System and method for connecting consumers with a diverse set of consultants and experts

• US 8,015,292 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gopesh Kumar
• Original Assignee: Gopesh Kumar
• Inventors: Kumar, Gopesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mejia; Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/710,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,590 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/227, 709/230, 379/265, 379/114, 705/412, 705/40, 705/38
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

It is the objective of the current invention to provide a system that will allow Users to contact Service Providers in specific fields. The User will choose a Service Provider via an Internet-based icon from within any one of a broad base of Internet interfaces maintained by the system or the Service Provider. Once a Service Provider is chosen, a pop-up window will appear telling that User if the Service Provider is available. If the Service Provider is available the system will connect the User with the Service Provider. If the Service Provider is unavailable the system will prompt the User to try again later or send an e-mail to the Service Provider.

Claims

1. A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising:

providing an Internet platform wherein said Internet platform is an Internet-based system used to initiate a live conversation with a Service Provider via a computer or other electronic mobile device over the Internet;

providing real-time communication between two or more parties via the Internet platform;

having a User click on an internet-based icon to initiate a live conversation with a Service Provider;

generating a pop-up window with information about said Service Provider;

checking to see if the Service Provider is available;

connecting said User with said Service Provider, if available, via the Internet platform;

initiating a first call to the User, receiving a first phone call by the User at his desired phone number from the Internet platform;

answering the first call by the User from the Internet platform,

initiating a second call to the Service Provider in response to the answered first call by the User, from the Internet platform;

answering the second call from the Internet platform by the Service Provider;

connecting the parties in a call via Internet platform;

tracking call information during the duration of the call by the Internet platform;

alerting said User if said Service Provider is not available;

prompting said User to send an email to the Service Provider if the Internet platform determines said Service Provider is busy or unavailable;

providing input means, via said Internet Platform, for the User to create and send said email

providing transaction settlement functions between two or more connected parties via the Internet platform;

extracting User real-time account balance information from a System Database;

extracting Service Provider per minute compensation rate from the System Database;

dividing the User account balance total by the Service provider per minute compensation rate;

determining total minutes said User can connect to said Service provider until said User'"'"'s account balance reaches zero;

displaying this information to said User textually in pop-up window the moment before said User connects to said Service provider; and

displaying a graphical timer in said pop-up window, once said User connects to said Service provider, begins counting down the minutes remaining for the User to be connected to the Service provider until said User'"'"'s account balance is depleted and correspondingly their connection terminated.

2. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising an Internet platform having said pop-up window prompting said User to enter their phone number to make said connection providing means for making a connection and transferring speech and text.

3. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising generating a message for the User in a pop-up window via the Internet platform when said Service Provider is not available.

4. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising allowing said Service Provider to enter their hours of availability to be visually displayed to Users via the Internet platform.

5. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising displaying said Service Provider'"'"'s hours of availability within a pop-up window via the Internet platform.

6. The method as described in claim 5, further comprising denying said connection if a User tries to initiate a connection during the hours said Service Provider is scheduled to be not available.

7. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising displaying in a pop-up window via the Internet platform that said Service Provider is currently busy on another call if said Service Provider is currently on another system call.

8. The method as described in claim 7, further comprising denying said connection if a User tries to initiate a connection while said Service Provider is busy on another call.

9. The method as described in claim 1, further including displaying a compensation rate in a pop-up window via the Internet platform, based on a period of time, for each Service Provider.

10. The method as described in claim 1, further including displaying a text link in a pop-up window via the Internet platform to a new pop-up window displaying a Service Providers'"'"' profile and history of previous Users'"'"' feedback.

11. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the set of Service Providers is provided in response to a category selection via the Internet platform.

12. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising, after the connection has ended, prompting said User to provide feedback on said Service Provider regarding the quality of said Service Provider'"'"'s service via the Internet platform.

13. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

setting up an account for the Service Providers; and

crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.

14. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising:

setting up an account for the Service Providers; and

crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the telephonic connection is maintained minus a fee.

15. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

setting up a consumer account in the system for the User, wherein setting up the consumer account includes obtaining credit card information from the consumer; and

allowing User to make a deposit to their consumer account.

16. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring how long the telephonic connection is maintained between said User and said Service Provider; and

deducting from said User consumer account an amount based upon how long the telephonic connection is maintained.

17. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising a hypertext link in a pop-up window via the Internet platform directing Users to make a deposit to their account.