Methods, Systems, and Apparatus for Scheduling Appointments

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for scheduling appointments between a user and a provider are described. In one aspect, a requested appointment including an requested appointment location and information defining at least one period of time is received from a user. Computer processor instructions are executed to identify at least one current appointment and location during the period. Still more computer processor instructions are executed to determine an interval of time between the current appointment and the requested appointment based at least in part on the location of the current appointment and the requested appointment location, and further to determine at least one available time option for scheduling the requested appointment based at least in part on the interval of time. The available time option(s) is (are) then returned to the user.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for scheduling an appointment between a first party and a second party, said method implemented at least in part by one or more processing devices, comprising:
 receiving a requested appointment from said first party, said requested appointment including an requested appointment location and information defining at least one period of time;   storing said requested appointment;   executing computer processor instructions to identify at least one current appointment for said second party during the at least one period of time, and a location for at least one of said at least one current appointment;   executing computer processor instructions to determine an interval of time between at least one of said at least one current appointment and said requested appointment based at least in part on the location of the at least one current appointment and the requested appointment location;   executing computer processor instructions to determine at least one available time option for scheduling said requested appointment based at least in part on said interval of time; and   returning said at least one available time option to said first party.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said current appointments has an associated block of reserved time, and further comprising determining under computer control at least one block of unavailable time associated with each of said current appointments by appending and prepending said travel time to said associated block of reserved time for each of said current appointments. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining under computer control a new appointment block of time determined by said new appointment desired start time and said new appointment desired end time, and removing said at least one block of unavailable time from said new appointment block of time. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , further comprising receiving a new appointment confirmation from said first party. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , further comprising creating a confirmed new appointment corresponding to said new appointment confirmation. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein said current appointments include a plurality of current schedules corresponding to a plurality of potential attendees including said attendee; and said computer-implemented method further comprises identifying at least one schedule from said plurality of current schedules that can at least approximately accommodate said new appointment request. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one available time option is determined using said at least one schedule from said plurality of current schedules. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , further comprising altering under computer control said plurality of current schedules by rearranging the current appointments of said plurality of current schedules to accommodate said new appointment. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining under computer control at least one schedule that can accommodate said new appointment. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding said new appointment to said at least one schedule that can accommodate said new appointment. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a computer program product, said computer program product being configured to enable a computer to schedule an appointment between a first party and a second party at least in part by one or more processing devices, said computer program product comprising:
 data and instructions configured to enable said computer to receive a requested appointment from said first party, said requested appointment including an requested appointment location and information defining at least one period of time;   data and instructions configured to enable said computer to store said requested appointment;   data and instructions configured to enable said computer to identify at least one current appointment for said second party during the at least one period of time, and a location for at least one of said at least one current appointment;   data and instructions configured to enable said computer to determine an interval of time between at least one of said at least one current appointment and said requested appointment based at least in part on the location of the at least one current appointment and the requested appointment location;   data and instructions configured to enable said computer to determine at least one available time option for scheduling said requested appointment based at least in part on said interval of time; and   data and instructions configured to enable said computer to return said at least one available time option to said first party.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein each of said current appointments has an associated block of reserved time, and further comprising data and instructions to enable said computer to determine under computer control at least one block of unavailable time associated with each of said current appointments by appending and prepending said travel time to said associated block of reserved time for each of said current appointments. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising data and instructions to enable said computer to determine a new appointment block of time determined by said new appointment desired start time and said new appointment desired end time, and removing said at least one block of unavailable time from said new appointment block of time. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising data and instructions configured to enable said computer to receive a new appointment confirmation from said first party. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising data and instructions configured to enable said computer to create a confirmed new appointment corresponding to said new appointment confirmation. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system for scheduling an appointment between a first party and a second party, said system implemented at least in part by one or more processing devices, said system comprising:
 a computer-controlled receiver configured to receive a requested appointment from said first party, said requested appointment including an requested appointment location and information defining at least one period of time;   a computer-implemented data store configure to store said requested appointment;   a computer processor configured to execute computer processor instructions to identify at least one current appointment for said second party during the at least one period of time, and a location for at least one of said at least one current appointment;   a computer processor configured to execute computer processor instructions to determine an interval of time between at least one of said at least one current appointment and said requested appointment based at least in part on the location of the at least one current appointment and the requested appointment location;   a computer processor configured to execute computer processor instructions to determine at least one available time option for scheduling said requested appointment based at least in part on said interval of time; and   a computer-controlled responder configured to returning said at least one available time option to said first party.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein each of said current appointments has an associated block of reserved time, and wherein said computer system further comprises a computer processor configured to determine under computer control at least one block of unavailable time associated with each of said current appointments by appending and prepending said travel time to said associated block of reserved time for each of said current appointments. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 17 , said computer system further comprising a computer processor configured to determine under computer control a new appointment block of time determined by said new appointment desired start time and said new appointment desired end time, and removing said at least one block of unavailable time from said new appointment block of time. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , said computer system further comprising a computer controlled received configured to receive a new appointment confirmation from said first party. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , said computer system further comprising a computer processor configured to create a confirmed new appointment corresponding to said new appointment confirmation.