Connecting consumers with service providers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
- receiving from a consumer, by a computer configured to connect consumers with providers of medical services, a search for a provider of medical services based on search criteria;
generating by the computer an ordered list of providers that satisfy the search criteria, the order of providers being based on a provider rating of each provider included in the list; and
receiving a selection of one of the providers from the consumer;
establishing an engagement over the Internet between the consumer and the selected one of the providers to connect the consumer and the selected one of the providers in real time;
subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, requesting feedback from the consumer related to the engagement during a process for disconnecting the consumer from the provider;
updating, by the computer, the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback if the consumer provides feedback about the provider; and
charging an additional amount if the consumer fails to provide feedback about the provider.
2 Assignments
0 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.
88 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
-
receiving from a consumer, by a computer configured to connect consumers with providers of medical services, a search for a provider of medical services based on search criteria; generating by the computer an ordered list of providers that satisfy the search criteria, the order of providers being based on a provider rating of each provider included in the list; and receiving a selection of one of the providers from the consumer; establishing an engagement over the Internet between the consumer and the selected one of the providers to connect the consumer and the selected one of the providers in real time; subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, requesting feedback from the consumer related to the engagement during a process for disconnecting the consumer from the provider; updating, by the computer, the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback if the consumer provides feedback about the provider; and charging an additional amount if the consumer fails to provide feedback about the provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11)
-
-
9. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
-
receiving by a computer an enrollment request from a new service provider to participate as a probationary provider of services on a system that establishes real-time engagements over the Internet between consumers of medical services and providers of medical services; enrolling the probationary service provider as an eligible participate provider of services; and monitoring a provider rating of the probationary service provider during a probationary period after the probationary service provider begins to participate in the system. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
12. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for executing instructions on a processor, the computer program product being operable to cause a machine to:
-
receive a search for a provider of medical services based on search criteria; generate an ordered list of providers that satisfy the search criteria, the order being based on a provider rating of each provider included in the list; and receive a selection of one of the providers from the consumer; establish an engagement over the Internet between the consumer and the selected one of the providers to connect the consumer and the selected one of the providers in real time; subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, request feedback from the consumer related to the engagement during a process for disconnecting the consumer from the provider; update the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback if the consumer provides feedback about the provider; and charge an additional amount if the consumer fails to provide feedback about the provider. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification