Method and apparatus for providing personalized services

A computer readable data storage medium having program code recorded thereon for providing personal services over a computer network, the program code comprising:

• a first program code that receives a service request from a user and determines user type;
• a second program that provides a menu of service request options based on determined user type;
• a third program code that receives a selected service request option from the user;
• a fourth program code that determines a service response based on information related to the user;
• a fifth program code that provides services in accordance with the selected service request option and the determined service response;
• and
• a sixth program code that records interactions while providing the selected service request options.

A system for providing personal services over a computer network, the system comprising:

• a user interface unit for receiving a service request from a user and determining a user type;
• a server unit that provides a menu of service request options based on the user type and receives a user selected service request option through the user interface unit, the server unit determining a service response based on information related to the user and providing services in accordance with the selected service request option and the determined service response;
• and
• a data storage unit that records all interactions while providing the selected service request option.

A computer network implemented method of providing personalized services using a digital dialog between a service provider and a user of the personalized services, the method comprising:

• establishing an audio/video communication channel for a service session between the user and the service provider;
• receiving and storing inputs from the service provider in a data store while the audio/video communication channel between the user and the service provider is established;
• receiving and storing inputs from the user in the data store while the audio/video communication channel between the user and the service provider is established;
• and
• providing, the service provider and the user, interactive access to the data store while the audio/video communication channel is established between service provider and the user.

A computer readable data storage medium having program code recorded thereon for providing personalized services using a digital dialog over a computer network between a service provider and a user of the personalized services, the program code comprising:

• a first program code for establishing an audio/video communication channel for a service session between the user and the service provider;
• a second program code that receives and stores inputs from the service provider in a data store while the audio/video communication channel between the user and the service provider is established;
• a third program code for receiving and storing inputs from the user in the data store while the audio/video communication channel between the user and the service provider is established;
• and
• a fourth program code that provides the service provider and the user interactive access to the data store while the audio/video communication channel is established between the service provider and the user.

A system for providing personalized services using a digital dialog over a computer network between a service provider and a user of the personalized services, the system comprising:

• a service provider interface that communicates with a user interface using an audio/video communication channel in a service session;
• and
• a server unit that communicates with both the service provider interface and the user interface while the service provider interface communicates with the user interface using the audio/video communication channel in the service session;
• wherein the server unit comprises a data store that is interactively accessible by the service provider interface and the user interface during the service session.