Application software based information management and real time communications system including intelligent automated assistants (bots) in a computing ecosystem including different types of remote computing devices with different user interfaces and with a master database that is accessible from and stored at a central location

• US 9,747,651 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ameranth, Inc.
• Inventors: McNally, Keith R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Champagne, Luna
• Application Number:
  US14/276,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20140279093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• 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. A rule capable intelligent automated assistants (IAA) system for use with remote wireless handheld computing devices and the internet, comprising:

a) at least one hospitality software back-office application with at least one IAA-based interface and enabled to execute one or more rules while communicating via free format messaging and at least one interface with fixed format messaging communications with web browsers for communicating bi-directionally with two or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

b) a master database containing data and parameters of the at least one hospitality software application pursuant to a master database file structure with predefined formats and specific fields and which is accessible through a database application programming interface (API);

c) at least one computer server, with associated data storage capabilities for the at least one hospitality software application, and the master database;

d) at least one application software based communications control module (CCM) integrated with the hospitality application software and enabled to interface with at least one communications protocol;

e) at least one web server enabled by the CCM to concurrently communicate via the internet with two or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

f) at least one wireless handheld remote computing device with at least one IAA mobile application and user interface with free format messaging that enables access to and communications with the back office hospitality software application and its IAA-based interface;

g) at least one other wireless handheld remote computing device which uses a web browser based user interface with fixed format messaging to access and communicate with the back office hospitality application software;

h) at least one external application programming interface for fully integrating via the internet the hospitality back office software application with one or more non hospitality software applications;

wherein the system elements are enabled to communicate bi-directionally in real time via the back office hospitality application software and the database API and the communications control module while utilizing the parameters and data of the master database file structure in interfacing the back office hospitality software application between and with the two or more remote wireless handheld computing devices with their different user interfaces while maintaining consistency with the master database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes functionality for two or more communications conversions one of which includes automated text messaging conversions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hospitality application includes food/drink ordering, integrated with a customer frequency/rewards application.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hospitality application includes event ticketing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a mobile application operating on a wireless handheld computing device is used to interface with the back office hospitality software application.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a frequent customer mobile application operating on a wireless handheld computing device is used to interface with the back office hospitality software application.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to enable one or more staff members to utilize only a wireless handheld smart phone for substantially all of their interactions with the back office hospitality software application.

2. A rule capable intelligent automated assistants (IAA) system for use with remote wireless handheld computing devices and the internet, comprising:

a) at least one hospitality software back-office application with at least one IAA-based interface and enabled to execute one or more rules while communicating via free format messaging and at least one mobile software application based interface with combined free and fixed format messaging communications for communicating bi-directionally with two or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

b) a master database containing data and parameters of the at least one hospitality software application pursuant to a master database file structure with predefined formats and specific fields and which is accessible through a database application programming interface (API);

c) at least one computer server, with associated data storage capabilities for the at least one hospitality software application, and the master database;

d) at least one application software based communications control module (CCM) integrated with the hospitality application software and enabled to interface with at least one communications protocol;

e) at least one web server enabled by the CCM to concurrently communicate via the internet with two or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

f) at least one wireless handheld remote computing device with at least one IAA mobile application and user interface with free format messaging that enables access to and communications with the back office hospitality software application and its IAA-based Interface;

g) at least one other wireless handheld remote computing device which uses a mobile hospitality software application based user interface with combined free and fixed format messaging to access and communicate with the back office hospitality application software;

h) at least one external API for fully integrating via the internet the hospitality back office software application with one or more non hospitality software applications;

wherein the system elements are enabled to communicate bi-directionally in real time via the back office hospitality application software and the database API and the communications control module while utilizing the parameters and data of the master database file structure in interfacing the back office hospitality software application between and with the two or more remote wireless handheld computing devices with their different user interfaces while maintaining consistency with the master database.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system includes functionality for two or more communications conversions one of which includes automated text messaging conversions.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the hospitality application includes hotel reservations.

3. A rule capable intelligent automated assistants (IAA) system for use with remote wireless handheld computing devices and the internet, comprising:

a) at least one hospitality software back-office application with at least one IAA-based interface and enabled to execute one or more rules while communicating via free format messaging and at least one interface with web browsers with fixed format messaging communications and with at least one mobile software application interface with fixed format messaging communications for bi-directional communications with three or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

b) a master database containing data and parameters of the at least one hospitality software application pursuant to a master database file structure with predefined formats and specific fields and which is accessible through a database application programming interface (API);

c) at least one computer server, with associated data storage capabilities for the at least one hospitality software application, and the master database;

d) at least one application software based communications control module (CCM) integrated with the hospitality application software and enabled to interface with at least one communications protocol;

e) at least one web server enabled by the CCM to concurrently communicate via the internet with three or more different remote wireless handheld computing devices;

f) at least one wireless handheld remote computing device with at least one IAA mobile application and user interface via free format messaging that enables access to and communications with the back office hospitality software application and its IAA-based interface;

g) at least one other wireless handheld remote computing device which uses a web browser based user interface with fixed format messaging to access and communicate with the back office hospitality application software;

h) at least one other wireless handheld remote computing device which uses a mobile hospitality software application based user interface with fixed format messaging to access and communicate with the back office hospitality application software;

i) at least one external API for fully integrating via the internet the hospitality back office software application with one or more non hospitality software applications;

wherein the system elements are enabled to communicate bi-directionally in real time via the back office hospitality application software and the database API and the communications control module while utilizing the parameters and data of the master database file structure in interfacing the back office hospitality software application between and with the three or more remote wireless handheld computing devices with their different user interfaces while maintaining consistency with the master database.