Connecting consumers with service providers
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprises:
- receiving in a computer, a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider having a medical service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes associated with medical qualifications in a set of attributes that define a suitable medical service provider;
accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation;
determining in the computer, which of the medical service providers are presently available;
identifying in the computer, medical service providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define suitable medical service providers;
producing a set of available medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes to send to the consumer of services;
receiving a selection from the consumer of one of the medical service providers from the set of available medical service providers;
establishing an immediate, real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the selected medical service provider;
identifying second available medical service providers of a second type of service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes associated with the medical specialty in the set of attributes;
receiving a selection from the consumer of one of the second available medical service providers; and
establishing a second immediate, real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the second selected medical service provider, with the real-time communication channel and the second real-time communication channel being established concurrently or consecutively.
2 Assignments
Litigations
3 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A request is received from a consumer of services to consult with a service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; an available service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes is identified; and a communication channel is provided to establish a communication between the consumer of services and the identified service provider.
197 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprises:
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receiving in a computer, a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider having a medical service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes associated with medical qualifications in a set of attributes that define a suitable medical service provider; accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; determining in the computer, which of the medical service providers are presently available; identifying in the computer, medical service providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define suitable medical service providers; producing a set of available medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes to send to the consumer of services; receiving a selection from the consumer of one of the medical service providers from the set of available medical service providers; establishing an immediate, real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the selected medical service provider; identifying second available medical service providers of a second type of service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes associated with the medical specialty in the set of attributes; receiving a selection from the consumer of one of the second available medical service providers; and establishing a second immediate, real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the second selected medical service provider, with the real-time communication channel and the second real-time communication channel being established concurrently or consecutively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method comprises:
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accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; receiving in a computer, indications that members of a pool of medical service providers have become presently available; receiving in the computer, a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider; identifying in the computer, an available member of the pool; and establishing a real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the identified member of the pool. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer implemented method comprises:
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receiving in a computer, a request from a patient for an on-demand, real-time consultation with a physician; accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to physicians, including present availability of the physicians for participating in a consultation; determining in the computer, which of the physicians are presently available; identifying in the computer, at least one available physician with whom the patient should consult; receiving a selection from the patient of one of the identified physicians; and activating a real-time communication channel between the patient and the selected physician. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer implemented method comprises:
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sending a request from a patient for an on-demand, real-time consultation with a physician; accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to physicians, including present availability of the physicians for participating in a consultation; determining in the computer, which of the physicians are presently available; receiving a message identifying at least one available physician with whom the patient should consult; receiving a selection from the patient of one of the identified physicians; and establishing a communication channel between the patient and the selected physician.
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17. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and medical service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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receive a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider having a medical service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes associated with medical qualifications in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; access a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; determine in the computer, which of the medical service providers are presently available; identify medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define a suitable medical service provider; produce a set of available medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes to send to the consumer of services; receive a selection from the consumer of one of the medical service providers from the set of available service providers; and establish a communication channel between the consumer of services and the medical selected service provider. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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access a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; receive indications that members of a pool of medical service providers have become presently available; receive a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider; identify an available member of the pool; and establish a real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the identified member of the pool.
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a computer program product residing on 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 a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider having a medical service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes associated with medical qualifications in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider; access a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; determine in the computer, which of the medical service providers are presently available; identify medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define a suitable medical service provider; produce a set of available medical service providers that satisfy at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes to send to the consumer of services; receive a selection from the consumer of one of the medical service providers from the set of available medical service providers; and establish a communication channel between the consumer of services and the selected medical service provider. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to; access a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including present availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation; receive indications that members of a pool of medical service providers have become presently available; receive a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider; identify an available member of the pool; and establish a real-time communication channel between the consumer of services and the identified member of the pool.
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Specification