Configuration and procedure for setting up a seat reservation system

0001Configuration and procedure for setting up a seat reservation system

0002The subject of the invention is a configuration and procedure for setting up a seat reservation system implemented using mobile handsets.

0003A number of services that can be associated with mobile handsets, such as ticket purchase systems, are known. Patent Document No. CN 101165713 describes ticket purchase, hotel room reservation and purchase alternatives. Payment for the services is implemented through the mobile phone account. Publication Document No. WO 2005/057445 demonstrates a mobile phone configuration where the mobile phone functions as a business administration tool. Publication Document No. WO 2008/020805 provides a solution for bus ticket purchases. A kind of electronic ticket is purchased with the mobile phone. Publication Document No. JP 2003006366 describes a solution where the medium of the electronic ticket is the mobile phone itself. Publication Document No. DE 102004058273 provides an alternative for purchasing tickets for night buses by mobile phone. Publication Document No. UK 2417355 recommends a PIN code solution for ticket purchases. Publication Document No. US 2006/0047541 describes a procedure and system for the real-time purchase of electronic documents (e.g. tickets).

0004The above-mentioned solutions assume the engagement of the services of a specific preselected operator in return for payment and provide no idea of a procedure or configuration which, in specific cases, pertains to a prior reservation system implementing the acceleration and service filtering functionalities of a multifunctional domain. An Internet identifier is understood by the term multifunctional domain, which incorporates not only the IP address of a single website but can include the geographical coordinates, phone numbers, keywords or other identifiers of the specific location. The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the known solutions and to achieve a solution more favorable than earlier ones. The idea of the invention is based on the fact that if one invokes a multifunctional domain such as *.tel selected by mobile phone, and connects to the central server then a client computer by proceeding in accordance with the prime patent claims, a more advantageous solution can be realized. The most general embodiments of the invention are described in the primary patent claims. The procedure stated in the sub-claims is followed in each example of the embodiment.

0005The invention is demonstrated in detail through embodiments, based on figures. The attached Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of an example of the invention.

0006Figure 1 shows the mobile handset 1, the GPS unit 2a, 2b, the transponder 3, the central server 4, the memory unit 4a, the operator 5, 6, 7, the requested seats 5a, 6a, 7a, the client computer 8, 9, 10, the tracking unit 11, the client server 12, the Bluetooth device 13 and the management server 14.

0007The location of the mobile handset 1, preferably a mobile phone or PDA, is known. This location is either a location defined in a zone covered by the transponders 3, or preferably a location defined by the global positioning system (GPS) unit 2a, 2b. The mobile handset 1 is connected with the transponder 3 of its broadband Internet service provider (e.g. 3G, Wi-Fi), whereby it establishes a connection suitable for the transmission of magnetic, optical and/or electronic signals with the central server 4. At the same time, the central server 4 is a DNS server of the multifunctional domain or a mirror thereof communicating with the DNS server. The memory unit 4a of the central server 4 stores a list of operators which have been registered under a particular multifunctional domain based on their common features. A common feature can be a particular function such as restaurant or sports catering operators, or mass transit operators. In the case of restaurants, the domain restaurant.tel can be such a multifunctional domain. Each record of the list can comprise one particular restaurant, which contains the location of the restaurant (address and/or geographical coordinates), it features (price range and type), contact details (web address and phone number) and connection address with the reservation system that runs on the client computer 8. The reservation system running on the client computer 8 contains a template or the number of tables and seats located at the operator's 5 restaurant. At the same time, the client computer 8 is designed to be able to receive reservation request signals, and on the receipt of such signals, it sends seat menu signals to the mobile handset 1 originating the signal, causing a template or the number of free tables or seats available at the operator 5 to display on the mobile handset's 1 screen.

0008Afterwards, the user must select the requested seat 5a to be reserved which is then sent via a signal packet to the client computer 8. The client computer 8 compares the seat 5a with the template, and after identification the reservation is made by modifying the template. Having successfully made the reservation, the client computer 8 sends a reservation confirmation signal to the mobile handset 1 as described in the foregoing. Where required, the reservation can be followed by a payment method that is even known from the state of the art. Most of the tasks of the client computer 8, 9, 10 can be taken over by a management server 14 located at a third-party operator.

0009The GPS unit 2a, 2b facilitates filtering the operator 5, and prior to its selection, displaying only the operators 5 that are near the mobile handset 1 in the memory unit's 4a list. Based on the known geographical position of the mobile handset 1, it is possible to draw an imaginary circle or oval, sort only the operators 5 whose geographical coordinates are found inside this circle or oval, and display their data collected in a filtered drop-down list.

0010In another embodiment, the operator 6 is a sports stadium where the client computer 9 is used to choose a requested seat 6a.

0011In yet another possible embodiment, the operator 7, e.g. bus service, is non-stationary. In such cases the configuration also includes a client server 12, located at the operator's 7 site, which is situated between the central server 4 and the client computer 10 in terms of the signal stream, and is in an at least partly wireless connection with the tracking unit 11. If a management server 14 is also employed, the client server 12 is located between the management server 14 and the client computer 10. In such cases, the mobile client computer 10 includes a peripheral card suitable for implementing mobile communication, and in specific cases an additional Bluetooth device 13.

0012In the example of the procedure, a filtered seat reservation request signal is sent to the client server 12 of the operator 7 using the GPS unit 2a, 2b. In response to the filtered seat reservation request signal, the client server 12 sends a seat menu signal additionally filtered using the tracking unit 11, which is then displayed on the mobile handset's 1 display screen. Afterwards, the user must select the requested seat 7a to be reserved which is then sent via a signal packet to the client computer 10. The client computer 10 compares the requested seat 7a with the template, and after identification the reservation is made by modifying the template. Having successfully made the reservation, the client computer 10 sends a reservation confirmation signal to the mobile handset 1 as described in the foregoing. The identification signal in specific cases is one that is suitable for transmission across Bluetooth channels. On occupation of the requested seat 7a, the mobile handset 1 sends an identification signal to be received by the Bluetooth device 13 installed on the client computer 10, which is then identified by the client computer 10.

0013During use a multifunctional domain such as timetable.tel is invoked on the mobile handset 1 from the central server 4. The direction is selected and the time of the trip, such as immediately, is specified. The GPS unit 2a, 2b is used to filter the operators 7 working in the vicinity of the mobile handset 1. The desired operator 7, such as a bus company, is then selected. The seat request is sent to their client server 12 and in response they return the details of one or more services which are suitable for fulfilling the service. In specific cases such details comprise data that has already been filtered based on the signals of the tracking unit 11. Then the requested seat 7a is selected and accordingly an identification signal is received. Signal receipt can take place by receipt of an automatically generated SMS or a signal suitable for transmission across Bluetooth channels. In the latter case, on occupation of the requested seat 7a, the signal received is activated, which is then received by the Bluetooth device 13 installed on the client computer 10 on the bus. The signal can be activated again on getting off the bus. All of this can also take place automatically. It is advantageous that seat reservations can be made significantly more easily than ever. Simplification is a great advantage because each click is a much more cumbersome and time-consuming job on a mobile phone than on a computer keyboard. Data processing is also simple using software. The mobile handset 1 can even be a mobile phone, preferably with GPS and Bluetooth capability. The mobile handset 1 can be located wherever there is a broadband Internet connection available. It is advantageous that the client tasks can be taken over by a third-party operator's management server 14. The central server 4 can be a proxy server that accelerates service. From the user's point of view, the possibility of filtering nearby operators is advantageous, as well as the fact that filtering can be continued based on other criteria. Reservation can even be performed on the basis of an image. All of this can be done real time, even on a moving train or bus. At the same time, authentic arrival information can be obtained, which in some cases can deviate from the fixed schedule. The service can be linked to known payment services. Occupation of the reserved seat and the time spent there can be simply tracked using a Bluetooth terminal and signal.