US Patent 8731180 Video collaboration call center queuing

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for providing improved customer service and sales experiences through collaborative face-to-face interaction between a customer and an expert in another location. Some embodiments of the invention comprise apparatuses and methods for video collaboration between an associate of the business located on-site at the point of inquiry, the customer who requires customer service, and an expert located off-site, typically at a call center. Other embodiments of the invention comprise apparatuses and methods for queuing video collaboration and non-video collaboration calls within a call center. The embodiments of the invention relate to apparatuses and methods that can be used for any business that has on-site point of inquiry centers, but the apparatuses and methods are particularly useful for banking customers who enter banking centers to interact on a face-to-face basis with an expert in the area of the customer's needs.