Connecting Consumers with Service Providers

• US 20110119079A1
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Well Corporation (Amwell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenberg, Roy
• Application Number:
  US12/950,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving by a first mobile device an application that executes on the first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application including a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system; sending by the application executing on the first mobile device a request to consult with a service provider; populating one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system, to render a visual representation of present availability of one or more service providers; receiving by the application a selection of a particular service provider; and establishing through the brokerage system by the application a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving by a first mobile device an application that executes on the first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system;

sending by the application executing on the first mobile device a request to consult with a service provider;

populating one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system, to render a visual representation of present availability of one or more service providers;

receiving by the application a selection of a particular service provider; and

establishing through the brokerage system by the application a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first mobile device a request for the application; and

sending the application to the first mobile device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a first graphical user interface in the plurality of graphical user interfaces comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprises:

generating, by one or more computers, a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating, by one or more computers, a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the particular graphical user interface when rendered on the second mobile device further displays:

a link, selection of which allows the service provider to update an availability status of the service provider, and

a visual representation of a number of consultations with which the service provider has been engaged, with the number of consultations comprising one or more of a number of complete consultations, a number of incomplete consultations, and a number of cancelled consultations.

6. A computer program product embedded in a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a first mobile device to:

receive an application that executes on a first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system; and

configure the application to;

send a request to consult with a service provider;

populate one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system to render a visual representation of present availability of the one or more service providers;

receive a selection of a particular service provider; and

establish through the brokerage system a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising instructions to:

receive from the first mobile device a request for the application; and

send the application to the first mobile device.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein a first graphical user interface comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

17. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.

18. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein a particular graphical user interface when rendered on the second mobile device displays:

a link, selection of which allows the service provider to update an availability status of the service provide, and

a visual representation of a number of consultations with which the service provider has been engaged, with the number of consultations comprising one or more of a number of complete consultations, a number of incomplete consultations, and a number of cancelled consultations.

19. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of one or more of suggested topics to discuss with the consumer of services, a patient health summary, medical conditions associated with the consumer of services, and medication associated with the consumer of services.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

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

receive an application that executes on a first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system; and

configure the application to;

send a request to consult with a service provider;

populate one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system to render a visual representation of present availability of the one or more service providers;

receive a selection of a particular service provider; and

establish through the brokerage system a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first graphical user interface comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.