irregular), electronic workforce  5  provides updated information from web page  5   t  or from a selected memory or storage location. 
     Such updating is described in greater detail in FIG. 1 f . In particular, live agent browser (LAB) asks  11  the electronic workforce to current web page information in mime type form. Next the live agent browser (LAB) asks the electronic workforce for current web page information in mime form. Next, the LAB receives  12  the information. Then, the LAB goes back  13  for more information. Thereafter, the LAB receives  14  more information. Finally, operation continues at the beginning of block  13  with the LAB going back for more information. Once a request by LAB  8   c  is made in mime form, after every receipt of information, it automatically goes back for more information. 
     FIG. 1 g  is a block diagram of selected portions of the combined Internet and computer telephone system according to the present invention, specifically showing electronic workforce  5 , personal computer  8   b , desktop control software  8   b ″, and browser  8   c  which is installed on the personal computer of a live agent, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Electronic workforce  5  includes agent  5   t ′ according to this embodiment. This Figure is useful in comprehending how live agent browser  8   c  is updated, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As changes in the database on computer  7  are taking place, these changes are being reflected on web page  5   t  maintained on electronic workforce  5 . Live agent browser  8   c  is updated by reference to electronic workplace  5  by a request made, upon direction from agent  5   t . As a result of the directions provided by agent  5   t  (whether regular or irregular), browser  8   c  makes a request for an update to electronic workforce  5  and it receives the update from electronic workforce pursuant to its request for the update. Electronic workforce  5  provides the updated information from web page  5   t  or from a selected memory or storage location. More particularly, agent  5   t  provides the directions to desktop control software  8   b ″, which in turn provides direction to browser  8   c  to make a request of electronic workforce  5 . 
     Such updating is described in greater detail in FIG. 1 h . In particular, electronic workforce agent  5   t  tells  16  desktop control software  8   b ″ to simulate a user request for information from electronic workforce  5 . Then, desktop control software  8   b ″ simulates  17  the request for information. Next, desktop control software  18  sends a simulated request to the live agent browser. Next, the live agent browser requests  19  an update. Finally, the live agent browser gets  20  an update. 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   b  are a composite display window  20  for electronic workforce  5  indicating a screen programming process according to which an automated call processing sequence is defined to respond automatically to a user telephone call. Display window  20  includes a menu  21  of action and device icons in respective first and second columns. As described in the above-referenced, incorporated patent application showing the electronic workforce  5 , by selecting an action and device icon for placement at a grid position in display window  20 , an object is established in a predetermined time sequence to cooperate with other linearly positioned objects, to perform automated call processing sequences. According to an embodiment of the present invention, Internet operation begins at grid position Cl, followed by Internet login at C 2 . Synchronism is turned off at C 3 . Terminal login is checked at C 4 . Screen synchronism is accomplished at C 5 . Such synchronism means that the web page is updated. The Internet main menu is requested at C 6 . A choice of flow alternatives is indicated at C 7 . Six flow choices are indicated respectively at C 8 , D 8 , E 8 , F 8 , G 8 , and H 8 . The first flow choice beginning at C 8  is an account flow. The first flow choice beginning at C 8  is an account flow. The second flow choice beginning at D 8  is an overdraft flow. The third flow choice beginning at E 8  is a statement flow. The fourth flow choice beginning at F 8  is a loan flow. The fifth flow choice beginning at G 8  is a “call me” flow. The sixth flow choice beginning at H 8  is an “other” flow. The account flow includes getting an account, as indicated at C 9 . The overdraft flow includes accomplishing screen synchronization, as indicated at D 9 . The statement flow includes accomplishing screen synchronization, as indicated at E 9 . The loan flow includes accomplishing screen synchronization, as indicated at F 9 . The “call me” flow includes waiting for an Internet screen, as indicated at G 9 . The “other” flow includes choosing another flow, as indicated at H 9 . 
     The account flow next includes accomplishing screen synchronization, as indicated at C 10 . The overdraft flow includes asking Internet, as indicated at D 10 . The statement flow includes asking Internet, as indicated at E 10 . The loan flow includes asking Internet, as indicated at F 10 . The “call me” flow includes calling the user or customer, as indicated at G 10 . The “other” flow includes operations being done or branching to further operations, as indicated respectively at H 10  and I 11 . 
     Further operations are shown in FIG. 2 b . The account flow next includes asking Internet, as indicated at C 11 . The overdraft flow includes updating the database, as indicated at D 11 . The statement flow includes updating the database, as indicated at E 11 . The loan flow includes going to H 9 , as indicated at F 11 . The “call me” flow includes holding for the next customer service representative (CSR), as indicated at G 11 . The “other” flow includes ending synchronization or going to C 5 , as indicated respectively at H 11  and I 11 . 
     The account flow next going to H 9 , as indicated at C 12 . The overdraft flow includes going to H 9 , as indicated at D 12 . The statement flow includes going to H 9 , as indicated at E 12 . The “call me” flow includes transferring to a customer service representative (CSR), as indicated at G 12 . The “other” flow includes stopping flow, as indicated at H 12 . 
     The “call me” flow includes asking for the customer service representative&#39;s identification (ID), as indicated at G 13 , then getting the network address for the particular customer service representative&#39;s personal computer as indicated at G 14 , turning synchronism on as indicated at G 15 , and going to C 5  as indicated at H 15  which would normally be next in linear flow at G 16  but is for convenience depicted at H 15 . 
     FIG. 3 a  shows operation of the Internet computer telephony system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, when a customer makes a web call  30  over the Internet to electronic workforce  5 , the electronic workforce answers the call electronically. Electronic workforce  5  electronically asks for the customer to provide identification information such an identification (ID) number and a telephone number. When the customer provides the ID# or the like, electronic workforce  5  gets  31  the customer ID#. Next, electronic workforce  5  uses the ID# to access database information on computer  7  about the customer, and gets  32  particular customer data which is of interest or utility with respect to the customer, from the database in computer  7 . The particular customer data may for example indicate something about the relationship between the holder or operator of electronic workforce  5  and the customer, such as account or financial information, for example. As a consequence of having received the information, electronic workforce  5  accordingly sends  33  a web page response to the customer and provides selected information which has been acquired from computer  7 . Electronic workforce  5  may play a menu of options or alternatives to the customer, after the information has been provided, including a choice as to whether the customer wishes to speak with a live person, i.e., live agent. This is possible, when the customer is surprised, for example, about the information received. For example, the customer may find there is a zero balance in an account. 
     The method according to the present invention continues at FIG. 3 b , with the customer looking at the received data and asking  34  for a live agent. Then, the customer selects a “call me” option  35  on a web page, by entering the customer&#39;s phone number. 
     Further, a supervised PBX transfer is invoked and the electronic workforce  5  calls a customer  36  and the customer answers. Next, electronic workforce  5  tells the customer to hold for a live agent. 
     Then, electronic workforce  5  puts the customer on hold in the PBX and invokes supervised transfer to a live agent. After that, the live agent responds with a “hello”  37  and is asked  38  for identification by electronic workforce  5  operating through switch  4 , which is provided either directly by the voice of the live agent, or by a DTMF signal either automatically provided or given by the human intervention of the particular live agent. 
     As shown in FIG. 3 d , electronic workforce  5  then looks up  39  the network address of the live agent at a memory location in electronic workforce  5 , including a look-up table for example which relates specific live agent ID#&#39;s with the network addresses of the corresponding live agents. Next, the electronic workforce  5  connects to a live agent&#39;s desktop. 
     Then, as shown in FIG. 3 e , the electronic workforce brings the customer&#39;s web page up on the agents&#39;s desktop. At this time, customer and live agent are PBX connected  42 .