Systems and methods for a community-based e-consultant brokerage

摘要

The present invention relates to systems and methods for requesting, receiving, providing, and paying for services over the internet, through IM and VoIP applications, and other communication means. According to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, systems are provided that allow a customer to purchase and receive the services of a consultant. More particularly, such systems generally comprise (i) an instant messaging (IM) application, which is capable of connecting a customer to a consultant; (ii) an IM plugin, wherein the IM plugin is capable of detecting a message from the customer to the consultant sent through the IM application; and (iii) a server, wherein the server is capable of communicating with and receiving input from the IM plugin, wherein such input is processed by the server to validate the customer and instruct the IM plugin to connect the customer with the consultant through the IM application. The systems and methods of the present invention allow consultants to provide “micro-consulting” type services through IM applications and VoIP connections, whereby the consultants may be compensated for such services based on the length of the consulting session.