IP Library Granted Patent US 10,979,571
Granted Patent B2
US 10,979,571 · App. 16/913,730 · Granted Apr 13, 2021

Techniques for benchmarking pairing strategies in a contact center system

Inventor: Zia Chishti (Washington, DC)
Assignee: Afiniti, Ltd.
H04M3/5232H04M3/5141H04M3/5233H04M3/5235H04M2201/18H04M2201/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,979,571
App. No.
16/913,730
Granted
Apr 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for benchmarking pairing strategies in a contact center system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for benchmarking pairing strategies in a contact center system comprising: determining for each contact of a plurality of contacts, an associated plurality of historical contact assignments; determining, for each contact, an associated outcome value; partitioning, for each contact, the associated plurality of historical assignments into a first associated subset assigned using a first pairing strategy and a second associated subset assigned using a second pairing strategy; determining, for each contact, a first portion of the associated outcome value attributable to the first associated subset and a second portion of the associated outcome value attributable to the second associated subset; outputting a difference in performance between the first and second pairing strategies according to the first and second associated portions of the associated outcome value for each contact.

Claims (48)

1. A method comprising:

at a first time, by at least one computer processor communicatively coupled to and configured to operate in a contact center system, pairing a first contact to an agent using a first pairing strategy;

at a second time later than the first time, by the at least one computer processor, pairing a second contact to the agent using a second pairing strategy that is different from the first pairing strategy;

at a third time later than the second time, by the at least one computer processor, pairing a third contact to the agent using a third pairing strategy that is different from the second pairing strategy;

at a fourth time later than the third time, by the at least one computer processor, pairing a fourth contact to the agent using a fourth pairing strategy that is different from the first and third pairing strategies;

determining, by the at least one computer processor, a first performance measurement based on outcomes of the first and third contacts;

determining, by the at least one computer processor, a second performance measurement based on outcomes of the second and fourth contacts; and

outputting, by the at least one computer processor, data that enables a comparison of the first and second performance measurements;

wherein the outputting is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the pairing strategy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth times occur within a time period of less than 24 hours.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein pairing strategy switching is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the first, second, third, and fourth pairing strategies.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein minimizing effects is based on selecting a time period of less than one hour.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact phone numbers or portions of contact phone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact identifiers or portions of contact identifiers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein minimizing effects is based on a random or pseudorandom process.

8. A system comprising:

at least one computer processor communicatively coupled to and configured to operate in a contact center system, wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to:

at a first time, pair a first contact to an agent using a first pairing strategy;

at a second time later than the first time, pair a second contact to the agent using a second pairing strategy that is different from the first pairing strategy;

at a third time later than the second time, pair a third contact to the agent using a third pairing strategy that is different from the second pairing strategy;

at a fourth time later than the third time, pair a fourth contact to the agent using a fourth pairing strategy that is different from the first and third pairing strategies;

determine a first performance measurement based on outcomes of the first and third contacts;

determine a second performance measurement based on outcomes of the second and fourth contacts; and

output data that enables a comparison of the first and second performance measurements;

wherein the outputting is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the pairing strategy.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth times occur within a time period of less than 24 hours.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein pairing strategy switching is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the first, second, third, and fourth pairing strategies.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein minimizing effects is based on selecting a time period of less than one hour.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact phone numbers or portions of contact phone numbers.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact identifiers or portions of contact identifiers.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein minimizing effects is based on a random or pseudorandom process.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer processor readable medium; and

instructions stored on the medium;

wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the medium by at least one computer processor communicatively coupled to and configured to operate in a contact center system and thereby cause the at least one computer processor to operate so as to:

at a first time, pair a first contact to an agent using a first pairing strategy;

at a second time later than the first time, pair a second contact to the agent using a second pairing strategy that is different from the first pairing strategy;

at a third time later than the second time, pair a third contact to the agent using a third pairing strategy that is different from the second pairing strategy;

at a fourth time later than the third time, pair a fourth contact to the agent using a fourth pairing strategy that is different from the first and third pairing strategies;

determine a first performance measurement based on outcomes of the first and third contacts;

determine a second performance measurement based on outcomes of the second and fourth contacts; and

output data that enables a comparison of the first and second performance measurements;

wherein the outputting is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the pairing strategy.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth times occur within a time period of less than 24 hours.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein pairing strategy switching is based on minimizing effects other than effects of the first, second, third, and fourth pairing strategies.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein minimizing effects is based on selecting a time period of less than one hour.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact phone numbers or portions of contact phone numbers.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein minimizing effects is based on contact identifiers or portions of contact identifiers.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2025
From: VCP CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
To: AFINITI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 070866/0614 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: AFINITI, LTD.
To: AFINITI AI HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 069816/0656 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: AFINITI AI LIMITED
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 069816/0858 →
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: AFINITI AI HOLDINGS LLC
To: AFINITI AI LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069817/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2024
From: AFINITI, LTD.
To: VCP CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068793/0261 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ON PAGE ONE OF THE ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054204 FRAME: 0387. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: AFINITI EUROPE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: AFINITI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054700/0324 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2020
From: AFINITI EUROPE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: AFINITI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 054204/0387 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 16413146 · May 15, 2019
Continuation 15691163 · Aug 30, 2017
Continuation 15221698 · Jul 28, 2016
Continuation In Part 15131915 · Apr 18, 2016
Continuation In Part 14727271 · Jun 1, 2015
Continuation 14472998 · Aug 29, 2014
Continuation 12266446 · Nov 6, 2008
Continuation In Part 12021251 · Jan 28, 2008
Related Publication 20200329146A1 · Oct 15, 2020