US6223165B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus to connect consumer to expert
Assignee: Thryv Inc
•
Filing: 2000-01-20
•
Granted: 2001-04-24
•
Expires: 2020-01-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall B. Lauffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:05
CPC Classifications
G; G16; G16H; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06311; G06Q10/063112; G06Q10/0639; G06Q10/06398; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0206; G06Q30/0241; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0613; G06Q99/00; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/51; H04M3/5183; H04M3/5191; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04W4/021; H04W4/029; H10; H10D; H10D30/00; H10D30/01; H10D30/021; H10D30/031; H10D30/0312; H10D30/0314; H10D30/0321; H10D30/60; H10D30/67; H10D30/6729; H10D30/673; H10D30/6731; H10D30/6737; H10D30/6739; H10D30/674; H10D30/6741; H10D30/6743; H10D30/6745
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising: displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question; the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and said automatically establishing the connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising: displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question; the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and said automatically establishing the connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising, after the real time communication connection has ended, prompting the consumer to provide a quality score for the expert.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the indication of each expert's availability includes an information-rich graphic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the list includes an avatar representation for each expert.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the list includes an indication of the expert's certification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the compensation rate includes a rate per period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the list includes a quality score provided by previous consumers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the list is provided in response to a keyword search.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as described in claim 8 , wherein the keyword search includes matching based upon a plurality of expert characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the list is provided in response to a category selection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the connection includes a video connection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the connection is established without disclosing identity information about the expert to the consumer and without disclosing identity information about the consumer to the expert.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring how long the real time communication connection is maintained between the expert and the consumer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 13 , further comprising, billing the consumer based upon how long the real time communication connection is maintained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as described in claim 13 , further comprising: setting up an account for the expert; and crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the real time communication connection is maintained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as described in claim 13 , further comprising: setting up an account for the expert; and crediting the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained minus a fee.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising: setting up a consumer account for the consumer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 17 , wherein setting up the consumer account includes obtaining credit card information from the consumer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as described in claim 17 , further comprising: monitoring how long the connection is maintained between the expert and the consumer; and deducting from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for connecting two parties in real time, the system comprising: a database to store information about a plurality of experts; a first logic unit linked with the database to display a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question, the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; and a second logic unit linked with the database to automatically establish, in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, a telephone connection between the consumer and the expert prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; said second logic unit automatically establishing the telephone connection by a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for connecting two parties in real time, the system comprising: a database to store information about a plurality of experts; a first logic unit linked with the database to display a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question, the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; and a second logic unit linked with the database to automatically establish, in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, a telephone connection between the consumer and the expert prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; said second logic unit automatically establishing the telephone connection by a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the server has a third logic unit to prompt the consumer to provide a quality score for the expert after the expert and the consumer the connection has ended.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as described in claim 21 , wherein the quality score is stored on the database.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the first logic unit provides the list of experts in response to a keyword search.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the first logic unit is capable of matching based upon a plurality of expert characteristics.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the first logic unit provides the list of experts in response to a category selection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the connection includes a video connection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the connection is established without disclosing identity information about the expert to the consumer and without disclosing identity information about the consumer to the expert.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the server has a third logic unit to monitor how long the connection is maintained between the consumer and the expert.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 28 , wherein the server has a fourth logic unit to bill the consumer based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system as described in claim 28 , wherein the database further stores information about an account set up for the expert, and the server has a fourth logic unit linked with the database to credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system as described in claim 28 , wherein the database further stores information about an account set up for the expert, and the server has a fourth logic unit linked with the database to credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained minus a fee.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as described in claim 20 , wherein the database stores information about a consumer account set up for the consumer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as described in claim 32 , wherein the information about the consumer account includes credit card information obtained from the consumer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system as described in claim 32 , wherein the server has: a third logic unit to monitor how long the connection is maintained between the consumer and the expert; and a fourth logic unit linked with the database to deduct from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question; the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and said automatically establishing the telephone connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question; the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert; in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert; and said automatically establishing the telephone connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to prompt the consumer to provide a quality score for the expert after the expert has finished communicating with the consumer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to monitor how long the connection is maintained between the expert and the consumer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to bill the consumer based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to: set up a consumer account for the consumer; and deduct from the consumer account an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to: set-up an account for the expert; and credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 37 , having stored thereon instructions that further cause the computer to: set-up an account for the expert; and credit the account for an amount based upon how long the connection is maintained minus a fee.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35 , wherein the instructions stored thereon cause the computer to establish a video connection in response to the consumer selecting the expert.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer-readable medium as described in claim 35 , wherein the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium cause the computer to establish the without disclosing identity information about the expert to the consumer and without disclosing identity information about the consumer to the expert.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the connection includes an Internet connection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-04-23 | 2004-10-23 | 2005-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-23 | 2008-10-23 | 2009-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-23 | 2012-10-23 | 2013-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |