Communications system for establishing a communication channel on the basis of a functional role or task

摘要

A communications system is provided having first storage means for storing a role identifier identifying a functional role, the names of one or more people able to fulfill such a functional role, and a contact number for each person, input means for accepting a request in the form of a role identifier for communication with a person fulfilling a given role, second storage means for storing a set of instructions for each role identifier, and processing means for accepting a role identifier, accessing such first and second storage means, and establishing a communications channel with a person able to fulfill the functional role associated with the role identifier, via said current contact number in accordance with said set of instructions. The present invention thus provides an efficient role based communications system, which ensures communication with an individual who, at the present time, is fulfilling a certain role.