System and method for scheduling location-specific services

• US 20060195365A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nick Karabetsos
• Original Assignee: Nick Karabetsos
• Inventors: Karabetsos, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system for scheduling a location-specific service appointment, the system comprising a communication network, a target service location, a desired service type, a service provider grouping, and an availability calendar. The communication network interconnects data input devices, data output devices, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU unit comprises a precompiled service provider database. The target service location and the desired service type are input into the CPU and the service provider database, comprising a plurality of service provider resumes, is searched. The select service provider grouping is compiled based on matched service location information and service expertise information. At least one service provider resume is selected from the select service provider grouping and the availability calendar is then provided upon a data output device. The selected service provider resume, a selected calendar day, and a selected appointment time operate to schedule a location-specific service provider appointment.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to electronically schedule a location-specific and service-specific handyman service appointment, the method comprising the steps of:

providing electronic means for scheduling a service, the electronic means for scheduling a service comprising user-based data input means, provider-based data input means, user-based data output means, provider-based data output means, central processing means, and a communication network, the communication network electronically interconnecting the user-based data input means, the provider-based data input means, the user-based data output means, the provider-based data output means, and the central processing means, the central processing means comprising a precompiled handyman database;

inputting a target service location into the central processing means via the user-based data input means and the communication network;

inputting a desired handyman service into the central processing means via the user-based data input means and the communication network;

searching the handyman database, the handyman database comprising a plurality of handyman resumes, each handyman resume comprising a plurality of primary handyman attributes, the primary handyman attributes comprising service location information and service expertise information;

matching the target service location with the service location information and the desired handyman service with the service expertise information;

compiling a select handyman grouping, the select handyman grouping being compiled based on the matched service location information and the matched service expertise information;

presenting the select handyman grouping upon the user-based data output means, the select handyman grouping comprising at least two handyman resumes;

selecting at least one handyman resume from the select handyman grouping;

providing an availability calendar upon the user-based data output means, the availability calendar corresponding to the selected handyman resume, the availability calendar comprising a plurality of calendar days, each calendar day comprising an available appointment time listing; and

selecting at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time from the availability calendar, the selected handyman resume, the selected calendar day, and the selected appointment time thus operating to electronically schedule a location-specific and service-specific handyman service appointment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises an additional step after selecting at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time from the availability calendar, the additional step comprising providing a handyman service appointment confirmation to a select network member via the communication network, the user-based data output means, and the provider-based data output means, the select network member being selected from the group consisting of a select service provider and a user of the method, the select service provider being selected from the group consisting of a select handyman and a handyman headquarters, the select handyman being an individual identified in the selected handyman resume.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the method comprises an additional step after providing the handyman service appointment confirmation to the select network member, the additional step comprising providing the select network member with a hard copy of the handyman service appointment confirmation.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the method comprises an additional step before inputting the user'"'"'s target service location into the central processing means, the additional step comprising prompting the user with a first user prompt upon the user-based data output means, the first user prompt prompting the user to input the user'"'"'s target service location into the central processing means via the user-based data input means.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the method comprises additional steps before inputting the user'"'"'s desired handyman service into the central processing means and after inputting the user'"'"'s target service location into the central processing means, the additional steps comprising:

presenting a primary handyman service listing upon the user-based data output means, the primary handyman service listing comprising a plurality of primary service categories; and

selecting a primary service category from the primary handyman service listing, the selected primary service category enabling the user to accurately input the desired handyman service.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the method comprises additional steps after selecting the primary service category from the handyman service listing, the additional steps comprising:

providing a SKU number prompt upon the data output means, the SKU number prompt prompting the user to input at least one SKU number, the SKU number corresponding to a primary service product, the desired handyman service for enabling functionality of the primary service product;

inputting a select SKU response, the select SKU response being selected from the group consisting of a HAVE SKU number response and a DO NOT HAVE SKU number response, the HAVE SKU number response being confirmed while providing the handyman service appointment confirmation to the select service provider, the HAVE SKU number response thus prompting the select service provider to obtain the primary service product before the handyman service appointment.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the method comprises additional steps after selecting the primary service category from the primary handyman service listing, the additional steps comprising:

presenting at least one secondary handyman service listing upon the user-based data output means, the secondary handyman service listing comprising a plurality of sub-service categories; and

selecting at least one sub-service category from the secondary handyman service listing, the selected sub-service category enabling the user to accurately input the desired handyman service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method comprises an additional step after presenting the select handyman grouping upon the user-based data output means and before selecting at least one handyman resume from the select handyman grouping, the additional step comprising reviewing at least one select handyman profile, each select handyman profile comprising an exhaustive attribute listing, the exhaustive attribute listing for providing the user with exhaustive handyman selection information.

9. A system for enabling a user to electronically schedule a location-specific service appointment, the system comprising electronic means for scheduling, a target service location, a desired service type, a select service provider grouping, and an availability calendar, the electronic means for scheduling comprising data input means, data output means, central processing means, and an communication network, the communication network electronically interconnecting the data input means, the data output means and the central processing means, the central processing means comprising a precompiled service provider database, the target service location and the desired service type being input into the central processing means via the data input means and the communication network, the service provider database being searched, the service provider database comprising a plurality of service provider resumes, each service provider resume comprising a plurality of service provider attributes, the service provider attributes comprising service location information and service expertise information, the target service location being matched with the service location information and the desired service type being matched with the service expertise information, the select service provider grouping being compiled based on the matched service location information and the matched service expertise information, the select service provider grouping being presented upon the data output means, the select service provider grouping comprising at least two service provider resumes, at least one service provider resume being selected from the select service provider grouping, the availability calendar being provided upon the data output means, the availability calendar corresponding to the selected service provider resume, the availability calendar comprising a plurality of calendar days, each calendar day comprising an available appointment time listing, at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time being selected from the availability calendar, the selected service provider resume, the selected calendar day, and the selected appointment time thus operating to electronically schedule a location-specific service provider appointment.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the system comprises a service provider appointment confirmation, the service provider appointment confirmation being provided to a select network member via the communication network and the data output means, the select network member being selected from the group consisting of the select service provider and a user of the method, the select service provider being identified in the selected service provider resume.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the system comprises a primary service listing, the primary service listing being presented upon the data output means, the primary service listing comprising a plurality of primary service categories, a primary service category being selected from the primary service listing, the selected primary service category enabling the user to accurately input the desired service type.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the system comprises a product identifying prompt and a select product-identifying response, the product identifying prompt being provided upon the data output means, the product-identifying prompt prompting the user to input product-identifying means, the product-identifying means corresponding to a primary service product, the desired service type for enabling functionality of the primary service product, the select product-identifying response being input into the central processing means via the data input means, the select product-identifying response being selected from the group consisting of an identifying means response and a NO PRODUCT response, the identifying means response being provided to the select service provider, the identifying means response thus prompting the select service provider to obtain the primary service product before the service appointment.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the system comprises at least one secondary service listing, the secondary service listing being provided upon the data output means, the secondary service listing comprising a plurality of sub-service categories, at least one secondary service category being selected from the secondary service listing, the selected secondary service category enabling the user to accurately input the desired service type.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the system comprises at least one select service provider profile, each select service provider profile comprising an exhaustive provider attribute listing, the exhaustive provider attribute listing for providing the user with exhaustive service provider selection information.

15. A method for enabling a user to schedule a location-specific service appointment, the method comprising the steps of:

determining first and second select service identifiers, the first and second select service identifiers being selected from the group consisting of a target service location and a desired service type;

searching a service provider database, the service provider database comprising a plurality of service provider resumes, each service provider resume comprising a plurality of service provider attributes, the service provider attributes comprising service location information and service expertise information, the target service location being matched with the service location information and the desired service type being matched with the service expertise information;

compiling a select service provider grouping, the select service provider grouping being compiled based on the matched service location information and the matched service expertise information, the select service provider grouping comprising at least one service provider resume;

selecting at least one service provider resume from the select service provider grouping, the service provider resume comprising an availability calendar, the availability calendar comprising a plurality of calendar days, each calendar day comprising an available appointment time listing; and

selecting at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time from the availability calendar, the selected service provider resume, the selected calendar day, and the selected appointment time thus operating to schedule a location-specific service provider appointment.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the method comprises an additional step after selecting at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time from the availability calendar, the additional step comprising providing a service provider appointment confirmation to a select network member, the select network member being selected from the group consisting of a select service provider and a user of the method, the select service provider being identified in the selected service provider resume.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the service provider resume comprises an exhaustive provider attribute listing, the exhaustive provider attribute listing for providing the user with exhaustive service provider selection information.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the method comprises an additional step after determining at least one select service identifier, the additional step comprising ordering a service-related product, the select service provider obtaining the primary service product before the service appointment, the desired service type for enabling functionality of the primary service product.

19. A method for enabling a user to schedule an attribute-specific service appointment, the method comprising the steps of:

determining at least one select service identifier, the select service identifier being selected from an identifier group comprising a target service location, a desired service type, and a select profile attribute;

searching a service provider database, the service provider database comprising a plurality of service provider resumes, each service provider resume comprising a plurality of service provider attributes, the service provider attributes comprising service location information, service expertise information, and profile attribute information, the select service identifier being matched with at least one select provider attribute, the select provider attribute being selected from an attribute group comprising the service location information, the service expertise information, and the profile attribute information, the select service identifier being matched with the select provider attribute;

compiling a select service provider grouping, the select service provider grouping being compiled based on the matched select service identifier and the select provider attribute, the select service provider grouping comprising at least one service provider resume;

selecting at least one service provider resume from the select service provider grouping, the service provider resume comprising an availability calendar, the availability calendar comprising a plurality of calendar days, each calendar day comprising an available appointment time listing; and

selecting at least one calendar day and at least one appointment time from the availability calendar, the selected service provider resume, the selected calendar day, and the selected appointment time thus operating to schedule an attribute-specific service provider appointment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the method comprises an additional step after determining at least one select service identifier, the additional step comprising ordering a service-related product, the select service provider obtaining the primary service product before the service appointment, the desired service type for enabling functionality of the primary service product.