Tracking the availability of service providers across multiple platforms

• US 20090089090A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Inventors: SCHOENBERG, ROY
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprises:

tracking a status of one or more service providers across service provider networks;

identifying a status change of the service provider on one or more of the service provider networks; and

sending the other service provider networks associated with the service provider data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the status of the service provider is available, logging the service provider into the service provider networks associated with the service provider.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking comprises:

using one or more centralized brokerage systems to determine the service provider'"'"'s status.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the service provider and the service provider'"'"'s status with a centralized brokerage system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying comprises:

receiving data indicating that the service provider'"'"'s status on one or more of the service provider'"'"'s networks has changed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the actions of tracking, identifying and sending are executed in response to:

receiving a request from a consumer of services using a first one of the service provider networks 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; and

identifying an available service provider associated with the first service provider network that has a service provider profile satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

coordinating the service provider'"'"'s status across one or more service provider networks.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pooling the status of one or more service providers in a centralized brokerage system.

9. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

track a status of one or more service providers across service provider networks;

identify a status change of the service provider on one or more of the service provider networks; and

send the other service provider networks associated with the service provider data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions to:

when the status of the service provider is available, log the service provider into the service provider networks associated with the service provider.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions to track comprise instructions to:

use one or more centralized brokerage systems to determine the service provider'"'"'s status.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions to:

register the service provider and the service provider'"'"'s status with a centralized brokerage system.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions to identify comprise instructions to:

receive data indicating that the service provider'"'"'s status on one or more of the service provider'"'"'s networks has changed.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the instructions to track, identify and send are executed in response to instructions to:

receive a request from a consumer of services using a first one of the service provider networks 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; and

identify an available service provider associated with the first service provider network that has a service provider profile satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions to:

coordinate the service provider'"'"'s status across one or more service provider networks.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions to:

pool the status of one or more service providers in a centralized brokerage system.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to;

track a status of one or more service providers across service provider networks;

identify a status change of the service provider on one or more of the service provider networks; and

send the other service provider networks associated with the service provider data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the computer product further comprising instructions to:

when the status of the service provider is available, log the service provider into the service provider networks associated with the service provider.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the instructions to track comprise instructions to:

use one or more centralized brokerage systems to determine the service provider'"'"'s status.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, the computer product further comprising instructions to:

register the service provider and the service provider'"'"'s status with a centralized brokerage system.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the instruction to identify comprise instructions to:

receive data indicating that the service provider'"'"'s status on one or more of the service provider'"'"'s networks has changed.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the instructions to track, identify and send are executed in response to instructions to:

receive a request from a consumer of services using a first one of the service provider networks 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; and

identify an available service provider associated with the first service provider network that has a service provider profile satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, the computer product further comprising instructions to:

coordinate the service provider'"'"'s status across one or more service provider networks.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, the computer product further comprising instructions to:

pool the status of one or more service providers in a centralized brokerage system.