Information management and synchronous communications system

• US 9,009,060 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameranth Wireless (Ameranth, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
• Inventors: McNally, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): EPSTEIN, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US11/190,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,549 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5
• 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 real time synchronous communications system for use with wireless handheld computing devices and the internet comprising:

a. a master database containing at least one hospitality application and associated data,

b. application software configured to present hospitality data for display on a display of at least one wireless handheld computing device in which the at least one hospitality application is also stored,

c. at least one Web server configured by application software to interface with at least one hospitality application and its associated data,

d. application software configured to present hospitality data for display on at least one web page,

e. an applications programming software interface, and

f. a real time application software communications control module with a systemic communications relationship comprising;

a communications controller

a communications set up

a web Hub

a wireless Hub

wherein the system is configured to perform an automated communications conversion via application software involving the data associated with the at least one hospitality application,

wherein the system is configured via application software to synchronize the at least one hospitality application and its associated data with data in a second and different hospitality application in real time between the master database, the at least one Web server, the at least one wireless computing device and the at least one web page,

wherein the real time application software communications control module is configured via application software to act as an interface between the at least one hospitality application and any applicable communications protocol.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one synchronized hospitality application is a restaurant service or ordering or wait-listing or reservations or frequency or point of sale or inventory or ticketing application.

3. A system as in either of claim 1 or 2, in which the system further includes at least one payment processing application.

4. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via text to voice conversion.

5. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via voice to text conversion.

6. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via text to text messaging conversion.

7. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via touch tone recognition to text conversion.

8. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via text to instant messaging conversion.

9. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform the communication conversion via text to email conversion.

10. A system as in claim 1, further configured to automatically perform communications conversions via two or more of text to voice conversion, voice to text conversion, text to text messaging conversion, touch tone recognition to text conversion, text to instant messaging conversion or text to email conversion.

11. A system as in claim 1, in which the interface with the at least one wireless handheld computing device also includes hospitality application software downloaded via the internet to and operable on the handheld device.

12. A system as in claim 1, in which the at least one wireless handheld computing device is a smart phone suitable for use by consumers.

13. An information management and real time synchronous communications system for use with wireless handheld computing devices and the Internet comprising:

a. a master database containing hospitality applications and associated data,

b. application software configured to present hospitality data for display on a screen of at least one wireless handheld computing device in which at least one of the hospitality applications is also stored,

c. at least one Web server configured by application software to interface with at least one hospitality application and associated data,

d. application software configured to present hospitality data for display on at least one web page, and

e. a real time communications control module configured by application software to link and synchronize hospitality data between multiple and different hospitality applications

wherein the system is configured by application software to synchronize hospitality applications and data in real time between the master database, the at least one wireless handheld computing device, the at least one Web server and the at least one Web page, and

wherein the real time communications control module is also configured via application software to act as an interface between the at least one of the hospitality applications and any applicable communications protocol.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is configured to enable the automatic importation into the system of information from a point of sale database.

15. A system as in any one of claim 13 or 14, in which the interface with the at least one wireless handheld computing device also includes hospitality application software downloaded via the internet to and operable on the handheld device.

16. A system as in claim 13, in which the at least one wireless handheld computing device is a smart phone suitable for use by consumers.

17. A system as in claim 13, in which the at least one wireless handheld computing device also includes payment processing functionality.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the synchronized hospitality applications include restaurant service and inventory applications.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the synchronized hospitality applications include ordering and frequency systems and reservations applications.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the synchronized hospitality applications include wait-listing and frequency systems and point of sale applications.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the synchronized hospitality applications include ordering and reservations and point of sale and inventory applications.

22. The system of claim 13, in which the synchronized hospitality applications further include payment processing applications.

23. The system of claim 13 in which the synchronized applications include a ticketing application.