A PBX/automatic call distributor (ACD) system allows callers to exercise
control over their rank order within a phone queue. The ACD accesses a
call database and develops offers to be made to callers, based upon a
caller reaching a particular position in a queue or at a position at which
the call is first placed in the queue. An interactive voice response unit
(IVRU) is employed to offer a caller a chance to move up in the queue in
return for a payment. If the caller wishes to accept the offer, the caller
responds by using the touch tone keys of his/her telephone and entering a
credit card number, an account number, or indicating some other method of
payment. The ACD then changes the rank order of the caller's call within
the phone queue and alters the rank position of other calls within the
queue, accordingly.