System and method for managing reservation requests for one or more inventory items

Abstract

A system and method for managing reservation requests for one or more inventory items are provided. A user reservation request is obtained and processed to identify inventory data matching the reservation request. Reservation transaction, reservation items and reservation inventory records are generated corresponding to the user reservation request. If the transaction can be completed, a confirmation is sent to the user and a notification is sent to a supplier.

1 . A method for processing reservation requests for one or more inventory items, the method comprising:
 maintaining, by a computing device, inventory data, wherein the inventory data is organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three level hierarchy includes:
 at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records; 
 a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records; and 
 inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types selected to satisfy reservation requests; 
   matching, by the computing device, one or more inventory items with the inventory data responsive to reservation requests for inventory, wherein matching includes selecting two or more instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the reservation request; and   generating, by the computing device, the results of matching the reservation request with inventory data.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the request for reservation includes a set of criteria for identifying matching inventory items. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the set of criteria includes at least one of a date or date range for the reservation request, a selection of a hotel room or hotel room type, a selection of an airline flight or airline carrier, a selection of car rental agency or car rental type, and a selection of a cruise or cabin type. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes calculating a consumer price for the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes calculating a supplier cost for the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising confirming a completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the reservation request. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein matching the request for reservation with the inventory data includes:
 placing the selected instances of inventory data on hold;   confirming a completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the reservation request;   updating the reservation transaction, reservation item and reservation inventory records with the confirmation data; and   updating the inventory data to reflect a completed reservation request.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7  further comprising deleting the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records and adding the matching inventory data to a corresponding inventory record if the transfer of a monetary amount cannot be confirmed. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the results of the matching includes transmitting a notification to a supplier corresponding to the matched reservation request, the notification including at least one of a confirmation number, utilization information, and a cost code associated with a supplier cost for the inventory item. 
     
     
         10 . A system for processing reservation of one or more inventory items, the system comprising:
 a data store operable to store inventory data organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three-level hierarchy includes:
 at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records; 
 a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records; and 
 inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types; 
   a computing device configured to:
 match a request for reservation of at least one inventory item with the inventory data, wherein matching includes selecting from instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the reservation request; 
 generate results of matching the request for reservation with inventory data; and 
 transmit the results. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the computing device processes the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records by confirming the completion of a financial transaction. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the computing device is further operable to transmit a confirmation of the matched reservation request to the user associated with the matched reservation request. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records include a price component, and wherein the computing device is operable to calculate a price based on the sum of the price components of the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records include a cost component, and wherein the computing device is operable to calculate a cost based on the sum of the cost components of the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records. 
     
     
         15 . A system for processing reservations of one or more items comprising:
 a data store operable to store inventory data organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three-level hierarchy includes:
 at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records; 
 a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records; and 
   inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types;   a computing device having components for processing reservation requests including:   means for matching inventory data from the three level hierarchy to correspond to the reservation requests; and   a notification component for transmitting results of matching.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  further comprising means for computing costs based on a sum of costs associated with at least one of a reservation item and a reservation item's reservation inventory records. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the notification component transmits notifications to users associated with the reservation request. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the notification component transmits notifications to suppliers associated with the reservation requests.