Apparatus and method for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service provider using voice mail
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system's software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
presenting to a user, via a computing device, a list of providers currently available to communicate with the user;
receiving a selection of a provider from the list of providers by the user via the computing device;
in response to the selection, attempting to establish a real-time communication connection between the user and the selected provider;
in response to a successful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider, charging the user and compensating the selected provider; and
in response to an unsuccessful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider after a predetermined number of attempts:
presenting a message to the user, via the computing device, regarding the failed connection;
receiving, in response to the message regarding the failed connection, a message from the user via the computing device; and
presenting the message to the selected provider that includes an option for the provider to attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the provider and the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list is presented graphically to the user via a user interface screen of the computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list is presented over a voice interface
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the user via the computing device, a provider characteristic; and
selecting the providers in the list of providers based on based on the characteristic and further based on inputs received from the providers, the inputs indicating availability of the providers to communicate with the user.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the provider characteristic includes one or more of: a professional field associated with the provider, a service provided by the provider, a price associated with establishing the communication with the provider, and a quality rating associated with the provider.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the option to attempt to establish the real-time communication connection between the provider and the user is presented to the provider graphically via a voice mail review screen.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message from the user is a voice message.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message from the user includes text.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein compensating the provider includes issuing a credit to the provider once an account associated with the provider accumulates a predetermined amount from communications established with one or more users.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the option to attempt to establish the real-time communication is presented without disclosing contact information of the user to the provider.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prompting the user, via the computing device, to rate a quality level of the provider at the conclusion of the user's communication with the provider.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising updating, in response to the user's rating, an overall quality level of the provider.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the real-time communication connection includes one or more of: a network connection, a telephonic connection, and a video connection.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting a premium fee for establishing the connection between the user and the provider.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the premium fee is based on a duration of the communication between the user and the provider and a price specified by the provider.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising charging the provider a predetermined amount in response to an unsuccessful communication connection being established.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein charging the user and compensating the provider are based on one or more of a product and a service provided to the user by the provider in conjunction with the established communication.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein charging the user and compensating the provider are further performed according to a duration of the communication between the user and the provider.
19. The method of claim 1 , a system comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
present, to a user a list of providers currently available to communicate with the user;
receive a selection of a provider from the list of providers by the user;
in response to the selection, attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the user and the selected provider;
in response to a successful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider, charge the user and compensate the selected provider; and
in response to an unsuccessful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider after a predetermined number of attempts:
present a message to the user, via the computing device, regarding the failed connection;
receive, in response to the message regarding the failed connection, a message from the user; and
present the message to the selected provider that includes an option for the provider to attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the provider and the user.
20. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:
present, to a user a list of providers currently available to communicate with the user;
receive a selection of a provider from the list of providers by the user;
in response to the selection, attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the user and the selected provider;
in response to a successful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider, charge the user and compensate the selected provider; and
in response to an unsuccessful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider after a predetermined number of attempts:
present a message to the user, via the computing device, regarding the failed connection;
receive, in response to the message regarding the failed connection, a message from the user; and
present the message to the selected provider that includes an option for the provider to attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the provider and the user.