Patent ID: 6519570
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A system for establishing a real-time communications connection between a user and a selected information service provider for a live, real-time conversation, the system comprising:a communications interface; and a controller computer linked with the communications interface, the controller computer having: a first logic unit to provide a list of information service providers from a wide array of fields of service to the user; a second logic unit, in response to the user selecting the selected information service provider from the list, to assign the user a position in a queue when one or more other users have also selected the selected information service provider, the queue having a plurality of other positions, each occupied by one of the one or more of other users waiting to communicate with the selected information provider; a third logic unit to receive a bid from the user when the user desires to advance position within the queue; a fourth logic unit to compare the bid with each price being offered by each of the one or more other users, such that each price being offered by each of the one or more other users is initially equal to a price charged by the selected information service provider for providing services in a live, real-time conversation with the user; a fifth logic unit to advance the user to a position in the queue ahead of each other positions occupied by each other users whose price is lower than the bid; and a sixth logic unit to establish a real-time communications connection via the communications interface between the user and the selected information service provider for the live real time conversation when the user advances to a first position in the queue and the selected information service provider is available to communicate with the user.