A method and system for transferring telephone calls and data between
computer programs in a call center. Flow connection modules associated
with call center application programs allow data and telephone calls to
be transferred from one computer program to another in the call center.
The flow connection modules may be combined with a locator program such
that the combination replaces the automatic call distributor ("ACD") in a
call center. The flow connection modules enable development of modular
call centers, allowing call center agent workstations to be easily
increased or decreased. In operation, an application notifies its flow
connection module that a call on a telephone in the workstation should be
transferred to another application. The flow connection module
establishes a data connection with a flow connection module associated
with the other application. The flow connection module sends call-related
data to the other flow connection module which then returns the telephone
extension associated with the other application. The flow connection
module requests a computer telephony interface ("CTI") link associated
with a phone switch to transfer the call to the other application's
telephone. The CTI link directs the phone switch to transfer the
telephone call from the original application's workstation to the
telephone of the other workstation. Having received notification of the
transferred call, the other flow connection module informs the original
flow connection module that the call has been successfully transferred,
and the original flow connection module then disconnects the data
connection.