Abstract:
A method for self dispatching services of tradesmen or other service providers. The invention allows consumers to order services based on the availability of specific servicemen working in the vicinity, based on availability of specific servicemen that the consumer wishes to use, based on urgency or lack of urgency of their service needs, and based on the price which is set by the servicemen based on urgency criteria and availability to do work in a particular area or particular time frame. The present invention also allows servicemen to work more efficiently by grouping their jobs in close proximity in time and area and by allowing them to fill in slow work times with lower urgency, lower priced work. The system allows servicemen to advertise their service and consumers to rate the quality of work they receive from specific servicemen. The invention allows consumers to find real time service by taking advantage of a vendor queue line. The invention allows consumers to keep track of property history, warranties and installed product information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method for self dispatching services of tradesmen or other service providers such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC servicemen, etc. The present invention allows a consumer to order services based on the availability of servicemen working in the vicinity, based on availability of specific servicemen that the consumer wishes to use, based on the urgency or lack of urgency of their service needs, and based on price which is set by the servicemen based on urgency criteria and availability to do work in a particular area or particular time frame. The present invention also allows servicemen to work more efficiently by grouping their jobs in close proximity in time and area and by allowing them to fill in slow work times with lower urgency and lower priced work. Servicemen can advertise their services on this system and consumers can rate the quality of work they receive from the servicemen so that other consumers can know the type of service that a given serviceman provides. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently, there is no real way for customers and servicemen to coordinate their activities so that the servicemen are able to have steady work 
         [0005]    and work most efficiently while providing the customer with choices in when and by whom their work is to be done and at what price. 
         [0006]    The present invention addresses this need by allowing a customer to see the other jobs that have already been scheduled in their area and allowing them to select the urgency for their job at a price that is commensurate with that urgency. Simultaneously, the servicemen benefit by increasing their efficiency since now they can work jobs in a given area before moving to a new area and by prioritizing urgency of jobs based on client input. The present invention also allows workers to fill in their slow times with lower priced, lower priority work and higher priority work when they are available while allowing the customer to benefit from those cost savings on their work that is not so urgent. The invention also allows customers to find next available contractor by viewing a queue of contractors without work in a real time environment allowing customer to skip waiting time and allows vendors to fill in work gaps. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is an internet based method for self dispatching services of tradesmen or other service providers such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC serviceperson, etc. This customer based dispatching method employs a customer based social internet mapping system that allows customers to queue on a map with other customer to get better rates on service. The present invention allows a consumer to order services based on the availability of serviceperson working in the vicinity, based on availability of specific serviceperson that the consumer wishes to use, based on the urgency or lack of urgency of their service needs, and based on price which is set by the serviceperson based on urgency criteria, based on number of service calls in a particular area, and based on the serviceperson&#39;s availability to do work in a particular area or particular time frame. The present invention also allows serviceperson to work more efficiently by grouping their jobs in close proximity in time and area and by allowing them to fill in slow work times with lower urgency and lower priced work. Serviceperson can advertise their services on this system and consumers can rate the quality of work they receive from the servicemen so that other consumers can know the type of service that a given serviceperson provides. Serviceperson with no work may enter an emergency queue that allows consumers a real time available vendor. Work orders are tracked by job address this allows consumers to keep track of all service history to property including manufacture warranties and any other important property information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is flow chart showing a customer process portion of a self dispatching method for services according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is flow chart showing a vendor process portion of a self dispatching method for services according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is flow chart showing a customer feedback portion of a self dispatching method for services according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an entry computer screen for the self dispatching system showing where the customer logs into the system by entering his zip code. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a computer screen for the self dispatching system showing a queue map for the address provided by a customer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a computer screen for the self dispatching system showing a customer order for a particular job being created by a customer with the customer entering information about the job and requesting that they set their own price for the job using a bidding process. Customer also can order for a particular job being created with the customer selecting by vendor pricing, by specific vendor, or by technician rating. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a computer screen for the self dispatching system showing a customer order for a particular job being created by a customer with the customer entering information about the job and requesting vendor using the vendor set pricing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a computer screen for the self dispatching system showing a customer order for a particular job being created by a customer with the customer requesting that the work be done on an emergency basis. 1    
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a computer screen for self dispatching system showing a contractor profile which includes contractor vendor advertisement for its services, introduces its service technicians, displays its performance record, and enters the type of work it is available to do and its pricing for different types and urgency of work. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a computer screen for self dispatching system showing a technician profile which includes information about the qualifications, experience and performance of the technician and photos of and other information about the technician. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a computer screen for self dispatching system that shows 
           [0019]    Computer screen that vendor may use to fill out job scenario and pricing. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a computer screen for self dispatching system that show What customer can see when choosing vendor from real time standby queue. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , there are shown flow charts that detail the present invention which is an internet based method for self dispatching services of tradesmen or other service providers such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC servicemen, etc. The method consist of three distinct subsections or portions: a customer process portion, a vendor process portion and a customer feedback portion. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the customer process portion of the method starts at the start box  10  with the customer going to the website on the internet where the self dispatching system is located. The first computer screen that the user sees will look similar to the one shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]    As shown in box  10  of  FIG. 1 , the customer can either move to box  18  which allows customer to add their zip code or move to box  14  which allows customer to create a new account or move to box  16  which allows customer to log in to an existing account. Starting with box  18  of  FIG. 1 . This is a limited area that allows customer to get to know the site and overview features. Customers can navigate boxes  20 ,  22 ,  24  without creating an account. Box  22  of figure one will show customer&#39;s a map of the service area near the entered zip code. This map will have tags for any service&#39;s already contracted by other customer&#39;s colored by trade and priority as shown in  FIG. 5 . Box  20  allows customer&#39;s to view vendors profile, scenario prices and all information contractor provides. Box  24  allows customer&#39;s to view any advertisements. 
         [0024]    Advanced interaction with site will require customer to start at Box  14 . Box  14  allows customer to create a property profile that includes all contact information and creating account username and password. Box  16  allows new and existing customer&#39;s to log in for the advanced features. The advanced features are boxes  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . 
         [0025]    Box  26  of figure one allows customer&#39;s to self dispatch priority service. Box  38  uses simple list of emergency scenario&#39;s which customer selects then moves to Box  50 . Box  50  will have a list of priority vendors that are waiting in queue without work and are available right as work is contracted. This Queue is exclusive to real time available contractors as shown in  FIG. 15 . Contractors that contract work through the site or outside of site are required to drop of the queue list when not available. Box  52  creates customer work order and submits order to system. Box  54  submits a validation to customer via contact information and contractor via contact information. Both customer and vendor must approve work order to move it to the pending file. When both sides confirm, the work order it moves to box  42  which is were all pending work orders for customer and vendors will remain till work is completed. Box  60  allows customer an area to close pending work orders which ends this portion of the process. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 5  box  28  the system will display a queue map for the address provided by the customer. The queue map will display a list of other work orders or services that are scheduled to soon be performed in that area, with key colors and numbers defining the types of services and the urgency of each service displayed on the map. At this point, the customer can either decide to list their required service in the queue by clicking on Create New Work Order on the screen shown in  FIG. 5 , as described in box  28 , or alternately, can click on Advertising on the screen shown in  FIG. 5  to optionally obtain additional information on the vendors, contractor profiles, pricing and technician ratings before deciding to list their required service in the queue, as described in box  20 . If the customer chose to obtain additional information on the vendors, etc., the computer screens shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  would then be viewed by the user. When the user is ready to list their required service in the queue, as shown in box  50 , they would proceed to select the service required from a list of common scenarios or describe their specific service requirements as shown in box  52  and as shown on the computer screen of  FIG. 7 . On this screen the customer can select a service from the list of common scenarios listed on the left hand side of the screen and/or can upload an image of their particular problem with a description of the problem or provide other information such as model and serial numbers for the equipment involved, etc. Each of the common scenarios will have a pop up screen associated with it that illustrates the equipment involved in that service, as shown in the middle of the right hand side of  FIG. 7 . Each of the common scenarios includes an estimate of the number of hours required to perform the service and an average cost estimate for completing the work based on builder&#39;s standard pricing. 
         [0027]    Next, as shown in box  50 , the customer selects a level of urgency for the job. As shown in the lower right hand corner of  FIG. 8 , one option that can be selected for level of urgency is Emergency. When the Emergency level of urgency is selected the customer moves back to Box  26 . On the other hand, if the job is not urgent, the customer can select the speed with which their job is to be performed, with the lower urgency jobs receiving a larger discount in pricing and those jobs that are higher in urgency being performed more quickly, but at a higher cost. This selection of pricing and urgency rating is illustrated in the lower right hand corner of  FIG. 7 . One option is that the customer bid their own price for the job instead of selecting a vendor quoted price. If this option is selected, the customer also selects the quality required and whether they wish to accept counter offers for pricing on the work from vendors. 
         [0028]    As shown in box  40 , the customer has the option of selecting a preferred vendor or a preferred technician to do the work. Alternately, the customer can select the vendor and technician based on price, urgency, and technician rating. As shown in box  50 , after the customer has selected all of the necessary items, they create a job order and submit the order to the system. As described in box  54 , the system then provides a validation code to the customer by phone, text message or voice mail. As shown in box  56 , the customer must then log into the system to validate the work order using the validation code that was provided to the customer by the system. This step prevents unauthorized orders from being entered into the system. Next, as shown in box  58 , upon validation of the work order by the customer, the system displays the new work order in the pending work order section and updates the queue map in  FIG. 5 . As shown in box  60 , this ends the customer process for entering a work order into the system. 
         [0029]    Box  42  allows customer to view open Work orders. Customers can move to Box  60  to close open work orders and move them to the feedback section. Box  32  starts the feedback process customer grades contractor on both performance and cost in box  44 . If the grade is average or above the feedback is left and the work order moves to history. If vendor grades below average the customer will have the option to move work order to resolution center. 
         [0030]    Box  46  Shows resolution area here the customer can file a complaint and request terms for conflict resolution issues. Once an issue is resolved the work order moves to work or address history in Box  36 . Box  36  allows customers to see all history for a properties address. These files are saved in box  48  and will allow customers to view all service history at the property. This feature helps keep track of warranty information, product information serials numbers and anything else that pertains to property service history. This ends the history and feedback portion of this process. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the vendor process portion of the method for using the system. The process starts at Box  100 . The vendor can explore the site while not creating an account. Boxes  102 , 104 , 108  and  106  allow the vendor to learn about the site. Box  102  allows vendor to enter service area. Box  104  will bring the customer queue map as seen in  FIG. 5  showing customer job work orders available. Box  110  allows the vendor to create an account. Vendor selects trades they offer. Vendor makes a company profile and technician resumes. Vendor profile will let vendors add the zip codes they wish to offer service too. Box  114  sets vendors&#39; emergency scenario pricing checking scenarios they offer. On the scenarios checked vendor will fill in their prices as shown in  FIG. 14 . Vendor will then move to box  124 . Box  124  allows vendor to check more scenarios. These scenarios will be of the non emergency type and often have more precise job criteria. Vendors will fill out all pricing on services offered by using a builder standard method on common service scenarios. This concludes the pricing portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    Box  116  allows vendor to enter the Standby Queue. Vendor will confirm he is available for immediate dispatch. This will move vendor to box  128 . Box  128  has vendor in standby queue. As shown in  FIG. 15  contractor will appear in list. Contractor moves up list as other vendors are hired. The system will require vendors in this queue to leave queue once they have contracted work and are not available for immediate dispatch. 
         [0033]    Box  118  allows vendor to toggle on and off their scenarios and whether they wish to accept “name your own price” work orders. Box  126  is used to contact vendors of potential work. Vendors move to  130  to view work order and communicate with customer. Box  132  will require a code from customer to move work order from other vendors queue awarding the Work order to vendor with customer code. This moves work order to pending in box  140 . Vendors can get to all open work orders from box  120 . This allows vendors a dashboard of all open jobs. From here vendors can close cancel any pending work order which moves the work order to history box  136 . This concludes this portion of vendor process. 
         [0034]    Although not specifically described in  FIG. 2  when vendors create their profiles they may also purchase advertising from the system. For example vendor advertising is illustrated in the lower left hand corner of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . They also may purchase more space to attract customers to pick them with an upgraded profile section, etc.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show the computer screens that are created from this information and which display the contractor and technician profile information for customers. The feedback scores that are displayed for the contractor and technicians are not part of the information that the vendor provides, but are a result of the feedback provided by customers, as will be more fully described hereafter in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0035]    Once the vendor has created profiles for their companies and technicians, then customers enter work orders as previously described in relationship to  FIG. 1 . As shown in box  104  of  FIG. 2 , the vendors then view the available jobs in the queue map within their service area, and as shown in box  118  the vendor solicits open work orders or responds to orders the customers have specifically requested that vendor to perform. 
         [0036]    As described in box  132 , the vendor contacts the customer and confirms the description and price of work to be performed. Although not specifically shown in the flow chart, if the customer chose to quote their own price for their work order, the vendor can respond by either accepting the customer&#39;s quoted price for the work or by providing the customer with a counteroffer price for the work until a job price is finally agreed upon by the vendor and customer. As shown in box  132 , the vendor then performs the required service at the agreed upon rate and the service item is removed from the queue map. This ends the vendor process, as shown in box  160 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the customer feedback portion of the method for using the system. The process starts at box  300 . Customers move to box  304  which allows customer to log in to feedback. Box  302  shows all open work order associated to customer account. Customer picks the work order they wish to complete in box  306 . Box  308  of  FIG. 3  allows the customer an area to grade vendor on work performed including cost and performance. This moves the work order to box  312 . If the work order grade average or above the work order moves to box  314  which archives job in history status. If the work order grade below average it moves to box  310 . Box  310  allows customer to state problem and desired solution if applicable moving work order to box  316  where work order awaits response from vendor moving customer to box  326  ending this portion of the feedback system. 
         [0038]    Refer now to  FIG. 3 , which demonstrates the vendor feedback portion of the method for using the system. This process starts at Box  300  and moves vendors to box  320 . Box  320  of  FIG. 3  allows the vendor to log in to the feedback system. Vendors move to box  302  which will allow vendors to view all open work orders associated with their account, and then the vendor selects completed work order from queue and moves to box  324 . In box  324  vendor can close out his side of work order. This area will be designed to help vendor follow up with every job they generate. They will add invoice number, type of payment, completion date and any explanations where applicable. Box  312  of  FIG. 3  updates the feedback system and moves job to history when both customer and vendor feedbacks are complete. This moves to box  326  which ends this portion of the feedback process. Although not specifically described in  FIG. 3  vendors and customers will be rewarded upon completion of successful completed feedback discounts for using service.