System and method for remotely processing reservations

• US 20020169643A1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Statsignal IPC LLC (Statsignal)
• Original Assignee: Statsignal Systems Incorporated (Statsignal)
• Inventors: Davis, James, Petite, Thomas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/853,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169643A1
• 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 system and method for remotely processing reservations. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a reservation processing unit, and a receiver provided at the reservation processing unit for receiving data transmitted via a electromagnetic waves. The system of the invention includes a remote access unit having a memory configured to store customer identification information and a low-power transmitter adapted to transmit the customer identification information to the receiver. The remote access unit is manually operated by a transmit button, which, when depressed, causes a controller to retrieve customer identification information from the memory and transmit the customer identification information from the low-power transmitter.

Claims

1. A system for processing reservations, comprising:

a reservation processing unit configured to track and process customer reservation;

receiving means for receiving data transmitted via a electromagnetic waves, the receiving means being operatively disposed with the reservation processing unit; and

a remote access unit having a memory configured to store customer identification information and a low-power transmitter adapted to transmit the customer identification information to the receiving means, the remote access unit further having a manually-operated transmit button and a controller, responsive to the transmit button, to controllably retrieve customer identification information from the memory and transmit the customer identification information from the low-power transmitter.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the receiving means receives electromagnetic data in a wavelength selected from the group consisting of:

radio frequency;

ultrasonic; and

infra-red.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein electronic circuitry that carries out the functionality of the remote access unit is contained within a single integrated circuit.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the remote access unit includes means for formatting the customer identification information into a data packet for transmission to the receiving means.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the remote access unit further includes a second transmit button.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the reservation processing unit further includes a network link configured to provide internet access.

7. A method for processing reservations comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmitted electromagnetic signal including customer identification information at a receiver;

retrieving the customer identification information from the transmitted electromagnetic signal;

updating reservation information using the customer identification information; and

providing a notification that the customer is about to arrive.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving a reservation over an internet connection.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of displaying the updated reservation information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of receiving a transmitted electromagnetic signal further comprises receiving a low-power radio frequency signal.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic signal is generated by depressing a manually-operative transmit button of a remote access unit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the customer identification information is retrieved from an internal memory of the remote access unit.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the retrieved customer identification information is formatted into a predefined signal prior to transmission.

14. A system for remotely processing reservations, comprising:

a reservation processing unit, configured to receive customer identification information from a remote access unit having a memory configured to store customer identification information and a low-power transmitter adapted to transmit the customer identification information, the remote access unit further having a manually-operated transmit button and a controller responsive to the transmit button to controllably retrieve customer identification information from the memory and transmit the customer identification information from the low-power transmitter; and

receiving means associated with the reservation processing unit for receiving data transmitted via a electromagnetic waves.

15. A computer readable storage medium containing program code for controlling the operation of a system for providing remote processing of reservations, the system comprising:

a reservation processing unit;

receiving means for receiving data transmitted via a electromagnetic waves; and

a remote access unit having a memory configured to store customer identification information and a low-power transmitter adapted to transmit the customer identification information to the receiving means, the remote access unit further having a manually-operated transmit button and a controller, responsive to the transmit button, to controllably retrieve customer identification information from the memory and transmit the customer identification information from the low-power transmitter.