Distribution services reservation integration

• US 8,028,890 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Active Network Incorporated (Cvent Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RTP LLC (Cvent Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roebke, Mark J., Soulakis, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/927,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/380, 235/383, 235/492, 235/493, 705/9, 705/2, 705/11, 705/5, 705/26
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like

Abstract

Systems according to embodiments of the present invention include a core adapter module configured to receive reservation information from a reservation system in a first format useable be the reservation system, a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the reservation information and to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and a distribution module configured to send the reservation information in the second format to the provider system. Methods according to embodiments of the present invention include receiving reservation from a reservation system in a first format useable by the reservation system identifying a provider system based on the reservation information, processing the reservation information to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and sending the reservation information in the second format to the provider system.

Claims

1. A system for reservation integration and distribution, comprising:

a core adapter module configured to receive reservation information from a reservation system, wherein the reservation information has a first format useable by the reservation system;

a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the reservation information and to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system; and

a distribution module configured to send the reservation information in the second format to the provider system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reservation information comprises at least a name, a basic service, and a credit card number.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the basic service comprises an arrival date for a ski resort lodging reservation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution module is further configured to create an advance sale on the provider system according to the reservation information.

5. A computer-implemented method of reservation integration and distribution, comprising:

receiving reservation information from a reservation system, wherein the reservation information has a first format useable by the reservation system;

identifying a provider system based on the reservation information;

processing the reservation information to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system; and

sending the reservation information in the second format to the provider system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reservation information comprises at least a name, a basic service, a service provider providing the basic service, and a credit card number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the basic service comprises an arrival date for a ski resort lodging reservation, and wherein the service provider is the ski resort.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising creating an advance sale on the provider system according to the reservation information.

9. A computer-implemented method for media activation, comprising:

receiving a media activation request from a distribution point-of-sale system, wherein the media activation request has a first format useable by the distribution point-of-sale system;

identifying a provider system based on the media activation request;

processing the media activation request to place the media activation request into a second format useable by the provider system; and

sending the media activation request in the second format to the provider system, wherein the media activation request comprises at least a unique identification number and a service provider identification.

10. A computer-implemented method for media activation, comprising:

receiving a media activation request from a distribution point-of-sale system, wherein the media activation request has a first format useable by the distribution point-of-sale system;

identifying a provider system based on the media activation request;

processing the media activation request to place the media activation request into a second format useable by the provider system; and

sending the media activation request in the second format to the provider system,

wherein the media activation request is a request to activate a physical medium for use in accessing services provided by a service provider, the method further comprising;

updating a database of the provider system with an activation of the physical medium based on the media activation request; and

providing a supplier interface in communication with the database, the supplier interface configured to read the physical medium and to permit access to the services based on the activation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical medium is a card with a magnetic stripe, and wherein the supplier interface is a magnetic card stripe reader.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical medium is an object with an RFID transmitter, and wherein the supplier interface is an RFID receiver.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical medium is an object comprising a bar code, and wherein the supplier interface is a bar code reader.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the object is a toy race car, wherein the service provider is a car racing venue, and wherein the supplier interface is configured to permit access to the car racing venue by unlocking a gate based on the activation.

15. A system for media activation, comprising:

a core adapter module configured to receive a media activation request from a distribution point-of-sale system, wherein the media activation request has a first format useable by the distribution point-of-sale system;

a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the media activation request and to place the media activation request into a second format useable by the provider system; and

a distribution module configured to send the media activation request in the second format to the provider system, wherein the media activation request comprises at least a unique identification number and a service provider identification.

16. A system for media activation, comprising:

a core adapter module configured to receive a media activation request from a distribution point-of-sale system, wherein the media activation request has a first format useable by the distribution point-of-sale system;

a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the media activation request and to place the media activation request into a second format useable by the provider system; and

a distribution module configured to send the media activation request in the second format to the provider system,

wherein the media activation request is a request to activate a physical medium for use in accessing services provided by a service provider, the system further comprising;

a database of the provider system configured to store an activation of the physical medium based on the media activation request; and

a supplier interface in communication with the database, the supplier interface configured to read the physical medium and to permit access to the services based on the activation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the physical medium is a card with a magnetic stripe, and wherein the supplier interface is a magnetic card stripe reader.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the physical medium is an object with an RFID transmitter, and wherein the supplier interface is an RFID receiver.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the physical medium is an object comprising a bar code, and wherein the supplier interface is a bar code reader.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the object is a toy race car, wherein the service provider is a car racing venue, and wherein the supplier interface is configured to permit access to the car racing venue by unlocking a gate based on the activation.