System and method for routing data and communications

A system for routing communications comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a communication interface operatively associated with the central processing unit for receiving and forwarding communications;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit to store first data identifying a plurality of remote terminals and second data associated with the frequency at which each of the plurality of remote terminals has communicated with the system;
• a selector operatively associated with the central processing unit to select a specific remote terminal to receive a particular communication based on the second data;
• and
• means responsive to the selector for causing the communication interface to forward the particular communication to the specific remote terminal.

A system for routing communications comprising:

• a central processor having a central processing unit, and a central communication interface for receiving and transmitting communications;
• a plurality of remote sites, each remote site including a local communication interface to communicate with the central communication interface;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit for storing routing data associated with the frequency at which each of the remote sites has sent communications to the central processor;
• and
• means for comparing the routing data for at least two of the remote sites to select a particular remote site to receive a particular communication.

A method for routing a communication comprising the steps of:

• storing routing data in a storage device operatively associated with a central processing unit, the routing data identifying a plurality of remote sites and associated with the frequency at which each of the remote sites has sent communications to the central processor;
• receiving a communication at a central processor;
• selecting a particular remote site to receive the communication based on an analysis of the routing data;
• and
• forwarding the communication to the selected remote site.

A method for routing orders which are received a central processor, comprising the steps of:

• storing first data in a storage device identifying a plurality of remote sites and second data associated with the frequency at which each of the plurality of remote sites has sent orders to other remote sites;
• receiving input data;
• comparing the input data with the first data to select a sub-group of remote sites from the plurality of remote sites;
• analyzing the second data for each remote site of the selected sub-group of remote sites to select a particular remote site;
• and
• forwarding the order to the selected remote site.

A system for receiving an order at a central processor and for transmitting the order to one of a plurality of participating stores for completion of the order comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• means operatively associated with the central processing unit for receiving order data;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit for storing routing data which identifies the plurality of participating stores and associated with the frequency at which each of the participating stores has referred orders to other participating stores;
• means for analyzing the routing data and for selecting a particular store to receive the order data on the basis of the analysis;
• and
• means responsive to said means for analyzing and selecting for transmitting the order data to the selected store.

A system for receiving orders for floral products at a central processor and for transmitting the order to one of a plurality of remote participating stores for completion of the order where the plurality of participating stores include computer terminals coupled together by a network system, comprising:

• a central computer including a storage device for storing identification data which identifies the plurality of remote participating stores and order activity data associated with the quantity of orders that each of the remote participating stores has referred to other remote participating stores;
• at least one terminal operatively associated with the central computer and operable to receive order data;
• and
• means for operating the central computer to analyze the identification data to select a sub-group of remote participating stores and to select a particular remote participating store from the sub-group to which to relay particular order data by analyzing the order activity data for the sub-group of remote participating stores.

A system for routing orders to one of a plurality of remote shops comprising:

• a computer including a central processing unit and a storage device to store first data identifying a plurality of remote shops and second data associated with the number of orders received by and referred by each of the remote shops;
• a telephone switching system operatively associated with the computer for receiving and forwarding orders and for receiving location data identifying the location to which an order is intended to be sent;
• means operatively associated with the central processing unit for comparing the input data with the first data to select a sub-group of remote shops from the plurality of remote shops;
• means operatively associated with the central processing unit for analyzing the second data associated with each remote shop of the selected sub-group and selecting the shop which has the lowest ratio of number of orders received to number of orders sent;
• and
• means operatively associated with the central processing unit for updating the second data after the order is forwarded.

A system for routing communications to one of a plurality of remote sites comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit to store first data identifying a plurality of remote sites and second data associated with the number of times that each of the remote sites has sent a communication to other remote sites for a prior period;
• a selector operatively associated with the central processing unit to select a specific remote site to receive a particular communication from the system by analyzing the second data;
• and
• a communication interface operatively associated with the central processing unit for forwarding the particular communication to the specific remote site.

A system for routing communications to one of a plurality of remote sites comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit to store data identifying a plurality of remote sites;
• means for selecting a specific remote site to receive a particular communication based on the relative number of times that each of the remote sites has sent communications to other remote sites;
• and
• a communication interface operatively associated with the central processing unit for forwarding the particular communication to the specific remote site.

A system for routing communications to one of a plurality of remote sites comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a storage device operatively associated with the central processing unit to store first data identifying a plurality of remote sites and second data associated with the number of times that each of the remote sites has sent communications to other remote sites for a prior period;
• means for rewarding remote sites that frequently send communications to other remote sites by comparing the second data for at least two of the remote sites to select a specific remote site to receive a particular communication;
• and
• a communication interface operatively associated with the central processing unit for forwarding the particular communication to the specific remote site.