Patent ID: 8380655

Claim:
A method of configuring a match and route system to locate one or more experts in response to an inquiry, the method comprising the steps of: providing a computer based match and route system operable to locate an expert, the expert having individualized knowledge regarding a seeker's request; enabling an authorized individual to create a seeker profile that contains pre-selected inquiry criteria and values selected from subject categories which correlate to the business of the organization, in a memory component of the system; embedding in the seeker profile pre-selected inquiry criteria and values prior to receiving the request for an inquiry, wherein the pre-selected criteria and values are selected from pre-defined subject categories which correlate to the business of the organization; accessing, by the match and route system the pre-selected inquiry criteria and values from a seeker profile; presenting other inquiry criteria and values for selection by the seeker; uploading, to the match and route system, the seeker's selection of inquiry criteria and values; using the pre-selected and seeker selected inquiry criteria and values to identify one or more experts having knowledge regarding the seeker's request; and locating one or more experts with knowledge of the seeker's inquiry criteria and values based upon the combination of pre-selected and seeker selected inquiry criteria and values, and based upon a preset routing order as determined in advance by an individual authorized to do so, availability and one or more predetermined attributes, wherein these attributes are selected from a list that includes location, cost, skill level, time since last interaction, interaction style, prior history of interactions and seeker preferences.