Apparatus and method for scheduling live advice communication with a selected service provider

A method comprising:

• selecting a service provider from a field of service available from a service provider system;
• requesting an appointment with the selected service provider during a selected appointment time;
• once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, receiving an appointment confirmation notification from the service provider system;
• and
• connecting, via the service provider system, with the selected service provider for a live advice communication during the selected appointment time.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a selected service provider, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a service seeker;
• determining whether the selected service provider is available during an appointment time specified in the appointment request;
• when the service provider is available during the appointment time, accepting the appointment request for a live advice communication with the service seeker;
• and
• connecting, via the service provider system, with the service seeker for a live advice communication via communications mediums during a selected appointment time.

A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:

• receiving, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time;
• providing the appointment request to the selected service provider;
• once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, scheduling a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider;
• and
• connecting the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time.

A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:

• selecting a service provider from a field of service available from a service provider system;
• requesting an appointment with the selected service provider during a selected appointment time;
• once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, receiving an appointment confirmation notification from the service provider system;
• and
• connecting, via the service provider system, with the selected service provider for a live advice communication during the selected appointment time.

A computer readable storage medium including program instructions that direct a system to function in a specified manner when executed by a processor, the program instructions comprising:

• receiving, by a selected service provider, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a service seeker;
• determining whether the selected service provider is available during an appointment time specified in the appointment request;
• when the service provider is available during the appointment time, accepting the appointment request for a live advice communication with the service seeker;
• and
• connecting, via the service provider system, with the service seeker for a live advice communication via communications mediums during a selected appointment time.

A service provider scheduling system, comprising:

• a processor having circuitry to execute instructions;
• a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface to link service seekers with selected service provider for live advice communication via communications devices of the service seekers and selected service providers;
• an appointments database including a record for each schedule and pending appointment between a service seeker and a selected service provider;
• a storage device coupled to the processor, having sequences of instructions stored therein, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• receive, from a service seeker, an appointment request for a live advice communication with a selected service provider during a specified appointment time,
• provide the appointment request to the selected service provider.
• once the appointment request is accepted by the selected service provider, schedule a live advice communication appointment between the service seeker and the selected service provider, and
• connect the selected service provider with the service seeker for a live advice communication at the specified appointment time.