Method and apparatus for providing virtual capacity to a provider of services

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing virtual capacity to a service provider. A service provider contacts a third party service provider when the service provider can not perform services for a customer. A solicitation is sent by the service provider and accepted by the third party service provider. After acceptance, status and/or location information from the third party service provider is redirected within a network management facility so that the information is sent to the service provider, rather than to an entity normally associated with the third party service provider. After services have been performed by the third party service provider, the third party service provider is generally free to accept service requests from other service providers, whereby messages transmitted by the third party service provider are routed to the new service provider.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for providing personnel to furnish services comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a first organization having first personnel for performing services intended for a requestor of the services and having a first personnel control center for communicating with the first personnel;    (b) determining that the first personnel of the first organization are not available to provide the services requested by the requestor;    (c) providing a second organization having second personnel which are capable of performing the services requested by the requestor;    (d) determining that second personnel of the second organization can perform the services requested by the requester;    (e) assigning the services requested by the requester to the second personnel; and    (f) communicating a service status from the second personnel to the first personnel control center.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first personnel control center comprises a personnel dispatch center.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first personnel control center comprises a personnel network management facility.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said second personnel communicated with the first personnel control center with a mobile communication terminal.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said communicating service status from the second personnel to the first personnel control center is via a satellite.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said communicating service status from the second personnel to the first personnel control center is via a terrestrial-based wireless communication system.  
     
     
         7 . A method for allocating services comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a first organization having at least one first carrier for transporting first personnel to perform services for a requestor of the services and having a first personnel control center for communicating with the first carrier of the first personnel;    (b) determining that the first personnel of the first organization are not available to provide services requested by the requester;    (c) providing a second organization having at least one second carrier for transporting second personnel which are capable of performing the services requested by the requestor;    (d) determining that second personnel of the second organization are available to perform the services requested by the requestor;    (e) assigning the second personnel to do the services requested by the requester; and    (f) communicating a service status from the second carrier to the first personnel control center.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said first personnel control center comprises a personnel dispatch center.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said first personnel control center comprises a personnel network management facility.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said second carrier includes a mobile communication terminal for communicating with the first personnel control center.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said communicating service status from the second carrier to the first personnel control center is via a satellite.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said communicating service status from the second carrier to the first personnel control center is via a terrestrial-based wireless communication system.