Booking method and system

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and systems for booking reservations in a booking system and synchronizing bookings among several booking systems. A system includes at least one booking system ( 100 ); a mediator service ( 102 ); a client, using at least one client terminal device ( 104 ) that can be a mobile device and that includes a dialogue. The client uses the dialogue to enter information into the system and the mediator receives inquiries and answers from the at least one booking system, the at least one service provider, and the at least one client. The mediator transfers and adapts information between them. The method and system are particularly suited for use with mobile phone users by Small Message Service messages.

1 . A method of a mediator carrying on a communication with a client terminal having a client identifier address, including: 
 a) initializing a communication with the client terminal, including associating a particular reply address to which a reply to a dialogue needs to be directed, including selecting the particular reply address from a multiplicity of addresses at which the mediator receives replies;    b) initiating a dialogue to the client terminal that includes the particular reply address;    c) receiving a reply at the particular reply address from the client terminal, the reply including the client identifier address; and    d) evaluating the reply using the client identifier address and the particular reply address at which the reply is received.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the reply further includes analyzing the semantics of the reply.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication pertains to a particular service provider.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the particular reply address from the multiplicity of addresses is a random choice.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication includes a plurality of dialogue and reply exchanges with the client terminal and initiating includes associating different reply addresses with different dialogue and reply exchanges.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , whereby evaluating the reply can proceed even when the different replies are received in a different order than the exchanges are initiated.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein initializing a communication is responsive to a set up request that identifies the client terminal and particular service provider.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further including storing the replies in a matrix having a first axis corresponding to client identifier addresses and a second axis corresponding to reply addresses.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mediator is simultaneously communicating with a plurality of other client terminals each having a different client identifier address, and wherein the method further includes tracking which of the multiplicity of addresses is currently available.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein initializing a communication further includes selecting the particular reply address from currently available addresses.  
     
     
         11 . A mediator that controls communications between at least one service provider and a client terminal having a client identifier address, the mediator including: 
 a) a multiplicity of addresses at which the mediator is capable of receiving messages from the client terminal;    b) logic and resources adapted to 
 i) initialize a communication with the client terminal pertaining to a particular service provider, including associating a particular reply address to which a reply to a dialogue needs to be directed, the particular reply address being selected from the multiplicity of addresses;  
 ii) initiate a dialogue to the client terminal that includes the particular reply address;  
 iii) receive a reply at the particular reply address; and  
 iv) evaluate the reply using the client identifier address and the particular reply address at which the reply is received.  
   
     
     
         12 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the logic and resources to evaluate the reply further analyzes the semantics of the reply.  
     
     
         13 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the communication includes a plurality of dialogue and reply exchanges with the client terminal, and different reply addresses are associated with different dialogue and reply exchanges.  
     
     
         14 . The mediator of  claim 13 , whereby the logic and resources are adapted to process replies to dialogues even when the different replies are received out of order from the different queries.  
     
     
         15 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the logic and resources adapted to initialize the communication includes a matrix having a first axis corresponding to client identifier address and a second axis corresponding to reply address.  
     
     
         16 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the logic and resources to initialize the communication is adapted to be responsive to a set up request that identifies the client terminal and the particular service provider.  
     
     
         17 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the logic and resources to select the particular reply address from the multiplicity of addresses chooses the selection at random.  
     
     
         18 . The mediator of  claim 11 , wherein the client identifier address is chosen from the group consisting of a client's A-subscriber's number, Calling Line Identity, e-mail address and IP address.  
     
     
         19 . A mediator for controlling a booking system having at least one service provider and a client terminal device for use by a client having a client identifier address, the mediator including: 
 a) a multiplicity of addresses at which the mediator is capable of receiving messages from the client terminal,    b) logic and resources adapted to 
 prepare at least one dialogue responsive to an inquiry pertaining to the service provider,  
 associate a particular reply address to each dialogue, the particular reply address being selected from the multiplicity of addresses,  
 send the at least one dialogue to the client terminal,  
 receive a reply at the particular reply address from the client terminal device including the client identifier address; and  
 evaluate the reply using the client identifier address and the particular reply address at which the reply is received.  
   
     
     
         20 . The mediator of  claim 19 , wherein the logic and resources includes a matrix including a first axis indexed by client identifier address and a second axis indexed by reply address.  
     
     
         21 . The mediator of  claim 19 , wherein the client identifier address includes an identifier chosen from the group consisting of a client's A-subscriber's number, Calling Line Identity, e-mail address and IP address.  
     
     
         22 . The mediator of  claim 19 , wherein the logic and resources to evaluate the reply further analyzes the semantics of the reply.  
     
     
         23 . The mediator of  claim 19 , wherein the inquiry is responsive to a service request that identifies the client terminal device.  
     
     
         24 . The mediator of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of dialogues are prepared responsive to the inquiry and wherein the logic and resources adapted to associate a particular reply address are adapted to select a different particular reply address to associate with each dialogue, whereby the logic and resources are adapted to evaluate replies even when different replies are received in a different order from different dialogues.  
     
     
         25 . The mediator of  claim 24 , wherein the logic and resources includes logic and resources to track those addresses of the multiplicity of different addresses that are currently available and to assign the particular reply address at random from those addresses that are currently available.  
     
     
         26 . The mediator of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one dialogue is a question which can be answered by making a selection of one item from an ordered list of choices wherein each choice has an ordinal position.  
     
     
         27 . The mediator of  claim 26 , wherein the matrix further includes a third axis index for storing the ordinal position of the selection.  
     
     
         28 . A method of a mediator booking resources for a client from a service provider, the client having a client identifier address and using a client terminal device to communicate with the mediator, the mediator performing acts including: 
 a) preparing at least one dialogue responsive to an inquiry;    b) associating a particular reply address to each dialogue, said particular reply address being selected from a multiplicity of addresses available for receiving messages from a client terminal device;    c) sending the at least one dialogue to the client terminal device;    d) receiving a reply to the at least one dialogue from the client terminal device, the reply including the client identifier address; and    e) evaluating the reply to the at least one dialogue using the client identifier address and the particular reply address.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the act of evaluating the reply further includes analyzing the semantics of the reply.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further including storing the reply to the at least one dialogue in a matrix including a first axis indexed by client identifier and a second axis indexed by reply address.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the act of associating a particular reply address to each dialogue is performed so as to select the particular reply address at random.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the inquiry is responsive to a service request from the client terminal device.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the client identifier address includes an identifier chosen from the group consisting of a client's A-subscriber's number, Calling Line Identity, e-mail address and IP address.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the act of preparing the at least one dialogue further includes preparing the at least one dialogue into a form that can be answered by making a selection from an ordered list of choices wherein each choice has an ordinal position in the list of choices.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one dialogue includes a plurality of dialogues such that different particular reply address is associated to each dialogue, whereby evaluating the reply can proceed even if replies are received in a different order than dialogues are sent.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the matrix includes a third axis indexed for storing the ordinal position of selections, and wherein the method further includes storing the selection to the at least one reply along the third axis.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the client terminal device includes a mobile telephonic device and the dialogues include SMS messages.  
     
     
         38 . A network server programmed as a mediator to perform the method of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         39 . A network server programmed as a mediator to perform the method of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         40 . A method of a mediator authenticating a client, the client using a mobile telephonic device capable of sending and receiving SMS messages and having a client's calling line identifier number, the mediator performing acts including: 
 a) assigning a unique reply address to an SMS dialogue from a multiplicity of available reply addresses;    b) sending the SMS dialogue to the client at the client's calling line identifier number; and    c) authenticating the client if a reply to the SMS dialogue is received at the unique reply address.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the unique reply address is assigned at random from among the multiplicity of available reply addresses.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the mediator includes a network server programmed to perform the method and wherein the method further includes storing the reply in a matrix including a first axis indexed by client calling line identifier number and a second axis indexed by reply address.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the authenticating act further includes analyzing the semantics of the reply.