JP2000067131A - Vacant room retrieval system and computer readable medium storing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacant room retrieval system unnecessitating the confirmation of reservation for each accommodation facility. SOLUTION: Data specifying the accommodation condition of a travel are inputted by the keyboard of user terminal equipment. The data specifying the accommodation condition are transmitted to a host computer 20 by a communication interface. Data showing the possibility of accommodation reservation are received from the host computer 20 by the communication interface. Based on the received data, an image is displayed on a display device. The storage device of the host computer 20 stores accommodation data showing the accommodation reservation conditions of accommodation facilities specified by accommodation facility terminal equipment A1-An. Based on the data specifying the accommodation condition, a control part extracts any accommodation facility capable of accommodation reservation from the accommodation data stored in the storage device. Data showing the reservation of accommodation are transmitted to the accommodation facility terminal equipment A1-An by the communication interface and the control part updates the accommodation data stored in the storage device and transmits the data showing the acceptance of accommodation reservation to the user terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacancy search system for making an accommodation reservation for an accommodation facility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed an automatic telephone accommodation reservation apparatus installed in accommodation facilities (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-293100). In this prior art, a user such as a travel agency needs to make a reservation by telephone to an automatic telephone accommodation reservation device installed for each accommodation facility (hotel, inn, guest house, etc.).

[0003]

However, such a conventional technique has the following problems. That is, the user has already created a travel itinerary,
Even if the number of nights has been decided, it was necessary to confirm whether or not accommodation was possible between accommodation facilities under the same conditions and make a reservation. Therefore, the accommodation reservation work is complicated for the user. That is, real-time processing of a series of operations such as reservation confirmation between accommodation facilities, accommodation reservation, and reservation display under accommodation conditions desired by the user has been difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for real-time processing of a series of operations, such as confirmation of accommodation availability between accommodation facilities and reservation of accommodation, in consideration of the problems of the conventional technology, and making reservations at a plurality of accommodation facilities. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacancy search system that can easily make an accommodation reservation without having to confirm it.

[0005]

The present invention has the following features to attain the object mentioned above. In order to solve the above-described problems, a first invention of the present application provides a host computer, one or more user terminal devices mutually connected to the host computer by a communication path, and a host computer and a user terminal device connected to the host computer by a communication path. A vacancy search system comprising one or more accommodation facility terminal devices connected to the user terminal, wherein the user terminal device is configured to input data specifying accommodation conditions, and to input the data by the data input device. First transmission means for transmitting data specifying the accommodation condition to the host computer, first reception means for receiving data indicating whether or not accommodation reservation is possible from the host computer, and reception by the first reception means. Display means for displaying an image based on data, wherein the host computer Storage means for storing accommodation data indicating the accommodation reservation status of the accommodation facility specified by the terminal device; second reception means for receiving data for specifying accommodation conditions from the user terminal device; and reception by the second reception means. Accommodation-reservable-facility extracting means for extracting accommodation-reservable accommodation facilities from the accommodation data stored in the storage means on the basis of the specified data specifying the accommodation conditions; When a suitable accommodation facility is extracted, data for making an accommodation reservation is transmitted to the accommodation facility terminal device, the accommodation data stored in the storage means is updated, and accommodation reservation is possible with the user terminal device. When the accommodation reservation means for transmitting the data indicating that the accommodation has been made and the accommodation reservation-possible facility extracting means cannot be extracted by the accommodation reservation-possible facility extraction means, Reservation to the user terminal device is characterized in that a room whether reservation notice means for transmitting data indicating that was not (corresponding to claim 1).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, data for specifying accommodation conditions is input by the data input means of one or more user terminal devices interconnected by a host computer and a communication path. Further, the data for specifying the accommodation condition input by the data input means is transmitted to the host computer by the first transmission means. Further, the first receiving means receives, from the host computer, data indicating whether accommodation reservation can be made. Further, an image based on the data received by the first receiving means is displayed by the display means.

[0007] Then, accommodation data indicating the accommodation reservation status of the accommodation facility specified by the accommodation facility terminal device is stored by the storage means of the host computer. Further, the data for specifying the accommodation condition is received from the user terminal device via the communication path by the second receiving means. In addition, the accommodation reservation available facility extraction means,
Based on the data specifying the accommodation conditions received by the second reception means, accommodation facilities that can be reserved for accommodation are extracted from the accommodation data stored in the storage means. Also,
In the case where the accommodation facility capable of making a reservation is extracted by the accommodation reservation means extracting means by the accommodation reservation means,
Data for making an accommodation reservation is transmitted to the accommodation facility terminal device, the accommodation data stored in the storage means is updated, and data indicating that the accommodation reservation is permitted is transmitted to the user terminal device.

[0008] Further, when the accommodation reservable facility notifying means cannot extract an accommodation facility that can be reserved by the accommodation reservable facility extracting means, the user terminal device indicates that the accommodation reservation has not been made. Is sent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host computer, one or more user terminal devices interconnected by a communication path with the host computer, and the host computer. And a vacancy search system comprising one or more accommodation facility terminal devices mutually connected by a communication path, wherein the user terminal device comprises: first data input means for inputting data specifying accommodation conditions; A first transmitting unit that transmits data input by the first data input unit to the host computer, a first receiving unit that receives data indicating whether accommodation reservation is possible from the host computer,
Display means for displaying an image based on the data received by the first receiving means; accommodation facility specifying means for specifying a desired accommodation facility based on data indicating whether or not accommodation reservation is displayed on the display means; A second transmitting unit that transmits data of the accommodation facility specified by the facility specifying unit to the host computer; and a fifth receiving unit that receives data indicating the completion of the accommodation reservation from the host computer. The accommodation facility terminal device includes a second data input unit for inputting data of an accommodation reservation status of the accommodation facility, a second storage unit for storing the accommodation data input by the second data input unit, and the second storage unit. A third transmitting means for transmitting the accommodation data stored in the host computer to the host computer, and a third transmitting means for receiving data for making an accommodation reservation from the host computer. Receiving means and the second on the basis of that data to the booking received by the third reception means
Updating means for updating the accommodation data in the storage means, wherein the host computer stores accommodation data indicating the accommodation reservation status of the accommodation facility specified by the accommodation facility terminal device; Second receiving means for receiving data specifying the accommodation condition from the user terminal device; and accommodation data stored in the first storage means based on the data specifying the accommodation condition received by the second receiving means. Accommodation-reservable-facility extracting means for extracting accommodation-reservable-accommodating facilities from the apparatus, and fourth transmitting means for transmitting data of accommodation-reservable-accommodations extracted by the accommodation-reservable-facility extracting means to the user terminal device. ,
A fourth receiving unit that receives data of the accommodation facility that the user wants to stay from the user terminal device, and transmits data indicating that an accommodation reservation is made to the accommodation facility terminal device based on the data received by the fourth receiving unit; Accommodation reservation means for updating the accommodation data stored in the first storage means and transmitting data indicating that the accommodation reservation has been completed to the user terminal device;
(Corresponding to claim 2).

A third invention of the present application is the invention according to the first or second invention, wherein the accommodation condition includes the number of nights and the number of guests (corresponding to claim 3).
According to a fourth invention of the present application, in the first or second invention, the accommodation condition includes an accommodation start date, the number of accommodation days, and the number of guests (corresponding to claim 4).

According to a fifth invention of the present application, in the first to fourth inventions, the accommodation condition includes data for specifying a landmark to be traveled, and the host computer transmits the accommodation to each accommodation facility. A third facility stores accommodation facility location area data in which data indicating the location area of the facility is associated, and landmark location area data in which each landmark is associated with data indicating the area where the landmark is located.
A storage unit, wherein the accommodation reservable facility extracting unit stores the regional accommodation facility data indicating the area where the identified landmark is located and the accommodation facility located in the same area as the third accommodation facility.
It is characterized by extracting based on the data of the storage means, and further extracting from the accommodation data, accommodation facilities that can be reserved for accommodation, with the accommodation facility of the regional accommodation facility data as a limiting condition (corresponding to claim 5). ).

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, in the fifth aspect, when the landmark location data is located in a plurality of areas, the landmark location area data includes all the locations of the landmarks. The data is indicative of an area (corresponding to claim 6).

In a seventh aspect of the present invention based on the fifth or sixth aspect, the third storage means of the host computer stores, for each area, an adjacent area corresponding to data specifying an area adjacent to the area. The accommodation reservable facility extraction means, if there is no reservable accommodation facility at the location of the specified landmark, based on the adjacent data, the location of the landmark. An accommodation facility that can make a reservation is extracted from accommodation facilities existing in an adjacent area (corresponding to claim 7).

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer comprising: communication means for transmitting and receiving data; data input means for inputting data; and display means for displaying data.
The accommodation condition is specified by the data input means, the data of the specified accommodation condition is transmitted by the communication means, the transmitted data of the accommodation facility meeting the accommodation condition is transmitted, and the received data of the accommodation facility is displayed on the display means. A program for causing a desired facility to be specified from the data displayed on the display means, transmitting the specified desired facility by the communication means, and receiving, by the communication means, data indicating that the reservation is completed at the transmitted desired facility. The stored computer-readable medium was used.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a computer having communication means for transmitting and receiving data and storage means for storing data indicating the accommodation status of each accommodation facility receives data on accommodation conditions by the communication means. Then, the data of the accommodation facility that meets the received accommodation condition is extracted, the extracted data of the accommodation facility is transmitted by the communication means, the data of the accommodation facility desired is received by the communication means, and the received data of the accommodation facility is received. In order to make a reservation, a computer-readable medium is stored which stores a program for transmitting data by the communication means, updating the data of the accommodation status, and transmitting the data indicating the completion of the reservation by the communication means.

As described above, the host computer can grasp the reservation status of each accommodation facility, extract the accommodation facilities that can be reserved, and make an accommodation reservation. Therefore, the user can make a reservation to a plurality of accommodation facilities by telephone. The trouble of having to confirm can be omitted.

Further, the location of the landmark and the reservation status of each accommodation facility are grasped by the host computer.
Since accommodation facilities that can be reserved for accommodation are extracted and accommodation reservations can be made, it is possible to save the user from having to check the location of a landmark or confirm reservations by calling a plurality of accommodation facilities.

If no accommodation facility exists at the location of the landmark, the accommodation facility existing in the area adjacent to the location of the landmark is extracted. Even so, the user can save the trouble of searching for a nearby accommodation facility.

Here, the user terminal device and the accommodation facility terminal device are a personal computer (PC) and the like, each data input means is a mouse, a keyboard and the like, and each transmission means and each reception means are: The display means is a CRT (Cathode R).
a Tube, a liquid crystal display, etc., each storage means is a hard disk or the like, and accommodation reservable facility extraction means, accommodation reservation means, accommodation refusal notification means, and update means are CPU (Central Processing).
Unit). The user terminal device may be, for example, a travel agent terminal device installed by a travel agent such as a travel agency or a general user terminal device installed by a general user. When the general user terminal device is installed, the general user can directly connect to the host computer to perform vacancy search, reservation setting, and the like.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
23 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows a vacancy search system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the vacancy search system 10 includes a host computer 20 and the host computer 2 via a communication path C1.
0, the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn mutually connected, the general user terminals U1 to Un mutually connected to the host computer 20 by a communication path C1, and the host computer 20 and the general user terminals U1 to Un by a communication path C2. And accommodation facility terminals A1 to An connected to the accommodation facility terminals A1 to An.

In FIG. 1, a host computer 20,
Travel agent terminals R1 to Rn, general user terminals U1 to Un,
The accommodation facility terminals A1 to An are personal computers or the like. In addition, the travel agency terminals R1 to Rn, and
The general user terminals U1 to Un correspond to user terminal devices. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the host computer 20. 2, the host computer 20 includes a mouse 201, a keyboard 202, a display device 203, and a computer main body 204.

The computer main unit 204 is connected to a bus B
Mouse interface 20 interconnected by one
41, a keyboard interface 2042, a display memory 2043, a display device interface 2044, a storage device interface 2046, a main memory 2047, a control unit 2048, a communication interface 2049, and a storage device connected to the bus B1 via the storage device interface 2046. 2045. The mouse 201 is connected via the mouse interface 2041, and the keyboard 202 is connected via the keyboard interface 2.
The display device 203 is connected to the bus B1 via the display device interface 2044 via the display device interface 042.

The mouse 201 and the keyboard 202 are devices for an operator who maintains the host computer 20 to input data and the like. The display device 203 is a device for displaying characters and the like input from the keyboard 202 and the like.

The computer main body 204 is a device for executing programs and the like. The mouse interface 2041 transmits data input by the user to the mouse 20.
This is a device that receives from the device 1 and transmits it to the bus B1.

The keyboard interface 2042 is a device for receiving data input by a user from the keyboard 202 and transmitting the data to the bus B1. Display memory 2
043 is a RAM (Random Access Me)
memory) for storing data such as characters and images to be displayed on the display device 203.

The display device interface 2044 is a device for displaying characters, images, and the like on the display device 203. The storage device 2045 is a hard disk device that stores a program processed by the control unit 2048, an accommodation facility database including accommodation facility data, accommodation data, and the like.

Here, accommodation data will be described with reference to FIG. Accommodation data is composed of hotel records. In addition, the hotel record includes the hotel code assigned to the hotel, the inn, and the like, and the room code of each hotel, the number of guests that can stay in each room, and the number of guests in each room in association with the hotel code. It is composed of a guest room record composed of flag data indicating the reservation status. This hotel record is created for all hotels, inns, and the like, and is stored in the storage device 2045. The accommodation data may be stored in the storage device 2045, for example, as a monthly file compiled for each month. The flag data is set to 1 when the room is already reserved, and set to 0 when the room is vacant. The storage device 2045 corresponds to a storage unit.

The storage device interface 2046 is used for writing data to the storage device 2045 and for storing data in the storage device 204.
5 is a device for reading data from the memory device 5. The main memory 2047 is configured by a RAM or the like, and includes a control unit 2048.
This is a memory used for the work.

The communication interface 2049 is connected to the bus B1
This is a device for receiving data from the communication path C1 or the communication path C2, transmitting data to the communication path C1 or the communication path C2, and transmitting the data to the bus B1. This communication interface 2049 corresponds to a receiving unit.

The control unit 2048 comprises a CPU and the like.
Data such as characters and images are written in the display memory 2043, and a screen display instruction is issued to the display device interface 2044. Further, the control unit 2048 instructs the storage device interface 2046 to write data to the storage device 2045 and to read data from the storage device 2045. Further, the control unit 2048 receives input data from the mouse 201 via the mouse interface 2041 and receives input data from the keyboard 202 via the keyboard interface 2042. Further, the control unit 2048 receives data from the communication path C1 or C2 via the communication interface 2049 and transmits data to the communication path C1 or C2 via the communication interface 2049. Further, the control unit 20
48 performs processing of data such as characters input from the mouse 201 and the keyboard 202 and processing of screen data displayed on the display device 203. The control unit 2048 corresponds to accommodation reservable facility extraction means, the control unit 2048, the communication interface 2049, and the storage device 2045 correspond to accommodation reservation means, and the control unit 2048 and the communication interface 2
049 corresponds to an accommodation refusal reservation notifying means.

Next, the travel agency terminal R1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the travel agency terminal R1. 3, the travel agency terminal R1 includes a mouse 301, a keyboard 302, a display device 303, a printer 304, and a computer main body 304.

The computer main body 305 is connected to the bus B
Mouse interface 30 interconnected by two
51, a keyboard interface 3052, a display memory 3053, a display device interface 3054, a storage device interface 3056, a main memory 3057, a control unit 3058, a communication interface 3059, and a storage device connected to the bus B2 via the storage device interface 3056. 3055.

The mouse 301 is connected to a bus B2 via a mouse interface 3051, and a keyboard 3
02 is connected to the bus B2 via the keyboard interface 3052, and the display device 303 is connected to the bus B2 via the display device interface 3054.

The mouse 301 and the keyboard 302 are devices for a user such as a travel agency to input data. The mouse 301 and the keyboard 302 correspond to data input means.

The liquid crystal display 303 is a keyboard 3
It is a device for displaying characters and the like input from 02 or the like. The liquid crystal display 303 corresponds to a display unit. The printer 304 is a device for printing characters, images, and the like.

The computer main body 305 is a device for executing programs and the like. The mouse interface 3051 transmits data input by the user to the mouse 30.
This is a device that receives from the device 1 and transmits it to the bus B2.

The keyboard interface 3052 is a device for receiving data input by a user from the keyboard 302 and transmitting the data to the bus B2. Display memory 3
Numeral 053 is constituted by a RAM or the like,
3 is a memory for storing data such as characters and images to be displayed.

The display device interface 3054 is a device for displaying characters, images, and the like on the liquid crystal display 303. The storage device 3055 is a hard disk device that stores a program processed by the control unit 3058 and the like.

The storage device interface 3056 writes data to the storage device 3055,
5 is a device for reading data from the memory device 5. The main memory 3057 is configured by a RAM or the like, and
058 is a memory used for work.

The communication interface 3059 is connected to the bus B2
And transmits the data to the communication channel C1.
1 for transmitting data to the bus B2. The communication interface 3059 corresponds to a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

The printer interface 3060 is a device for receiving data from the bus B2 and transmitting the data to the printer 304. The control unit 3058 is configured by a CPU or the like, writes data such as characters and images into the display memory 3053, and issues a screen display instruction to the display device interface 3054. In addition, the control unit 3058 issues a data write instruction to the storage device 3055 and a data read instruction from the storage device 3055 to the storage device interface 3056. Further, the control unit 3058 receives data from the mouse 301 via the mouse interface 3051 and receives input data from the keyboard 302 via the keyboard interface 3052. The control unit 3058 receives data from the communication channel C1 via the communication interface 3059, and transmits data to the communication channel C1 via the communication interface 3059. Further, the control unit 3058 processes data input from the mouse 301 and the keyboard 302,
The processing of screen data to be displayed on the printer 03 and the processing of characters and image data to be printed by the printer 304 are performed.

The travel agent terminals R2 to Rn have the same configuration as the above-described travel agent terminal R1, and their illustration is omitted. Further, the general user terminals U1 to Un also have the same configuration as the travel agent terminal R1, and their illustration is omitted. The accommodation company terminals A1 to An are general personal computers, and their illustration is omitted.

<Explanation of Operation of First Embodiment>
The control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 stores the storage device 2
The contents of control realized by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage agent 3045 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 are described below. explain.

First, the operation of the vacancy search system 10 during accommodation facility reservation work will be described. An image as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display screen of the travel agency terminal R1. Then, the user inputs each of the accommodation condition data such as the search period, the accommodation start date, the number of accommodation days (the number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests according to the input fields in the image displayed on the display screen.

When data of the search period, the accommodation start date, the number of accommodation days (number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests are received from the mouse 301 or the keyboard 302, the control unit 30 of the travel agency terminal R1 receives the data.
58 starts the control shown in FIG.

After the start, in the first step S101, the control unit 2048 transmits the input data to the host computer 20 via the communication interface 3059 and the communication path C1.

In the next step S102, the control unit 305
8 waits for reception of data from the host computer 20. On the other hand, the control unit 204 of the host computer 20
8 receives the data via the communication channel C1 and the communication interface 2059, and starts the processing shown in FIGS.

After the start, in the first step S201, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 determines the corresponding monthly accommodation data based on the accommodation day data in the data received via the communication path C1 and the communication interface 2049. Is read from the storage device 2045. FIG.
8 shows an example of accommodation data.

In the next step S202, the variable J is set to the value of the first hotel code in the accommodation data read out in step S201, and the variable I is set to the first hotel code specified by the hotel code specified by the variable J. The variable W is initialized to the value of the room number code and the value of the data of the number of guests received, respectively.

In the next step S203, the control unit 204
Step 8 checks whether the flag of the field corresponding to the accommodation date received in step S201 in the room record specified by the room number code I is 0 or not. If the flag is 0, the process proceeds to step S
204, and if it is 1, the process proceeds to step S208.

If the control unit 2048 determines in step S203 that the flag is 0, the control unit 2048 determines in step S204 the number of nights (the number of consecutive nights) received in step S201 in the room record specified by the room number code I. ), It is checked whether or not the flag is 0 continuously, that is, whether or not continuous stay is possible. Then, if the number of staying days (number of consecutive nights) is equal to or more than the
If so, the process moves to step S205; otherwise, the process moves to step S208.

If it is determined in step S204 that consecutive nights are possible, the control unit 2048 determines in step S205 the value of the number of available people data in the room record specified by the room number code I from the number of guests W. Reduce.

In the next step S206, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable W is equal to or less than 0, that is, all the travelers are in the hotel code J.
It is checked whether or not it is possible to stay at the hotel or the like specified by. If W is equal to or smaller than 0, the process proceeds to step S207; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S208.

If it is determined in step S206 that all the travelers can stay at the hotel specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 2048 proceeds to step S20.
7, it is determined that the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J can be stayed, and the accommodation company terminal A of the hotel or the like via the communication interface 2049 and the communication path C2
The data for making a reservation is transmitted to (J). At the same time, the corresponding flag in the accommodation data is set to 1.

In the next step S212, the control unit 204
8 is a communication interface 2 for the travel agency terminal R1.
049 and data for indicating that the accommodation reservation has been completed are transmitted via the communication path C1. Then, the control unit 2
Step 048 ends the process. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S203 that the flag is 0, step S204
If it is determined in Step S206 that consecutive nights are not possible, and if it is determined in Step S206 that the value of the variable W is not equal to or less than 0, the control unit 2048 shifts the processing to Step S208.

In step S208, the control unit 2048
Checks whether the value of the room number code I is the last room number code of a hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J. If it is determined that the value of the room number code I is not the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the process proceeds to step S209; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S2.
Move to 10.

If it is determined in step S208 that the value of the room number code I is not the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 204
In step S209, the value of the variable I is set to the value of the next room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J in step S209. Thereafter, the process returns to step S203.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S208 that the value of the room number code I is the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 2048 determines in step S210 that the hotel code J It is checked whether or not the value is the last hotel code in the accommodation data read in step S201.
Then, if it is determined that it is not the last hotel code, the process proceeds to step S211; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S213.

If it is determined in step S210 that the received hotel code is not the last hotel code, control unit 2048 proceeds to step S210.
At 211, the value of the variable J is set to the value of the next hotel code. Further, the variable I is initialized to the value of the first room number code in the hotel record specified by the hotel code, and the variable W is initialized to the value of the number of guests received in step S201. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S20
Return to 3.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S210 that the hotel code is the last hotel code, in step S213, the control unit 2048 issues a reservation to the travel agency terminal R1 via the communication interface 2049 and the communication path C1. Transmit data indicating that it is not possible. Thereafter, the process ends.

When the above processing is performed by the host computer 20 and the data is transmitted, step S10
The control unit 3058 of the travel agency terminal R1 that has been waiting for data reception in step 2 moves the process to step S103.

In step S103, the travel agency terminal R1
The control unit 3058 displays an image based on the data received in S102 on the display screen of the display device 303.
FIG. 16 shows an example of an accommodation facility displayed on the display screen of the display device 303. Thereafter, the process ends.

If it is not possible to stay overnight and change the staying date and search again, the steps S101 to S101 are executed.
What is necessary is just to repeat S103. When traveling around each place while staying at a plurality of hotels, etc., step S20
2 to S213 may be repeated.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user transmits the accommodation schedule data from the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn to the host computer 20 via the communication path C1, whereby the host computer 20 The available hotels and the like are searched by the host computer 20. If there are available hotels and the like, the host computer 20 and the host computer 2
The accommodation reservation is made by the accommodation facility terminals A1 to An mutually connected by the communication path C2 and 0. In addition, if there is no hotel or the like that can be stayed, the fact is indicated by the travel agent terminals R1 to R.
n. For this reason, the user can make an accommodation reservation without inquiring each hotel individually and sequentially, and it is not necessary to arrange personnel for accommodation reservation reception at each hotel and the accommodation reservation can be made at any time of the day. We can do reception.

The communication paths C1 and C2 may use a public telephone line, wireless communication, satellite communication, or the like. Further, the reservation status may be printed by the printer 304 as necessary. In addition, even if the general user terminals U1 to Un are used, the search of the vacant room, the execution of the reservation, and the like performed using the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn can be similarly performed.

[0067]

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and is the same as that shown in FIGS.

<Explanation of Operation of Second Embodiment>
The control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 stores the storage device 2
The contents of control realized by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. explain.

First, the operation of the vacancy search system 10 during accommodation facility reservation work will be described. An image as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display screen of the travel agency terminal R1. Then, the user inputs data of the search period, the number of nights of stay (the number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests according to the input fields in the image displayed on the display screen. Here, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that the user does not input the data of the lodging start date.

When the data of the search period, the number of staying days (number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests are received from the mouse 301 or the keyboard 302, the control unit 3058 of the travel agency terminal R1 returns to FIG.
Start the control shown in.

After the start, in the first step S301, the control unit 2048 transmits the input data to the host computer 20 via the communication interface 3059 and the communication path C1.

In the next step S302, the control unit 305
8 waits for reception of data from the host computer 20. On the other hand, the communication path C1 and the communication interface 20
Upon receiving the data via 59, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 starts the processing shown in FIGS.

After the start, in the first step S401, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 determines the corresponding monthly accommodation data based on the accommodation day data in the data received via the communication path C1 and the communication interface 2049. Is read from the storage device 2045. FIG.
8 shows an example of accommodation data.

In the next step S 402, the variable J is set to the value of the first hotel code in the accommodation data read out in step S 401, and the variable I is set to the first hotel code specified by the hotel code specified by the variable J. The variable W is initialized to the value of the room number code and the value of the data of the number of guests received, respectively.

In the next step S403, the control unit 204
Step 8 checks whether the flag of the field corresponding to the accommodation date received in step S401 in the room record specified by the room number code I is 0. If the flag is 0, the process proceeds to step S
The process moves to step S404, and if it is 1, the process moves to step S408.

If the control unit 2048 determines in step S403 that the flag is 0, the control unit 2048 determines in step S404 that the number of nights (the number of consecutive nights) received in step S401 in the room record specified by the room number code I ), It is checked whether or not the flag is 0 continuously, that is, whether or not continuous stay is possible. Then, if the number of staying days (number of consecutive nights) is equal to or more than the
If so, the process moves to step S405; otherwise, the process moves to step S408.

If it is determined in step S 404 that consecutive nights are possible, the control unit 2048 determines in step S 405 the value of the number of available guests data in the room record specified by the room number code I from the number of available guests W. Reduce.

In the next step S406, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable W is equal to or less than 0, that is, all the travelers are in the hotel code J.
It is checked whether or not it is possible to stay at the hotel or the like specified by. If W is equal to or smaller than 0, the process proceeds to step S407; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S408.

If it is determined in step S406 that all the travelers can stay at the hotel specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 2048 proceeds to step S40.
7, it is determined that the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J can be stayed, and the accommodation company terminal A of the hotel or the like via the communication interface 2049 and the communication path C2
The data for making a reservation is transmitted to (J). At the same time, the corresponding flag in the accommodation data is set to 1.

In the next step S412, the control unit 204
8 is a communication interface 2 for the travel agency terminal R1.
049 and data for indicating that the accommodation reservation has been completed are transmitted via the communication path C1. Then, the control unit 2
Step 048 ends the process. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that the flag is 0, the process proceeds to step S404.
If it is determined in step S406 that consecutive nights are not possible, and if it is determined in step S406 that the value of the variable W is not equal to or smaller than 0, the control unit 2048 shifts the processing to step S408.

In step S408, the control unit 2048
Checks whether the value of the room number code I is the last room number code of a hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J. If it is determined that the value of the room number code I is not the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the process proceeds to step S409; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S4.
Move to 10.

If it is determined in step S408 that the value of the room number code I is not the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 204
In step S409, the value of the variable I is set to the value of the next room number code such as the hotel specified by the hotel code J in step S409. Thereafter, the process returns to step S403.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S408 that the value of the room number code I is the last room number code of the hotel or the like specified by the hotel code J, the control unit 2048 determines in step S410 that the hotel code J It is checked whether or not the value is the last hotel code in the accommodation data read in step S401.
If it is determined that it is not the last hotel code, the process proceeds to step S411; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S413.

If it is determined in step S410 that the received hotel code is not the last hotel code, control unit 2048 proceeds to step S410.
At 411, the value of the variable J is set to the value of the next hotel code. Further, the variable I is set to the value of the first room number code in the hotel record specified by the hotel code,
The variable W is initialized to the value of the number of guests received in step S401. Then, the process proceeds to step S403
Return to

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S410 that the hotel code is the last hotel code, in step S413, the control unit 2048 issues a reservation to the travel agency terminal R1 via the communication interface 2049 and the communication path C1. Transmit data indicating that it is not possible. Thereafter, the process ends.

When the above processing is performed by the host computer 20 and the data is transmitted, step S30
The control unit 3058 of the travel agency terminal R1 that has been waiting for data reception in step 2 moves the process to step S303.

In step S303, the travel agency terminal R1
The control unit 3058 displays an image based on the data received in step S302 on the display screen of the display device 303. FIG. 16 shows an example of an accommodation facility displayed on the display screen of the display device 303. Thereafter, the process ends.

If the accommodation is not possible and the accommodation date is changed and the search is performed again, steps S301 to S301 are executed.
What is necessary is just to repeat S303. When traveling around each place while staying at a plurality of hotels, etc., step S4
What is necessary is just to repeat the process of 02-S413.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the user transmits data excluding the data of the lodging start date from the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn to the host computer 20 via the communication path C1. The host computer 20 searches for available hotels and the like. If there are available hotels and the like, accommodation reservation is made by the host computer 20 and the accommodation facility terminals A1 to An mutually connected to the host computer 20 via the communication path C2. If no hotel or the like is available, the fact is transmitted to the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn. For this reason, even if the accommodation start date is not fixed or the accommodation start date can be determined dynamically according to the reservation situation, the user can make an accommodation reservation without inquiring each hotel individually and sequentially. In addition, there is no need to arrange personnel for accommodation reservations in hotels and the like, and accommodation reservations can be accepted at any time of the day.

The communication paths C1 and C2 may use a public telephone line, wireless communication, satellite communication, or the like. Further, the reservation status may be printed by the printer 304 as necessary. In addition, even if the general user terminals U1 to Un are used, the search of the vacant room, the execution of the reservation, and the like performed using the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn can be similarly performed.

[0091]

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The overall configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and is the same as that shown in FIGS.

The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the landmark and its location are stored in the storage device 2045 in the host computer 20 shown in FIG. The point is that the associated data and the local government data in which adjacent areas (local governments and the like) are mutually associated are stored.

FIG. 20 shows an example of data in which landmarks are associated with their locations (for example, local governments). When a landmark is located across a plurality of local governments, the landmark is associated with all the local governments across the landmark. FIG. 21 shows an example of data in which adjacent municipalities are linked. Further, FIG.
An example of data in which adjacent prefectures are associated is shown.

<Explanation of Operation of Third Embodiment>
The control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 stores the storage device 2
The contents of control realized by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 by executing the program stored in the storage device 3055 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. explain.

First, the operation of the vacancy search system 10 during the accommodation facility reservation work will be described. An image as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display screen of the travel agency terminal R1. Then, the user, according to the input field in the image displayed on the display screen, landmark, search period,
Enter the data of the accommodation start date, the number of stays (number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests. Here, the difference between the third embodiment and the above-described first embodiment is that a user inputs landmark data.

The data of the landmark, the search period, the accommodation start date, the number of nights of stay (the number of consecutive nights), and the number of guests
Or, when received from the keyboard 302, the travel agent terminal R
The first control unit 3058 starts the control shown in FIG.

After the start, in the first step S501, the control unit 2048 transmits the input data to the host computer 20 via the communication interface 3059 and the communication path C1.

In the next step S502, the control unit 305
8 waits for reception of data from the host computer 20. On the other hand, the communication path C1 and the communication interface 20
When data is received via the host computer 49, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 starts the processing shown in FIGS.

After the start, in the first step S601, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 stores the data in the storage device 2045 based on the landmark data in the data received via the communication path C1 and the communication interface 2049. The searched landmark location data is retrieved to obtain data of the location of the landmark.

In the next step S602, the control unit 204
8 searches for accommodation data based on the data of the location of the landmark obtained in step S601, the data of the accommodation date received from the accommodation company terminal R1, and the like. Then, if there is no accommodation facility at the location of the landmark or the location of the landmark, the control unit 2048 extracts an accommodation facility located at a local government or the like adjacent to the location of the landmark.

In the next step S603, the control unit 204
No. 8 transmits the data obtained in step S602 to the travel agency terminal R1 via the communication interface 2049 and the communication path C1. Thereafter, the process ends.

On the other hand, when the control unit 3058 of the travel agency terminal R1 waiting at step S502 receives the data from the host computer 20, it proceeds to step S5.
Move to 03.

In step S503, the travel agent terminal R1
The control unit 3058 displays an image based on the data received in step S502 on the display screen of the display device 303. FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device 303 when the landmark is located in the city A. FIG. 23 shows the display screen of the display device 303 when a landmark exists over a plurality of cities or when there is no accommodation facility in the location of the landmark and there is an accommodation facility in an adjacent city. 2 shows an example of an image displayed on the screen. In FIG. 23, when the user clicks the index of city B to city H, accommodation facilities located in the city are displayed.

In the next step S504, the control unit 305
Step 8 checks whether there is any accommodation facility for which accommodation reservation is possible in the data received in step S502. If there is an accommodation facility for which accommodation reservation is possible, the process proceeds to step S505; otherwise, the process ends.

In step S505, the control unit 3058
Displays an accommodation reservation screen (see FIG. 19) on the display screen of the display device 303, and waits for data from the user to input accommodation reservation. Then, when data is input from the user, the process proceeds to step S506.

In step S506, control unit 3058
Transmits the data for making an accommodation reservation to the communication interface 3
059 and the host computer 20 via the communication path C1.
Send to Thereafter, the process ends.

[0107] On the other hand, when receiving data for making an accommodation reservation from the travel agency terminal R1, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 starts the processing shown in FIG.
After the start, in the first step S701, the control unit 2048 of the host computer 20 installs in the accommodation facility to be reserved based on the data for making the reservation received via the communication path C1 and the communication interface 2049. Communication interface 2 to terminal A
049 and data for making an accommodation reservation via the communication path C2. At the same time, the corresponding flag in the accommodation data stored in the storage device 2045 is set to 1. Thereafter, the process ends.

[0108] In the case where accommodation cannot be made and the accommodation date is changed and a search is performed again or a plurality of landmarks are visited, steps S501 to S506 may be repeated.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the user transmits the data of the landmark, the date of stay, etc. from the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn to the host computer 20 via the communication path C1. As a result, the host computer 20 searches for a hotel or the like existing at the location of the landmark or an adjacent local government. If a hotel or the like is available, the host computer 20 and accommodation terminals A1 to An mutually connected to the host computer 20 via the communication path C2 make an accommodation reservation. Is transmitted to the travel agency terminals R1 to Rn. For this reason, it is possible to make an accommodation reservation without searching for a hotel or the like only by inputting data of a landmark to be visited and data of an accommodation date.

The communication paths C1 and C2 may use a public telephone line, wireless communication, satellite communication, or the like. Further, the reservation status may be printed by the printer 304 as necessary. In addition, even if the general user terminals U1 to Un are used, the search of the vacant room, the execution of the reservation, and the like performed using the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn can be similarly performed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user transmits accommodation schedule data from the travel agent terminal or the general user terminal to the host computer via the communication path, and the host computer Hotels that can stay are searched. If there are hotels that can stay, reservations are made by the host computer and the accommodation terminal connected to the host computer via a communication path. Is transmitted to the travel agent terminal or general user terminal, so that the user can make an accommodation reservation individually and sequentially without inquiring each hotel, etc. It is not necessary to arrange a room, and it is possible to receive an accommodation reservation at any time of the day.

According to the second embodiment, the user transmits data excluding the data of the lodging start date to the host computer via the communication path from the travel agent terminal or the general user terminal. Hotels that can stay are searched. If there are hotels that can stay, reservations are made by the host computer and the accommodation terminal connected to the host computer via a communication path. Will be sent to the travel agent terminal or general user terminal, so even if the accommodation start date is not determined,
The user can make an accommodation reservation individually and sequentially without inquiring each hotel, etc. In each hotel, etc., there is no need to allocate personnel for accommodation reservation reception and the accommodation reservation can be received at any time of the day. Can be.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the user transmits data such as landmark data and lodging date from a travel agency terminal or a general user terminal to the host computer via a communication path, thereby enabling the host The computer searches for a hotel located in the location of the landmark or an adjacent local government, etc., and if there is a hotel that can be stayed, a lodging reservation is made by the host computer and an accommodation terminal connected to the host computer via a communication path. If there is no hotel that can be stayed, the fact is transmitted to the travel agent terminal or general user terminal, so the user only needs to input the data of the landmark to visit and the data such as the date of stay. Accommodation reservations can be made without searching for hotels.

In the first and second embodiments, when the accommodation conditions are set at the travel agent terminals R1 to Rn or the general user terminals U1 to Un, the host computer 20 automatically operates until the reservation is completed. As in the third embodiment, the intention of the user (such as which one to select from a plurality of reservable accommodation facilities), as in the third embodiment.
After confirming, the reservation may be made.

[0115]

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a series of operations such as confirmation of accommodation availability between accommodation facilities and accommodation reservation in real time, thereby eliminating the need to confirm reservations at a plurality of accommodation facilities. In addition, it is possible to provide a vacancy search system that can easily make an accommodation reservation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vacancy search system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the host computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the travel agency terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing control processing executed by the control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device in FIG. 3;

16 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of accommodation data stored in the storage device of FIG. 2;

19 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device in FIG.

20 is a diagram showing an example of landmark location data stored in the storage device of FIG. 2;

21 is a diagram showing an example of adjacent data in which adjacent municipalities stored in the storage device of FIG. 2 are associated with each other;

FIG. 22 is a view showing an example of adjacent data in which adjacent prefectures are stored in the storage device of FIG. 2;

23 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the display device in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 vacancy search system C1 communication path C2 communication path 20 host computer 201 mouse 202 keyboard 203 display device 204 computer body 2045 storage device 2048 control unit 2049 communication interface R1-Rn travel agent terminal U1-Un general user terminal 301 mouse 302 keyboard 303 display device 304 printer 305 computer main body 3055 storage device 3058 control unit 3059 communication interface A1-An accommodation facility terminal

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A host computer, one or more user terminal devices interconnected by a communication path with the host computer, and one or more accommodation facilities interconnected by the host computer with a communication path A vacancy search system comprising: a terminal device; wherein the user terminal device includes: a data input unit for inputting data for specifying an accommodation condition; and the host for transmitting data for specifying the accommodation condition input by the data input unit. First transmitting means for transmitting to a computer, first receiving means for receiving data indicating whether or not accommodation reservation is possible from the host computer, and display means for displaying an image based on the data received by the first receiving means. And the host computer includes an accommodation facility specified by the accommodation facility terminal device. Storage means for storing accommodation data indicating the state of accommodation reservation; second receiving means for receiving data for identifying accommodation conditions from the user terminal device; and identifying the accommodation conditions received by the second receiving means. Based on the data, accommodation-reservable facility extraction means for extracting accommodation-reservable accommodation facilities from the accommodation data stored in the storage means, and accommodation-reservable accommodation facilities are extracted by the accommodation-reservable facility extraction means. In this case, data for making an accommodation reservation is transmitted to the accommodation facility terminal device, the accommodation data stored in the storage means is updated, and data indicating that the accommodation reservation is permitted is transmitted to the user terminal device. Accommodation reservation means to be executed, and if the accommodation facility that can be reserved for accommodation cannot be extracted by the accommodation reservation available facility extraction means, no accommodation reservation is made to the user terminal device. And an accommodation rejection notifying means for transmitting data indicating that the reservation has been made. 2. A host computer, one or more user terminals connected to the host computer by a communication path, and one or more accommodation facilities connected to the host computer by a communication path. An vacancy search system comprising: a terminal device; wherein the user terminal device is configured to: input first data inputting data specifying accommodation conditions; and input the data input by the first data inputting device to the host computer. A first transmitting unit for transmitting data indicating whether accommodation reservation is permitted from the host computer; a displaying unit for displaying an image based on the data received by the first receiving unit; Accommodation facility identification that identifies the accommodation facility desired based on the data indicating whether accommodation reservation is displayed on the display means And second transmitting means for transmitting data of the accommodation facility identified by the accommodation facility identifying means to a host computer; and fifth receiving means for receiving data indicating completion of the accommodation reservation from the host computer. The accommodation facility terminal device comprises: a second data input unit for inputting data on the accommodation reservation status of the accommodation facility; a second storage unit for storing the accommodation data input by the second data input unit; A third transmission unit that transmits the accommodation data stored in the second storage unit to a host computer, a third reception unit that receives data indicating that an accommodation reservation is made from the host computer, and a third reception unit that receives the accommodation data. Updating means for updating the accommodation data in the second storage means based on data for making an accommodation reservation. A first storage unit that stores accommodation data indicating an accommodation reservation status of an accommodation facility specified by the accommodation facility terminal device; a second reception unit that receives data that specifies accommodation conditions from the user terminal device; Accommodation-reservable facility extracting means for extracting accommodation-reservable accommodation facilities from the accommodation data stored in the first storage means based on the data specifying the accommodation conditions received by the second receiving means; Fourth transmitting means for transmitting the data of the accommodation facility that can be reserved for accommodation extracted by the reservable facility extracting means to the user terminal device, and fourth reception for receiving the data of the accommodation facility desired to stay from the user terminal device. Means, transmitting data for making an accommodation reservation to the accommodation facility terminal device based on the data received by the fourth receiving means,
An accommodation search system, comprising: accommodation reservation means for updating accommodation data stored in the first storage means and transmitting data indicating that accommodation reservation has been completed to the user terminal device. 3. The vacancy search system according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation condition includes the number of nights and the number of guests. 4. The accommodation conditions include a start date of accommodation, the number of accommodation days,
And the number of guests.
Vacancy search system according to any of the above. 5. The accommodation condition includes data specifying a landmark to be traveled, and the host computer associates each accommodation facility with data indicating the location area of the accommodation facility. A third storage unit that stores data and landmark location area data in which each landmark is associated with data indicating an area where the landmark is located; The area accommodation data indicating the area where the landmark is located and the accommodation facilities located in the same area are extracted based on the data of the third storage means, and the accommodation facilities of the area accommodation data are extracted from the accommodation data. The vacancy search system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an accommodation facility that can reserve accommodation is extracted as a limitation condition. 6. When the landmark is located over a plurality of areas, the landmark location area data is data indicating the location area of the landmark. Item 7. A vacancy search system according to item 5. 7. The third storage means of the host computer further stores, for each area, adjacent data corresponding to data specifying an area to which the area is adjacent, wherein the accommodation-reservable facilities are extracted. If there is no reservable accommodation facility at the location of the specified landmark, based on the adjacent data, the accommodation can be made from accommodation facilities existing in the area adjacent to the location of the landmark. 6. An accommodation facility is extracted.
Or the vacancy search system according to any one of 6. 8. A computer comprising: communication means for transmitting and receiving data; data input means for inputting data; and display means for displaying data. Is transmitted by the communication means, the data of the accommodation facility that meets the transmitted accommodation conditions is received, the received data of the accommodation facility is displayed on the display means, and the desired accommodation facility is specified from the data displayed on the display means. A computer-readable medium storing a program for causing the specified accommodation desired facility to be transmitted by the communication means, and for receiving, by the communication means, data indicating that the reservation is completed at the transmitted desired accommodation facility. 9. A computer comprising: communication means for transmitting and receiving data; and storage means for storing data indicating the accommodation status of each accommodation facility. The computer receives the accommodation condition data by the communication means. The data of the accommodation facility that fits is extracted, the data of the extracted accommodation facility is transmitted by the communication means, the data of the desired accommodation facility is received by the communication means, and the received data of the desired accommodation facility is communicated to make a reservation. A computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a transmission unit to transmit data, updating accommodation status data, and transmitting data indicating that a reservation is completed by a communication unit.