Internet-based appointment scheduling system
First Claim
1. An internet-based appointment scheduling system for at least one service provider comprising:
- means for inputting a business appointment schedule of at least one service provider at a first location;
means for transmitting at least a portion of said service provider'"'"'s updated business appointment schedule over the Internet to service receivers at a plurality of locations remote from said first location, where said appointment schedule is visually displayed to the service receivers;
means for receiving input from said service receivers at said plurality of remote locations to schedule appointments with said service provider; and
means for updating said service provider'"'"'s business appointment schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Appointment scheduling systems and methods of providing service receivers with remote appointment scheduling capabilities utilizing the Internet. According to one embodiment, at least one service provider, such as a physician, enters a schedule into a computer system showing time slots in which the physician will see patients. This system is linked to the Internet where it is available for viewing by the general public. When a member of the general public accesses the scheduling system, the potential service receiver can view the entire schedule and make appointments. The appointment schedule of the service provider is modified and most preferably, the appointment schedule of the service receiver is also modified. The scheduling system can also maintain the schedule of the service receiver. According to another aspect, in order to schedule an appointment, a service receiver can be required to make some pre-determined payment, for example, via a credit card or a debit card.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An internet-based appointment scheduling system for at
least one service provider comprising: -
means for inputting a business appointment schedule of at least one service provider at a first location;
means for transmitting at least a portion of said service provider'"'"'s updated business appointment schedule over the Internet to service receivers at a plurality of locations remote from said first location, where said appointment schedule is visually displayed to the service receivers;
means for receiving input from said service receivers at said plurality of remote locations to schedule appointments with said service provider; and
means for updating said service provider'"'"'s business appointment schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of providing a plurality of service receivers with remote appointment scheduling capabilities for at least one service provider over the Internet comprising the steps of:
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providing means for inputting and displaying at least one appointment schedule of at least one service provider at a first location;
inputting at least a portion of a service provider'"'"'s business appointment schedule into said inputting and displaying means, said portion comprising open time slots;
providing access to a visual display of at least a portion of said service provider'"'"'s appointment schedule at a plurality of remote locations to a plurality of service receivers, wherein said displays comprise time periods for which appointments have not yet been scheduled;
providing said service receivers with the ability to schedule appointments during said open time slots from said remote locations by providing input to schedule appointments with said service provider and thereby changing said service provider'"'"'s schedule of available appointments;
wherein said step of displaying said appointment schedule comprises providing updated displays. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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- 34. A method of providing a plurality of service providers with remote appointment scheduling capabilities according to claim 34 wherein said service providers are from unrelated businesses.
Specification