Interactive consumer level servicing portal with per-use user payment
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorMichael Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for helping a consumer to solve a problem associated with a product. During operation, the system receives, via a web portal, a description of the problem from the consumer; generates a list of experts based on the description of the problem; receives a selection of an expert based on the list from the consumer; and establishes a online session between the consumer and the selected expert, thereby facilitating the expert in helping the consumer to solve the problem.
Claims23
A computer-executable method, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a user, a description of a problem associated with a product;
- generating, by one or more computers, a list of experts based on the description of the problem;
- receiving a selection of an expert in the list;
- establishing, by one or more computers, an online session between the user and the selected expert, thereby facilitating the expert in helping the user to solve the problem;
- selecting, from a model library by the one or more computers, a 3-dimensional (3-D) model that matches the product in the user's description of the problem, wherein the 3-D model contains topographical information and movement constraints corresponding to the product;
- and
- providing the 3-D model to the user and the expert during the online session, by the one or more computers, so that the 3-D model is collaboratively manipulated by the user and the expert.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
- receiving a description of a problem associated with a product;
- generating a list of experts based on the description of the problem;
- receiving a selection of an expert in the list;
- establishing an online session between the user and the selected expert, thereby facilitating the expert in helping the user to solve the problem;
- selecting, from a model library, a 3-dimensional (3-D) model that matches the product in the user's description of the problem, wherein the 3-D model contains topographical information and movement constraints corresponding to the product;
- and
- providing the 3-D model during the online session to the user and the expert, so that the 3-D model is collaboratively manipulated by the user and the expert.
A server for a web portal, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory;
- a receiving mechanism configured to receive a description of a problem associated with a product;
- a generation mechanism configured to generate a list of experts based on the description of the problem;
- an expert-selection receiving mechanism configured to receive a selection of an expert in the list;
- an online-session module configured to establish an online session between the user and the selected expert, thereby facilitating the expert in helping the user to solve the problem;
- a selection mechanism configured to select a 3-dimensional (3-D) model that matches the product in the user's description of the problem, wherein the 3-D model contains topographical information and movement constraints corresponding to the product;
- and
- a model-providing mechanism configured to provide the 3-D model to the user and the expert during the online session, so that the 3-D model is collaboratively manipulated by the user and the expert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.