Patent ID: 8219436

Claim:
A system for scheduling installation of services offered by a service provider comprising: a time slot inventory comprising time slots, wherein the time slot inventory comprises a plurality of time slots each comprising a plurality of available installation appointments for installation of a service; an order interface configured to receive orders from a prospective customer; a time slot management system comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute software instructions to cause the time slot management system to perform the functions of: establishing an alert trigger for each of the plurality of time slots, wherein the alert trigger comprises a condition indicative of a utilization of the plurality of available installation appointments; receiving via the order interface ordering information and order qualifying information from a prospective customer, wherein the ordering information comprises a request for installation of the service and wherein the order qualifying information comprises information relating to the state of the installation location; qualifying the request for installation of the service for scheduling using the order qualifying information; when the requested service qualifies for scheduling: selecting from the time slot inventory at least one available time slot for installation of the service, wherein the at least one available time slot is selected based on the ordering information; displaying to the prospective customer an offer comprising the at least one available time slot via the order interface; and receiving from the prospective customer via the order interface a confirmation, wherein the confirmation comprises selection of a particular time slot of the at least one available time slot by the prospective customer; scheduling the installation within the selected time slot; displaying the selected time slot to the prospective customer; determining whether the condition of the alert trigger established for each of the plurality of time slots is satisfied; and issuing an alert message when the utilization of the plurality of available installation appointments satisfies the condition of the alert trigger for any one of the plurality of time slots.