Patent ID: 8731157

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: presenting to a user, via a computing device, a list of providers currently available to communicate with the user; receiving a selection of a provider from the list of providers by the user via the computing device; in response to the selection, attempting to establish a real-time communication connection between the user and the selected provider; in response to a successful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider, charging the user and compensating the selected provider; and in response to an unsuccessful communication connection being established between the user and the selected provider after a predetermined number of attempts: presenting a message to the user, via the computing device, regarding the failed connection; receiving, in response to the message regarding the failed connection, a message from the user via the computing device; and presenting the message to the selected provider that includes an option for the provider to attempt to establish a real-time communication connection between the provider and the user.