Apparatus and method for network-initiated real-time multi-party communications

1. A method for providing telecommunications services in a telecommunications network, comprising the steps by a telecommunications service provider of:

monitoring data relating to communications initiation criteria for a plurality of communicants in the telecommunications network; and

initiating communications between at least two of the plurality of communicants by making outbound communications to the at least two communicants after determining, by processing the data, that the communications initiation criteria have been met.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise geographic data.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the physical locations of at least two communicants of the plurality of communicants.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the distance between two communicants of the plurality of communicants.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the physical location of one communicant of the plurality of communicants in relation to another location other than that of another communicant of the plurality of communicants.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the motion of one of the communicants of the plurality of communicants.

7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the motion of one communicant of the plurality of communicants relative to another communicant of the plurality of communicants.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the geographic data comprise the motion of one communicant of the plurality of communicants relative to an object other than another communicant of the plurality of communicants.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise temporal data.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the temporal data comprise at least one of a specific time, a time of day, a day of the week, and a date.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the temporal data comprise a measure of elapsed time since the occurrence of a specified event or condition.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the temporal data comprise a measure of elapsed time between specified events or conditions.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the temporal data comprise a specific time interval.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise communicant-specific parameters.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the communicant-specific parameters comprise at least one of sex, race, age, native language, height, weight, physical characteristics, religion, sexual preference, political affiliation, educational attainment, personal income, net worth, activity interest, aesthetic preference, culinary preference, physical fitness, intelligence, possessions, and aspirations.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the communicant-specific parameters comprise offerings by a communicant of the plurality of communicants.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the communicant-specific parameters comprise consideration for offerings by a communicant of the plurality of communicants.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the communicant-specific parameters comprise consideration sought for offerings by a communicant of the plurality of communicants.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise data provided by at least two communicants of the plurality of communicants.

20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise data provided by a component of the network.

21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data comprise data provided by data sources external to the network.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two communicants of the plurality of communicants is a customer service center.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein processing the data comprises processing the data in a manner involving a random number.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is the Public Switched Telephone Network.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is a wireless telephony network.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is a wireless data network.

27. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is the Internet.

28. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is an intranet.

29. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network is a cable television network.

30. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of the Public Switched Telephone Network, a wireless telephony network, a wireless data network, the Internet, an intranet, and a cable television network.

31. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a wireless connection to the Internet.

32. The method according to any one of claims 1 – 23 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

33. The method according to claim 24 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

34. The method according to claim 25 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

35. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

36. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

37. The method according to claim 28 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

38. The method according to claim 29 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

39. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.

40. The method according to claim 31 , wherein the outbound communications to the at least two of the at least two communicants comprises at least one of telephonic communications, e-mail communications, and instant-messaging communications.