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 a selection from a user for a selected service provider;
initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link;
in response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider;
in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user;
initiating a second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and
collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link, including billing the user for establishing the real-time communications link with the selected service provider, and compensating the selected service provider for the live real-time communications link with the user.
32 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.
343 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; in response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating a second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link, including billing the user for establishing the real-time communications link with the selected service provider, and compensating the selected service provider for the live real-time communications link with the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable storage medium including program instruction that directs a computer to perform a method when executed by a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; in response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating a second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and collecting a fee for a connection initiation for establishing the real-time communications link, including billing the user for establishing the real-time communications link with the selected service provider, and compensating the selected service provider for the live real-time communications link with the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a user interface to receive a request from a user for a service provider; a processor to receive, from the user interface, a selection from the user for a selected provider and initiate a connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link, the processor enabling the user to leave a voice message for the selected service provider in response to a failure to establish the connection, the processor, in response to the service provider reviewing the message, to present an option to initiate a second connection with the user; the processor, in response to the service provider selecting the option, to initiate a second connection between the selected service provider with the user via the real-time communications link; and the processor to collect a fee for establishing the real-time communications link, bill the user for establishing the real-time communications link with the selected service provider, and compensate the selected service provider for the live real-time communications link with the user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; if the real-time communications link is not established due to selected service provider unavailability, deducting a predetermined amount from the selected service provider in further response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating the second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; if the selected service provider is connected with the user following review of the message, refunding the predetermined amount deducted from the selected service provider; and collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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35. A method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user for connection to a service provider system; establishing a connection between the user and the service provider system; providing the user with a list of fields of services available from the service provider system; receiving a selected field of service from the user; providing a list of service providers within the selected field of service, the list indicating individually whether each service provider is currently available to communicate with the user at a time when the user is viewing the list, the list further indicating individually whether a service provider is currently communicating with another user when the user is viewing the list, the list also including a compensation rate for each service provider; receiving a selection from a user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; in response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating the second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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36. A computer readable storage medium including program instruction that directs a computer to perform a method when executed by a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection from a user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; if the real-time communications link is not established due to selected service provider unavailability, deducting a predetermined amount from the selected service provider in further response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating the second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; if the selected service provider is connected with the user following review of the message, refunding the predetermined amount deducted from the selected service provider; and collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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37. A computer readable storage medium including program instruction that directs a computer to perform a method when executed by a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user for connection to a service provider system; establishing a connection between the user and the service provider system; providing the user with a list of fields of services available from the service provider system; receiving a selected field of service from the user; providing a list of service providers within the selected field of service, the list indicating individually whether each service provider is currently available to communicate with the user at a time when the user is viewing the list, the list further indicating individually whether a service provider is currently communicating with another user when the user is viewing the list, the list also including a compensation rate for each service provider; receiving a selection from the user for a selected service provider; initiating a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link; in response to a failure to establish the first connection, recording a message from the user to the selected service provider; in response to the service provider reviewing the message, presenting an option to initiate a second connection with the user; initiating the second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and collecting a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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38. A system comprising:
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a processor to receive, from a user interface, a selection from a user for a selected provider and to initiate a connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link, the processor to enable a user to leave a voice message for the selected service provider in response to a failure to establish the connection, and the processor to deduct a predetermined amount from the selected service provider if the real-time communications link is not established due to selected service provider unavailability; the processor, in response to the service provider reviewing the message, to present an option to initiate a second connection with the user; the processor, in response to the service provider selecting the option, to initiate the second connection between the selected service provider with the user via the real-time communications link, and refund the predetermined amount deducted from the selected service provider if the selected service provider is connected with the user following review of the message; and a unit to collect a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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39. A system comprising:
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a unit to receive a request from a user for connection to a service provider system; a unit to establish a connection between the user and the service provider system to provide the user with a list of fields of services available from the service provider system; a unit to receive a selected field of service from the user; a unit to provide a list of service providers within the selected field of service, the list to indicate individually whether each service provider is currently available to communicate with the user at a time when the user is viewing the list, the list to further indicate individually whether a service provider is currently communicating with another user when the user is viewing the list, the list also to include a compensation rate for each service provider; a unit to receive a selection from a user for a selected service provider; a unit to initiate a first connection between the user and the selected service provider to establish a real-time communications link, and record a message from the user to the selected service provider, in response to a failure to establish the first connection; a unit to present an option to initiate a second connection with the user, in response to the service provider reviewing the message, and to initiate the second connection between the selected service provider and the user via the real-time communications link in response to the service provider selecting the option; and a unit to collect a fee for establishing the real-time communications link.
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Specification