AUTOMATED RESERVATION AGENT

• US 20100262440A1
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stone Arch Bridge Group
• Original Assignee: Stone Arch Bridge Group
• Inventors: Ulring, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US12/726,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors

Abstract

In a method consistent with the technology disclosed herein, the system receives a text message from a mobile phone and parses the text message into at least a first data field and a second data field, where the first data field is a start date for the service, and the second data field is an end date for the service. The service is then booked from the start date to the end date.

Claims

1. A booking system comprising:

a text parse engine configured to receive a text message containing information related to a desired reservation and parse the text message into a plurality of fields;

a search engine interface configured to receive data from the text parse engine and be in communication with a booking database reflecting available reservations; and

a processor in communication with the text parse engine and the search engine interface, wherein the processor is configured to reply to the text message with information related to one of the available reservations.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fields include at least a start date field, an end date field, and a location field.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a negotiation engine in communication with the processor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the negotiation engine is configured to accept and decline offers based on a probability determined from the difference between an offer rate and a lowest available rate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the negotiation engine is further configured to accept and decline offers based on the probability determined from:

the difference between the offer rate and the lowest available rate; and

the difference between the lowest available rate and the lowest available competitor rate.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more search engines in communication with the search engine interface, wherein at least one of the one or more search engines are configured to search at least the booking database.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the search engine interface is configured to communicate the data to a search engine.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a customer database having customer information in communication with the processor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile phone device, configured to send a text message to the text parse engine.

10. A method of booking a reservation for a service comprising:

receiving a text message from a mobile phone;

parsing the text message into at least a first data field and a second data field, wherein the first data field is a start date for the service, and the second data field is an end date for the service; and

booking the service from the start date to the end date.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining availability of a service based on the first data field and the second data field.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising parsing the text message into a third data field wherein the third data field represents a location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third data field is a booking handle maintained by the system and published and made available to users.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the third data field comprises one or more of the following:

postal address, street intersection and zip-code.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of booking the service further comprises using information from a previously-booked service.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the information from a previously-booked service is chosen from the group consisting of:

credit card information, service provider information, and service information.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising sending a text message to the mobile phone including price information.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a text message from the mobile phone confirming booking the service.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising sending a booking text message to the service provider.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein sending the booking text message to the service provider further comprises converting the booking text message to a voice message.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving a booking confirmation from the service provider in a first format, wherein the system converts the booking confirmation to a text message and forwards the confirmation text message to the customer.

22. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a text message from the mobile phone providing a counter-offer.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a text message from the mobile phone providing an identification number.

24. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a text message from the mobile phone providing a request to connect the mobile phone with the agent.

25. A method of negotiating a rate comprising:

receiving a text message from a mobile phone;

parsing the text message into at least an offer data field, wherein the offer data field is an offer rate for a service;

calculating the difference between the offer rate and a best available rate;

determining a probability incorporating the difference between the offer rate and the best available rate;

applying the probability to a decision to accept or decline the offer rate; and

sending a text message response reflecting the decision to the mobile phone.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein determining a probability further comprises incorporating the difference between a competitor rate and the best available rate.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising parsing the text message into at least the offer data field, a first data field, and a second data field, wherein the first data field is a start date for a service and the second data field is the end date for the service.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising sending data from at least the first data field to a search engine to search for the best available rate.