APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENSURING A REAL-TIME CONNECTION BETWEEN USERS AND SELECTED SERVICE PROVIDER USING VOICE MAIL
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving an input from a service provider to indicate availability of the service provider to communicate in real time;
presenting to a user a list of service providers based at least in part on the input, the list indicating that the service provider presented in the list is currently available to communicate in real time with the user;
responsive to the user selecting the service provider from the list, initiating a first connection attempt by a central system for real time communications between the user and the service provider;
in response to a failure to establish real time communications between the user and the service provider through the first connection attempt due to unavailability of the service provider, enabling the user to record a message on the central system, for the service provider; and
responsive to the service provider reviewing the recorded message, enabling by the central system the service provider to initiate a second connection attempt for real time communications between the service provider and the user, wherein the central system does not disclose the user'"'"'s contact information to the service provider.
36 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system'"'"'s software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving an input from a service provider to indicate availability of the service provider to communicate in real time; presenting to a user a list of service providers based at least in part on the input, the list indicating that the service provider presented in the list is currently available to communicate in real time with the user; responsive to the user selecting the service provider from the list, initiating a first connection attempt by a central system for real time communications between the user and the service provider; in response to a failure to establish real time communications between the user and the service provider through the first connection attempt due to unavailability of the service provider, enabling the user to record a message on the central system, for the service provider; and responsive to the service provider reviewing the recorded message, enabling by the central system the service provider to initiate a second connection attempt for real time communications between the service provider and the user, wherein the central system does not disclose the user'"'"'s contact information to the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method implemented in a communication system, the method comprising:
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in response to a failure to establish real time communications between a user and a service provider through a first connection attempt, enabling the user to record a message by a central system; presenting the message to the service provider with an option to connect the service provider to the user; establishing, by the central system, real time communications between the user and the service provider through a second connection attempt in response to a selection of the option, wherein the central system does not disclose the user'"'"'s contact information to the service provider; billing the user for a connection established through the second connection attempt; and compensating the service provider for the established connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication system, comprising:
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a first unit of a central system to receive an input from a service provider to indicate availability of the service provider to communicate in real time and to present to a user a list of service providers based at least in part on the input, the list indicating that the service provider presented in the list is currently available to communicate in real time with the user; a second unit of the central system to initiate a first connection attempt for real time communications between the user and the service provider, responsive to the user selecting the service provider from the list; and a third unit of the central system to record a message from the user for the service provider, in response to a failure to establish real time communications between the user and the service provider through the first connection attempt due to unavailability of the service provider, the second unit to initiate a second connection attempt for real time communications between the service provider and the user, in response to the service provider reviewing the recorded message, wherein the user'"'"'s contact information is not disclosed to the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification