US 5,581,461 AGranted

Computerized system and method for storage, processing and transfer of inventory and other data among a central processor/database and a number of remote locations

AssigneeITT Sheraton Corporation

InventorsDenise Coll, Daniel M. Ouellette

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Abstract

A system and method for a novel and highly advanced data handling network which is ideally disposed for the management of inventory data among a number of dispersed locations, such as a hotel chain. A central computer-processor/data-base is interconnected with a plurality of remote locations, via a novel gateway interface and communications network, which remote locations may comprise either local processors and associated local data bases or terminal devices connected with the system via third-party systems or public networks. Embodied as a hotel reservation and data management network, the system supports not only the storage and exchange of basic room-inventory/reservation data between and among the central and remote locations, but also such advanced data management features as a single depleting inventory for both the central and remote databases, rate plan restricted access, and display of room layout data at an operator's terminal.

In a hotel reservation system having a first set of application programs and a second set of application programs, a system for distributed hotel reservation database access and management, comprising:

(a) a central host computer having first data storage means for storing hotel data including room availability and customer account and material usage information for a plurality of hotels, and first processing means for interacting with the first set of application programs and for processing said hotel data;
(b) a plurality of local computers located remotely from said host computer, each having second data storage means for storing at least a portion of said hotel data, input means for an operator to enter input data into said local computer, second processing means for interacting with the second set of application programs and for processing said input data, and output means for displaying output data from said local computer to said operator;
(c) network means for linking said host computer and said plurality of local computers into a network, said host computer and said plurality of local computers having substantially symmetrical interfaces and operative to store similar data;
and
(d) gateway means associated with each computer in said network for linking the first set of application programs and the second set of application programs for enabling communication among cooperating tasks in the first set of application programs and the second set of application programs and for providing time- or data-initiated transaction processing services, wherein said means enables intercommunication and interprocessing among data management functions, as established by the first set of application programs and the second set of application programs, operating on at least two of said computers;
and wherein said gateway means operates to enable peer-to-peer communications between said at least two of said computers, whereby any one of said at least two of said computers is enabled to operate as server computer and any other one of said at least two of said computers is enabled to operate as a client computer, and further wherein interactive communications between said server computer and said client computer is enabled so that data and processing may be shared among said server and said client computers, said gateway means thereby operating to coordinate processing tasks among said functionally related applications in the first set of application programs and the second set of application programs and the flow of data between computers in said network.

3 more elements

Facts

Application

08/299,336Filed 31 Aug 1994 · continuation

Priority

8 Feb 1993

Granted

3 Dec 1996

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G06Q 10/02
Administration; Management: reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
G06Q 10/0285
For seating or spaces in a venue: for lodging
G06Q 10/08744
Inventory fulfillment: by distributed inventory management

Abstract

Claims28