System and method for providing concierge services to a mobile device user

• US 20090233584A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Shively, Orrin J., Gilbert, Jonathan, Brown, Ben, Santana, Armando, Watson, Scott, Trowbridge, Robert Scott, Swirsky, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,472,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

There is provided a method for providing concierge services to a mobile device user. The method comprises receiving a concierge identification code sent from a mobile device; authenticating activation of concierge services for the concierge identification code; assigning the mobile device to the concierge identification code; sending a confirmation message to the mobile device; receiving a concierge command from the mobile device; obtaining concierge command results from a local services network; sending the concierge command results to the mobile device; and terminating activation of concierge services after an activation period corresponding to the concierge identification code.

Claims

1. A system for providing concierge services to a mobile device user, the system comprising:

a communications server accessible by a mobile device;

a local services network connected to the communications server;

a concierge application resident on the communications server, the concierge application configured to activate concierge services for the mobile device user in response to receipt of a concierge identification code from the mobile device, receive a concierge command from the mobile device, obtain concierge command results from the local services network, send the concierge command results to the mobile device, and terminate activation of concierge services for the mobile device user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the concierge services provided by the system includes assignment of a human concierge agent to coordinate the delivery of concierge services to the mobile device user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to support concierge messaging via short message service (SMS) text messaging.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to support concierge messaging via email.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to support concierge messaging via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messaging.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to support concierge messaging via Instant Messaging (IM).

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a concierge communication control software capable of being downloaded to the mobile device;

the concierge communication control software configured to enable concierge messaging among the communications server, the local services network, and the mobile device over a local area network (LAN).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the LAN comprises a Wi-Fi network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the LAN comprises a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the LAN comprises a Bluetooth network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is implemented to provide concierge services local to a venue corresponding to the local services network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the venue comprises a theme park.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the venue comprises a destination resort.

14. A method for providing concierge services to a mobile device user, the method comprising:

receiving a concierge identification code sent from a mobile device;

authenticating activation of concierge services for the concierge identification code;

assigning the mobile device to the concierge identification code;

sending a confirmation message to the mobile device;

receiving a concierge command from the mobile device;

obtaining concierge command results from a local services network;

sending the concierge command results to the mobile device; and

terminating activation of concierge services after an activation period corresponding to the concierge identification code.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

assigning a human concierge agent to coordinate the delivery of concierge services to the mobile device user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein communications received from the mobile device user comprise short message service (SMS) text messages.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein communications received from the mobile device user comprise email messages.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein communications received from the mobile device user comprise Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein communications received from the mobile device user comprise Instant Messaging (IM) messages.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing a concierge communication control software capable of being downloaded to the mobile device, the group communication control software configured to enable concierge messaging among a communications server, a local services network, and the mobile device over a local area network (LAN).

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the LAN is one of a Wi-Fi network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, and a Bluetooth network.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is implemented to provide concierge services local to a venue.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the venue comprises a theme park.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the venue comprises a destination resort.