Patent ID: 6886044

Claim:
A requirements matching server for use in a requirements matching system comprising at least one requirements matching server accessible by means of a communications network, said requirements matching server comprising: an input for receiving a user request message by means of said communications network, wherein a user request message comprises a specification of user requirements and an identifier for a response contact; and routing means for forwarding a received specification of user requirements selectively via a further requirements matching server to one or more destinations determined by said routing means and accessible by means of said communications network, wherein said routing means comprise: a store for storing at least one routing rule for controlling said routing means, wherein a routing rule comprises a specification of requirements to be routed and an identifier for one or more corresponding destinations; comparison means for comparing a specification of user requirements conveyed by a received user request message with a specification of requirements to be routed as defined in a stored routing rule and, in dependence upon the result of said comparison, identifying one or more corresponding destinations for the forwarding of said specification of user requirements; and forwarding means for transmitting, by means of said communications network, a message conveying a specification of user requirements to each destination identified by said comparison means.