KR20080041381A - Method and apparatus for reservation service using short message service - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing a reservation service by using a text message are provided to enable a subscriber or a reservation object to request and set reservation only by using the text message of mobile communication without using the other communication units such as the Internet. A method for providing a reservation service by using a text message comprises the following steps of: receiving a text message from a subscriber terminal; analyzing contents of the received text message; extracting information necessary for service reservation from the analyzed text message; transmitting a reservation request text message to a terminal of a reservation object corresponding to the extracted information in the extracted information and pre-stored reservation information database; receiving a text message from the reservation object terminal receiving the reservation request text message(301); updating the reservation information database by determining whether reservation is available from the received text message(313); and transmitting a reservation complete message to the subscriber terminal in correspondence with the received text message(317).

Description

Method and apparatus for reservation service using text message {Method and Apparatus for reservation service using short message service}

1 is a block diagram of a system to which a reservation service using a text message according to the present invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing the order that the subscriber station making a reservation request according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of confirming a reservation in a reservation management server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of interpreting message content, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the physical characteristics of the reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a module configuration diagram of a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a signal flow diagram of a reservation service method using a text message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is an illustration of a text message, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

101: subscriber terminal

103: terminal subject to reservation

105: reservation management server

107: mobile communication network

The present invention relates to a reservation service method and apparatus using a text message.

With the development of mobile communication systems, mobile communication terminals and mobile communication systems have been used to provide not only calls but also various other convenient services.

In particular, the reservation service has been provided in a number of ways for a long time because of the advantage of being able to make reservations anywhere without going to a reservation agency.

However, the conventional reservation system using a text message was only responsible for notifying only the confirmation of the reservation. In other words, it made a reservation through the Internet and informed only the result of the reservation. In such a reservation system, when the Internet connection is not available while moving on a bus or subway, you need to use ARS to make a reservation using only a mobile communication terminal. The disadvantage of having to go through a cumbersome input procedure is to press a key to select a menu.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reservation service method and apparatus using a text message.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a service method and apparatus for a reservation or a reservation subject to request and set a reservation using only a text message of mobile communication without using other communication means such as the Internet.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, receiving a text message from the subscriber terminal, interpreting the contents of the received text message, information required for service reservation from the interpreted text message Extracting, sending a reservation request text message to a terminal of a reservation target corresponding to the extracted information from the extracted information and a pre-stored reservation information database, and receiving a text from the reservation target terminal receiving the reservation request text message. Receiving a message, determining whether a reservation is possible from the received text message, updating the reservation information database, and sending a reservation completion message to the subscriber terminal in correspondence with the received text message. Reservation via text message It can provide a service method.

In a preferred embodiment, the content of the received text message may include a reservation time, a reservation date, a reservation subject, and a reservation name. The reservation information database may include a reservation target person, location information of the reservation target person, reservation status information, and a number of the terminal to be reserved. The text message received from the reservation target terminal includes information on a reservation time, a reservation date, a reservation target person, a reservation name and reservation availability. In addition, the update of the reservation information database is characterized by updating the reservation status information. In addition, the text message content may be analyzed by finding a time pattern from a character string, interpreting time information, and comparing location information of the reservation target by comparing the reservation target information stored in the reservation information database.

According to another aspect of the present invention, means for receiving a text message from a subscriber terminal, means for interpreting the contents of the received text message, means for extracting information necessary for service reservation from the interpreted text message, the extraction Means for sending a reservation request text message to a terminal of a reservation subject corresponding to the extracted information from the stored information and a pre-stored reservation information database, means for receiving a text message from the reservation subject terminal receiving the reservation request text message; Means for updating the reservation information database by determining whether the reservation is possible from the received text message, and means for sending a reservation completion message to the subscriber terminal in correspondence with the received text message. Can be.

In another aspect of the present invention, a device capable of operation including a memory, comprising a processing unit and a memory storage device coupled to the processing unit, the memory storage device receiving a text message from a subscriber terminal; And interpreting the contents of the received text message, extracting information necessary for service reservation from the interpreted text message, and a terminal of the subject of the reservation corresponding to the extracted information from the extracted information and a pre-stored reservation information database. Send a reservation request text message to the mobile station, receive a text message from the reservation target terminal having received the reservation request text message, determine whether the reservation is possible from the received text message, update the reservation information database, and receive the received message. In response to a text message It is possible to provide a device capable of operation including a memory, which is suitable for storing a plurality of instructions for sending a completion message to the subscriber terminal.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a system to which a reservation service using a text message according to the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, according to the present invention, a reservation requester requests a reservation to a reservation person using a short message service (SMS) of the reservation device terminal 101, and the reservation target person who receives the request is a reservation object terminal 103. This is a service that informs the reservation whether or not the reservation is possible by using the short message service.

According to the present invention, when a text message is sent from the subscriber terminal 101, the message is received by the reservation management server 105 via the mobile communication network 107, and the received text message is received by the reservation management server 105. The content is analyzed and the reservation request text message is sent to the reservation target terminal 103 of the intended reservation target terminal 101. When the reservation request text message is received by the reservation target terminal 103, the reservation target person checks whether the reservation is possible and notifies the reservation management server 105 in a text message whether the reservation is possible or not.

The reservation management server 105, which has received the text message regarding reservation availability, analyzes the content and notifies the subscriber terminal 101 in a text message as to whether or not the reservation is made.

By providing a reservation service in this way, a reservation person can easily make or cancel a reservation using only a text message without detailed information about the person who is being booked, and the person who is booked can also notify the reservation person by using a text message. In addition, since reservation management can be performed by answering a text message without separately managing the reservation management server 105, there is an advantage that a large-scale reservation management server does not need to be connected to the Internet.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a subscriber station makes a reservation request according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a reservation request message is first sent from a reservation terminal to a reservation management server (step 201). At this time, the subscriber terminal does not need to know the telephone number of the reservation target, and only the text message can be transmitted to the reservation management server.

Thereafter, the sent message is received by the reservation management server (step 203), and the reservation management server receiving the message interprets the contents of the message (step 205). The content of the message is illustrated in FIG. 8, and the method of interpreting the message will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

The contents included in the reservation request message will generally include the name of the reservation subject, the reservation place, the reservation time, and the name of the reservation person.

When the information included in the reservation request message is interpreted, it is determined whether the reservation is possible by referring to the reservation information of the reservation target stored in the reservation information database of the reservation management server (step 207).

Thereafter, if it is determined that the reservation is possible on the database, a reservation request message to be sent to the reservation subject is created (step 209), and a reservation request message is sent to the reservation subject (step 211).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the reservation is impossible, a non-reservation message to be sent to the subscriber is created (step 213), and a non-reservation message is transmitted to the reservation (step 215).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of confirming a reservation in a reservation management server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a reservation request message sent from a reservation management server is received at a reservation target terminal (step 301). The reservation target person then checks whether there is a reservation not included in the reservation information database (step 303), and sends a reservation response message (step 305). The reservation response message includes information on the availability of the reservation.

The reservation management server then receives a reservation response message (step 307) and interprets the message contents (step 309). The interpretation of this message is to examine whether there is a positive or negative response to the booking.

In the message thus interpreted, it is determined whether there is a positive response (step 311). If the response is positive, the reservation information of the reservation information database is updated (step 313), and a reservation completion message is created (step 315), and sent to the subscriber. (Step 317).

On the other hand, if the interpreted message is a negative response, an unreservable message is created (step 319) and sent to the subscriber (step 321).

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of interpreting message content according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, when a text message is received by the reservation management server, it is interpreted whether the content is a reservation request message sent from a reservation party or a reservation response message sent from a reservation target party (step 401).

Then, if the reservation request message (step 403), the reservation details information in the text message is extracted (step 405). Such extraction may include a reservation time, a reservation name, a name of a reservation target, a reservation date, a reservation number, and the like.

In this message, the reservation information is extracted by searching for a sentence. For example, if the reservation time is 11 am, it may be possible to search whether the text message includes 11 am, 11:00, 1100, and the like.

In addition, you can use a text message in a specific format, for example, to determine the number following the sentence "time:".

Thereafter, the reservation place is determined by comparing the reservation target name among the extracted reservation information with the reservation target included in the reservation information database (step 407), and the reservation information extracted from the text message and the reservation information extracted from the text message are compared. It is determined whether the reservation is abominable (step 409).

On the other hand, if it is not a reservation request message, it will be a reservation response message. In this case, it is important to first extract information of affirmation or affirmation from the text message (step 411).

Such positive or negative information can be extracted by finding a sentence of 'yes / no' or a word of 'yes / no' in a string.

The information may be extracted and it may be determined whether the reservation target person can be made a reservation according to the result of the information (step 413), and the reservation information of the reservation information database is updated according to the result (step 415).

The present order is only an embodiment of the present invention, and the manner of extracting information from the text message may exist in addition to the above-described manner.

5 is a block diagram schematically showing the physical characteristics of the reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the reservation management server may include a memory system 520, at least one central processing unit (CPU) 510, an input device 530, and a communication device coupled to the memory system 520 to perform high-speed operation. 540.

The central processing unit 510 includes an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) 512 for performing calculations, a register 514 for temporary storage of data and instructions, and a controller 516 for controlling the operation of the reservation management server. . The central processing unit 510 includes Digital, Alpha, MIPS Technology, MIPS, such as NEC, IDT, Siemens, Intel and Cyrix, AMD, and Nexgen. It could be a processor with a variety of architectures, such as the company's x86, Pentium, and PowerPC from IBM and Motorola.

The memory system 520 generally includes a high speed main memory 522, which is a type of storage medium such as random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM), floppy disk, hard disk, tape, CD-ROM, flash memory, or the like. Auxiliary memory 524 in the form of a long-term storage medium and a device for storing data using electrical, magnetic, optical or other storage media. In addition, the main memory 522 may include a video display memory for displaying an image through the display device.

In addition, the input device 530 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The mouse may include, for example, a physical transducer such as a touch screen or a microphone. The communication device 540 includes a communication interface for communicating with a content providing server and a switch of a wired / wireless communication network.

Such a reservation management server is a computing device generally referred to, a device having a physical structure that is coupled to the outside through a communication port and the like and is programmable therein.

6 is a module configuration diagram of a reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the reservation management server interprets a text message transmitted from a transmission / reception processing module 632 for processing wired / wireless communication with a cell broadcast information server and a switch of a wired / wireless communication network, a reservation terminal, and a reservation target terminal. Message interpretation module 634, a reservation processing module 636 for processing whether a reservation is possible according to the interpreted message, a reservation message management module for managing text messages sent by the reservation management server, such as a reservation confirmation message and a message that cannot be reserved. 638 and a reservation information management module 658 that manages the reservation information stored in the reservation management server. Looking at the overall configuration of the reservation management server according to an embodiment of the present invention through such an application module as follows.

The reservation management server can use various operating systems (OS) as the OS of the system. The OS controls the operation of each application module 630 by providing a high level command to an application program interface (API) 600.

The reservation management server includes a high level command processor 610 that identifies each application module 630 corresponding to the high level command provided from the API 600, decodes the high level command, and provides the decoded high level command to a corresponding place. . The application module controller 620 controls the operation of the application module 630 according to the command provided from the high level command processor 610. That is, the high level command processing unit 610 identifies whether there is an application module 630 corresponding thereto according to the high level command provided through the API 600, and corresponds to the case where the corresponding application module 630 exists. The decoded command is recognized by the application module 630 and transmitted to the corresponding mapping unit or the message transmission is controlled. Here, the application module 630 includes a transmission / reception processing module 632, a message interpretation module 634, a reservation processing module 636, a reservation message management module 638, and a reservation information management module 658. The application module controller 620 includes a mapping unit 621, 623, 625, 627, 647 and an interface unit 622, 624, 626, 628, 648 for each application module.

The transmission / reception processing module mapping unit 621 may receive a high-level command for performing wired / wireless communication with a content providing server or a user terminal from the high-level command processing unit 610, and may process the transmission / reception processing module 632. Maps to device level commands and provides them to the transmit / receive processing module 632 via the transmit / receive processing module interface 622. In addition, the transmission and reception module interface unit 622 may include a physical transmission interface for data transmission and reception with the content providing server as needed. In this case, the physical transport interface includes a communication interface such as SS6 voice network interworking interface or TCP / IP network interworking interface.

The message interpretation module mapping unit 623 is a part for interpreting a text message sent from the subscriber terminal and the reservation target terminal. That is, the message interpretation module mapping unit 623 receives a high level command for interpreting a text message sent from the subscriber terminal and the reservation target terminal from the high level command processing unit 610, and the message interpretation module 634 may recognize the message. Maps to device level instructions, and provides them to the message interpretation module 634 via the message interpretation module interface 624.

The reservation processing module mapping unit 625 is a part for processing whether a reservation is possible according to the interpreted message. That is, the reservation processing module mapping unit 625 is provided with a high level command for processing whether a reservation is possible according to the message interpreted by the high level command processing unit 610, so that the reservation processing module 636 may recognize it. Maps to device level commands and provides them to the reservation processing module 636 via the reservation processing module interface 626.

The reservation message management module mapping unit 627 is a part for managing text messages sent from the reservation management server, such as a reservation confirmation message and a reservation not available message. That is, the reservation message management module mapping unit 627 receives a high level command for managing a text message sent from the reservation management server, such as a reservation confirmation message and a reservation not available message, from the high level command processing unit 610, and thus, the reservation message management module. Maps to a device level command recognizable by 638 and provides it to the reservation message management module 638 via the reservation message management module interface 628.

The reservation information management module mapping unit 647 manages reservation information stored in the reservation management server. That is, the reservation information management module mapping unit 647 receives a high level command for managing reservation information stored in the reservation management server from the high level command processing unit 610, and may be recognized by the reservation information management module 658. The device maps to the device level command and provides it to the reservation information management module 658 through the reservation information management module interface 648.

7 is a signal flowchart of a reservation service method using a text message according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 7, first, a reservation request signal is sent from the subscriber terminal 710 (step 701). The reservation request signal sent in this way is transmitted to the reservation management server 730 via the mobile communication network 720 (step 703). At this time, the reservation request signal is transmitted through an exchange, a home location register (HLR), a short message service center (SMSC), etc. in the mobile communication network, but the flow of such a signal is general and may vary according to the mobile communication network.

The reservation request message signal via the mobile communication network is received by the reservation management server 730 (step 703), and the reservation management server 730 interprets the received message (step 705) to confirm the reservation target (step 707). Thereafter, the reservation request information signal is transmitted to the reservation target terminal 740 (step 709), and the reservation request information signal is transmitted to the reservation target terminal in the form of a text message through the mobile communication network 720 (step 711). Upon receiving the reservation request message (step 711), the reservation target terminal 740 checks the text message to determine whether the reservation is possible (step 713), and sends a reservation available message including whether the reservation is possible (step 715). ). The reservation management server 730 receives the reservation available message from the reservation target terminal 740 through the mobile communication network 720 (step 717), and updates the reservation information database based on the information included in the message (step 719). The reservation complete message is then sent (step 721). The reservation completion message is transmitted to the subscriber terminal 710 via the mobile communication network 720 (step 723).

8 is an exemplary view of a text message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, first, a screen 810 shows an example of a text message transmitted from a subscriber terminal to a reservation management server.

Such a reservation request text message includes the name of the reservation, the reservation date, the reservation time, the number of seats reserved and the name or reservation location of the reservation subject.

In reference number 810, the name of the reservation is ETRI, the reservation date is October 31, 2006, the reservation time is 11 am, the number of reservations is 3, the last subject is Sangam Stadium and the seat is E seat.

The reservation request text message may be sent in a format such as reference numeral 810 if the above information is included, but may be sent without a special format such as a general character string. The sending format may vary depending on how the reservation management server interprets text messages.

Reference numeral 820 is an example showing a text message sent from the reservation management server to the reservation target terminal.

It contains information similar to information sent from the caller terminal, but the reservation management server does not need to include the name of the reservation target because the reservation management server knows the contact details of the reservation target.

Reference numeral 830 is an example of a reservation confirmation text message sent by the reservation target to the reservation management server. Here, the reservation target is the Sangam Stadium, and the Sangam Stadium grasps the seat reservation status of the stadium, and if the reservation is possible, includes the positive information as a string such as 'Yes / Yes / Available' in the reservation availability. Such information can be identified as a reservation through text message interpretation at the reservation management server.

Reference numeral 840 is an illustration of a text message indicating that the reservation management server has been reserved to the subscriber terminal. Since a positive response 830 is received from the reservation target, the reservation is regarded as a reservation, and the reservation management server sends a reservation confirmation message to the reservation terminal.

In this manner, both the reservation subject and the reservation subscriber can easily confirm the reservation using only the text message of the mobile communication terminal.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many variations are possible by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reservation service method and apparatus using a text message.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a service method and apparatus for a reservation or a reservation subject to request and set a reservation using only a text message of mobile communication without using other communication means such as the Internet.

Claims (8)

Receiving a text message from a subscriber terminal; Interpreting the contents of the received text message; Extracting information necessary for service reservation from the interpreted text message; Sending a reservation request text message to a terminal of a reservation target corresponding to the extracted information from the extracted information and a pre-stored reservation information database; Receiving a text message from the reservation target terminal receiving the reservation request text message; Updating the reservation information database by determining whether a reservation is possible from the received text message; And Sending a reservation completion message to the subscriber terminal in correspondence with the received text message; Reservation service method using a text message comprising a. The method of claim 1, The contents of the received text message may include a reservation time, a reservation date, a subject of a reservation, and a name of a subscriber. Reservation service method using a text message characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The reservation information database includes a reservation target person, location information of a reservation target person, reservation status information, and a number of a reservation target terminal. Reservation service method using a text message characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The text message received from the reservation target terminal includes information about a reservation time, a reservation date, a reservation target, a name of the subscriber and a reservation availability. Reservation service method using a text message characterized in that. The method of claim 1, Update of the reservation information database is to update reservation status information. Reservation service method using a text message characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The interpretation of the text message content is To interpret time information by finding time patterns from strings, and to compare the location information of reservation subjects by comparing them with reservation information stored in the reservation information database. Reservation service method using a text message characterized in that. Means for receiving a text message from a subscriber terminal; Means for interpreting content of the received text message; Means for extracting information necessary for service reservation from the interpreted text message; Means for sending a reservation request text message to a terminal of a reservation target corresponding to the extracted information from the extracted information and a pre-stored reservation information database; Means for receiving a text message from the reservation subject terminal receiving the reservation request text message; Means for updating the reservation information database by determining whether a reservation is possible from the received text message; And Means for sending a reservation completion message to the subscriber terminal in correspondence with the received text message; Scheduling management server that includes. A device capable of operation including a memory, Processing unit and A memory storage device coupled to the processing unit, The memory storage device receives a text message from a subscriber terminal, interprets the contents of the received text message, extracts information necessary for service reservation from the interpreted text message, and extracts the extracted information and the pre-stored reservation information. It is possible to send a reservation request text message to the terminal of the reservation subject corresponding to the extracted information in the database, receive a text message from the reservation subject terminal that has received the reservation request text message, and make a reservation from the received text message. Determine and update the reservation information database and store a plurality of instructions for sending a reservation complete message to the subscriber terminal in accordance with the received text message. .

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