Patent ID: 7359498

Claim:
A method of arranging a call for a session for real-time communication with a service provider, the method comprising: a data processing system displaying a list of service providers to a consumer via an internet connection; in response to a request from the consumer for an immediate session for real-time communication with a selected service provider selected from the list of service providers, the data processing system determining whether the selected service provider is available for the immediate session; in response to a determination that the selected service provider is not available for the immediate session to communicate with the customer, the data processing system determining whether the service provider accepts arranged sessions for real-time communication; in response to a determination that the service provider does not accept arranged sessions for real-time communication arranged via the data processing system, the data processing system permitting the consumer to request the service provider to allow the data processing system to arrange a session for real-time communication with the service provider; and in response to a determination that the service provider accepts arranged sessions for real-time communication, the data processing system making an arrangement according to a consumer requested appointment time for an arranged session for real-time communication between the service provider and the customer.