Patent ID: 6393423
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for facilitating information exchange between an information requester and an information custodian via a network, the apparatus comprising:an input coupled to the network; a first database mapping a plurality of information custodians to a plurality of categories; a selector in communication with the first database and the input for identifying one of the categories in the plurality of categories as being associated with an information request message received via the input from an information requestor and for selecting a subset including at least one information custodian from the plurality of information custodians, the at least one information custodian being associated with the identified category, the selector automatically selecting the subset based on historical statistical data associated with the at least one information custodian in the subset; and a router in communication with the selector for transmitting an answer request message including at least a portion of the information request message to the at least one information custodian via the network.