Connecting Consumers with Service Providers

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.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method comprises:
 accessing by a computer a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation;   receiving by a computer, indications that members of a pool of medical service providers are available;   receiving by the computer, a request from a consumer of services to consult with a medical service provider;   determining by the computer, an available member of the pool; and   sending information for establishment of a real-time communication between the consumer of services and the identified member of the pool, with the information being sent to a device used by the identified member of the pool.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the real-time communication comprises one or more of a telephonic communication and an online video communication. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the identified member of the pool is a board-certified physician. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 causing a fee for the real-time communication to be charged to a credit card associated with the consumer of services.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 sending, to a device used by a third-party, a record of the real-time communication.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a device used by a medical service provider, information specifying that the medical service is available to interact with consumers.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 generating by the computer a graphical user interface for management of consultations between consumers and medical service providers, with the graphical user interface when rendered on a client device renders:
 a visual representation of a medical history of the consumer of medical services who sent the request. 
   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 generating by the computer a graphical user interface for management of consultations between consumers and medical service providers, with the graphical user interface when rendered on a client device renders a visual representation of service providers including indications of the service providers' availability; and the method further comprising   receiving by the computer information indicative of a selection of one of the service providers.   
     
     
         30 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer, a request from a consumer of services for a consultation with a medical service provider who is qualified to provide advice in one or more selected medical fields;   determining, by the computer, medical service providers that are qualified to provide the requested consultation;   tracking by the computer availability of service providers;   determining, by the computer, which of the identified medical service providers are available; and   sending information for establishment of a communication between the consumer and a selected one of the medical service providers who are available for the consultation, with the information being sent to a device used by the selected one of the medical service providers.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , wherein the communication comprises one or more of a telephonic communication and an online video communication. 
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 sending, to a device used by a third-party, a record of the communication.   
     
     
         33 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 generating by the computer a graphical user interface for management of consultations between consumers and medical service providers, with the graphical user interface when rendered on a client device renders a visual representation of service providers including indications of the service providers' availability; and the method further comprising   receiving by the computer information indicative of a selection of one of the service providers.   
     
     
         34 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer, a request from a consumer of services for a consultation with a medical service provider who is qualified to provide advice in one or more selected medical fields;   identifying, by the computer, medical service providers qualified to provide the requested consultation;   determining, by the computer, which of the identified medical service providers are available; and   directing the request for the consultation to a device used by a selected one of the medical service providers who are available for the consultation.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , wherein the consultation comprises one or more of a telephonic consultation and an online video consultation. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 sending, to a device used by a third-party, a record of the communication.   
     
     
         37 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 generating by the computer a graphical user interface for management of consultations between consumers and medical service providers, with the graphical user interface when rendered on a client device renders a visual representation of service providers including indications of the service providers' availability; and the method further comprising   receiving by the computer information indicative of a selection of one of the service providers.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 retrieving information specifying a telephone number that is associated with an account of the selected one of the medical service providers;   wherein directing the request for the consultation comprises:
 directing, based on the telephone number, a message indicative of the request for the consultation to a telephonic mobile device used by the selected one of the medical service providers. 
   
     
     
         39 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer, a request from a consumer of services for a consultation with a medical service provider for expert advice;   tracking by the computer availability of service providers;   accessing a data repository that stores information pertaining to medical service providers, including availability of the medical service providers for participating in a consultation;   determining, by the computer based on the accessed information, one or more medical service providers who are available for the consultation; and   sending information for establishment of a communication between the consumer and a selected one of the medical service providers who are available for the consult, with the information being sent to a device used by the selected one of the medical service providers.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 39 , wherein the communication comprises one or more of a telephonic communication and an online video communication. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 producing a set of available medical service providers; and   receiving a selection from a device used by the consumer of one of the medical service providers from the set of available medical service providers.   
     
     
         42 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving by 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;   identifying, by the computer, medical service providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define the suitable medical service provider; and   sending by the computer information for establishment of a communication between the consumer and a selected one of the medical service providers satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes that define the suitable medical service provide, with the information being sent to a device used by the selected one of the medical service providers.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the communication comprises one or more of a telephonic communication and an online video communication. 
     
     
         44 . A computer-implemented method executed by a first computing device, the method comprising:
 sending by the first computing device a request to consult with a service provider, with the first computing device being associated with a consumer, and with the first computing device rendering a plurality of graphical user interfaces;   populating by the first computing device one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with availability information received from a central brokerage system, to render a visual representation of present availability of one or more service providers;   sending by the first computing device a selection of a service provider; and   requesting establishment of a communication channel between the computing device and a second computing device associated with the selected service provider.   
     
     
         45 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , wherein the first computing device comprises a mobile device. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving by the first computing device an application that executes on the first computing, the application comprising the plurality of graphical user interfaces.