System and method for providing agent guidance

1. A computer-implemented system for providing agent guidance, comprising:

speech communicated during a call by a user to an agent within a call center;

a server comprising a central processing unit, memory, an input port to receive the speech from the call, and an output port, wherein the central processing unit is configured to:

identify traits of the user during the call based on the speech of the user;

maintain a plurality of stages of persuasion each associated with a measure of likelihood that the user will accept an offer provided by the agent during the call and further associated with one or more of the traits that support the likelihood for that stage of persuasion;

classify the user as belonging to one of the stages of persuasion based on the traits of the user identified during the call and the traits of the stages of persuasion; and

provide to the agent instructions to terminate the call based on classification of the user in the stage of persuasion.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit converts the user's speech to text.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the central processing unit maintains models each associated with a character trait, analyzes the text, calculates a score for at least one model representing how well the user's speech fits that model based on the text analysis, applies a threshold to the score for the model, and assigns the character trait associated with the model to the user as one of the user traits when the score satisfies the threshold.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the stages of persuasion comprise fully persuaded, tending towards agreement, neutral, tending away from agreement, and fully decided not to listen.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein the guidance is provided to the agent when the user is classified in one of the stages of persuasion comprising tending towards agreement, neutral, and tending away from agreement.

6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit determines a level of automation of the call and selects a form of the guidance based on the determined level of call automation.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the guidance is further provided to the agent via at least one another agent and a supervisor.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit selects at least one of the stages of persuasion for the user, comprising summarizing prior call outcomes, identifying a set of factors for each of the different call outcomes, analyzing the text of the user's speech, and identifying a stage of persuasion based on a comparison of the analyzed text with the factors for each different call outcome.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit associates each stage of persuasion with one or more paralinguistic voice characteristics.

10. A computer-implemented method for providing agent guidance, comprising:

monitoring speech communicated during a call by a user to an agent within a call center via a server comprising a central processing unit, memory, an input port to receive the speech, and an output port;

identifying via the central processing unit traits of the user during the call based on the speech of the user;

designating via the central processing unit a plurality of stages of persuasion each associated with a measure of likelihood that the user will accept an offer provided by the agent during the call and further associated with one or more of the traits that support the likelihood for that stage of persuasion;

classifying by the central processing unit the user as belonging to one of stages of persuasion based on the traits of the user identified during the call and the traits of the stages of persuasion;

providing to the agent, via an agent console, instructions to terminate the call based on classification of the user in that stage of persuasion.

11. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

converting the user's speech to text.

12. A method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

maintaining models each associated with a character trait;

analyzing the text;

calculating a score for at least one model representing how well the user's speech fits that model based on the text analysis;

applying a threshold to the score for the model; and

assigning the character trait associated with the model to the user as one of the user traits when the score satisfies the threshold.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the stages of persuasion comprise fully persuaded, tending towards agreement, neutral, tending away from agreement, and fully decided not to listen.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

providing the guidance to the agent when the user is classified in one of the stages of persuasion comprising tending towards agreement, neutral, and tending away from agreement.

15. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining a level of automation of the call; and

selecting a form of the guidance based on the determined level of call automation.

16. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

further providing the guidance to the agent via at least one another agent and a supervisor.

17. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

selecting at least one of the stages of persuasion for the user, comprising:

summarizing prior call outcomes;

identifying a set of factors for each of the different call outcomes;

analyzing the text of the user's speech; and

identifying a stage of persuasion based on a comparison of the analyzed text with the factors for each different call outcome.

18. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

associating each stage of persuasion with one or more paralinguistic voice characteristics.