Method and apparatus to connect consumer to expert
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising:
- displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question;
the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and
said automatically establishing the connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
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Abstract
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising:
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displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question;
the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and
said automatically establishing the connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 44)
monitoring how long the real time communication connection is maintained between the expert and the consumer.
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14. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising, billing the consumer based upon how long the real time communication connection is maintained.
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15. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising:
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setting up an account for the expert; and
crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the real time communication connection is maintained.
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16. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising:
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setting up an account for the expert; and
crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained minus a fee.
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17. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:
- setting up a consumer account for the consumer.
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18. The method as described in claim 17, wherein setting up the consumer account includes obtaining credit card information from the consumer.
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19. The method as described in claim 17, further comprising:
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monitoring how long the connection is maintained between the expert and the consumer; and
deducting from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
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44. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the connection includes an Internet connection.
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20. A system for connecting two parties in real time, the system comprising:
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a database to store information about a plurality of experts;
a first logic unit linked with the database to display a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question, the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; and
a second logic unit linked with the database to automatically establish, in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, a telephone connection between the consumer and the expert prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert;
said second logic unit automatically establishing the telephone connection by a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
a third logic unit to monitor how long the connection is maintained between the consumer and the expert; and
a fourth logic unit linked with the database to deduct from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
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35. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question;
the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and
said automatically establishing the telephone connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
set up a consumer account for the consumer; and
deduct from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
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40. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37, having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to:
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set-up an account for the expert; and
credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
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41. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37, having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to:
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set-up an account for the expert; and
credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained minus a fee.
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42. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35, wherein the instructions stored thereon cause the computer to establish a video connection in response to the consumer selecting the expert.
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43. The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35, wherein the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium cause the computer to establish the without disclosing identity information about the expert to the consumer and without disclosing identity information about the consumer to the expert.
Specification