METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY-ASSISTED COMMERICAL NETWORK SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT EXPERT-BASED COMMERCE
The present invention is an expert matching method and apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an expert request. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller having a database for storing expert qualifications. In one embodiment, the controller receives an expert request. A search program identifies experts qualified to respond to the expert request. The expert request is then transmitted to the expert, which results in an expert answer transmitted to and received by the central controller. After authentication of the expert answer, using a wide range of security levels from passwords to cryptography, the answer is forwarded to the end user. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional voice telephony systems.
1 . An expert matching apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an end user request, comprising:
a controller unit for receiving an end user request generated by an end user, the controller unit having a database for storing therein a plurality of qualifications for a plurality of experts, each expert qualification associated with an address corresponding to a particular expert;
means for searching the database to generate a search result containing expert qualifications which correspond to the end user request;
means for guaranteeing payment to the expert for services rendered to the end user;
means for initiating remittance of payments to the experts;
means for transmitting at least a portion of the end user request to the expert address based on the search result;
means for receiving an expert answer corresponding to the end user request transmitted; and
means for transmitting at least a portion of the expert answer to the end user.
2 - 176 . (canceled)