Connecting Consumers with Service Providers

• US 20090063188A1
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services

Abstract

A request is received from a consumer of services to consult with a service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; an available service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes is identified; and a communication channel is provided to establish a communication between the consumer of services and the identified service provider.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of producing an agenda for a consumer of services, the method comprises:

using a brokerage system, included on a computer, capable of matching the consumer of services with a provider of services to;

generate one or more agenda items based on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the system;

consolidate the consumer'"'"'s one or more agenda items into the agenda; and

produce a graphical user interface that when rendered on a display displays the agenda.

2. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for producing an agenda for a consumer of services using a brokerage system capable of matching the consumer of services with a provider of services, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

generate one or more agenda items based on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the brokerage system;

consolidate the consumer'"'"'s one or more agenda items into the agenda; and

produce a graphical user interface that when rendered on a display displays the agenda.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for producing an agenda for a consumer of services using a brokerage system capable of matching the consumer of services with a provider of services, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

generate one or more agenda items based on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the system;

consolidate the consumer'"'"'s one or more agenda items into the agenda; and

produce a graphical user interface that when rendered on a display displays the agenda.

4. A computer-implemented method comprises:

matching, on a computer, a consumer of services with a service provider through a brokerage system;

generating, on the computer, a comprehensive health management plan for the consumer during interaction with the brokerage system using a rules engine to;

identify one or more conditions of the consumer'"'"'s health; and

generate one or more follow-up actions based at least in part on the consumer'"'"'s identified health conditions.

5. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

match a consumer of services with a service provider through a brokerage system;

generate a comprehensive health management plan for the consumer during interaction with the brokerage system using a rules engine to;

identify one or more conditions of the consumer'"'"'s health; and

generate one or more follow-up actions based at least in part on the consumer'"'"'s identified health conditions.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for producing an agenda for a consumer of services using a brokerage system capable of matching the consumer of services with a provider of services, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

match a consumer of services with a service provider through a brokerage system;

generate a comprehensive health management plan for the consumer during interaction with the brokerage system using a rules engine to;

identify one or more conditions of the consumer'"'"'s health; and

generate one or more follow-up actions based at least in part on the consumer'"'"'s identified health conditions.

7. A computer-implemented method of providing a consumer of services with continuity of medical care, the method comprises:

transferring, on a computer, data obtained during the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with a brokerage system to one or more recipients selected by the consumer.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

updating, on the computer, a service provider on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the system.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

generating, on the computer, a referral for the consumer for a visit with a service provider.

10. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing a consumer with continuity of medical care, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

transfer data obtained during the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with a brokerage system to one or more recipients selected by the consumer.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions to:

update a service provider on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the system.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions to:

generate a referral for the consumer for a visit with a service provider.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing a consumer of services with continuity of medical care, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

transfer data obtained during the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with a brokerage system to one or more recipients selected by the consumer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

update a service provider on the consumer'"'"'s one or more interactions with the system.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

generate a referral for the consumer for a visit with a service provider.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing, on a computer, multiple communication channels between a service provider and a consumer by;

establishing a text based communication between the consumer and the service provider over the Internet;

providing on a user interface an indicator associated with the availability of the provider for a phone conversation;

receiving, at a central system, a telephone number provided by the consumer through the user interface; and

calling, from the central system, the telephone number provided by the consumer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing, on the computer, multiple communication channels between the service provider and the consumer by:

providing a first authentication number to the consumer through the user interface;

receiving an input from the consumer; and

verifying the consumer'"'"'s identity by comparing the first authentication number to the received input.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising establishing, on the computer, multiple communication channels between the service provider and the consumer by:

providing a second authentication number to the provider;

receiving an input from the provider; and

verifying the provider'"'"'s identity by comparing the second authentication number to the received input.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing, on the computer, multiple communication channels between the service provider and the consumer by:

enabling the consumer to provide an availability indication; and

initiating a telephone conference between the consumer and the provider when the availability indication for the consumer indicates that the consumer is available.

20. A computer-implemented method for leaving secure voicemail messages for a consumer, the method comprising:

receiving, on a computer, a request from a provider to leave a message for the consumer, the request including a telephone number for the provider;

providing a graphical user interface that when rendered on a display displays for the service provider a personal identification number;

initiating a telephone call, on the computer, to the provider at the telephone number included in the request; and

validating, on the computer, the personal identification number prior to recording a voice message.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising using the computer to send the voice message to the consumer.