A method performed by a structured query framework, SQF, server for hierarchical communications, the method comprising: receiving , by the SQF server, a query from a user at a connection interface ; generating , by the SQF server, a hierarchical expert tree from an expert pool based upon the query, wherein each expert from among the expert pool is associated with an expert profile that the SQF server uses to generate the hierarchical expert tree; selecting , by the SQF server, an initial expert from the hierarchical expert tree, wherein the initial expert is selected based upon the associated expert profile that best matches the query; directing , by the SQF server, the query to a device that is associated with the selected initial expert; if a reply period for the selected expert expires without a response being received forwarding the query, by the SQF server, to an expert device of a successive expert on a higher or lower level of the hierarchical expert tree; if the SQF server receives from the initial expert a signal or input to forward the query, forwarding, by the SQF server, the query to a successive expert device on a higher or lower level of the hierarchical expert tree; if the SQF server receives a response to the query, forwarding, by the SQF server, the response to the user; establishing a real-time communication session with the user; adjusting, by the SQF server, the expert profile of a responsive expert based upon the expert response to reflect that expert's familiarity with a subject matter of the query; and adjusting, by the SQF server, the reply period for interacting with a responsive or non-responsive expert to reflect the expert response time. receiving , by the SQF server, a query from a user at a connection interface ; generating , by the SQF server, a hierarchical expert tree from an expert pool based upon the query, wherein each expert from among the expert pool is associated with an expert profile that the SQF server uses to generate the hierarchical expert tree; selecting , by the SQF server, an initial expert from the hierarchical expert tree, wherein the initial expert is selected based upon the associated expert profile that best matches the query; directing , by the SQF server, the query to a device that is associated with the selected initial expert; if a reply period for the selected expert expires without a response being received forwarding the query, by the SQF server, to an expert device of a successive expert on a higher or lower level of the hierarchical expert tree; if the SQF server receives from the initial expert a signal or input to forward the query, forwarding, by the SQF server, the query to a successive expert device on a higher or lower level of the hierarchical expert tree; if the SQF server receives a response to the query, forwarding, by the SQF server, the response to the user; establishing a real-time communication session with the user; adjusting, by the SQF server, the expert profile of a responsive expert based upon the expert response to reflect that expert's familiarity with a subject matter of the query; and adjusting, by the SQF server, the reply period for interacting with a responsive or non-responsive expert to reflect the expert response time. <EOS>