Method and apparatus for using a mobile telephone and Short Message Service for trip planning information and booking

The invention relates to a method for using a mobile softphone with a remote device from a mobile phone for Short Message Service (SMS device) for driving and flight plan information and rail and airline booking, and a telecommunications system therefor.

Main source of travelers, for example, a passenger, about the flights offered by an airline makes the called. "flight plan". This timetable is three times a year in printed form published in an edition of several million pieces. Regularly containing these timetables uncorrectable misprints to the annoyance of Customer and the airline. It is a considerable disadvantage of this printed schedules that a short-term update is not possible. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the reservation of a flight labor-intensive phone through a travel agent or the airline is direct.

An improvement advance here is the reservation of a flight using a notebook and CD-ROM. But this will hardly used, as there is much is too expensive and cumbersome.

according to the increasing expansion of the mobile telephone network and a increasing number of users of mobile phones with the possibility for using a Short Message Service, abbreviated SMS, leaves the Desire for additional comfort and possibilities of this system come up.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an Telecommunications system of the type mentioned are available filters to which overcomes the above disadvantages and Take advantage of the cellular network is further increased.

This object is achieved by a method of the aforementioned type having the in claim 1 specified steps and through a telecommunications system solved by the features characterized in claim 15 features.

For this purpose the following steps are provided according to the invention:<sl><li>(A) receiving a first set of coordinates of two location coordinates and a time coordinate on the mobile phone,</li><li>(B) transmitting said first set of coordinates from the mobile phone to the SMS device,</li><li>(C) comparing the set of coordinates in a storage means with stored sets of coordinates for transport connections between two spatial coordinates,</li><li>(C) determining from stored sets of coordinates, which in the Location coordinates and at least partially in the time coordinate with the transmitted set of coordinates coincide, and</li><li>(E) transmitting the detected coordinates stored sets of the mobile phone.</li></sl>

This has the advantage that the user of the mobile radio interphone via SMS each updated connection information to its desired Travel date and itinerary receives.

Preferable further developments of the method are described in claims 2 to 14 described.

Appropriately, the transport links are passenger flights, stored in the memory means coordinate sets flights between any two cities, and the spatial coordinates in Air traffic usual cities abbreviations. This is according to the invention Method for a passenger usable.

The time coordinate of the first set of coordinates is preferably a desired Travel day and includes advantageously an additional time or a time interval. This allows an allocation to the Storage means stored sets of coordinates, which preferably have a time coordinate include, includes what calendar day and time. To this end, is in step (d) at least partially match the time coordinate that at least the calendar date and / or time matches, or that all in a time interval of the first set of coordinates found falling coordinate sets in the memory means will. This gives the user of the mobile softphone, the possibility of several possible connections the best for him to choose.

For a final booking in a further step, a return over days at least a second predetermined set of coordinates of location coordinates and time coordinate from the mobile phone to the SMS device and transmitting said set of coordinates to a Booking computer of a transport company, such as an airline or a bus company.

Appropriate payment or customer information can retransmitted the added coordinate set accordingly advantageously be such as customer number, bank account and / or Credit card information.

By transmitting a confirmation from the reservation computer over the SMS device to the mobile telephone in case the retransmitted second set of coordinates is accepted as a booking, or transferring alternative third sets of coordinates from the book on the computer SMS device to the mobile telephone in case the retransmitted second Set of coordinates is as unfortunately not accepted, receives the traveler all for him important additional information.

In addition, a transmission of deviations in a further step the time coordinate in a reservation accepted set of coordinates from the actual time coordinate of the transport connection, e.g. take place in case of delays or postponements, so that the Travelers can adjust in time to changing travel times.

The telecommunications system according to the invention is hereinafter that the SMS device comprises a mobile network node and comprising storing means for transport connections between two location coordinates and with a reservation computer of a transport company is connected to a unit.

This has the advantage that the SMS system directly for posting example Airport connections used with most current flight schedules can be.

Preferable further developments of the device are in the dependent claims described.

Appropriately, the transport links in the memory means as Sets of coordinates stored with two spatial coordinates and a time coordinate and the transport links are preferred flights.

Further useful information in the stored set of coordinates, such as about the type of transport means or seating in Transport or a route indication of the transport compound increase, the comfort and satisfy the increasing information request of the customer.

The invention will be with reference to the accompanying drawings explained in more detail. These show in<dl tsize="7"><dt>Fig.1</dt><dd>a schematic representation of the telecommunications system with an SMS device of the invention and</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a block diagram for the handling of the telecommunications system.</dd></dl>

The telecommunication system shown schematically in Fig. 1 or the cellular network shown in this figure includes a mobile phone 10, with the over a radio path or radio link 20 a mobile network node 12 are connected. The mobile network node 12 is provided with a device for a short message service, hereinafter abbreviated to SMS device connected. The SMS device 14 is connected to a storage means 16 which records via various transport links, such as flights, contains. Further, a Buchungskomputer 18 of a transport company, For example, an airline, with the SMS device 14. Alternatively, the data memory 16 also in the booking computer integrated 18 or connected to or be integrated into the SMS device itself. The components 12, 14, 16 and 18 are combined into one unit.

Referring to the block diagram 100 of FIG. 2 will now be the method by way of example in conjunction with a flight information and flight reservation explained.

By means of the mobile phone 10, in step 110, a three-letter code, for example, MUC for Munich, the desired departure and arrival airport as Sogn. City Pair and the desired day of travel on a telephone number to call to the airline with the help of so-called. SMS-method (Short Message Service) transmitted in step 112th The Airline compares in step 114 the transmitted data in the memory 16 stored data and answers this SMS request in step 116 by the transfer of all updated flights to offered the desired day for the desired city pair are, together with other information about the flight, such as aircraft type, Seating, number of free parking or the like.

The customer selects in step 118, a particular flight from, for example, adds Bank and possibly other personal information, and booked the flight through retransmission of the data in step 120. This Unfortunately, in step 112 of the SMS device to the computer reservation transferred 18 of the airline, which checked in step 124, whether the posting can be carried out. If yes, in step 128 Booking through SMS confirmed. Otherwise, in step 130 via SMS with a replied alternative if the reservation of the desired flight is not is possible. At step 118, the user of the mobile phone always has the Ability to select or cancel.

On the day of travel itself, the passenger may be his personal disposition obtain this information system, if his flight time or delayed etc.

Thereafter, the steps for handling telecommunications arrangement arise:<sl><li>(A) receiving a first set of coordinates of two location coordinates and a time coordinate on the mobile phone,</li><li>(B) transmitting said first set of coordinates from the mobile phone to the SMS device,</li><li>(C) comparing the set of coordinates with data stored in a storage means Coordinate sets for transport connections between two location coordinates,</li><li>(D) determining from stored sets of coordinates, which in the Location coordinates and at least partially in the time coordinate with the transmitted set of coordinates coincide, and</li><li>(E) transmitting the detected coordinates stored sets of the mobile phone.</li></sl>

The customer or user of the mobile phone receives SMS via the respective updated flight plan at a given city pair, including Another important information on individual flights. The booking a desired flight is easy, fast and comfortable and the Airline saves the pressure of schedules, since the Inform passengers of SMS cheaper, faster and always up to date takes place.

This current information and booking options are the customer at any time worldwide. The sole requirement this is the presence of a corresponding mobile telephone 10 with SMS support. Furthermore, the airlines have only one corresponding SMS service hold. The reproached staff travel agencies and to the reservation departments of airlines can be reduced, since in a corresponding proliferation this system, the exchange of information and the routine booking carried flight largely automatically. For the benefit of customers and the Airline reservation staff may be intense Special cases and special requests of passengers care.

The representation in terms of flight connections is selected only by way of example. Of course, the inventive method is applicable to all Transport connections applicable, such as bus, ship or rail links. The invention is not limited to passenger traffic. Rather, cargo may in accordance scheduled transport connections to water, on land or in the air get booked.