Abstract: Described are techniques for providing broker services to consumers and service providers based on telephonic call-back engagements. The techniques include receiving a telephonic-based communication from a consumer to consult with a service provider and determining a suitable service provider to reply to the telephonic-based communication from the consumer. The techniques add an entry corresponding to the consumer to a queue maintained for the suitable service provider, and when the consumer in the queue is at the top of the queue, initiate a call-back to a device used by the consumer.

Abstract: Described are techniques for providing broker services to consumers and service providers based on telephonic call-back engagements. The techniques include receiving a telephonic-based communication from a consumer to consult with a service provider and determining a suitable service provider to reply to the telephonic-based communication from the consumer. The techniques add an entry corresponding to the consumer to a queue maintained for the suitable service provider, and when the consumer in the queue is at the top of the queue, initiate a call-back to a device used by the consumer.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for connecting consumers of services with providers of services. The techniques include receiving from a device used by a consumer a request to engage in a consultation with a service provider, retrieving current availability information for a plurality of service providers that indicate the service providers' current availability to engage a consumer, analyzing by the one or more computers the current availability of the service providers and causing the one or more computers to select one of the service providers that according to the analysis has the least number of consumers currently in that service provider's virtual waiting room.

Abstract: An engagement is brokered between a consumer and a medical service provider; a request from a patient to consult with a medical service provider having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes that define a suitable service provider is received in a server computer system; an available medical service provider satisfying at least some of the attributes in the set of attributes is identified; a communication channel is provided to establish an electronic, real-time communication between the patient and the medical service provider; a measurement from a sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter of the patient is received over the communication channel.

Abstract: An animated representation of a consumer is enabled to interact with an animated representation of a point of service rendered in a user interface to select characteristics of a medical service provider; the selected characteristics of the medical service provider are received; an available medical service provider is identified based at least in part on the selected characteristics; and a communication channel is provided to establish an electronic, real-time communication between the consumer and the identified medical service provider.

Abstract: A service provider is prompted to provide a summary of an engagement with a consumer, an audible summary provided by the provider is recorded and, and the audible summary is associated with a record of the engagement.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a consumer associated with a first medical service provider to engage in real time with a medical service provider over the Internet. The method also includes in response to the received request, displaying a list of medical service providers to the consumer on a user interface. The method also includes providing an indicator associated with a particular medical service provider in the list of medical service providers if the particular medical service provider is a trusted medical service provider identified by the first medical service provider.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a consumer of medical services to engage with a provider of medical services in real time over the Internet using a computer-based brokerage system, accessing stored information related to past engagements of the consumer using the computer-based brokerage system, and determining allocation of a fee between the consumer and a third party for an engagement between the consumer and the provider based at least in part on the information related to the past engagements of the consumer.

Abstract: Amongst other things, the availability of service providers is tracked across one or more service provider networks. A status change of the service provider is identified on one or more of the service provider networks and the other service provider networks associated with the service provider is sent data indicating the changed status of the service provider.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer-based system for connecting consumers with providers in real time over the Internet, requested compensation amounts from a plurality of providers. The method also includes displaying a price associated with consulting with a particular provider to a consumer on a user interface, the price being based at least in part on the requested compensation amount received from the provider.

Abstract: An engagement is brokered between a consumer and a medical service provider; electronic text of a real-time, text-based communication between the medical service provider and the consumer is monitored during the engagement; the electronic text is analyzed for a triggering event related to at least one of medical diagnosis and medical treatment; the triggering event is detected in the electronic text; and medical information is provided to the medical service provider via a user interface in response to the triggering event.