Camping reservation system, method and program

• US 7,818,190 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kampgrounds of America Incorporated (KOA Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kampgrounds of America Incorporated (KOA Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sutherland, Jef
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson Boyce; Akiba K
• Application Number:
  US10/707,374
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/7, 705/8, 296/156
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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

A camping reservation system receives camping reservations from a camping facility agent or a user of a camping facility. The agent or the user enters information relating to the user, the user'"'"'s camping vehicle, camping accommodations requested by the user, and reservation information. The reservation information is transferred to a transaction processor via a communications link, where the processor automatically generates transaction documents related to the user, the camping facility agent, and the camping reservation. A confirmation document is sent to the camping facility for which a camping pad has been reserved.

Claims

1. A camping facility reservation method, for making a camping facility reservation, comprising:

storing respective camping pad attribute information for camping pads of a camping facility;

storing camping vehicle attribute information for a given camping vehicle;

obtaining reservation request information concerning the camping facility and the given camping vehicle; and

providing, by a computer processor, an indication of one or more candidate camping pads based on the respective camping pad attribute information of the camping pads of the camping facility and the camping vehicle attributes for the given camping vehicle,

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of at least one of water and sewer connections on the camping pad.

2. The reservation method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises one or more of:

tip-out portion particulars,

wherein the tip-out portion particulars includes information on location and dimensions of the tip-out portions;

location of connections for hook-ups on the camping vehicle;

and tolerance for slopes.

3. The reservation method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the camping pad attribute information comprises one or more of:

power pedestal particulars;

pad access attributes;

pad foliage;

pad composition;

pad distance from camping facility features; and

availability of communications features including one or more of telephone, CATV, and network connections.

4. A camping reservation method, for making a camping facility reservation, comprising:

receiving a customer request for making a reservation at a camping facility, including camping vehicle attribute information;

searching, a camping institution database for information relating to the camping reservation, the database comprising camping pad attribute information of camping facilities belonging to the camping institution; and

generating, by a computer processor a camping reservation at a camping facility responsive to the customer request;

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of at least one of water and sewer connections on the camping pad.

5. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, further comprising providing a user with alternative camping facility information when a reservation cannot be made according to the camping vehicle attribute information and the camping pad attribute information.

6. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, further comprising generating one or more of promotional information, discounts, and coupons according to a user'"'"'s account information.

7. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises one or more of sewer connection information, water connection information and phone line connection information.

8. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises camping vehicle attachment information relating to one or more of a boat, a trailer, and a motor vehicle.

9. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises a make and model of the camping vehicle.

10. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises dimensions of the camping vehicle.

11. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises information regarding expandable portions of the camping vehicle.

12. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises a date of arrival and a date of departure at the camping facility.

13. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises the number of people who will be staying at the camping facility.

14. The camping reservation method according to claim 4, wherein the camping pad attribute information comprises a location of a camping pad within the camping facility of a camping institution.

15. A camping reservation method for making a camping facility reservation comprising:

accessing a website of a camping institution;

accessing a reservation area of said website;

acquiring camping vehicle attribute information comprising information about a camping vehicle to be placed on the camping facility;

acquiring reservation information for making a reservation at a camping facility;

acquiring user accommodation information comprising information about user preferences at the camping facility;

searching a camping institution database containing camping pad attribute information regarding camping facilities of the camping institution;

generating, by a computer processor, camping facility reservation information according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information;

reserving a camping facility according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information; and

acquiring payment information for payment of the camping facility reservation

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of at least one of water and sewer connections on the camping pad.

18. A camping reservation method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the camping vehicle attribute information comprises tip-out portion particulars, which include information regarding location and dimensions of the tip-out portions.

16. A computer system carrying out a camping reservation method for making a camping facility reservation, the method comprising:

accessing a website of a camping institution;

accessing a reservation area of said website;

acquiring camping vehicle attribute information comprising information about a camping vehicle to be placed on the camping facility;

acquiring reservation information for making a reservation at a camping facility;

acquiring user accommodation information comprising information about user preferences at the camping facility;

searching a camping institution database containing camping pad attribute information regarding camping facilities of the camping institution;

generating, by a computer processor, camping facility reservation information according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information;

reserving a camping facility according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information; and

acquiring payment information for payment of the camping facility reservation

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of at least one of water and sewer connections on the camping pad.

17. A computer program product for implementing a camping reservation method for making a camping facility reservation, the method comprising:

accessing a website of a camping institution;

accessing a reservation area of said website;

acquiring camping vehicle attribute information comprising information about a camping vehicle to be placed on the camping facility;

acquiring reservation information for making a reservation at a camping facility;

acquiring user accommodation information comprising information about user preferences at the camping facility;

searching a camping institution database containing camping pad attribute information regarding camping facilities of the camping institution;

generating, by a computer processor, camping facility reservation information according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information;

reserving a camping facility according to the camping vehicle information, the reservation information and the accommodation information; and

acquiring payment information for payment of the camping facility reservation

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of at least one of water and sewer connections on the camping pad.

19. A camping facility reservation method, for making a camping facility reservation, comprising:

storing respective camping pad attribute information for camping pads of a camping facility;

storing camping vehicle attribute information for a given camping vehicle;

obtaining reservation request information concerning the camping facility and the given camping vehicle; and

providing, by a computer processor, an indication of one or more candidate camping pads based on the respective camping pad attribute information of the camping pads of the camping facility and the camping vehicle attributes for the given camping vehicle; and

wherein the camping pad attribute information includes information regarding the geographic location and availability of utility connections on the camping pad.