Method for the automation of allocation processes for products and/or services

• US 20020007291A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
• Inventors: Schneider, Markus, Miller, Norbert
• Application Number:
  US09/769,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A method for the automation of availability-checking, reservation and allocation/assignment processes for localized products and/or services, under utilization of a supraregional communications link and on the basis of a user'"'"'s requirements, including: a) the user selecting a provider'"'"'s product or service; b) the user transmitting an identification code; c) the provider reserving the item, storing the identification code, and forwarding a reservation and code information to a code verification system, under utilization of a local-area communications link; d) triggering a non-contact, proximity code verification when the user enters within a range of the code verification system; and e) granting an access to the user upon a positive code verification.

Claims

1. Method for the automation of availability-checking, reservation and allocation processes for localized products and/or services, under utilization of a supraregional communications link and on the basis of a user'"'"'s requirement, the method comprising:

a) the user selecting a provider'"'"'s product or service;

b) the user transmitting an identification code;

c) the provider reserving a selected item, storing the identification code, and forwarding a reservation and code information to a code verification system, under utilization of a local-area communications link;

d) triggering a non-contact, proximity code verification when the user enters within a range of the code verification system; and

e) granting an access to the user upon a positive code verification.

2. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that the supraregional communications link is a mobile radio telephone network system.

3. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local-area communications link is a mobile radio telephone network system.

4. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local-area communications link is a local-area radio network.

5. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification code for a particular use is issued for a limited area or time.

6. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local-area communications link is enabled by the user.

7. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-contact code verification is accomplished by optical means.

8. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the code provided by the user for transmission and/or verification purposes is released by a selective activation.

9. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data-transfer, availability-checking, reservation and allocation or assignment processes are performed with an aid of a central mainframe processing system.

10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that the central mainframe processing system is equipped with data telecommunications interfaces as well as systems for enquiry analysis, availability checking, the generation and transmission of product or service offers, code acceptance and storage, communication with code verification and/or access authorization systems and perhaps point-of-sale management units.

11. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user employs the method for reserving parking space in park garage systems and obtaining access to the parking space thus reserved.

12. Method as in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, under utilization of a code and of an information related to its use, an accounting statement is automatically generated.