Method and apparatus for automated calendar selections
A method and apparatus for reserving an appointment in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, a request is received from a caller to schedule an appointment with an enterprise customer, wherein the request is processed in accordance with a media server in the communications network. A scheduling calendar is then accessed. Afterwards, the appointment is reserved with one of a plurality available appointment time slots.
1. A method for scheduling an appointment in a communications network, comprising:
receiving a first request from a caller to schedule said appointment with an enterprise customer, wherein said first request is processed in accordance with a media server in said communications network;
accessing a scheduling calendar of said enterprise customer from a plurality of scheduling calendars of different enterprise customers;
in response to said first request, providing at least one of a plurality of available appointment time slots to said caller after identifying said plurality of available appointment time slots;
receiving a second request to reserve said appointment at said at least one of said plurality of available appointment time slots; and
reserving said appointment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communications network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the IP network comprises at least one of: a Voice over IP (VoIP) network or a Service over IP (SoIP) network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing step is performed using an interactive voice response (IVR) application.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second request to reserve said appointment by said caller is reserved in response to either a phone keypad signal or a voice instruction signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said scheduling calendar comprises an electronic calendar that is accessed by said media server.
7. An apparatus for scheduling an appointment in a communications network, comprising:
means for receiving a first request from a caller to schedule said appointment with an enterprise customer, wherein said first request is processed in accordance with a media server in said communications network;
means for accessing a scheduling calendar of said enterprise customer from a plurality of scheduling calendars of different enterprise customers;
means for providing at least one of a plurality of available appointment time slots to said caller in response to said first request;
means for receiving a second request to reserve said appointment at said at least one of said plurality of available appointment time slots; and
means for reserving said appointment.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said communications network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the IP network comprises at least one of: a Voice over IP (VoIP) network or a Service over IP (SoIP) network.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said second request to reserve said appointment by said caller is reserved in response to either a phone keypad signal or a voice instruction signal.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said scheduling calendar comprises an electronic calendar that is accessed by said media server.
12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for scheduling an appointment in a communications network, comprising:
receiving a first request from a caller to schedule said appointment with an enterprise customer, wherein said first request is processed in accordance with a media server in said communications network;
accessing a scheduling calendar of said enterprise customer from a plurality of scheduling calendars of different enterprise customers;
in response to said first request, providing at least one of a plurality of available appointment time slots to said caller after identifying said plurality of available appointment time slots;
receiving a second request to reserve said appointment at said at least one of said plurality of available appointment time slots; and
reserving said appointment.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said communications network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the IP network comprises at least one of: a Voice over IP (VoIP) network or a Service over IP (SoIP) network.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said providing step is performed using an interactive voice response (IVR) application.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said second request to reserve said appointment by said caller is reserved in response to either a phone keypad signal or a voice instruction signal.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein said scheduling calendar comprises an electronic calendar that is accessed by said media server.