US6329919B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing reservations for restroom use
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 2000-08-14
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2020-08-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for providing reservations for restroom use. In one embodiment, a passenger on an airplane may submit a reservation request to the system for restroom use. The reservation system determines when the request can be accommodated and notifies the passenger when a restroom becomes available. The system improves airline safety by minimizing the time passengers spent standing while an airplane is in flight.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Boies
- 👤 Samuel Dinkin
- 👤 Paul Andrew Moskowitz
- 👤 Philip Shi-lung Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q10/025; G06Q10/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: receiving a reservation request from a user; and notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
30 words
A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: receiving a reservation request from a user; and notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising assigning a reservation number in response to the request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing the user with an approximate waiting time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the reservation is cancelled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
26 words
A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
26 words
A method of providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising receiving a reservation number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 10 , further comprising receiving an approximate waiting time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to receive a reservation request from a user; and code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to receive a reservation request from a user; and code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising code to assign a reservation number in response to the request.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising code to provide the user with an approximate waiting time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising code to determine whether the reservation is cancelled.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising code to determine whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 , further comprising code to receive a reservation number.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the reservation number is assigned on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 , further comprising code to receive an approximate waiting time.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: code to receive a reservation request from a user; and code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: code to receive a reservation request from a user; and code to notify the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , further comprising code to assign a reservation number in response to the request.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 34 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 34 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , further comprising code to provide the user with an approximate waiting time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , further comprising code to determine whether the reservation is cancelled.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 33 , further comprising code to determine whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
74 words
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
74 words
Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for reservations for restroom use, comprising: a programmed computer, further comprising: a memory having at least one region for storing executable program code; and a processor for executing the program code stored in the memory, wherein the program code, further comprising: code to submit a reservation request for restroom use; and code to receive notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 42 , further comprising code to receive a reservation number.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 43 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 43 , wherein the reservation number is assigned on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 42 , further comprising code to receive an approximate waiting time.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 42 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer executable software code according to claim 42 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
34 words
A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: means for receiving a reservation request from a user; and means for notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
34 words
A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: means for receiving a reservation request from a user; and means for notifying the user when the restroom is available for his or her use.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 49 , further comprising assigning a reservation number in response to the request.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 50 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 50 , wherein said assigning the number assigns number on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 49 , further comprising providing the user with an approximate waiting time.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 49 , further comprising determining whether the reservation is cancelled.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 49 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 49 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 49 , further comprising determining whether the user has entered the restroom within a predetermined time period.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
30 words
A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: means for submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and means for receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
30 words
A system for providing reservations for restroom use, comprising: means for submitting a reservation request for restroom use; and means for receiving notification when the restroom becomes available for use.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 58 , further comprising receiving a reservation number.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 59 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a set of priority rules.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 59 , wherein the reservation number is assigned based on a first come, first served basis.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 58 , further comprising receiving an approximate waiting time.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 58 , wherein said reservations are provided on an airplane.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 58 , wherein said reservations are provided on a passenger train or boat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |