Patent US6310951B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6310951B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reassignment of agents
Assignee: Unify Inc
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Filing: 1998-09-25
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Granted: 2001-10-30
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Expires: 2018-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A process for reassignment of agents based on their performance in the last performance interval; if the performance of an agent is superior, then he/she is moved to a higher campaign. “Higher” refers to a campaign for which the call center receives a greater remuneration whether or not the call center in turn increases the rate of pay of the agent. Similarly, if the performance is inferior, then the agent is moved to a lower campaign, i.e., one for which the call center receives less remuneration. If the performance just meets the objective, then the agent's assignment stays the same. There can be many levels of superior or inferior performance but the basic principle remains the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan M. Wineberg
- 👤 Neil D. Pundit
- 👤 Arunachalam Ravichandran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0639; G06Q10/06398; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/523; H04M3/5232
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; and transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; and transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if, (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaigns are appropriate to the transfer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if, (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaigns are appropriate to the transfer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
231 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
278 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
278 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
317 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; inputting a maximum allowable number of reassignments for each agent during said performance interval; tracking the number of reassignments of each agent; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers and; (f) the number of transfers of said agent is less than the maximum number of transfers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
317 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; inputting a maximum allowable number of reassignments for each agent during said performance interval; tracking the number of reassignments of each agent; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers and; (f) the number of transfers of said agent is less than the maximum number of transfers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
347 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; inputting a maximum allowable number of reassignments for each agent during said performance interval; tracking the number of reassignments of each agent; inputting a minimum number of agent actions as a requirement for evaluating agent performance; tracking the number of agent actions; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers and; (f) the number of transfers of said agent is less than the maximum number of transfers and; (g) the number of agent actions exceeds the minimum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
347 words
A computer method for automatically reassigning agents engaged in a first call center campaign to a second call center campaign, which is running concurrently with said first call center campaign, based upon an agent's performance in said first call center campaign, including the steps of: evaluating, during a performance interval, the performance of each of a plurality of agents engaged in said first campaign against a performance criteria for each respective agent in order to determine whether or not each agent exceeds the criteria; inputting parameters to rank said first call center campaign and said second call center campaign; inputting a maximum staffing level for said second call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said second call center campaign; inputting a minimum staffing level for said first call center campaign; tracking the number of agents assigned to said first call center campaign; inputting a maximum number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; tracking the total number of agent transfers between call center campaigns within said performance interval; inputting a maximum allowable number of reassignments for each agent during said performance interval; tracking the number of reassignments of each agent; inputting a minimum number of agent actions as a requirement for evaluating agent performance; tracking the number of agent actions; transferring an agent engaged in said first call center campaign to said second call center campaign if; (a) said evaluating step determines performance of an agent exceeds said criteria and (b) the parameters of said second call center campaign relative to said first call center campaign are appropriate to the transfer and; (c) the staffing level of said second call center campaign is less than the maximum staffing level and (d) the number of agents assigned to said first campaign will exceed said minimum staffing level and; (e) the total number of agent transfers is less than the maximum number of agent transfers and; (f) the number of transfers of said agent is less than the maximum number of transfers and; (g) the number of agent actions exceeds the minimum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-29 | 2005-04-30 | 2005-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | 2009-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-04-30 | 2013-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |