Methods and apparatus for use in computer-to-human escalation

1. A machine-implemented method performed by an automated service agent for providing an answer to a query, comprising:

receiving electronic data that represents a first textual message from a first client over a network, the first textual message containing a first query entered by a user via a user interface provided by the first client;

initiating a case record in response to receiving the first textual message;

initiating a session between the first client and an automated service agent;

retrieving a list of related queries stored in a database, each related query associated with a response;

determining a response to the first textual message by evaluating a similarity between the first query contained in the first textual message and each of the related queries retrieved from the database;

providing electronic data over the network that represents a response to the first query, the response being associated with a related query most similar to the first query contained in the first textual message;

receiving electronic data from the first client during the session that represents a second textual message after the response to the first textual message has been provided, the second textual message containing a second query entered by the user via the user interface provided by the first client;

determining transferring the case record to a live agent if the second query substantially matches the first query;

categorizing the case record into one of a plurality of predetermined categories responsive to said determination;

generating a queue associated with the one of the plurality of predetermined categories;

placing the case record into the queue associated with the one of the plurality of predetermined categories; and

automatically transferring the case record to the live agent.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing a response comprises providing conversational responses to the user.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transferring the case record includes offering the user communication with a live agent.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the offer of communication includes one or more of telephone, instant messaging, and Internet chat.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the offer of communication includes a request for contact information for the user.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the offer of communication includes providing contact information for the live agent.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transferring the case record includes generating a communication for a live agent indicating that the live agent should contact the user.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein transferring the case record includes providing an indication to the user, via the first client, that the live agent will contact the user at a given telephone number.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further including storing the case record.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further including sending a communication addressed to a call center indicating that the case record has been transferred.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further including requesting queue information associated with the queue for the one of the plurality of predetermined categories.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the queue information includes an estimated wait time for the live agent.

13. A system for responding to customer queries comprising:

a first module to receive textual messages from a customer engaged in a conversation with a conversational agent, wherein at least one of the textual messages contains a first query;

a second module to store predetermined responses for answering a query contained in a textual message received from a customer;

a third module to determine automatically transferring the customer from the conversational agent to a live agent based upon receiving a subsequent textual message from the customer during the conversation that contains a second query that substantially matches the first query, the third module categorizing the customer into one of a plurality of predetermined categories responsive to said determination and placing the customer into a queue associated with the one of the plurality of predetermined categories; and

a fourth module to record the received textual messages and the predetermined responses sent to the customer.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the third module is further adapted to send a communication to a call center indicating that the customer has been escalated to the live agent.

15. A conversational agent having computer instructions stored thereon that when executed perform a method, comprising:

receiving a first textual message from a user, the first textual message containing a first query;

upon receiving the first textual message, initiating a session between the user and the conversational agent including a case record;

determining a response to the first textual message by evaluating a degree of similarity between the first query contained in the first textual message and a plurality of queries stored in a database, each of said stored queries having a response associated therewith, wherein a response is selected on the basis of one of the queries stored in the database having a high degree of similarity with the first textual message;

providing the response to the user;

receiving a second textual message from the user during the session, the second textual message received after the response being provided to the user; and

determining transferring the case record to a live agent if the second textual message containing words that have been predefined as expressing frustration with the conversational agent;

categorizing the case record into one of a plurality of predetermined categories responsive to said determination;

placing the case record into a queue associated with the one of the plurality of predetermined categories; and

automatically transferring the case record to the live agent.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein providing a response comprises providing conversational responses to the user.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein transferring the case record includes offering the user communication with a live agent.