WO2008109224A1 - Procédés et appareil permettant de demander de réserver un service - Google Patents

Procédés et appareil permettant de demander de réserver un service Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008109224A1
WO2008109224A1 PCT/US2008/053309 US2008053309W WO2008109224A1 WO 2008109224 A1 WO2008109224 A1 WO 2008109224A1 US 2008053309 W US2008053309 W US 2008053309W WO 2008109224 A1 WO2008109224 A1 WO 2008109224A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
restaurant
service
request
computer system
bid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2008/053309
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Howard W. Lutnick
Dean P. Alderucci
Original Assignee
Cfph, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US11/681,663 external-priority patent/US7818191B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/681,675 external-priority patent/US8463649B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/681,666 external-priority patent/US8825529B2/en
Application filed by Cfph, Llc filed Critical Cfph, Llc
Publication of WO2008109224A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008109224A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to at least one embodiment of the systems disclosed herein.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a schedule.
  • process means any process, algorithm, method or the like, unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • inventions and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application” , unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • invention and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application” , unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • inventions and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application” , unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • invention and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application” , unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • inventions and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)", unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • variant of an invention means an embodiment of the invention, unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • the phrase "at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise.
  • the phrase "at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel.
  • the phrase "at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things does not mean "one of each of the plurality of things.
  • each such thing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can be different from each other but need not be.
  • the phrase “each of two machines has a respective function” means that the first such machine has a function and the second such machine has a function as well.
  • the function of the first machine may or may not be the same as the function of the second machine.
  • the term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence "the computer sends data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet", the term “i.e.” explains that "instructions" are the "data” that the computer sends over the Internet.
  • any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numbers within the range.
  • the range "1 to 10" shall be interpreted to specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, ... 9) and non- whole numbers (e.g., , 1.1, 1.2, ... 1.9).
  • instances of one such term / phrase does not mean instances of another such term / phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where a statement renders the meaning of "including” to be synonymous with “including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “including but not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” means something other than "including but not limited to”.
  • determining and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., to determine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meets a certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense.
  • the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like.
  • determining can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like.
  • determining can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.
  • the term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision, and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating, predicting, guessing and the like.
  • determining does not imply that mathematical processing must be performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used, and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.
  • determining does not imply that any particular device must be used. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform the determining.
  • ordinal number such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on
  • that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term.
  • a "first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a "second widget”.
  • the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets.
  • the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality.
  • the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers.
  • the mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets.
  • a single device / article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described.
  • a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device.
  • the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device / article.
  • the functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality / features.
  • other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality / features.
  • a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred, essential or required.
  • Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.
  • a process may be described singly or without reference to other products or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another business model. Such interaction may be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of the process.
  • a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred, essential or required.
  • processors e.g., one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors
  • a "processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices or any combination thereof.
  • programs that implement such methods may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g., computer readable media) in a number of manners.
  • media e.g., computer readable media
  • hard- wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or in combination with, some or all of the software instructions that can implement the processes of various embodiments.
  • various combinations of hardware and software may be used instead of software only.
  • computer-readable medium refers to any medium, a plurality of the same, or a combination of different media, that participate in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device.
  • Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory.
  • Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory.
  • Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.
  • RF radio frequency
  • IR infrared
  • Computer- readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.
  • data may be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over a wireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmitted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, BluetoothTM, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G; and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.
  • a description of a process is likewise a description of a computer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.
  • the computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) those program elements which are appropriate to perform the method.
  • embodiments of an apparatus include a computer / computing device operable to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.
  • a computer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, can cause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.
  • any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those described herein.
  • other formats including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases
  • object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, such as the described herein.
  • the databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such a database.
  • Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environment including a computer that is in communication (e.g., via a communications network) with one or more devices.
  • the computer may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired or wireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, a telephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, a satellite communications link, a combination of any of the above).
  • Each of the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computing devices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or CentrinoTM processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any number and type of devices may be in communication with the computer.
  • a server computer or centralized authority may not be necessary or desirable.
  • the present invention may, in an embodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a central authority.
  • any functions described herein as performed by the server computer or data described as stored on the server computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or more such devices.
  • the process may operate without any user intervention.
  • the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
  • a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. ⁇ 112, paragraph 6, applies to that limitation.
  • a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase “means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. ⁇ 112, paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whether that limitation recites a function without recitation of structure, material or acts for performing that function.
  • the mere use of the phrase "step of or the phrase "steps of in referring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does not mean that 35 U.S.C. ⁇ 112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).
  • Computers, processors, computing devices and like products are structures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such products can be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or more programs, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product or in a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expressly specified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particular algorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed in the present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a specified function may be implemented via different algorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a mere design choice for carrying out the specified function. [0068] Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function in accordance with 35 U. S. C.
  • structure corresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed to perform the specified function.
  • Such structure includes programmed products which perform the function, regardless of whether such product is programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing the function, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or (iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.
  • a means for performing a function hat is a method
  • one structure for performing this method includes a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware to perform that function.
  • a computing device e.g., a general purpose computer
  • Also includes a computing device e.g., a general purpose computer
  • a computing device e.g., a general purpose computer
  • a computing device that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware to perform that function via other algorithms as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • Embodiments include systems and methods that permit the reservation of various dining services provided by a restaurant via interconnected computer networks.
  • the term "customer" should be interpreted broadly to include any user of the system, such as an actual patron and an agent ordering on behalf of another entity.
  • Some dining services may include reserving a seat at a table in a restaurant, providing consumable menu items to customers dining in the restaurant's facilities, delivering menu-items to a customer's location, or preparing menu items that are available for pick-up at the restaurant's location.
  • Each of these dining options may be reserved for a particular date and a particular time of day.
  • a system 100 includes at least one computing device, such as a remote computer 102 (e.g., a server computer), a client computer 104, or a combination thereof.
  • a remote computer 102 e.g., a server computer
  • client computer 104 e.g., a client computer
  • the system includes at least one remote computer 102 that is connected over a communication network 106 to one or a plurality of client computers 104.
  • One or more of the client computers 104 may be connected to the remote computer 102 through a firewall.
  • At least one remote computer 102 is connected over a communication network 106 to at least one other remote computer 108.
  • the system 100 may be implemented over any type of communications network 106, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a telephone network (POTS), a wireless network, including cellular, WiFi, and WiMax networks, or a combination of wired and/or wireless networks.
  • the communications network 106 may be independent of the Internet or limited with respect to the type of the information transmitted over the Internet, such as to information that poses little or no security risk if misappropriated or that has been encrypted.
  • client computers 104 are preferably configured or otherwise capable of transmitting and/or receiving communications to and/or from the remote computer(s) 102, 108.
  • the remote computers 102, 108 may similarly be configured or otherwise capable of transmitting and/or receiving communications between themselves. This may be accomplished with a communication element, such as a modem, an Ethernet interface, a transmitter/receiver, etc., that enables communication with a similarly equipped remote computer 102,108 wirelessly, wired, or a combination thereof.
  • a communication element such as a modem, an Ethernet interface, a transmitter/receiver, etc.
  • the client computers 104 will generally provide the front-end functionality and the remote computer 102, 108 will provide the back-end functionality.
  • the computing device e.g., the client computers 104 and/or the remote computer 102, 108 generally include at least one processor, and a memory, such as ROM, RAM, FLASH, etc., including computer readable medium type memory, such as a hard drive, a flash-drive, an optical or magnetic disk, etc.
  • the memory or computer readable medium preferably includes software stored thereon that when executed performs one or more steps of the methods disclosed herein, including communicating data and commands back and forth between the computers, displaying interface screens, etc.
  • the computers may also be associated with or have access to one or more databases 110, 112 for retrieving and/or storing the various types of data discussed herein, including identity verification data, such as an ID and password, biometric data, etc.
  • the client computers 104 may include, without limitation, a mobile phone, PDA, pocket PC, personal computer, as well as any special or other general purpose computing device.
  • the client computer 104 preferably includes a processor, a memory, a display, such as a CRT or an LCD monitor, for displaying information and/or graphics associated with the functionality provided by the system 100, and at least one input device, such as a mouse, a touch-sensitive pad, a pointer, a stylus, a trackball, a button or a plurality of buttons, e.g., alphanumeric, a scroll wheel, a touch- sensitive monitor, etc., or a combination thereof, for users to enter commands and/or information relevant to the system's functionality.
  • the client computer 104 includes or is otherwise associated with at least one biometric sensor 114.
  • the biometric sensor 114 is any device that is used to determine directly from the user at least one item of biometric data associated with a user, such as a fingerprint reader, an iris scanner, a retinal scanner, a vascular pattern reader, a facial recognition camera, etc.
  • the biometric sensor 114 may be embodied in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.
  • the biometric sensor 114 may further share resources with other components of the client computer 104, such as the processor, memory, a camera, a microphone, a speaker, etc.
  • a single biometric sensor 114 may be used for reading more than one type of biometric data.
  • a digital camera may be used to obtain an image of the user's eye for iris scanning and an image of the user's face for facial recognition.
  • a single image capture of the user's face may provide the data for facial recognition as well as data for iris or retinal comparisons.
  • the biometric data is generally obtained with the biometric sensor 114 and used at least to authenticate the identity of the user as a gateway for allowing the user to access the system's functionality.
  • biometric data may be compared with previously obtained/stored biometric data that has preferably been verified as being associated with a particular user and access to the system's functionality may be provided based on a positive match thereof.
  • a customer can reserve (e.g., in advance) various types of dining services provided by a restaurant.
  • the reservations may include reserving a seat at a table in the restaurant for a particular date and time.
  • the reservation also may include scheduling a time for the pick-up or delivery of consumable goods offered by the restaurant.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates, in one embodiment, a schedule 200 that can be used for scheduling the different types of reservations.
  • the schedule 200 can track the availability of "actual tables", which represent the seating that is available in the restaurant's on-site dining area.
  • the schedule 200 also can track the availability of "virtual tables,” which represent a restaurant's availability to provide carry-out services.
  • virtual tables which represent a restaurant's availability to provide carry-out services.
  • the schedule 200 treats a virtual table in the same manner as an actual table.
  • Customers can make a reservation for a particular time and a particular date at a virtual table (as they can for an actual table).
  • the customers may place orders for consumable menu items at the same time that they make a reservation for a virtual table.
  • the restaurant may prepare the menu items in advance, so that they are available for pick-up at the reserved time.
  • customers may not include an order for menu items with their reservations. Instead, they may arrive at the restaurant during the reservation date and time, and they may order items off the menu while at the restaurant. In such instances, the restaurant prepares the menu items in the order of receipt.
  • schedule 200 depicts the restaurant as having four physical tables available for on-site dining. These four physical tables are represented on the schedule 200 as columns 202-208 (e.g., Tables 1- 4). Each of the table columns 202-208 is divided into increments of time 210- 232 (e.g., hourly increments) for a particular date 234 (e.g., Monday). These increments of time will be referred to, henceforth, as "time slots" 210-232, which can be updated (e.g., in real-time) to reflect their status (e.g., reserved, open, not available). [0089] Furthermore, Fig. 2 also depicts the restaurant as having two virtual tables (which are represented in Fig.
  • a restaurant may customize the quantity of virtual tables made available in accordance to business needs. For example, a restaurant may experience a high volume of on-site diners during the lunch-time rush hour. As such, the restaurant may want to eliminate carry-out dining services from the schedule 200 during this busy time, so that it can concentrate on servicing the on-site customers. To do so, the restaurant may change the status of its virtual tables to "unavailable" during the busy lunch hour. [0091] In another embodiment, a restaurant may want to reduce, but not eliminate, its carry-out dining services for a period of time.
  • the restaurant may change the status of some of the virtual tables to "unavailable", but leave the status of other virtual tables as "available”.
  • a restaurant may want to increase its carry- out dining services during the periods of time when on-site dining experience a lull. For example, a restaurant may experience a low volume of on-site dining customers during the late evening hours, while simultaneously experience a surge in carry-out requests.
  • the restaurant may add one or more virtual tables to the schedule 200 in order to service the increased number of carry-out requests.
  • the restaurant converts one or more of the actual tables on the schedule 100 into virtual tables in order to accommodate the shift in business needs.
  • the schedule 200 may be structured or programmed to automatically adjust the ratio of actual tables to virtual tables in accordance to various rules and threshold requirements.
  • the restaurant may provide a set of rules, which determine the quantity of virtual tables made available on the schedule 200.
  • a rule may be a threshold that measures the on-site dining capacity of the restaurant. For instance, a restaurant may decide that it does not wish to provide carry-out services whenever eighty-percent of the on- site dining facilities have been reserved. In this instance, as soon as eighty-percent of the on-site dining facilities have been reserved for a particular time-slot, then the status of the virtual tables associated with that time-slot will be changed to
  • the quantity of actual tables may differ for various days of the week.
  • the rule may structure the schedule 200 have more on-site tables (and less virtual tables) available on the weekends than on the weekdays.
  • the quantity of actual table may differ for various times of the day.
  • the rule may structure the schedule 200 to have more on-site tables (and less virtual tables) available during the lunch-time and dinner-time rush hours.
  • a sliding-scale relationship may exist between the actual tables and the virtual tables. In this embodiment, each time a reservation is made either for an actual table or a virtual table, the schedule automatically adjusts the status of the remaining actual and virtual tables.
  • a customer who desires to make a reservation for a dining service at a restaurant will search through a database of restaurant profiles.
  • the restaurant profiles may include, among other things, a description of the restaurant, a menu of the consumable items offered by the restaurant, a price list associated with each consumable item, an evaluation of the restaurant by former customers, and a schedule (which may be updated in real-time) that depicts the availability of the actual tables and virtual tables.
  • a restaurant may submit information, via a network, to a server that houses the reservation system.
  • preliminary information may include the type of cuisine served by the restaurant, the prices of menu items, acceptable forms of payment, the restaurant's contact information and address, the quantity of actual tables on the on- site dining premises.
  • the restaurant also can submit a menu, which contains a list of consumable goods offered by the restaurant.
  • the menu also may include a description of the consumable goods offered and the corresponding prices for each consumable good.
  • a restaurant can submit a reservation schedule that depicts the quantity of actual tables and the quantity of virtual tables that are available for each time slot.
  • the restaurant can add multi-media elements (e.g., pictures, videos, sound clips, web blogs, promotions, etc.) to the restaurant profile.
  • the reservation system After receiving and confirming the information, the reservation system generates a restaurant profile, which stores the individualized data information (e.g., reservation schedule, menu of food items, price list) for each participating restaurant.
  • the profile updates automatically (e.g., in realtime) whenever the restaurant modifies the contents of its restaurant profile (e.g., removes a menu item, removes a virtual table).
  • the restaurant may log into the reservation system and modify the contents of its restaurant profile in order to update the profile with recent changes.
  • the generated profile can be saved into a database.
  • the profiles may be categorized into searchable categories (e.g., type of cuisine, location of the restaurant, price ranges). Thus, a potential customer may search these categories in order to find a particular restaurant from which to place an order request. For example, a customer may search the database for Japanese restaurants with entrees costing between $30-50.
  • the location of a restaurant is mapped in relation to a customer's address, so that a customer may search for a restaurant located within a radial-distance (e.g., 5 miles) from the customer's location.
  • a radial-distance e.g., 5 miles
  • the reservation system may receive a request to reserve submitted by the customer.
  • the customer may indicate, among other things, the restaurant at which she desires to obtain dining services and the type of dining service desired (e.g., on-site dining, carry-out services, delivery services, etc.).
  • the customer also may indicate the type of table desired (e.g., actual table or a virtual table), as well as the particular date and time from which she wishes to make the reservation.
  • the customer does not indicate the type of table, since the system automatically corresponds the type of dining service requested with the type of table.
  • the customer can view a restaurant's schedule in order to know (e.g., in advance of submitting a request to reserve) which time slots are available.
  • the customer do not see a restaurant's schedule; instead, the system presents the customer with the available times and dates from which the customer may select. [00106] After the customer submits a request to reserve a dining service for a particular time and date, the reservation may confirm whether the requested time and date are available for the restaurant's schedule. The system may send a message to the customer either confirming or denying the requested reservation time.
  • the customer may modify the original request to reserve and submit a new request.
  • This new request may include: a different restaurant, a different time slot, and/or a different date.
  • the system can permit customers to bid for a particular reservation time. This bidding process is detailed below.
  • the system may prompt the customer to submit a menu order with that reservation.
  • a menu order may include, among other things, items from the menu that the customer wishes to order, the quantity of each menu item, and any special instructions for the preparation of the menu items (e.g., low-sodium, salad dressing on the side, medium-rare cooking).
  • the system calculates the total cost of the items. The customer may pay for the total amount using any number of payment methods (e.g., on-line payment through the system via a credit card, paying by any monetary means upon picking up the menu items.)
  • the system can forward the selected menu items to the restaurant, so that the restaurant can prepare the menu items (e.g., in advance) so that they are available for pick-up by the customer at the reserved time and date.
  • a reservation made by a customer may remain unconfirmed for a term, or period of time. For example, the reservation may remain confirmed (and thus subject to bidding) until 24-hours before the reserved time-slot.
  • one or more other customers interested in the same reservation time may participate in an auction for the reservation time.
  • the system may contact a customer with the unconfirmed reservation to inform the customer that another party wishes to bid for the same time slot.
  • the system may indicate a location and time in which the bidding processes takes place. Both customers may log into the system during the prescribed time frame and bid for the time slot.
  • a website can solicit bids from interested parties.
  • the system can compare all of the submitted bids to determine which customer submitted the bid with the highest amount.
  • the customer who submitted the bid with the highest amount is awarded the reservation time, and the bid amount is charged as a reservation fee.
  • interested parties e-mail their bids to the reservation system.
  • the system may alert a customer if a previously submitted bid has been superseded by another bid.
  • the customer may submit a counter-bid in an amount that is greater than the other bids.
  • the system awards the reservation time to the bidder who submitted the bid with the highest amount.
  • a customer may opt to pay a premium fee (e.g., generally of a large amount) in order to secure a particular reservation time.
  • the premium fee may represent a reservation fee that is paid in advance in order to prevent anyone else from bidding for the reservation time.
  • a customer may wish to take an important client to a popular restaurant in town. As such, the customer places a premium on having a guaranteed reservation, and as such, the customer may be willing to pay the premium fee to ensure that the reservation time is guaranteed.
  • the system may not charge a customer with a reservation fee in the event that no other parties bid for the reserved time slot. Conversely, the customer may risk having to pay a reservation fee that is higher than the premium amount, in the event that the bidding process escalates to a high amount.
  • the system also may participate in a reverse bidding process, where a customer may indicate a desire to dine at a particular date and time.
  • the customer may have no preference as to which restaurant, but she may specify the type of cuisines or price ranges.
  • Various restaurants may compete for the business by offering the customer promotions or discounts, or any other offers for attracting the business.
  • a method comprising: determining that a service provided by a restaurant is available for bidding, in which the service is provided for a particular time and a particular date; receiving a bid for the service provided by the restaurant, in which the bid is associated with a first amount; storing the bid with a plurality of other bids in a storage device; comparing the bid with at least one other bid that is submitted for reserving the service, in which the at least one other bid is associated with a second amount; determining that the first amount is greater than the second amount; outputting an indicia that grants the request to reserve the service provided by the restaurant to a highest bidder, in which the first amount submitted by the highest bidder is greater than the second amount.
  • the service provided by the restaurant comprises at least one of: preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location.
  • the bidding is available for a period of time, in which bids received after the period of item are rejected.
  • the restaurant is associated with information that comprises: (i) a schedule indicating the restaurant's ability to provide at least one service for a plurality of periods of time; and (ii) a description of a consumable good that is offered by the restaurant; (iii) a price associated with the consumable good; and (iv) an evaluation of the restaurant, in which the evaluation comprises at least one opinion of a previous customer.
  • the method of paragraph [00118] further comprises: receiving a request to reserve the service; comparing the particular time requested with a schedule associated with the restaurant, in which the schedule comprises a list of times that are available for reservation; and outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been denied.
  • a method comprising: receiving a bid for a service provided by a restaurant, in which the service is provided for a particular time and a particular date; determining that the service provided by the restaurant is unavailable for bidding, in which the bidding is available for a period of time; outputting an indicia that denies the request to reserve the service.
  • the service provided by the restaurant comprises at least one of: preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location.
  • the method of paragraph [00125] in which bids received after the period of item are rejected.
  • determining that the service is unavailable for bidding comprises: determining that the period of time has expired.
  • determining that the service is unavailable for bidding comprises: receiving a premium fee associated with the particular time requested, in which the premium fee prevents bidding for the particular time.
  • a method comprising: receiving a request to reserve a service that is provided by a restaurant, in which the request to reserve is for a particular time and a particular date and the service comprises at least one of: (i) preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; (ii) preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or (iii) preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location; comparing the particular time requested with a schedule associated with the restaurant, in which the schedule comprises a list of times that are available for reservation; determining an availability of the request to reserve; outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted or denied.
  • the method of paragraph [00142] further comprises: receiving information associated with the restaurant, in which the information comprises: (i) a schedule indicating the restaurant's ability to provide at least one service for a plurality of periods of time; and (ii) a description of a consumable good that is offered by the restaurant; (iii) a price associated with the consumable good; and (iv) an evaluation of the restaurant, in which the evaluation comprises at least one opinion of a previous customer.
  • the method of paragraph [00142] further comprises: confirming that the particular time requested is available; outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted.
  • the method of paragraph [00144] further comprises: receiving a request for at least one consumable good, in which the at least one consumable good is offered by the restaurant; receiving a quantity of the at least one consumable good; and calculating a price of the at least one consumable good, in which the price comprises an amount that a customer pays in exchange for the consumable good requested.
  • the method of paragraph [00142] further comprises: determining that the particular time requested is unavailable; outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been denied.
  • the method of paragraph [00146] further comprises: receiving a modified request, in which the modified request modifies at least one of: the service requested, the particular time requested or the date requested.
  • the method of paragraph [00146] further comprises: determining that the particular time is available for bidding, in which the bidding is available during a period of time; receiving a bid submitted for the particular time; comparing the bid with at least one other bid; outputting an indicia that grants the request to reserve to a highest bidder, in which the highest bidder submitted the bid with an amount that is greater than an amount associated with the at least one other bid.
  • the method of paragraph [00146] further comprises: receiving a first bid for the particular time, in which the particular time was previously determined as unavailable and the first bid was placed by the first customer; outputting an indicia of the first bid to a second customer, in which the second customer previously reserved the particular time; determining that the first bid is greater than the second bid; and outputting an indicia to the first customer, in which the indicia indicates that the request to reserve the service for the particular time requested has been approved.
  • the method of paragraph [00146] further comprises: receiving a first bid for the particular time, in which the particular time was previously determined as unavailable and the first bid was placed by the first customer; outputting an indicia of the first bid to a second customer, in which the second customer previously reserved the particular time; determining that the second bid is greater than the first bid; and outputting an indicia to the first customer, in which the indicia indicates that the request to reserve the service for the particular time requested has been denied.
  • the method of paragraph [00142] further comprises: receiving a premium fee associated with the particular time requested, in which the premium fee prevents bidding for the particular time; determining that the particular time is unavailable for bidding; rejecting a bid submitted for the particular time.
  • the method of paragraph [00142] further comprises: updating the schedule with the request to reserve the service.
  • updating the schedule further comprises: determining a quantity of on-site dining requests, in which the on-site dining request comprises the request to reserve the service for preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; determining that the quantity of on-site dining request has exceeded a threshold; decreasing the number of available carry-out dining requests on the schedule, in which the carry-out dining request comprises the request to reserve the service for preparing a consumable good that is received that the restaurant's location.
  • updating the schedule further comprises: determining a quantity of on-site dining requests, in which the on-site dining request comprises the request to reserve the service for preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; determining a quantity of carry-out dining requests, in which the carry-out dining comprises the request to reserve the service for preparing a consumable good that is received that the restaurant's location; calculating a ratio between the quantity of on-site dining requests to the quantity of carry-out dining requests; determining that the ratio has exceeded a threshold; decreasing the number of available carry-out dining requests on the schedule.
  • a storage medium containing machine instructions readable by a computer system that includes a data store to configure the computer system to perform the method of paragraph [00142].
  • An apparatus comprising: a storage device; a processor connected to the storage device; the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to: receiving a request to reserve a service that is provided by a restaurant, in which the request to reserve is for a particular time and a particular date and the service comprises at least one of: (i) preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; (ii) preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or (iii) preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location; comparing the particular time requested with a schedule associated with the restaurant, in which the schedule comprises a list of times that are available for reservation; determining an availability of the request to reserve; outputting an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted or denied.
  • a method comprising: selecting a restaurant from a plurality of
  • a request to reserve a service that is provided by the restaurant in which the request to reserve is for a particular time and a particular date and the service comprises at least one of: (i) preparing a consumable good that is consumed at the restaurant's location; (ii) preparing a consumable good that is received at the restaurant's location; or (iii) preparing a consumable good that is delivered to a location external to the restaurant's location; receiving an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted or denied.
  • selecting the restaurant comprises reviewing information associated with the restaurant.
  • the method of paragraph [00167] comprises: receiving an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been accepted; transmitting a request for at least one consumable good, in which the at least one consumable good is offered by the restaurant; transmitting a quantity of the at least one consumable good; and receiving a price of the at least one consumable good, in which the price comprises an amount paid in exchange for the consumable good requested.
  • the method of paragraph [00167] comprises: receiving an indicia that the request to reserve the service has been denied.
  • the method of paragraph [00173] further comprises: transmitting a modified request, in which the modified request modifies at least one of: the service requested, the particular time requested or the date requested.
  • the method of paragraph [00173] further comprises: receiving an indicia that the particular time requested is available for bidding, in which the bidding is available during a period of time.
  • the method of paragraph [00175] further comprises: transmitting a bid for the particular time, in which the bid is associated with an amount; receiving an indicia that the request to reserve has been denied, in which an amount associated at least one other bid is greater than the amount associated with the bid.
  • the method of paragraph [00167] further comprises: transmitting a premium fee with the request to reserve, in which the premium fee prevents bidding for the particular time;
  • a storage medium containing machine instructions readable by a computer system that includes a data store to configure the computer system to perform the method of paragraph [00167].
  • An apparatus comprising: a storage device; a processor connected to the storage device; the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to: selecting a restaurant from a plurality of restaurants; transmitting a request to reserve a service that is provided by the restaurant, in which the request to reserve is for a particular time and a particular date and the service comprises at least one of:

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des procédés et un système correspondant qui, dans au moins un mode de réalisation, comprennent la ou les étapes consistant à : déterminer qu'un service fourni par un restaurant est disponible pour des enchères. Le service est fourni pendant un temps particulier et une date particulière. Les procédés et le système comprennent également les étapes consistant à recevoir une enchère pour le service fourni par le restaurant, l'enchère étant associée à un premier montant ; stocker l'enchère avec une pluralité d'autres enchères dans un dispositif de stockage ; et comparer l'enchère avec au moins une autre enchère qui est soumise pour réserver le service. La ou les autres enchères sont associées à un second montant. Les procédés et le système comprennent également les étapes consistant à déterminer que le premier montant est supérieur au second montant ; et produire un indice qui accorde la demande de réservation du service fourni par le restaurant au dernier enchérisseur, le premier montant soumis par le dernier enchérisseur étant supérieur au second montant.
PCT/US2008/053309 2007-03-02 2008-02-07 Procédés et appareil permettant de demander de réserver un service WO2008109224A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/681,663 2007-03-02
US11/681,663 US7818191B2 (en) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Receiving a request to reserve a service
US11/681,675 2007-03-02
US11/681,675 US8463649B2 (en) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Bidding for a request to reserve a service
US11/681,666 2007-03-02
US11/681,666 US8825529B2 (en) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Submitting a request to reserve a service

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008109224A1 true WO2008109224A1 (fr) 2008-09-12

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PCT/US2008/053309 WO2008109224A1 (fr) 2007-03-02 2008-02-07 Procédés et appareil permettant de demander de réserver un service

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JP (2) JP5043722B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU2008200781B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2620979A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008109224A1 (fr)

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AU2008200781A1 (en) 2008-09-18
AU2008200781B2 (en) 2010-08-26
JP5622801B2 (ja) 2014-11-12
JP2012230700A (ja) 2012-11-22
JP2008217794A (ja) 2008-09-18
CA2620979A1 (fr) 2008-09-02
JP5043722B2 (ja) 2012-10-10

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