SCHEDULING AND BILLING PROGRAM FOR EXACT TIME AND CALLBACK TWO-WAY VIDEO APPOINTMENTS, AND PROGRAM TO ADD TWO-WAY VIDEO AND SCHEDULING AND BILLING TO EXISTING WEBSITES IN A SIMPLE MANNER

• US 20130110570A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Me2 Doc LLC
• Original Assignee: Me2doc LLC
• Inventors: AMENT, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/665,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110570A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a program for scheduling video and/or e-mail appointments. The program is web-based or downloadable, and allows a doctor or other professional to schedule a series of short, sequential appointments online with a patient. A billing module in the program can collect payment from the patient. The program thus allows professionals to conveniently schedule appointments and receive compensation for time that may otherwise have been lost. The disclosure also provides a program to add two way video as well as scheduling and billing functionalities to an existing website in a simple and integrated manner.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a first user and a second user for an appointment, comprising the steps of:

storing profile information relating to the first user and the second user;

displaying a first version of a schedule to the first user through a first interface and a second version of said schedule to the second user through a second interface, wherein the first user selects times from said first version of said schedule that they are available for the appointment, said times being displayed in said second version of said schedule to the second user, and the second user selects one of said times to schedule the appointment;

prompting the first and second user automatically to initiate the video appointment at said time selected by the second user, wherein the appointment is at least one of a video and an electronic mail appointment; and

terminating the appointment at the end of said time selected by the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting a payment from said second user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein profile information relating to multiple first users and multiple second users is stored, and the method further comprises the step of, before said displaying step, matching one of said first users to one of said second users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first user is a doctor, and said second user is a patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the appointment is a video appointment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the appointment is an e-mail appointment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a reminder to at least one of said first user and said second user before said initiating step.

8. A method of connecting a first user and a second user for a callback appointment, comprising the steps of:

storing profile information relating to the first user and the second user;

displaying a first version of a schedule to the first user through a first interface and a second version of said schedule to the second user through a second interface, wherein the first user selects periods of times from said first version of said schedule when they are available for a callback appointment, wherein said periods of times are displayed in said second version of said schedule to the second user, and the second user selects one of said periods of times to schedule the appointment;

prompting the first user automatically to initiate the video appointment at said time selected by the second user, wherein the appointment is at least one of a video and an electronic mail appointment.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of collecting a payment from said second user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending a reminder to at least one of said first user and said second user before said initiating step.

11. A program resident on a processor, the program comprising:

a profile module for storing information relating to a first user and a second user;

a scheduling module, wherein said scheduling module displays a first version of a calendar to said first user and a second version of said calendar to said second user, wherein said first user selects specific time slots on said first version of said calendar for displaying to said second user, and said second user selects one of said time slots for scheduling an appointment with said first user; and

a billing module for collecting payment from said second user for said appointment,

wherein said scheduling module initiates the appointment the beginning of said time slot selected by said second user, upon receiving a signal from said first user and said second user.

12. The program of claim 11, wherein said first user views said first version of said calendar though a first interface, and said second user views said second version of said calendar through a second interface that is remote from said first interface.

13. The program of claim 11, wherein said appointment is a video appointment.

14. The program of claim 11, wherein said scheduling module sends a reminder message to at least one of said first user and said second user before said appointment.

15. A program resident on a processor and for the addition of two-way video to a Web site, the program comprising:

a profile module for storing information relating to a first user and a second user;

a scheduling module, wherein said scheduling module displays a first version of a calendar to said first user in a first interface and a second version of said calendar to said second user in a second interface that is remote from said first interface, wherein said first user selects specific time slots on said first version of said calendar for displaying to said second user through said second interface, and said second user selects one of said time slots for scheduling an appointment with said first user; and

a billing module for collecting payment from said second user for said appointment,

wherein the program displays at least one user interface element in each of said first interface and said second interface, and

wherein said scheduling module initiates said appointment the beginning of said time slot selected by said second user, upon receiving a signal from said first user and said second user.