Systems, methods, and program products for provision of expert services over a network in real time

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing online real-time expert services are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a plurality of user and provider devices communicates with a consulting engagement server over a network. The consulting engagement server includes a plurality of modules that are implemented in software, and which, when executed, provide for the marketing and provision of expert services by providers to users over a network in real time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing real-time expert services, the method comprising:
 (A) receiving from an electronic device a user request for expert services providers;   (B) retrieving from a server expert data that corresponds to the user request for the expert services providers;   (C) transmitting the expert data to the electronic device;   (D) receiving a selection indication corresponding to a first expert service provider and an alternate expert service provider if the first expert service provider is unavailable from the expert data transmitted to the electronic device;   (E) determining that the first expert service provider is unavailable and further determining first provider connection information for a first provider device corresponding to the alternate expert service provider; and   (F) establishing a first communication session between the user device and first provider device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein before step (F), the method further comprises:
 (G) transmitting to the first provider device using the first provider connection information, a first connection request; and   (H) receiving a first confirmation indication.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 managing the first communication session, wherein the managing comprises:
 a. receiving first data from the electronic device; 
 b. transmitting the first data to the first provider device using the first provider connection information; 
 c. receiving second data from the first provider device; and 
 d. transmitting the second data to the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a sharing tag associated with the alternative expert service provider along with receiving the second data from the first provider device; and   transmitting the sharing tag to the electronic device along with transmitting the second data.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 storing data corresponding to credits for performing sharing activities based on the sharing tag.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first provider device is a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second data comprise text and image data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second data comprise real-time video data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expert data corresponding to the user request for the expert services providers includes an availability indicator, a specialty and a price for each of the expert services providers. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, rather than a selection indication corresponding to a first expert service provider and an alternate expert service provider, a specialty selection indication corresponding to a specialty that is immediately sought, wherein the specialty selection indication does not specify a provider;   determining a second expert service provider that provides the immediately sought specialty and that is currently available;   determining second provider connection information for a second provider device corresponding to the second expert service provider; and   establishing a second communication session between the user device and the second provider device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a bid amount corresponding to expert services provided by a second expert service provider, wherein the expert services provided by the second expert service provider are offered by means of an auction;   determining that the bid amount received from the electronic device upon the completion of the auction is greater than a plurality of previously received bid amounts;   determining second provider connection information for a second provider device corresponding to the second expert service provider;   transmitting to the second provider device using the second provider connection information, a second connection request;   receiving from the second provider device, a second confirmation indication; and   establishing a second communication session between the electronic device and the second provider device.