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.