Guest services management system and method

• US 20050135591A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas E., Moore, Victor S., Katz, Neil, Lozinski, Zygmunt A.
• Application Number:
  US10/745,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for managing guest services to a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a guest services management center. In accordance with the present invention, a guest services management method can include receiving a telephone call from a guest through a PSTN linkage. Identifying information for the guest can be retrieved through a data communications network linkage without identifying the guest using data derived from the telephone call. The retrieved identifying information can be correlated with the telephone call and access to manage guest services through the PSTN linkage can be authenticated based upon the identifying information.

Claims

1. A guest services management method comprising the steps of:

receiving a telephone call from a guest through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) linkage;

retrieving identifying information for said guest through a data communications network linkage without identifying said guest using data derived from said telephone call;

correlating said retrieved identifying information with said telephone call; and

,

authenticating access to manage guest services through said PSTN linkage based upon said identifying information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving information for said guest through a data communications network linkage to a name resolution adapter coupled to at least one telephone subscriber database disposed in a switch in said PSTN.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving step further comprises the step of querying an enterprise application for guest services management using said identifying information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting said guest to replay or modify an already provisioned guest service recorded in said enterprise application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting said guest to extend an already provisioned guest service recorded in said enterprise application.

6. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for managing delivery service instructions, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving a telephone call from a guest through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) linkage;

retrieving identifying information for said guest through a data communications network linkage without identifying said guest using data derived from said telephone call;

correlating said retrieved identifying information with said telephone call; and

,

authenticating access to manage guest services through said PSTN linkage based upon said identifying information.

7. The machine readable storage of claim 6, wherein said retrieving step comprises the step of retrieving information for said guest through a data communications network linkage to a name resolution adapter coupled to at least one telephone subscriber database disposed in a switch in said PSTN.

8. The machine readable storage of claim 6, wherein said retrieving step further comprises the step of querying an enterprise application for guest services management using said identifying information.

9. The machine readable storage of claim 6, further comprising the step of prompting said guest to replay or modify an already provisioned guest service recorded in said enterprise application.

10. The machine readable storage of claim 6, further comprising the step of prompting said guest to extend an already provisioned guest service recorded in said enterprise application.

11. A system for managing guest services, the system comprising:

a telephone subscriber database disposed in a switch in a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

an enterprise application configured to manage guest services management instructions for a plurality of telephone subscribers; and

,

a name resolution adapter disposed in said PSTN and coupled both to said telephone subscriber database in said PSTN, and also to said enterprise application over a data communications network.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an interactive voice response system coupled both to said enterprise application through a data communications link, and also said PSTN through a telephony gateway.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a voice browser coupled both to said enterprise application through a data communications link, and also to said PSTN through a telephony gateway.