US 2019/0057323 A1 · FRAMEWORKS AND METHODOLOGIES CONFIGURED TO ENABLE INTEGRATION OF BOOKING AND ACCESS CONTROL FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

Abstract

Described herein are frameworks and methodologies configured to enable integration of booking and access control for service providers. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for allowing a user to gain access to an access controlled resource (for example a hotel room or the like) via a mobile device. This preferably occurs in the context of an arrangement where access rights are provided in real time upon completion of a booking. For example, some embodiments operate in the context of a mobile app and associated supporting infrastructure thereby to provide functionality to (i) find an available suitable resource; (ii) book that resource; (iii) provide payment; and (iv) gain access via the same mobile device. In some embodiments the technology leverages third party platforms for (i) to (iii), and provides (iv) based on output from processes at the third party platform(s). While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method, performed by one or more server devices, configured to enable managing bookings and access control, the method including:

providing an interface that is configured to communicate with a plurality of client mobile devices, wherein each client mobile device executes a prescribed software application, wherein each executing instance of the prescribed software application is configured to provide a user interface that:
(i) identifies a resource in respect of which a time-specific booking has been made;
and
(ii) provides a user interface component configured to enable the user to access an access-controlled functionality provided by an access control device associated with the time specific booking;
receiving a signal representative of completion of a booking of a resource, wherein the booking is associated with:
a specific access control device;
a user account;
and timing parameters;
and
based on the received signal, configuring the user interface of a specific one of the client mobile devices, being a client mobile device associated with the user account, to:
(i) provide data identifying the booked resource as the resource in respect of which a time-specific booking has been made;
and
(ii) configure the user interface component configured to enable the user to access an access-controlled functionality provided by the specific access control device in accordance with the timing parameters.

10 more elements

A computer implemented method, performed by a mobile device, configured to enable access control in respect of one or more bookings, the method including:

executing a prescribed software application that is configured to interact with one or more server devices, wherein of the prescribed software application is configured to provide a user interface that:
(i) identifies a resource in respect of which a time-specific booking has been made;
and
(ii) provides a user interface component configured to enable the user to access an access-controlled functionality provided by an access control device associated with the time specific booking;
via a booking interface displayed at the mobile device, completing a booking process in respect of a resource thereby to define a booking at a server device, wherein the booking is associated with:
a specific access control device;
a user account;
and timing parameters;
and
based on completion of the booking process, receiving a signal from a server device, wherein the signal configures the user interface of the mobile device to:
(i) provide data identifying the booked resource as the resource in respect of which a time-specific booking has been made;
and (ii) configure the user interface component configured to enable a user of the mobile device to access an access-controlled functionality provided by the specific access control device in accordance with the timing parameters.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Frameworks and methodologies configured to enable integration of booking and access control for service providers

Life of this patent

Frameworks and methodologies configured to enable integration of booking and access control for service providers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22