WO2007063531A1

WO2007063531A1 - A communication system and method of connecting a service user with a servic provider using localised queues

Info

Publication number: WO2007063531A1
Application number: PCT/IE2006/000135
Authority: WO
Inventors: John O'loughlin Kennedy; Paul O'loughlin Kennedy
Original assignee: John O'loughlin Kennedy; Paul O'loughlin Kennedy
Priority date: 2005-12-02
Filing date: 2006-12-04
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: WO2007063531A8; IES20050807A2

Abstract

A Communications system (10) for connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device (12, 14) which has a physical location in a network. The system (10) comprises a central controller (100) designed to dynamically generate and manipulate a queue (110) of information about a plurality of service providers and a plurality of service users located within the cell location within the network.

Description

A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONNECTING A SERVICE USER WITH A SERVICE

PROVIDER USING LOCALISED QUEUES

The invention relates to a system and method for connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device having a physical location in a network.

A mobile telecommunications network is made up of a series of base stations each having an area of coverage. Each base station comprises at least one base station controller and one or more base station transceivers. The area of coverage surrounding a base station transceiver is known as a 'cell'. Cells typically cover an area of up to a few square kilometres. A large number of cells can be controlled by one base station controller. Each base station controller is also connected to a mobile telephone switching centre (MSC) or mobile telephone switching office (MTSO). This can be monitored directly or through a network operating centre. Base stations handle the interface between mobile telephones as they make and receive calls however switching is done at the MSC or MTSO. It is of course understood that the mobile telephone switching centre and mobile telephone switching office are the same entity and accordingly for the purposes of this description the term mobile switching centre shall be used to encompass both terms.

Location based service provision through use of a wireless device, such as a mobile telephone, is known. These systems involve determining the location of the mobile telephone, and hence the user, by determining the location of the cell of the telecommunications network in which the mobile telephone is operating. In such systems, a mobile telephone user requests a service by placing a call to a predetermined number of a particular service provider. A position correlator identifies the call as a request for a particular service, as well as the geographical location of the mobile telephone, and correlates this information to provide the service to the user.

In many instances, these systems merely act as an efficient call routing system for directing service requests to the appropriate service provider. A service provider is part of a database of service providers which the system accesses for that particular geographical location, i.e. a service provider would normally be located within a reasonable distance of the cell location of the mobile telephone in order to receive a service request. The database can be expensive to maintain and difficult to keep up to date. In some cases, the system connects the user to a central control so they can themselves request the service from a human operator, or the system automatically requests the service. In either case, it is the cell location of the mobile telephone which enables a human operator to dispatch a service provider to the location of the service requester.

Conventionally the object of a mobile telephone call has been to connect particular handsets regardless of their geographical location. However, a problem associated with known location based service provision systems is that in order to allow service providers for example, taxi operators, to utilise such systems requires extremely expensive modifications to pre-existing communication devices within a taxi. In particular to retro-fit adequate GPS based devices capable of use within a location based service provision system is difficult and expensive to achieve.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems associated with known location based service provision systems.

According to the invention, there is provided a communications system for connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device having a physical location in a network characterised in that the system comprises a central controller for generating a queue of information about the service provider and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network, and in which the controller includes means for selecting the service provider for a service user according to the service selected by the service user and the information in the queue about the service provider, and the queue comprises a localised supply queue having information of service providers available at a given time to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device of the service user and a localised demand queue having information of service users who have requested a service.

The advantage of the system of the invention lies in the fact that the locations of the service providers and service requesters are determined by reference to the network base stations which know if a communications device, such as a mobile telephone of the service provider or requester is located within the cell area of the base station. This avoids the need for either the service requester's or provider's mobile telephones to have GPS receivers or for use of triangulation of signals sent to a base station to determine the locations of the service providers and service requesters. Determining the location by reference to the network station is accurate enough for the purposes of the system of the invention as a service requester and service provider are directly connected providing ample opportunity for an exact location or requirements of either to be provided.

The service requester and the selected service provider are therefore able to be connected directly through their mobile telephones. This avoids the need to route the service request through a dispatch office or dispatcher and facilitates faster service provision. The queue system of information generated by the management station is generated in real time, wherein the system responds to input immediately or at least within a few seconds of receiving the input information. This allows for a service provider to be mobile (e.g. a taxi or courier).

The system therefore provides a cost efficient approach to enabling location based service provision.

Preferably, the communications system comprises either switching means or re-directing means for connecting the service user to the service provider at base station controller level or at network operating centre level. This avoids switching at the mobile telephone switching centre (MSC), which in effect provides a short-cut system which accelerates the process of connecting the service requester with the service provider as traffic is minimised to the mobile switching centre. This minimises the traffic as service providers' move between cells. It will also ensure that control, monitoring and tracking data are not channelled back to the MSC.

Preferably, the communications device of the invention includes known communication devices such telephones including mobile telephones, PDA systems, Laptop computers and so forth. The system will be described in the following with regard to a mobile telephone it will of course be understood by the skilled person that any of the above communications devices could also be used.

Preferably, a service is provided to the user of a mobile telephone according to the currently shared cell location of the user's mobile telephone and the service provider's mobile telephone. It is of course understood that the communications system for providing a service to a user could operate equally well if both the user and provider were using a fixed line telephone or indeed if the user was using a mobile telephone whilst the provider was using a fixed line telephone or vice versa. It is also understood that the term service means the provision of either a service, for example, electrical services or goods, such as groceries where for example, a supermarket delivers the groceries.

Preferably, both the localised supply queue and the localised demand queue are generic queues, wherein the queue relates directly to a particular group of service providers or service requesters as applicable.

Optionally the communications system further comprises selection means for enabling the central controller to make a selection from either the localised demand queue or localised supply queue. The selection can be made from either queue on the basis of specific characteristics of a service provider and/or a service requester, the selection being made without prejudice to the priority of a selected service provider or requester in a queue. The localised supply queue and the localised demand queue can also be category queues from which matching sub-categories can be chosen.

Normally information on cell location and positioning data within the cell which is used to identify the location of the service provider or service requester is available from the appropriate telecommunication company via the MSC.

In another embodiment of the invention, the localised demand and supply queues are updated at switching centre level.

In yet another embodiment the switching means or the re-directing means updates the localised supply and demand queues at either network operating centre level or base station controller level. This enables the system to obtain cell identification and positioning data used to update the localised supply and demand queues. Furthermore the switching means utilises this data to connect the service requester to the service provider at local base station controller level rather than at MSC level. Again this improves the efficiency of the system as the high volumes of traffic such as control, monitoring and tracking data at MSC level would delay the process considerably.

In another embodiment of the invention, the location of the communications device within the network is obtained from a PSTN line and a look-up table. In this way when either a service requester or provider uses a fixed line telephone cell identification and positioning data is obtained.

In another embodiment of the invention, the location of the communications device within the network is obtained using a GPS system. Thus where mobile telephones are fitted with GPS location capability, the communications system of the present invention can derive the location of the service requester and/or the service provider from the longitude and latitude co-ordinates derived from the GPS system.

In a further embodiment of the invention, each service provider and service user has a unique identifier. The unique identifier enables the localised supply queue to identify details of the service provider from the telephone, for example, type of service provided, name of service provider and so forth. Optionally the communications system of the invention can upload the unique identifier to the telephone of the service provider thereby modifying the service provider's telephone. Equally the unique identifier also enables the localised demand queue identify details of the service user from the telephone.

Moreover, the localised supply queue further comprises locating means whereby the service provider is appended or deleted from the localised supply queue for a particular cell location as they enter or leave the coverage area of the cell. This is in direct contrast to a database of information which is expensive to assemble, maintain and does not respond in real time to information input.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system of the invention further comprises time advance means for computing the distance a service provider or a service user is from a base station transceiver. This enables the system to determine the nearest service provider to a service requester according to the actual distance and also the time related distance that service provider is from the service requester. Ideally the cell area surrounding a base station transceiver is defined to be of hexagonal shape. Preferably the theoretical hexagonal shaped area is divided into a plurality of wedge shaped portions. Advantageously the position of each location within the hexagonal shape or wedge shaped portion is directly related to the distance from the base station transceiver. Conveniently the distance each location is from the base station transceiver can be translated into components of time, for example, seconds or parts thereof. This information is then used by the system to determine the nearest service provider to a particular service requester.

Ideally, the central controller selects a service provider according to his/her priority in the relevant localised supply queue. Optionally, a service provider can be selected according to specific capabilities associated with that service provider.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system of the invention further comprises mapping means to map cells of adjacent base station transceivers. In the event that there are no service providers within a particular cell, the base station controller can map adjacent cells to determine where the nearest service provider is in a neighbouring cell.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system of the invention further comprises polling means to poll one or both localised queues in a specific cell location. The service provider and/or the service requester can poll the localised demand queue and the localised supply queue of cell locations adjacent to his/her current cell location.

In another embodiment of the invention, the queues are generated in real time.

In another embodiment of the invention, the unique identifier of each service provider is appended to or deleted from the localised supply queue as it enters or leaves a cell in the network.

In another embodiment of the invention, the service provider amends one or both queues using one or more acceptance codes. The system comprises one or more acceptance codes by which the service provider can amend one or both queues for a particular cell location, when the service provider either accepts or declines the contract with the service requester. In a particular example if a service requester requires more than one of the same service providers at the same time, the service provider can use one of the acceptance codes to amend the supply queue for a particular cell location. Accordingly the service requester is not deleted from the localised demand queue thereby allowing the next available service provider in the same cell to attend the same service requester as the first service provider. In a further embodiment of the invention, the system comprises means by which the service provider sends a confirmatory SMS message to confirm that the service provider is attending to the service user's service request. Preferably the SMS message is sent when the service provider enters one or more of the acceptance codes.

In another embodiment of the invention, the central controller further comprises means to interface with one or more service providers to obtain information about the service providers.

In another embodiment of the invention, the system of the invention further comprises blocking means to prevent either service providers or service users obtaining access to the system. This can be achieved by the invention by, for example, installing a call restriction switch thereby preventing either the service user or service provider from joining the localised demand or supply queue as appropriate.

Advantageously the communications system of the present invention provides a means by which a requester can be connected to the next available service provider within the same cell, rather than connecting a service requester to a particular service provider.

Optionally the various means of the communications system of the invention utilise CAMEL protocol wherein, CAMEL is an acronym for customised applications for mobile networks enhanced logic.

Ideally, the central controller is located at a telecommunications network base station controller for a particular cell location or group of cell locations.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the central controller comprises a management station and service correlator wherein the management station further comprises a local call management station and localised queue management station.

There is also provided a method of connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device having a physical location in a network, the method comprising the initial step of; a) generating a queue of information about the service provider and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network, which queue comprises a localised supply queue having information of service providers currently available to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device of the service user, and a localised demand queue having information of service users who have requested a service

wherein on a service user requesting a service the steps are performed of;

b) identifying the type of service requested;

c) determining the availability of a suitable service provider for the type of service requested and performing one of the steps of;

i) if a suitable service provider is not available in the localised supply queue the service user is invited to join the localised demand queue, and on joining the queue the service user is subsequently connected to the next available service provider in the localised supply queue;

ii) if a suitable service provider is available in the localised supply queue the service user is directly connected to the service provider.

In a further embodiment of the invention, on a service provider accepting a service request the service provider is removed from the localised supply queue.

In another embodiment of the invention, on connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device having a physical location in a network, the method comprising the initial step of;

a) generating a queue of information about the service provider and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network, which queue comprises a localised supply queue having information of service providers currently available to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device of the service user, and a localised demand queue having information of service users who have requested a service

wherein on a service provider entering the localised supply queue the steps are performed of;

b) attempting to match the service being provided by the service provider with a service request in the localised demand queue and performing one of the steps of:

i) if there is no match the service provider remains in the localised supply queue, and

ii) if there is a match an attempt is made to connect the service provider with the service user.

Preferably if the attempt to connect the service provider with the service user is successful the service user is removed from the localised demand queue.

Preferably if the attempt to connect the service provider with the service user is unsuccessful an attempt is made to match the service provider to the next available service user in the localised demand queue and then performing one of the steps of:

In a further embodiment of the invention, when a service provider is connected to a service user the service provider enters one of plurality of acceptance codes into the communications device to accept or refuse or amend the service request.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, when multiple service providers are required to fulfil a service request, when each individual service provider is connected to a service user the service provider enters a specific acceptance code into the communications device to accept or refuse or amend the service request.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a system and method for providing services through a mobile telephone according to a geographical location of the mobile telephone. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an overall system according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method for providing a service to a user of a communications device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 , a schematic block diagram of an overall system according to the invention is shown. It should be noted that these blocks are intended as functional entities only, such that the functional relationships between the entities are shown, rather than any physical connections and/or physical relationships. He terms service user and service requester are used interchangeably throughout the specification, however it is of course understood that each of these terms refers to a consumer of a service or good provided by a service provider.

System 10 comprises a service provider mobile telephone 12 and a service requester using a service user mobile telephone 14, each of which is in communication with a base station 16. The mobile telephones 12, 14 and the base station 16 each feature a transceiver 18, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves of designated frequency, such as radio waves. The service provider mobile telephone 12 is also in wireless communication with a control module 22 which also features a transceiver 18. Therefore the service provider mobile telephone 12 sends at least two signals, one to the base station 16 and one to and from the control module 22. The service user mobile telephone 14 sends at least one signal, namely to the base station 16.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locations of mobile telephones 12, 14 are determined according to the location of the cell of the telecommunications network 114 in which the mobile telephones 12, 14 are currently operating. Once the cell location of the mobile telephone is determined, this information can be used to provide services in real time to a user through a service provider located within the cell of the user. It follows that the location of the user is the location of the service user mobile telephone 14.

In order to provide these services to the user/customer, the system 10 comprises a central controller 100 having a local call management station 24 which communicates with the mobile telephones 12, 14 via base station 16. The central controller 100 uses the call management station 24 to maintain a localised queue management system 26 comprising queues 110, namely a localised supply queue 28 and a localised demand queue 30. Both the call management station 24 and the queue management system 26 are local in the sense that they manage calls and maintain queues respectively for a cell. A signal transmitted from the control module 22 via the service provider mobile telephone 12 to the local call management station 24 indicates the availability of the service provider. A signal will only be transmitted if the mobile telephone 12 is within range of the control module 22.

An example of a service suitable for utilising the system and method of the present invention includes, but is not limited to sending a taxicab to the location of a requesting mobile telephone user. Other potential service providers and service users of the system include for example, couriers, private hire vehicles, hackney cabs, limousine services, community transport services, plumbers, electricians, general maintenance suppliers, vehicle emergency breakdown, police, medical and para-medical services such as ambulances, emergency psychiatric and counselling services (e.g. The Samaritans), clergy, homeland security, disaster plan mobilisation, find-a-friend, social networking, m- commerce etc. Each type of service provided by the system has a unique number which the user dials or sends an SMS message to in order to request that service. It will be appreciated that references to service providers includes provision of services or goods.

An example of the system in use whereby the service of a taxicab is provided for a mobile phone user is shown in the flow diagram of Figure 2. In the flow diagram it will be understood that the double headed arrows represent bidirectional traffic, whilst single head arrows represent unidirectional traffic. The text attributed to each of the symbols in the flow diagram is listed in the table below together with the symbols identifying number;

In the following example of the system in use, the initial reference number refers to a feature shown in Figure 1, whilst the reference numeral in parenthesis refers to the symbols shown in Figure 2.

If a user wanted to receive a taxicab, they would dial a unique number in their mobile telephone for the service required (14a, 14b). A user could equally well send an SMS message to the same number. The local call management station 24 recognises the service request, notes the calling number and initiates a response (24a, 24b). If there is no availability of a suitable service provider in the localised supply queue 28, the user is invited to join the localised demand queue 30 (28a, 28b). In circumstances where the user chooses to join the demand queue 30, their mobile telephone number and details of their service request are added to the queue (28c, 30a). When the customer is invited to join the queue, the customer is told when the most recent customer was served and how long they had been waiting in the queue. This information could equally well be conveyed by an SMS message. This guides the customer's decision of whether to join the demand queue or not.

If a suitable service provider is available in the localised supply queue 28, the user is directly connected to the service provider of highest priority in the localised supply queue 28 having capabilities corresponding to the requested service (28d). The user is connected to the service provider where he/she negotiates a service contract directly with the service provider, in this case the taxi driver, details exchanged usually include destination and pick-up address (28e, 28f, 28g). The taxi driver is required to enter one of a number of acceptance codes in their mobile telephone before terminating the call with the customer in order for the transaction to be processed (28h). Once the acceptance code is entered, the status of the taxi driver's mobile telephone is switched to 'not available for service', the taxi driver is removed from the localised supply queue and the user is removed from the localised demand queue (28i, 28j).

If, for example, the user is calling on behalf of a large number of people and as a consequence subsequent taxicab's are required by in effect the same user, the taxi driver can enter an alternate acceptance code into his mobile telephone before terminating the call. Once the alternate acceptance code is entered, the status of the taxi driver's mobile telephone is again switched to 'not available for service' and the taxi driver is removed from the localised supply queue. However, the user remains at the top of the localised demand queue; the next suitable taxicab in the localised supply queue is connected to the user and so on until the last required taxi driver enters the relevant acceptance code thereby removing the user from the localised demand queue.

Details of each transaction are recorded for billing and management purposes (40). In the event that the taxi driver fails to enter an acceptance code before terminating the call or fails to answer the call in the first place, the localised supply queue is automatically queried again for availability of another suitable service provider (28k).

Considering now how a service provider interacts with the system of the present invention. By switching off their taxi meter, which is in wireless communication with the driver's mobile telephone 12 via the control module 22, the taxi driver allows the telephone to transmit an 'available for service signal' (12a). The local base station 16 also detects mobile telephones in its cell area (12b) which have the 'available for service signal' activated. The local base station 16 establishes two-way communication with all telephones upon detection (16a). This 'available for service signal' may be activated by other means other than the taxi meter such as but not limited to the ignition system of the car. In the case of a hackney cab which may not have a meter, the 'available for service signal' can thus be activated by switching off the engine of the car for a specific period of time when none of the passenger seats is occupied.

The local call management station 24 detects the 'available for service signal' and recognises the type of service provided and any other subsidiary capabilities the service provider may have (24c). In the example of a taxi driver, these capabilities may include among other things, a seven seat taxi and/or a wheel chair accessible taxi. A service type may include long distance runs. If there is no matching service request in the localised demand queue 30, the service provider's mobile telephone number together with details of service type and subsidiary capabilities are automatically added to the localised supply queue 28 (29a, 29). The local call management station will then supply to the taxi driver recent queuing times for that cell and any adjacent cells (29b). This information may be provided as an SMS message to the taxi driver's telephone. This gives the taxi driver the option of driving to an adjacent cell area where the queuing times are shorter.

The actual number of service providers in the localised supply queue is not of great significance as it only reflects the state of supply. The length of queuing time is what is important to the service provider. The length of time the last service provider has had to wait, or the length of time the current leader of the queue has been waiting, is what they need to know. This information will prompt their decision of whether to stay in the cell or move to an adjacent cell where the queuing time is more favourable. If there is a matching service request in the localised demand queue 30, the next matching customer is selected based on his/her priority in the queue and the mobile telephone number of the matching customer in the demand queue is dialled (29c, 29d). The customer is invited to respond to a recorded question of whether the service as booked is still required (29e, 29f). If the customer answers 'no' (29g) or fails to answer the call then or after a second dialling (29h, 29i), they are removed from the localised supply queue 28 and the queue is queried again for another matching service request (29j). The customer is called twice to give them time to get to their mobile telephone or to terminate another call. On the other hand, a service provider who does not answer a call is deemed to be unavailable for that service contract. They keep their place in the queue but the service request is directed to the next suitable service provider in the localised supply queue.

If the customer answers 'yes', the user is directly connected to the service provider and can negotiate a service contract as before (29k). If the service provider fails to enter an acceptance code before the call is terminated, the localised supply queue is queried again for another matching service request (29m, 29n). As before, entry of an acceptance code switches the status of the taxi driver's mobile telephone to 'not available for service', the system removes the customer from the demand queue and details of the transaction are recorded for billing and management purposes (29p, 29g, 40).

A taxi driver who moves into a cell from an adjacent cell and whose mobile telephone is transmitting an 'available for service' signal is automatically removed from the localised supply queue for the previous cell. This ensures the taxi driver is not available for service in more than one cell simultaneously. In the interest of clarity, this obvious step has been omitted from Figure 2.

In urban areas where cells cover small areas and are usually close together, a number of cells may be grouped together to make one cell for the purposes of this invention.

The service category and subsidiary capabilities of the service providers will be decipherable from the 'available for service' signal generated by each mobile telephone. Some providers of subsidiary service capabilities will wish to trade only in these services while most will wish to trade in the general category as well. This distinction could be carried by the 'available for service' signal as well. In the case of a taxi service it would be possible to code a taxi driver's home province into the signal to maintain transparency if they are operating at a distance from home.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A communications system 10 for connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device 12, 14 having a physical location in a network characterised in that the system comprises a central controller 100 for generating a queue 110 of information about the service provider(s) and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network 114, and in which the controller 100 includes means 24, 26 for selecting the service provider for a service user according to the service selected by the service user and the information in the queue 110 about the service provider, and the queue 110 comprises a localised supply queue 28 having information of service providers available at a given time to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device 12, 14 of the service user and a localised demand queue 30 having information of service users who have requested a service.

2. A communications system as claimed in Claim 1 , further comprising switching means for connecting the service user to the service provider at base station controller level or at network operating centre level.

3. A communications system as claimed in Claim 1 , further comprising re-directing means for connecting the service user to the service provider at base station controller level or at network operating centre level.

4. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the localised supply queue 28 and the localised demand queue 30 are generic queues.

5. An communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising selection means for enabling the central controller 100 to make a selection from either the localised demand queue 30 or localised supply queue 28.

6. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the localised supply queue 28 and the localised demand queue 30 are category queues from which matching sub-categories can be chosen.

7. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the localised demand and supply queues 28, 30 are updated at switching centre level.

8. A communications system as claimed in any one of Claim 2 or Claims 4 to 7, wherein the switching means updates the localised supply and demand queues 28, 30 at either network operating centre level or base station controller level.

9. A communications system as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the redirecting means updates the localised supply and demand queues 28, 30 at either network operating centre level or base station controller level

10. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the location of the communications device 12, 14 within the network 114 is obtained from a PSTN line and a look-up table.

11. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the location of the communications device 12, 14 within the network 114 is obtained using a GPS system.

12. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each service provider and service user has a unique identifier.

13. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising time advance means for computing the distance a service provider is from a base station transceiver.

14. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising mapping means to map cells of adjacent base station transceivers.

15. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising polling means to poll the localised queue 28, 30 in a specific cell location.

16. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the queues 28, 30 are generated in real time.

17. A communications system as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16, in which the unique identifier of each service provider is appended to or deleted from the localised supply queue 28 as it enters or leaves a cell 114 in the network.

18. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the service provider amends the localised supply queue 28 using one or more acceptance codes.

19. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the system 10 further comprises means by which the service provider sends a confirmatory SMS message to confirm that the service provider is attending to the service user's service request.

20. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the central controller 100 further comprises means to interface with one or more service providers to obtain information about the service providers.

21. A communications system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising blocking means to prevent service users obtaining access to the system 10.

22. A method of connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device 12, 14 having a physical location in a network, the method comprising the initial step of;

a) generating a queue 110 of information about the service provider and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network 114, which queue 110 comprises a localised supply queue 28 having information of service providers available at a given time to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device 14 of the service user, and a localised demand queue 30 having information of service users who have requested a service

wherein on a service user requesting a service the steps are performed of;

b) identifying the type of service requested; c) determining the availability of a suitable service provider for the type of service requested and performing one of the steps of;

i) if a suitable service provider is not available in the localised supply queue 28 the service user is invited to join the localised demand queue 30, and on joining the supply queue 28 the service user is subsequently connected to the next available service provider in the localised supply queue 28;

(ii) if a suitable service provider is available in the localised supply queue 28 the service user is directly connected to the service provider.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, in which on a service provider accepting a service request the service provider is removed from the localised supply queue 28.

24. A method of connecting a service provider with a service user each operating a communications device 12, 14 having a physical location in a network, the method comprising the initial step of;

a) generating a queue of information 110 about the service provider and at least one of the service users located within a cell in a cellular network 114, which queue comprises a localised supply queue 28 having information of service providers currently available to provide a service within the cell location of the communications device 14 of the service user, and a localised demand queue 30 having information of service users who have requested a service

wherein on a service provider entering the localised supply queue 28 the steps are performed of;

b) attempting to match the service being provided by the service provider with a service request in the localised demand queue 30 and performing one of the steps of: i) if there is no match the service provider remains in the localised supply queue 28, and

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which if the attempt to connect the service provider with the service user is successful the service user is removed from the localised demand queue 30.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which if the attempt to connect the service provider with the service user is unsuccessful an attempt is made to match the service provider to the next available service user in the localised demand queue 30 and then performing one of the steps of:

i) if there is no match the service provider remains in the localised supply queue 28, and

27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, in which when a service provider is connected to a service user the service provider enters one of plurality of acceptance codes into the communications device 12 to accept or refuse or amend the service request.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, in which when multiple service providers are required to fulfil a service request, when each individual service provider is connected to a service user the service provider enters a specific acceptance code into the communications device 12 to accept or refuse or amend the service request.