Information management and synchronous communications system

• US 20060020497A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameranth Wireless (Ameranth, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameranth Wireless (Ameranth, Inc.)
• Inventors: McNally, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,009,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1058 Shopping and product ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An information management and synchronous communications system and method facilitates database equilibrium and synchronization with wired, wireless and Web-based systems, user-friendly and efficient generation of computerized menus and reservations with handwritten/voice modifications for restaurants and other applications that utilize equipment with nonstandard graphical formats, display sizes and/or applications for use in remote data entry, information management and communication with host computer, digital input device or remote pager via standard hardwired connection, the internet, a wireless link, printer or the like. Various operations employing automated telephone calls and/or messaging may, for instance, be performed. For example, desired reservation and/or appointment information may be automatically converted and conveyed to one or more entities via automated telephone call and/or messaging. As another example, information regarding reservation acceptability may be received and automatically converted via automated telephone call and/or messaging. Telephones may, for instance, be the only equipment required by the entities.

Claims

1. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing hospitality applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. at least one Web server on which hospitality applications and data are stored,

d. at least one Web page on which hospitality applications and data are stored,

e. an application program interface, and

f. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides via at least one of the at least one Web page information regarding one or more desired reservations for one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs one or more automated telephone calls employing voice synthesis with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations is automatically converted and conveyed via the one or more automated telephone calls, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the reservations is received and automatically converted via the one or more automated telephone calls;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base, at least one computing device, at least one Web server and at least one Web page;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the hospitality applications, wherein the communications control module is an interface between the hospitality applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the entities are restaurants.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the entities are hotels.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the entities are casinos.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the reservations.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed in one or more orders corresponding to the rankings.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via voice recognition.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via touch tone recognition.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is informed of some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more text messages are employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein instant messaging is employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate reservations where one or more of the desired reservations are not acceptable.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the individuals provide availability inventory update.

16. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing appointment applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. at least one Web server on which appointment applications and data are stored,

d. at least one Web page on which appointment applications and data are stored,

e. an application program interface, and

f. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides via at least one of the at least one Web page information regarding one or more desired appointments with one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs one or more automated telephone calls employing voice synthesis with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired appointments is automatically converted and conveyed via the one or more automated telephone calls, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the appointments is received and automatically converted via the one or more automated telephone calls;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base, at least one computing device, at least one Web server and at least one Web page;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the appointment applications, and wherein the communications control module is an interface between the appointment applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the entities are repair services.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the entities are hair salons.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the entities are pet groomers.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired appointments.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the appointments.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed in one or more orders corresponding to the rankings.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via voice recognition.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via touch tone recognition.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the user is informed of some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more text messages are employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein instant messaging is employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate appointments where one or more of the desired appointments are not acceptable.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more of the individuals provide availability inventory update.

31. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing hospitality applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. an application program interface, and

d. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides to at least one of the at least one computing device information regarding one or more desired reservations for one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs one or more automated telephone calls employing voice synthesis with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations is automatically converted and conveyed via the one or more automated telephone calls, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the reservations is received and automatically converted via the one or more automated telephone calls;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base and at least one computing device;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the hospitality applications, wherein the communications control module is an interface between the hospitality applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the entities are restaurants.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the entities are hotels.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the entities are casinos.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the reservations.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed in one or more orders corresponding to the rankings.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via voice recognition.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein some or all of the information regarding acceptability is automatically converted via touch tone recognition.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein some or all of the automated telephone calls are performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the user is informed of some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

42. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more text messages are employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

43. The system of claim 31, wherein instant messaging is employed where contact via automated telephone call is not successful.

44. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate reservations where one or more of the desired reservations are not acceptable.

45. The system of claim 31, wherein one or more of the individuals provide availability inventory update.

46. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing hospitality applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. at least one Web server on which hospitality applications and data are stored,

d. at least one Web page on which hospitality applications and data are stored,

e. an application program interface, and

f. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides via at least one of the at least one Web page information regarding one or more desired reservations for one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs automated wireless messaging with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations is automatically converted and conveyed via the automated wireless messaging, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the reservations is received and automatically converted via the automated wireless messaging;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base, at least one computing device, at least one Web server and at least one Web page;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the hospitality applications, wherein the communications control module is an interface between the hospitality applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless text messaging.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless instant messaging.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein one or more of the entities are restaurants.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein one or more of the entities are hotels.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein one or more of the entities are casinos.

52. The system of claim 46, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the reservations.

54. The system of claim 46, wherein automated wireless messaging is performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

55. The system of claim 46, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate reservations where one or more of the desired reservations are not acceptable.

56. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing appointment applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. at least one Web server on which appointment applications and data are stored,

d. at least one Web page on which appointment applications and data are stored,

e. an application program interface, and

f. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides via at least one of the at least one Web page information regarding one or more desired appointments with one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs automated wireless messaging with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired appointments is automatically converted and conveyed via the automated wireless messaging, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the appointments is received and automatically converted via the automated wireless messaging;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base, at least one computing device, at least one Web server and at least one Web page;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the appointment applications, and wherein the communications control module is an interface between the appointment applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless text messaging.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless instant messaging.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein one or more of the entities are repair services.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein one or more of the entities are hair salons.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein one or more of the entities are pet groomers.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein one or more of the entities are healthcare establishments.

63. The system of claim 56, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired appointments.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the appointments.

65. The system of claim 56, wherein automated wireless messaging is performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

66. The system of claim 56, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate appointments where one or more of the desired appointments are not acceptable.

67. An information management and synchronous communications system for use with computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a central database containing hospitality applications and data,

b. at least one computing device,

c. an application program interface, and

d. a communications control module,

wherein a user provides to at least one of the at least one computing device information regarding one or more desired reservations for one or more entities;

wherein at least one of the at least one computing device performs automated wireless messaging with one or more individuals affiliated with the entities, wherein some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations is automatically converted and conveyed via the automated wireless messaging, wherein information regarding acceptability of at least one of the reservations is received and automatically converted via the automated wireless messaging;

wherein applications and data are synchronized between the central data base and at least one computing device;

wherein the application program interface enables integration of outside applications with the hospitality applications, wherein the communications control module is an interface between the hospitality applications and any other communications protocol, and wherein the synchronized data includes some or all of the information regarding acceptability.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless text messaging.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein the automated wireless messaging includes automated wireless instant messaging.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein one or more of the entities are restaurants.

71. The system of claim 67, wherein one or more of the entities are hotels.

72. The system of claim 67, wherein one or more of the entities are casinos.

73. The system of claim 67, wherein the user provides alternatives for some or all of the information regarding one or more desired reservations.

74. The system of claim 67, wherein the user provides desirability rankings for one or more of the reservations.

75. The system of claim 67, wherein automated wireless messaging is performed, in parallel, with respect to multiple entities.

76. The system of claim 67, wherein one or more of the individuals offer one or more alternate reservations where one or more of the desired reservations are not acceptable.