Network based predictive dialing

Claim 3

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for providing information communication provides information communication between an agent device and a contacted one of said plurality of target addresses having different communications protocols.

Claim 4

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one device of said plurality of general purpose communication devices is selected from the group consisting of: a screen telephone; a digital telephone; an analogue telephone; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 5

The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one agent device of said group of agent devices communicates with said centralized location through an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 6

The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for verifying authorized access of agents, said verifying means permitting access only to those agents identified in said communication parameters.

Claim 7

The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for querying a contacted target address of said plurality of target addresses according to a predetermined dialog.

Claim 8

The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said querying means further comprise means for recording responses to said query.

Claim 9

The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said querying means further comprise means for communicating at least a portion of information received in response to said query to a selected agent device of said group of agent devices of said agents.

Claim 10

The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for communicating information associated with a contacted one of said predetermined target addresses to a select agent device of said group of agent devices.

Claim 11

The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said information comprises information from said parameters.

Claim 12

The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication parameters are initially communicated from a location geographically distant from said centralized location.

Claim 13

The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said communication parameters are communicated through a link utilizing a proprietary network protocol.

Claim 14

The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said communication parameters are communicated utilizing a communication device selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile communication device; an e-mail communication system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 15

The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a set of call management information comprising information stored by said storing means.

Claim 16

The system as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: means for transmitting said generated set of call management information to a predetermined communication address.

Claim 17

The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said set of call management information is transmitted to said predetermined communication address through a communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 20

The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein at least one of said general purpose communications devices is selected from the group consisting of: a screen telephone; a digital telephone; an analogue telephone; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 21

The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first network means comprise a plurality of network links, and ones of said agents communicate through said first network means utilizing differing ones of said network links.

Claim 22

The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein ones of said network links comprise network protocols different from others of said network links.

Claim 23

The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first network means comprise an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 24

The system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising verifying means for limiting access to said system by agents to only those agents identified in said communication parameters.

Claim 25

The system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising interactive response means for querying a target network element contacted at ones of said plurality of target addresses.

Claim 26

The system as set forth in claim 23, further comprising means for recording responses to said query.

Claim 27

The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein at least a portion of information received in response to said query is communicated to a select agent of said agents.

Claim 28

The system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising means for communicating information associated with a contacted one of said predetermined target addresses to a select one of said agents.

Claim 29

The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said information comprises information from said parameters.

Claim 30

The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said information comprises information available from a connection between said system and said contacted ones of said predetermined target addresses.

Claim 31

The system as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a second network means for communicating said set of communication parameters to said call management means.

Claim 32

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said first network means includes said second network means.

Claim 33

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said second network means comprise a link utilizing a proprietary network protocol.

Claim 34

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said communication parameters are communicated through said second network means utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile transmission; file transport protocol (FTP); hypertext markup language (HTML); and analogue telecommunication transmission.

Claim 35

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said communication parameters are communicated through said second network means utilizing a network element selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile communication device; an e-mail communication system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 36

The system as set forth in claim 33, wherein portions of said communication parameters are communicated utilizing at least two links of said plurality of links.

Claim 37

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said second network means comprise a plurality of network links, and said communications parameters are communicated through said second network means utilizing any one of said plurality of network links.

Claim 38

The system as set forth in claim 35, wherein said call management means further comprise: means for generating call management information comprising information communicated from said predictive dialing means to said call management means.

Claim 39

The system as set forth in claim 36, further comprising means for transmitting said call management information through said second network means, and said communications parameters further comprise information indicating a network link of said plurality of network links through which to transmit said generated call management information.

Claim 40

The system as set forth in claim 36, wherein said communication parameters further comprise: information indicating a format of said generated call management information; and said call management information generating means further comprise: means for generating said call management information according to said format.

Claim 41

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein ones of said plurality of links support network protocols different than other ones of said plurality of links.

Claim 42

The system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said second network means comprise information communication via a link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 45

The system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said first network means comprise a link utilizing a proprietary network protocol.

Claim 46

The system as set forth in claim 42, wherein said communication parameters are communicated through said first network means utilizing a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile transmission; file transport protocol (FTP); hypertext markup language (HTML); and analogue telecommunication transmission.

Claim 47

The system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said system further comprise: means for generating an information set comprising information communicated from said initialization means to said generating means; and means for transmitting said information set through said first network means.

Claim 48

The system as set forth in claim 44, wherein said parameters further comprise: information indicating a management network element to which to transmit said generated information set.

Claim 49

The system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said first network means comprise a plurality of network links coupling said management network elements to said system.

Claim 50

The system as set forth in claim 46, wherein ones of said plurality of network links support network protocols different than other ones of said plurality of network links.

Claim 51

The system as set forth in claim 46, wherein portions of said parameters are communicated utilizing at least two different management network elements.

Claim 52

The system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said management network elements are general purpose communications devices.

Claim 53

The system as set forth in claim 49, wherein at least one of said management network elements is selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile communication device; an e-mail communication system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 54

The system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said first network means comprise an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 55

The system as set forth in claim 41, further comprising a second network means for providing information communication between said system and one or more agent network elements located geographically distant from said system, said information communication provided by said second network means adapted to allow said one or more agents to communicate through said system using ones of a plurality of general purpose communications devices.

Claim 56

The system as set forth in claim 52, wherein said first network means comprise said second network means.

Claim 57

The system as set forth in claim 52, wherein at least one of said general purpose communications devices is selected from the group consisting of: a screen telephone; a digital telephone; an analogue telephone; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 58

The system as set forth in claim 52, wherein said second network means comprise a plurality of network links and ones of said agent network elements communicate through said second network means utilizing differing ones of said network links.

Claim 59

The system as set forth in claim 55, wherein ones of said network links comprise network protocols different from others of said network links.

Claim 60

The system as set forth in claim 52, wherein said second network means comprise an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 63

The method as set forth in claim 58, wherein said general purpose communication device is selected from the group consisting of: a screen telephone; a digital telephone; an analogue telephone; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 64

The method as set forth in claim 58, wherein at least one agent of said agents communicates with said centralized location through an information communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 65

The method as set forth in claim 58, further comprising the step of verifying authorized access of agents permitting access only to those agents identified in said communication parameters.

Claim 66

The method as set forth in claim 58, further comprising the step of querying a contacted target address of said plurality of target addresses according to a predetermined dialog.

Claim 67

The method as set forth in claim 62, further comprising the step of recording responses to said query.

Claim 68

The method as set forth in claim 62, further comprising the step of communicating at least a portion of information received in response to said query to a select agent of said agents.

Claim 69

The method as set forth in claim 58, further comprising the step of communicating information associated with a contacted one of said predetermined target addresses to a select one of said agents.

Claim 70

The method as set forth in claim 65, wherein said information comprises information from said parameters.

Claim 71

The method as set forth in claim 58, wherein said communication parameters are initially communicated from a location geographically distant from said centralized location.

Claim 72

The method as set forth in claim 67, wherein said communication parameters are communicated through a link utilizing a proprietary network protocol.

Claim 73

The method as set forth in claim 67, wherein said communication parameters are communicated utilizing a communication device selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile communication device; an e-mail communication system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 74

The method as set forth in claim 58, further comprising the step of: generating a set of call management information comprising information stored in said storing step.

Claim 75

The method as set forth in claim 70, further comprising the step of transmitting said generated set of call management information to a predetermined communication address.

Claim 76

The method as set forth in claim 71, wherein said set of call management information is transmitted to said predetermined communication address through a communication link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.

Claim 77

A networked system for initiating a plurality of outbound information communication contacts directed to a plurality of predetermined target network elements connectable to said system through a network, ones of said communication contacts to be handled by one or more agent network elements connected to said system through said network, said system comprising: a centralized communication apparatus comprising: call management means for receiving a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target network elements and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target network elements, said call management means also for generating communication information comprising information associated with said system initiating contact with said plurality of target network elements; and communication means for initiating said outbound information communication contacts to said plurality of target network elements, said communication means being in information communication with said call management means, said communication means adapted for interfacing said one or more agent network elements and contacted one of said predetermined plurality of target network elements; at least one call management network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said call management network element for communicating a set of communication parameters to said call management means through said network; at least one agent network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said at least one agent network element comprising a general purpose information communication device, said agent network element for information communication with at least one target network element of said plurality of target network elements, said agent network element also for information communication with said communication apparatus; and at least one target network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network.

Claim 78

A networked system for initiating a plurality of outbound information communication contacts directed to a plurality of predetermined target network elements connectable to said system through a network, ones of said communication contacts to be handled by one or more agent network elements connected to said system through said network, said system comprising: a centralized communication apparatus comprising: call management means for receiving a set of communication parameters including said plurality of target network elements and corresponding information identifying individual agents authorized to communicate with ones of said plurality of target network elements, said call management means also for generating communication information comprising information associated with said system initiating contact with said plurality of target network elements; and communication means for initiating said outbound information communication contacts to said plurality of target network elements, said communication means being in information communication with said call management means, said communication means adapted for interfacing said one or more agent network elements and contacted one of said predetermined plurality of target network elements; at least one call management network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said call management network element for communicating a set of communication parameters to said call management means through said network; at least one agent network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network, said at least one agent network element comprising a general purpose information communication device, said agent network element for information communication with at least one target network element of said plurality of target network elements, said agent network element also for information communication with said communication apparatus; and at least one target network element connectable to said communication apparatus through said network.

Claim 79

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said centralized communication apparatus further comprises interactive response means for communicating with said at least one target network element, said interactive response means being in information communication with said call management means.

Claim 80

The system as set forth in claim 74, wherein said call management means stores information associated with responses received by said interactive response means.

Claim 81

The system as set forth in claim 74, wherein said centralized communications apparatus communicates information associated with responses received by said interactive response means to said at least one agent network element.

Claim 82

The system as set forth in claim 74, wherein said interactive response circuitry includes interactive voice response.

Claim 83

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said centralized communication apparatus further comprises interactive response circuitry adapted to communicate with said at least one agent network element, said interactive response circuitry being in information communication with said call management means.

Claim 84

The system as set forth in claim 78, wherein said interactive response circuitry operates to verify an agent using said at least one agent network element is authorized to utilize said centralized communication apparatus, said verification being accomplished at least in part by a comparison of said information identifying agents authorized to utilize said centralized communication apparatus with a response from said agent network element received by said interactive response circuitry.

Claim 85

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said network means comprise a plurality of network links.

Claim 86

The system as set forth in claim 80, wherein a portion of said communication parameters is communicated utilizing at least two links of said plurality of links.

Claim 87

The system as set forth in claim 80, wherein ones of said network links comprise network protocols different from others of said network links.

Claim 88

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said communication apparatus communicates information regarding a contacted one of said plurality of target network element to said at least one agent network element substantially concurrent with interfacing said contacted target network element and said agent network element.

Claim 89

The system as set forth in claim 83, wherein said communicated information comprises information from said communication parameters.

Claim 90

The system as set forth in claim 83, wherein the information comprises information available through said contact with said target network element.

Claim 91

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said at least one call management network element is selected from the group consisting of: a facsimile communication device; an electronic messaging system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 92

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said general purpose information communication device is selected from the group consisting of: a screen telephone; a digital telephone; an analogue telephone; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 93

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said at least one target network element is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone; a screen telephone; an automated answering device; an electronic messaging system; and a general purpose processor-based system.

Claim 94

The system as set forth in claim 73, wherein said network means comprise a link selected from the group consisting of: a public switched network; a satellite system; a cable system; a computer network; and the Internet.