System and method for providing reservations for restroom use

• US 6,329,919 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dinkin, Samuel, Yu, Philip Shi-Lung, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, Boies, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/639,254
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/540, 340/531, 340/825.28, 340/825.29, 705/5, 705/6, 701/201, 707/100, 395/205
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for providing reservations for restroom use. In one embodiment, a passenger on an airplane may submit a reservation request to the system for restroom use. The reservation system determines when the request can be accommodated and notifies the passenger when a restroom becomes available. The system improves airline safety by minimizing the time passengers spent standing while an airplane is in flight.

Claims

1. A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

receiving a reservation request from a user; and

notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning a reservation number in response to the request.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said assigning the number assigns number on a first come, first served basis.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the user with an approximate waiting time.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the reservation is cancelled.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.

10. A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and

receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving a reservation number.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a first come, first served basis.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving an approximate waiting time.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

17. An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

a programmed computer, further comprising;

a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising;

code to receive a reservation request from a user; and

code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising code to assign a reservation number in response to the request.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a first come, first served basis.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising code to provide the user with an approximate waiting time.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising code to determine whether the reservation is cancelled.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising code to determine whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.

26. An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

a programmed computer, further comprising;

a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising;

code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and

code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising code to receive a reservation number.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the reservation number is assigned on a first come, first served basis.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising code to receive an approximate waiting time.

31. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

32. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

33. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

code to receive a reservation request from a user; and

code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.

34. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, further comprising code to assign a reservation number in response to the request.

35. The computer executable software code according to claim 34, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.

36. The computer executable software code according to claim 34, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a first come, first served basis.

37. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, further comprising code to provide the user with an approximate waiting time.

38. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, further comprising code to determine whether the reservation is cancelled.

39. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

40. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

41. The computer executable software code according to claim 33, further comprising code to determine whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.

42. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for reservations for restroom use, comprising:

a programmed computer, further comprising;

a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and

a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising;

code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and

code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.

43. The computer executable software code according to claim 42, further comprising code to receive a reservation number.

44. The computer executable software code according to claim 43, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.

45. The computer executable software code according to claim 43, wherein the reservation number is assigned on a first come, first served basis.

46. The computer executable software code according to claim 42, further comprising code to receive an approximate waiting time.

47. The computer executable software code according to claim 42, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

48. The computer executable software code according to claim 42, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

49. A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

means for receiving a reservation request from a user; and

means for notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.

50. The system according to claim 49, further comprising assigning a reservation number in response to the request.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.

52. The system according to claim 50, wherein said assigning the number assigns number on a first come, first served basis.

53. The system according to claim 49, further comprising providing the user with an approximate waiting time.

54. The system according to claim 49, further comprising determining whether the reservation is cancelled.

55. The system according to claim 49, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

56. The system according to claim 49, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.

57. The system according to claim 49, further comprising determining whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.

58. A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising:

means for submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and

means for receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.

59. The system according to claim 58, further comprising receiving a reservation number.

60. The system according to claim 59, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.

61. The system according to claim 59, wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a first come, first served basis.

62. The system according to claim 58, further comprising receiving an approximate waiting time.

63. The system according to claim 58, wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.

64. The system according to claim 58, wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.