Patent ID: 7372950

Claim:
A method for supporting the communication of information via a communications system which comprises communications networks of two or more network operators, the method comprising: prior to the communication of the information, a service unit of the communications system is contacted and a request for the conmimunication of the information is thereupon passed to the service unit, wherein the service unit passes the request for the communication of the information to two or more electronic agents which interact with the service unit within the framework of a virtual electronic marketplace for information communication, and the electronic agents being respectively assigned to one of the network operators and making decisions, within the framework of the electronic marketplace for information, by means of a decision logic, according to criteria specified by the respective network operator, the service unit prompts the electronic agents, once or several times, through interaction within the framework of the electronic marketplace for information, to submit offers for the execution of the requested communication of information, an offer submitted by one of the electronic agents in response to the prompt, through interaction within the framework of the electronic marketplace for information, is confirmed to the electronic agent by the service unit as having been accepted, the service unit initiates the communication of the information via the communications network of the network operator to whom the electronic agent is assigned, and the electronic agent communicates negotiated conditions for the transmission of the information via the communications network of the network operator to the network management unit of the network operator.