Platform-independent systems and methods for enabling parties to rapidly negotiate terms for a service to be provided by one party to another party, and to effect payment between parties upon completion thereof

• US 20080040146A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rogomo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rogomo, Inc.
• Inventors: Rogovin, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/888,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

The invention provides platform-independent non-proprietary systems and methods to enable parties to utilize one or more conventional communication applications/systems, in one or more mediums, to easily negotiate one or more aspects of a provision of a desired service by one of the parties, and to effect the appropriate compensation, after the service is provided, to the appropriate party, and, optionally, to the party enabling the service procurement process. In another embodiment of the invention, the systems and methods enable a party to readily locate a desired service from a service information database or directory (by browsing and/or searching), to select a desired service and corresponding prospective provider, to communicate therewith to readily and flexibly negotiate the cost of the service and/or one or more non-financial aspects of the service provision, and to effect compensation for the service after provision thereof. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the systems and methods are utilized to add one or more of the service procurement, negotiation, provision, and compensation features to an existing application and/or data processing infrastructure, such that the various communication and other features thereof may be advantageously utilized in conjunction with the systems and methods described herein.

Claims

1. A method for delivering services, which comprises:

(a) establishing a connection with a client using a communication device that is selected or approved by the client among a plurality of communication device options;

(b) initiating a service session using the communication device; and

(c) monitoring the duration of the service session using a tool that is accessed via a data processing system, wherein said tool is capable of monitoring the duration of the service session which employs any of said communication device options or combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, which further comprises negotiating and agreeing upon at least one term pursuant to which services will be rendered to the client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

(i) the client includes two or more independent parties;

(ii) the services are rendered by two or more independent parties;

or

(iii) the client includes two or more independent parties and the services are rendered by two or more independent parties.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the duration of the service session is automatically reversibly paused upon a disruption to the connection between the client and a service provider.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the term is a fee that the client will pay in exchange for the services.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fee is (a) calculated on a per unit time basis, (b) a flat-fee arrangement, or (c) any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fee is calculated on a per unit time basis, wherein the tool calculates in real-time the fee owed by the client in exchange for the services.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein upon the service session concluding, a total fee owed by the client is calculated and accessible within the data processing system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data processing system is provided with a system that enables the client to submit payment for the total fee owed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a portion of the payment that is submitted by the client is retained by or deferred to a third party.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the total fee owed is deducted from a deposit account maintained by the client.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the tool is provided with a control that enables the client or a service provider to reversibly pause the step of monitoring the duration of the service session.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the services are selected from the group consisting of legal services, medical consultations, technical consultations, accounting services, fitness consultations, psychological consultations, fashion consultations, dating consultations, language instructions, musical instructions, cooking instructions, video game consultations, tutoring sessions, art consultations, interior design consultations, computer programming consultations, website design services, home repair consultations, adult entertainment services, and electronic equipment support services.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of communication device options comprise telephony, instant messaging, electronic mail, facsimile, regular mail, blogs, chatrooms, videochat connections, videoconferencing, videochat, online collaboration workspace, VoIP, and in-person communications.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the client selects a service provider from a provider directory, whereby the provider directory comprises a plurality of provider listings which provide information regarding each service provider.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the tool is accessed within a dedicated website.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the tool may be accessed and used within a data processing system independent of a website.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein negotiating and agreeing upon at least one term pursuant to which services will be rendered to the client is carried out within a data processing system, wherein the data processing system provides a graphical user interface which provides real-time quotes or bids for fees to be charged in exchange for services.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the graphical user interface provides controls that allow service providers and clients to submit and adjust said quotes or bids.

20. A method for delivering services, which comprises:

(a) establishing a connection with a client using a communication device that is selected or approved by the client among a plurality of communication device options;

(b) negotiating and agreeing upon a fee that the client will pay in exchange for the services, wherein;

(i) the fee is calculated on a per unit time basis, and

(ii) the step of negotiating and agreeing upon the fee that the client will pay in exchange for the services is carried out within a data processing system that comprises a graphical user interface which provides real-time quotes or bids for fees to be charged in exchange for the services;

(c) initiating a service session using the communication device; and

(d) monitoring a duration of the service session using a tool that is accessed via a data processing system, wherein said tool;

(i) is capable of monitoring the duration of the service session which employs any of said communication device options or combinations thereof,

(ii) calculates the total fees owed by the client in real-time, wherein the total fees owed are presented in a graphical user interface within a data processing system, and

(iii) is provided with a control that enables the client or a service provider to reversibly pause the step of monitoring the duration of the service session.

21. A method for delivering services, which comprises:

(a) establishing a connection with a client using a communication device that is selected or approved by the client among a plurality of communication device options;

(b) negotiating and agreeing upon a fee that the client will pay in exchange for the services, wherein the fee is calculated on a per unit time basis;

(c) initiating a service session using the communication device; and

(d) monitoring a duration of the service session using a tool that is accessed via a data processing system, wherein said tool;

(i) is capable of monitoring the duration of the service session which employs any of said communication device options or combinations thereof,

(ii) calculates the total fees owed by the client in real-time, wherein the total fees owed are presented in a graphical user interface within a data processing system, and

(iii) is provided with a control that enables the client or a service provider to reversibly pause the step of monitoring the duration of the service session.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the tool is accessed within a dedicated website.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the tool may be accessed and used within a data processing system independent of a website.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the data processing system comprises a system that enables the client to submit payment for the total fees owed.

25. A system for delivering services, which comprises:

(a) a communication device that is selected or approved by a client among a plurality of communication device options, wherein the communication device is capable of establishing a connection with a service provider; and

(b) a data processing system, wherein the data processing system is capable of accessing and displaying a website, wherein the website presents a graphical user interface comprising;

(i) one or more controls that enable the client and service provider to negotiate and agree upon at least one term pursuant to which services will be rendered to the client; and

(ii) a tool that is capable of monitoring the duration of a service session which employs any of said communication device options or combinations thereof.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the term is a fee that the client will pay in exchange for the services.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the fee is (a) calculated on a per unit time basis, (b) a flat-fee arrangement, or (c) any combination thereof.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the fee is calculated on a per unit time basis, wherein the tool calculates in real-time the fee owed by the client in exchange for the services.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein upon the service session concluding, a total fee owed by the client is calculated and accessible within the data processing system.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the data processing system is provided with a system that enables the client to submit payment for the total fee owed.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the total fee owed is deducted from a deposit account maintained by the client.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the tool is provided with a control that enables the client or the service provider to reversibly pause the step of monitoring the duration of the service session.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the services are selected from the group consisting of legal services, medical consultations, technical consultations, accounting services, fitness consultations, psychological consultations, fashion consultations, dating consultations, language instructions, musical instructions, cooking instructions, video game consultations, tutoring sessions, art consultations, interior design consultations, computer programming consultations, website design services, home repair consultations, adult entertainment services, and electronic equipment support services.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of communication device options comprise telephony, instant messaging, electronic mail, facsimile, regular mail, blogs, chatrooms, videochat connections, videoconferencing, videochat, online collaboration workspace, VoIP, and in-person communications.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the client selects a service provider from a provider directory, whereby the provider directory comprises a plurality of provider listings which provide information regarding each service provider.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the tool is accessed within a dedicated website.

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the tool may be accessed and used within a data processing system independent of a website.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein negotiating and agreeing upon at least one term pursuant to which services will be rendered to the client is carried out within a data processing system, wherein the data processing system provides a graphical user interface which provides real-time quotes or bids for fees to be charged in exchange for services.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the graphical user interface provides controls that allow service providers and clients to submit and adjust said quotes or bids.

40. The system of claim 25, wherein the data processing system is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a computerized kiosk, a PDA, a conventional telephone, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a VoIP phone, and a digital media device.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the data processing system is a personal computer.