Gate keeper

• US 20050071509A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thryv, Inc. (Mudrick Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Inventors: Van der Linden, Sean David, Altberg, Henrik Axel Ebbe, Migdal, James, Faber, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5233 Operator skill based call distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of gate keeping contact between a plurality of users is disclosed. The method includes: providing a central network to establish communication between the plurality of users; and each of the plurality of users having access to a facility to approve or disapprove of any of the plurality of users to permit communication between respective users.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating contact between a service provider and a consumer, the method comprising:

the consumer selecting the service provider;

the consumer requesting immediate contact with the service provider;

determining whether the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer; and

if it is determined that the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer, establishing immediate contact between the service provider and the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the service provider is selected by performing a search of a directory of service providers.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the search is performed by utilizing categories.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the immediate contact is established by a method selected from a group comprising a telephone call, an instant messenger, and a videoconference.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining act is performed by checking a consumer list of the service provider to determine whether the consumer is associated with a category, which may have immediate contact with the service provider.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the consumer list includes consumer information organized by a category selected from a group comprising blocked, new consumer, and unassigned.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact is facilitated for personal reasons.

8. A method of facilitating contact between a service provider and a consumer, the method comprising:

the service provider providing a listing by performing acts including;

the service provider providing contact information regarding the service provider; and

the service provider creating the listing;

the consumer reviewing the service provider listing; and

upon the consumer requesting immediate contact with the service provider, determining whether the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer; and

if it is determined that the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer, establishing immediate contact between the service provider and the consumer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the contact information is selected from a group comprising telephone number, email address, wireless telephone number, and pager number.

10. The method of claim 8 further including the service provider providing one or more topics corresponding to an advice the service provider intends to provide to a plurality of consumers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the service provider provides the one or more topics by selecting a topic from a plurality of topics.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of topics are selected from a group comprising accounting, business, career, education, computing, Internet, counseling, health, dieting, fitness, legal, life-coaching, other, personal finance, psychics, astrology, social, entertainment, taxes, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of topics includes at least one subtopic.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the subtopic is selected from a group comprising personal and business.

15. The method of claim 8 further including the service provider confirming the created listing.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the consumer reviewing the service provider listing is accomplished through first performing a search of a directory of service providers.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the contact is facilitated for personal reasons.

18. A computer system comprising:

a server; and

a client,

wherein the computer system is configured to perform one or more items selected from a group comprising;

a consumer selecting a service provider;

the consumer requesting immediate contact with the service provider;

determining whether the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer; and

if it is determined that the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer, establishing immediate contact between the service provider and the consumer.

19. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the service provider is selected by performing a search of a directory of service providers.

20. The computer system of claim 19 wherein the search is performed by utilizing categories.

21. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the immediate contact is established by a method selected from a group comprising a telephone call, an instant messenger, and a videoconference.

22. The computer system of claim 18 wherein the determining act is performed by checking a consumer list of the service provider to determine whether the consumer is associated with a category, which may have immediate contact with the service provider.

23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein the consumer list includes consumer information organized by a category selected from a group comprising blocked, new consumer, and unassigned.

24. An article of facilitating between a service provider and a consumer, the article comprising:

a machine readable medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a machine, will cause the machine to perform operations including;

the consumer selecting the service provider;

the consumer requesting immediate contact with the service provider;

determining whether the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer; and

if it is determined that the service provider permits immediate contact by the consumer, establishing immediate contact between the service provider and the consumer.

25. The article of claim 24 wherein the service provider is selected by performing a search of a directory of service providers.

26. The article of claim 24 wherein the immediate contact is established by a method selected from a group comprising a telephone call, an instant messenger, and a videoconference.

27. The article of claim 24 wherein the determining operation is performed by checking a consumer list of the service provider to determine whether the consumer is associated with a category, which may have immediate contact with the service provider.

28. The article of claim 27 wherein the consumer list includes consumer information organized by a category selected from a group comprising blocked, new consumer, and unassigned.

29. A method of gate keeping contact between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

providing a central network to establish communication between the plurality of users; and

each of the plurality of users having access to a facility to approve or disapprove of any of the plurality of users to permit communication between respective users.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the facility is maintained as a list.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the list includes categories.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the central network communication is established through one or more of items selected from a group comprising a telephone, a PDA, Internet, a cell phone, a pager, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the facility permits application of a plurality of filters to establish the communication.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the plurality of filters include one or more items selected from a group comprising time period, even type, condition, and categories.

35. The method claim 29 wherein after a successful handshake the facility includes a user as an approved user.