Booking method and system
The invention relates to a method and system for booking reservations in a booking system and synchronizing bookings among several booking systems. The system comprises at least one booking system; at least one service provider; a mediator service; a client, and at least one client terminal device 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 communications system comprising:
a mediator coupled to a telecommunications system and providing an interface between at least one mobile device and at least one application provided on at least one network server coupled to the telecommunications system,
wherein the mediator prepares and transmits messages to a plurality of recipient addresses each associated with one of a plurality of mobile devices,
wherein each transmitted message includes a source address selected from a plurality of source addresses, wherein the source address indicates a source of the transmitted message,
wherein the mediator prepares and transmits the messages by using the selected source addresses as a sender's address for each message,
wherein a first message for transmission to a first mobile device comprises a first source address as a sender's address and a second message for transmission to a second mobile device comprises a second source address as a sender's address that is different than the first source address, and
wherein the source addresses that are available for selection as a source address for a transmission of a message to a particular mobile device are only those source addresses that selection would result in all messages transmitted to the particular mobile device having different source addresses.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the mediator includes a further network server coupled to the telecommunications system.
3. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the messages prepared and transmitted by the mediator to the particular mobile device are part of a dialogue.
4. The communications system of claim 3 , wherein the dialogue is a one way dialogue.
5. The communications system of claim 3 , wherein the dialogue includes an acknowledgement of a reservation for a user of the particular mobile device.
6. The communications system of claim 3 , wherein the dialogue includes a notification for a user of the particular mobile device.
7. The communications system of claim 3 , wherein the dialogue includes a reminder for a user of the particular mobile device.
8. The communications system of claim 3 , wherein the dialogue includes an inquiry to another entity in the communication system.
9. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the messages prepared and transmitted by the mediator include an inquiry based on information received by the mediator from the at least one application.
10. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the mediator stores the transmitted messages in a matrix, which indicates a relationship of each transmitted message with a recipient address associated with the mobile device to which the transmitted message was transmitted and the selected source address included in the transmitted message.
11. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the messages is a short message service message.
12. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the messages is a text message.
13. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the messages sent by the mediator is an electronic mail message.
14. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of source addresses are a plurality of predetermined addresses that are compatible with at least one mobile device.
15. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the mediator selects the one of the available source addresses at random.
16. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein the mediator transmits a plurality of messages to a mobile device and selects a different one of the plurality of available source addresses for each of the plurality of transmitted messages.
17. The communications system of claim 1 , wherein a recipient address associated with a mobile device includes an identifier chosen from the group consisting of an A-subscriber's number, Calling Line Identity (CLI), electronic mail address, a symbol telephone number, an address and an IP address.
18. A method of communicating with mobile devices via a telecommunication system, the method comprising:
a mediator preparing and transmitting messages via a telecommunications system to a plurality of recipient addresses each associated with one of a plurality of mobile devices, the mediator being coupled to the telecommunications system and providing an interface between at least one mobile device and at least one application provided on at least one network server coupled to the telecommunications system,
wherein the mediator prepares and transmits messages to a plurality of recipient addresses each associated with one of a plurality of mobile devices,
wherein each transmitted message includes a source address selected from a plurality of source addresses, wherein the source address indicates a source of the transmitted message,
wherein the mediator prepares and transmits the messages by using the selected source addresses as a sender's address for each message,
wherein a first message for transmission to a first mobile device comprises a first source address as a sender's address and a second message to a second mobile device comprises a second source address as a sender's address that is different than the first source address, and
wherein the source addresses that are available for selection as a source address for a transmission of message to a particular mobile device are only those source addresses that selection would result in all messages transmitted to the particular mobile device having different source addresses.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mediator includes a further network server coupled to the telecommunications system.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the messages prepared and transmitted by the mediator to the particular mobile device are part of a dialogue.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dialogue is a one way dialogue.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dialogue includes an acknowledgement of a reservation for a user of the particular mobile device.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dialogue includes a notification for a user of the particular mobile device.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dialogue includes a reminder for a user of the particular mobile device.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the dialogue includes an inquiry to another entity in the communication system.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the messages prepared and transmitted by the mediator include an inquiry based on information received by the mediator from the at least one application.
27. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mediator stores the transmitted messages in a matrix, which indicates a relationship of each transmitted message with a recipient address associated with the mobile device to which the transmitted message was transmitted and the selected source address included in the transmitted message.
28. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the messages is a short message service message.
29. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the messages is a text message.
30. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the messages sent by the mediator is an electronic mail message.
31. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of source addresses are a plurality of predetermined addresses that are compatible with at least one mobile device.
32. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mediator selects the one of the available source addresses at random.
33. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mediator transmits a plurality of messages to a mobile device and selects a different one of the plurality of source addresses for each of the plurality of transmitted messages.
34. The method of claim 18 , wherein a recipient address associated with a mobile device includes an identifier chosen from the group consisting of an A-subscriber's number, Calling Line Identity (CLI), electronic mail address, a symbol telephone number, an address and an IP address.