Electronic meeting management system and an associated method of scheduling meetings

#This invention relates to the electronic scheduling of meetings, and more particularly, to an electronic meeting management system and an associated method of scheduling meetings. The scheduling of meetings is a very time consuming administrative function. Meetings can include virtually any type of activity where people get together and have face-to-face interaction. This can encompass a wide variety of activities and events including, but not limited to, birthday parties, boy scout parties, girl scout parties, and so forth. The administrative aspect of scheduling meetings is especially difficult for meetings that occur at particular locations having a fixed amount of resources. For example, if someone desires to schedule a party at a retail establishment, this person must communicate with one of the few people trained and authorized to enter this information into the computer. If several people want to reserve a meeting, e.g., party, at the same time and place, there can be issues as to which party reserved first and when the information was entered. The customer or meeting attendee can be told that the time is free while another employee reserves the exact same date, time and location before the first employee can complete the transaction. This can be very detrimental to the relationship with that customer. One approach utilized by organizations, in an attempt to address this issue, is to obtain suggested dates and times from customers via phone or e-mail. This information is then directed to one particular designated employee. The problem with this system is that this employee is constantly involved with this function and when things are busy there can be a considerable lag between receiving an indication of interest and responding to any one particular customer. In addition, there may need to be considerable interaction between the customer and the employee if the desired location, date and time is already reserved. Moreover, although this administrative task is essential to the organization, it is very time consuming and repetitious. This makes it is very difficult for the employer to keep and retain quality employees. Furthermore, the customer is frustrated since he or she must spend a considerable time on the phone to determine all available options if the optimal facility, date and time has been already reserved.

#The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

#In one aspect of this invention, a computer system for managing a meeting utilizing at least one database associated with at least one processor is disclosed. This system includes an input mechanism that receives a selected facility, a selected date for the meeting, a number of people to attend the meeting, a portion of the day in which to schedule the meeting, and an output mechanism that retrieves from the database at least one available time and date for the meeting at the selected facility, wherein the input mechanism further includes receiving an input for one particular date, time and facility of the at least one retrieved time and date for the meeting at the selected facility and the output mechanism provides a confirmation of the selected date, time and facility for the meeting. Throughout this application, each database preferably, but not necessarily, includes a separate processor used in conjunction therewith, in addition to at least one processor.

#For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a series of software programs and associated database of the present invention for a meeting management system and associated method of scheduling meetings;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a system management interface for an information and tracking system associated with the present invention;

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the figures, a particular type of software language, or to particular conventions regarding software designations. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. A processor referred to herein can be a single processor or a whole series of processors. The preferred method of communication for this invention is through a global computer network, e.g., Internet, however, there are numerous mechanisms for electronic communication that might suffice for this present invention.

#Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, which is a contextual schematic of the electronic meeting management system of the present invention that is generally indicated by numeral 10. There is a database 12 that preferably provides access to five (5) different software programs. These software programs include a system management interface program 14, a reservation (time blocking, e.g., hibernation) interface program 16 for a facility, a facility interface program 18, a meeting scheduling interface program 20 accessible from a remote location utilizing a global computer network, e.g., Internet, and a meeting scheduling interface program 22 accessible from a facility, e.g., store, from a processor located at the facility's kiosk or similar type of access and display. A wide variety of electronic communication mechanisms can be utilized to link these interface programs 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 to a database 12, with the preferred mechanism being a global computer network, e.g., Internet. The database 12 can be associated with one main processor or series of multiple processors. The separation of the functional features associated with the present invention into five (5) interface programs 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 is merely for illustration only and select features from these programs 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 can be combined, eliminated, augmented or further segregated depending on the specific application that is involved.

#In the description of flowcharts, the functional explanation marked with numerals in angle brackets, <nnn>, will refer to the flowchart blocks bearing that number. Referring now to FIG. 2, the first step in accessing the system management interface 14, as is also shown in FIG. 1, is for the user, e.g., employee, at a facility, e.g., store, to login into the system of the present invention <30>. As shown on the exemplary graphical interface screen display for the login function shown in FIG. 6 and generally indicated by numeral 31, this can include an organizational logo 32, an input for the user's, e.g., employee's, name 34, the user's, e.g., employee's, password 36, and a pushbutton 38 for submitting the user's, e.g., employee's, name and the user's, e.g., employee's, password to the system of the present invention. There is a disclaimer for this system that indicates that the system is for “Authorized Use Only”, which is generally indicated by numeral 33.