NOTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS IN A RESERVATION SYSTEM

• US 20090248456A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Passkey International, Inc. (Cvent Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Passkey International, Inc. (Cvent Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roongta, Himanshu, Fahmy, Sam
• Application Number:
  US12/058,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20090248456A1
• 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

Computer-implemented methods and systems can provide notifications and reports over a network about lodging associated with an event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing a notification over a network, comprising:

allowing at least one person associated with an event to identify at least one condition associated with an inventory of rooms available for reservation in connection with the event;

receiving over the network one or more room reservation requests, each of the requests being for a reservation of one or more of the rooms in the inventory;

determining whether the at least one condition associated with the inventory is met after the one or more requests are received; and

providing the notification over the network if the at least one condition is met.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the allowing step comprises allowing the at least one person to set an amount of reserved rooms in the inventory, and wherein the determining step comprises determining whether the amount is reached.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the allowing step comprises allowing the at least one person to set a percentage of reserved rooms in the inventory, and wherein the determining step comprises determining whether the percentage is reached.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of an amount of reserved rooms in the inventory and a percentage of reserved rooms in the inventory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step comprises sending an electronic mail message over the network if the at least one condition is met.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the electronic mail message includes information about the condition.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the electronic mail message includes a reference to information about the condition.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step comprises sending the notification over the network to at least the at least one person if the at least one condition is met.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the providing step comprises sending the notification over the network to the at least one person and also to one or more other recipients associated with the event.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing the at least one person to identify at least one other condition associated with a different inventory of rooms available for reservation in connection with a different event; and

receiving over the network one or more room reservation requests for reserving one or more rooms in the different inventory.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the providing step comprises sending the notification if both the at least one condition and the at least one other condition are met.

12. A computer-implemented method of managing an inventory of rooms over a network, comprising:

offering the inventory of rooms to invitees of an event for reservation;

identifying at least one condition for triggering the sending of information associated with the inventory of rooms; and

receiving a notification over the network after the at least one condition is met.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

identifying one or more recipients of the notification over the network.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining the format of the notification over the network.

15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

allowing at least one person associated with an event to schedule at least one report associated with an inventory of rooms available for reservation in connection with the event;

receiving over a network one or more room reservation requests, each of the requests being for a reservation of one or more of the rooms in the inventory; and

sending the at least one report over the network.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the allowing step comprises allowing the at least one person to identify the contents of the at least one report and also when the at least one report will be sent.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the sending step comprises sending an electronic mail message over the network, the electronic mail message including the at least one report.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one report is attached to the electronic mail message.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one report is contained within the electronic mail message.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the sending step comprises sending an electronic mail message over the network, the electronic mail message including a reference to the at least one report.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the allowing step further comprises allowing the at least one person to identify the format of the at least one report.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the sending step comprises sending the at least one report over the network to the at least one person and also to one or more other recipients associated with the event.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the allowing step further comprises allowing the at least one person to identify that the at least one report will be sent periodically.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the allowing step further comprises allowing the at least one person to identify that the at least one report will be sent daily, weekly, or monthly.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

allowing the at least one person to schedule at least one other report associated with a different inventory of rooms available for reservation in connection with a different event; and

receiving over the network one or more room reservation requests for reserving one or more rooms in the different inventory.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the sending step comprises sending a single report that includes both the at least one report and the at least one other report.

27. A computer-implemented method of managing an inventory of rooms over a network, comprising:

offering the inventory of rooms to invitees of an event for reservation;

scheduling at least one report associated with the inventory of rooms; and

receiving the at least one report over the network.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

determining the content of the at least one report associated with the inventory of rooms.

29. A computer system for providing a notification over a network, comprising:

a network interface configured to be in communication with the network;

storage configured to store data associated with an inventory of rooms available for reservation by invitees of an event; and

a processor in communication with the network interface and the storage, the processor configured to;

receive one or more conditions associated with the inventory,

receive over the network one or more requests for reserving one or more rooms from the inventory,

determine whether the one or more conditions are met, and

transmit the notification over the network if at least one of the one or more conditions is met.