Patent ID: 8027898

Claim:
A computer implemented method, comprising: receiving via a computer a priority bid of a first service provider and a service price of the first service provider; prioritizing via the computer a list of service providers to generate a prioritized list of the service providers, based at least on the priority bid of the first service provider; responsive to a selection of the first service provider, selected by a user from the prioritized list, determining via the computer whether the selection satisfies at least one of the criteria (1) the computer has provided a connection between the first service provider and the user within a predetermined period of time prior to the selection of the first service provider, (2) the user has made more than a predetermined number of selections of a service provider prior to the selection of the first service provider, and (3) the user has made more than a predetermined number of selections of the first service provider prior to the selection of the first service provider, and charging the first service provider according to the priority bid of the first service provider unless the selection satisfies at least one of the criteria; and responsive to the selection by the user, providing by the computer a connection between the first service provider and the user, and charging the user on behalf of the first service provider based on a duration of the connection and the service price of the first service provider.