Reservation system terminal

Disclosed is a reservation system terminal connected to a host computer for controlling the overall reservation status. The terminal can inquire of the host computer the present reservation status, request the reservation acquisition, and prepare, refer to, or change the reservation record to be received by the host computer. The terminal is provided with a terminal computer, a display unit (17) and a pointing device. The terminal computer can execute in parallel mode a plurality of tasks such as a reservation process for a reservation acquisition task, a reservation edition process for reservation record preparation and a change task, a reservation record reference process for preparing a reservation record reference task, etc. In each of these processes (reservation, reservation, edition, reservation record reference), images are formed, respectively, and displayed in multiwindow fashion. Each image includes a plurality of arranged visible parts operable by the pointing device. Therefore, various tasks related to reservation can be executed simply when the operator points to positions on these visible parts with the pointing device. Various data that is usable in common is automatically transferred among the above-mentioned processes and coordinated through inter-process communications. The arrangement of the images can be freely changed, so that any required image can be displayed in the front of a multidisplay image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to a reservation system for 
reserving various tickets of transport facilities, hotels, tours, etc. by 
means of a computer, more specifically, the invention relates to a 
reservation system terminal connected to a host computer for controlling 
reservation business through integration, in order to transmit operator's 
instructions to the host computer and to display response data returned 
from the host computer for use by the operator. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Conventionally, the procedure required to acquire a reservation at a 
reservation system terminal is roughly as follows: (1) an inquiry as to 
the current reservation status is made of the host computer to check for 
the presence or absence of vacancy (e.g. unoccupied seats); (2) if 
unoccupied, a reservation acquisition instruction is transmitted to the 
host computer; (3) further, some information such as a name, a place where 
to make contact, etc. are inputted according to the necessity; and finally 
(4) a reservation record is prepared to complete the reservation 
procedure. Further, in some simple reservation systems, the reservation 
procedure can be completed by only the above steps (1) and (2). 
In the prior-art reservation system, however, a series of the 
above-mentioned reservation procedures can be achieved when the operator 
inputs coded messages in accordance with predetermined formats through a 
terminal keyboard. 
A prior-art flight reservation system now adopted by the Japan Air Line 
Corporation will be explained in further detail by way of example. When an 
inquiry is made into the reservation status, (1) the operator first inputs 
an instruction code indicative of a reservation status reference through a 
terminal keyboard; (2) a flight section code is inputted; (3) a date code 
is entered; and (4) a transmit key is depressed, finally. 
For instance, when the reservation status referred to is the section 
between Haneda and Osaka on January 1, a message such as 
EQU AS HNDOSA 01 JAN 
is inputted through the keyboard. This message is received by the host 
computer; the host computer informs the terminal of the current unoccupied 
status of flight numbers between Haneda and Osaka at that day; and the 
unoccupied flight number list is displayed on a terminal CRT image. 
With reference to the displayed image, a reservation acquisition procedure 
is effected with respect to flight numbers displayed in the list. In this 
case, all the instructions and information data required for flight 
reservation such as flight number, class, the number of seats, etc. are 
inputted as codes in accordance with predetermined formats through the 
keyboard. 
The prior-art reservation system is called entry-oriented system, because 
all the instructions to the host computer are dependent upon the 
operators' keyboard operation. In addition, since the messages inputted 
through the keyboard are coded in accordance with predetermined formats, 
the entry-oriented system mainly involves the following problems: 
(1) The operability or ability to manipulate the system is poor. In more 
detail, the operator must remember all the instruction codes to be sent to 
the host computer, the input format, and necessary information codes, etc. 
In addition, the number of complicated instruction codes and input formats 
are increased more and more with diversification of the current 
reservation business. Further, since the prior-art system was originally 
developed in the U.S.A. and therefore the instructions are coded on the 
basis of English language, non-English speaking individuals find working 
the system difficult. As a result, it is practically impossible for 
unskilled operators to operate the system, and therefore many hours and 
large expenditures are required to educate and train the operators. 
(2) Since all the operational procedure is dependent upon the operator's 
keyboard operation, a large multitude of key strokes are required for a 
single reservation processing and therefore the business efficiency is 
inevitably low. In addition, there exist other problems in that the 
operator tends to become fatigued, particularly in the eyes, fingers, 
arms, shoulders, etc. 
(3) The intelligence capability of the terminal is not sufficiently put to 
practical use. A device provided with a high intelligence capability such 
as a personal computer is usually used as the terminal. However, the 
prior-art terminal is only used as a man-machine interface function 
between the operator and the host computer, so that it is impossible to 
store even the response data transmitted from the host computer or the 
information inputted by the operator. Therefore, since the response data 
and the input information obtained at the preceding procedure cannot be 
used again at the succeeding procedure, the operator must repeat the same 
operation as at the preceding procedure, thus resulting in a lower 
business efficiency. 
To overcome these problems, conventionally some improvements have been made 
mainly in the terminal operability and practical use of intelligence 
capability as follows: 
(1) Input guide formats necessary for a reservation procedure are provided 
within the terminal. The operator calls these guides in sequence according 
to their necessity for help in inputting the necessary information through 
the keyboard. 
(2) A required number of keys at which various information codes are stored 
are provided for the terminal. 
(3) Some often used input format examples are stored in specific keys, and 
other formats only for items of different contents are modified before to 
the terminal. 
(4) A display image is divided into a plurality of areas, and some 
information required for the succeeding procedure is kept in some areas. 
In the above-mentioned improvements, however, since the improvements have 
been made in relation to the entry-oriented systems, in which all the 
procedure is dependent upon the keyboard operation, the intelligence 
capability of the terminal is not sufficiently put into practical use, and 
the above-mentioned problems involved in the prior-art reservation system 
terminal are basically left unsolved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With these problems in mind, therefore, it is the primary object of the 
present invention to provide a novel object-oriented reservation system by 
which any procedure required to be executed can be simply selected and any 
additional necessary information can be simply inputted. The operator also 
has direct access to or operates a display image by use of a pointing 
device so as to markedly reduce the work load of the operator, thus 
basically solving the afore-mentioned problems involved in the prior-art 
entry-oriented reservation system. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a reservation system 
terminal that is provided with higher intelligence capability such as a 
multitask function for simultaneously processing a series of reservation 
procedure, an automatic information transfer function for automatically 
transferring necessary information between tasks, a multiwindow function 
for controlling a plurality of images under overlapping conditions, etc., 
thus making efficient use of the intelligence capability of the terminal. 
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the first aspect of the present 
invention provides a reservation system terminal associated with a host 
computer for processing a reservation status, which comprises: 
(A) reserving means for forming a reservation image including a plurality 
of parts for inputting contents related to predetermined reservation 
items, inquiring through use of the host computer, a reservation status 
related to the inputted reservation item contents, selecting any one of a 
plurality of reservation objects, and requesting, through use of the host 
computer, a reservation acquisition related to the selected reservation 
object, respectively; 
(B) displaying means for receiving the reservation images formed by said 
reserving means, and forming and displaying a display image including the 
formed reservation image; 
(C) pointing device means for operating the parts arranged in the image 
displayed by said displaying means; 
(D) part operation detecting means for detecting the part operated by said 
pointing device means; and 
(E) host-to-terminal communicating means for transmitting various messages 
to said host computer and receiving response data from said host computer, 
and wherein said reserving means selectively executes the following steps 
of, on the basis of a part pointing operation effected on the reservation 
image and detected by said part operation detecting means: 
(a) displaying the inputted reservation item contents on the reservation 
image; 
(b) forming a reservation status inquiry message for inquiring into a 
reservation status related to the inputted reservation item contents, 
transmitting the inquiry message to said host computer via said 
host-to-terminal communicating means, receiving selectable reservation 
object information transmitted by said host computer via said 
host-to-terminal communicating means as response data to the transmitted 
inquiry message, and displaying the selectable reservation object 
information list in the reservation image; 
(c) displaying the selected reservation object in the reservation image; 
and 
(d) forming a reservation request message for requesting a reservation 
acquisition related to the selected reservation objects, transmitting the 
formed reservation request message to said host computer via said 
host-to-terminal communicating means, receiving acquired reservation 
content information transmitted by said host computer via said 
host-to-terminal communicating device as response data to the reservation 
acquisition request, and displaying the acquired reservation contents in 
the reservation image. 
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a 
method of operating a terminal computer incorporated in a reservation 
system terminal that is associated with a host computer for processing 
reservation status and provided with a display unit. The display unit is 
coupled to the terminal computer to display images and the invention 
features a pointing device also coupled to the terminal computer to point 
to visible parts on the displayed image, comprising the steps of: 
(A) forming a reservation image including a plurality of parts for 
inputting contents related to predetermined reservation items, inquiring 
of the host computer a reservation status related to the inputted 
reservation item contents, selecting any one of a plurality reservation 
objects, and requesting of the host computer a reservation acquisition 
related to the selected reservation object; 
(B) forming a display image including the formed reservation image, and 
transmitting the formed display image to the display unit for display; 
(C) detecting a part operated by the pointing device on the displayed 
image; 
(D) if a part pointing operation for inputting the contents of the 
reservation item is detected, displaying the inputted reservation item 
contents on the reservation image; 
(E) if a part pointing operation for inquiring into the reservation status 
is detected after the inputted reservation item contents have been 
displayed, forming a reservation status inquiry message for inquiring the 
reservation status related to the inputted reservation item contents; 
(F) transmitting the formed reservation status inquiry message to the host 
computer; 
(G) receiving reservation status information indicative of selectable 
reservation objects transmitted from the host computer in response to the 
inquiry message; 
(H) forming a list indicative of the selectable reservation objects on the 
basis of the reservation status information, and displaying the formed 
list on the reservation image in relation to a part for selecting the 
reservation object; 
(I) if a part pointing operation for selecting the reservation object is 
detected after the reservation object list has been displayed, displaying 
the reservation object selected by the part pointing operation on the 
reservation image; 
(J) if a part pointing operation for requesting the reservation acquisition 
is detected after the selected reservation object has been displayed, 
forming a reservation request message for requesting a reservation 
acquisition related to the selected reservation object; 
(K) transmitting the formed reservation request message to the host 
computer; 
(L) receiving reservation acquisition information indicative of the 
contents of an acquired reservation transmitted from the host computer in 
response to the reservation request message; and 
(M) displaying the acquired reservation contents on the reservation image 
on the basis of the acquired reservation information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the detailed description to follow, any reference to the figure numbers 
listed in the left hand column below are to be considered to also include 
a reference to the corresponding figure components listed in the right 
hand column and appearing in the drawing sheets appended hereto. 
______________________________________ 
2A 2AI and 2AII 
2B 2BI and 2BII 
17A 17AI and 17AII 
17B 17BI and 17BII 
17C 17CI and 17CII 
19A 19AI and 19AII 
19B 19BI and 19BII 
20A 20AI and 20AII 
21A 21AI and 21AII 
21B 21BI, 21BII and 21BIII 
21C 21CI, 21CII and 21CIII 
21D 21DI and 21DII 
21F 21FI, 21FII and 21FIII 
21G 21GI and 21GII 
22A 22AI and 22AII 
22B 22BI and 22BII 
23A 23AI and 23AII 
23B 23BI and 23BII 
24A 24AI, 24AII and 24AIII 
24B 24BI, 24BII and 24BIII 
25A 25AI, 25AII and 25AIII 
25B 25BI, 25BII and 25BIII 
25C 25CI and 25CII 
26A 26AI and 26AII 
26B 26BI and 26BII 
26C 26CI and 26CII 
27A 27AI and 27AII 
27B 27BI and 27BII 
28 28I and 28II 
______________________________________ 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a preferred 
embodiment of the reservation terminal according to the present invention. 
A terminal (device) 1 is a personal computer in practice, which is 
composed of a CPU 3, a RAM 5, a ROM 7 for loading a system program, and 
I/O ports 9 for connecting various peripheral units such as a hard disc 
until 11 for loading application programs, a floppy disk unit 13 for 
loading optional application programs, an AV (audio/visual) unit 15 (e.g. 
an optical disk deck or video deck), a CRT 17 for displaying images, a 
MODEM 21 for communicating with a host computer 19 via communication 
lines, a pointing device such as an electronic pen 25, a mouse 27, etc., 
and a keyboard 29 for inputting various information not inputted through 
the pointing device. 
Further, it is preferable that the operation system (OS) loaded in the 
terminal device 1 satisfies the following requirements: 
(1) Multiwindow and multitask processing are both enabled in real time 
fashion time. 
(2) Operability is excellent and the operating method is standardized. 
(3) Information signals can be inputted mainly through pointing devices. 
(4) Processing speed is high. 
(5) Many languages may be processed. 
(6) Data, software and hardware are compatible with those of many makers or 
manufacturers. 
(7) Software is high in development efficiency. 
Operation systems such as UNIX, OS/2 and BTRON seem to satisfy the above 
requirements. However, BTRON (Business-The Realtime Operating System 
Nucleus) can be considered as being optimum because the above requirements 
(1), (2), (5) and (6) can be more perfectly satisfied. 
FIGS. 2(A) and (B) are functional block diagrams showing an integrated 
reservation system terminal for reserving flight numbers, hotels and tours 
by way of example, which is configured as shown in FIG. 1. 
With reference to these diagrams, an operator can manipulate the terminal 
with pointing devices (PD) such as the electronic pen 25, the mouse 27, 
and the keyboard 29. The major operations can be executed by use of the PD 
30; however, some operations such as proper noun (name, place where to 
make contact, etc.) information entry is executed through the keyboard 29, 
because such information is difficult to input through the PD 30. By use 
of the PD 30, the cursor position is movable on an image displayed on the 
CRT 17. A number of picture images can be displayed on the CRT 17, on each 
of which various parts (referred to as buttons, switch selectors, scroll 
selectors, etc.) and tag (or index) window images (representative of real 
window images) are arranged, as described later in further detail. Each 
function corresponding to each part is previously determined. When the 
operator moves the cursor to any given tag image or part by operating the 
pointing device 30 and further the PD 30 is clicked once in the case of 
parts and twice in the case of tag images, absolute coordinates of the 
current cursor position on the image are detected by a position detection 
block 31, and further the functions corresponding to each part or tag 
image on which the cursor is located are discriminated on the basis of the 
detected absolute, coordinates by a function discrimination block 33. 
Hereinafter, the operation wherein the cursor is located on a tag image 
and then the PD 30 is clicked twice is referred to as "a tag image is 
double clicked or double tag image clicks" and the operation wherein the 
cursor is located on a part and then the PD 30 is clicked once is referred 
to as "a part is (once) clicked or single part click". 
In response to the discriminated result of the function discrimination 
block 33, an image control block 119 controls the display on the CRT 17. 
In more detail, the image control block 119 is provided with multiwindow 
processing function such that the arrangement of various image windows are 
controlled on the basis of the above-mentioned discriminated result in 
order to multidisplay a plurality of images given through various 
processing as described later. In practice, since a plurality of window 
images are arranged in overlapping condition, although the outermost image 
arranged in front of the overlapped images (referred to as in-front image 
or displays) can be seen all over the image, only a part offset from the 
in-front image can be seen in the case of other inner images arranged in 
back (referred to as in-back images or displays). Therefore, the operator 
can operate or have an access to tag images and parts displayed in a 
complete image or in a visible partial portion of in-back images by use of 
the PD 30. Here, the tag image has an index function in process. When 
double tag image clicks are discriminated, the image control block 119 
arranges a process window corresponding to the discriminated tag image as 
an in-front image. (Further, if the corresponding process is not yet 
started, the process is simultaneously started.) When a visible part of 
the in-back image is clicked, the image control block 119 displays the 
clicked image as the in-front image. 
An image display block 121 includes a bit map graphic mechanism for 
multidisplaying a plurality of images on the CRT 17 in accordance with the 
window arrangement order determined by the image control block 119. 
Within the AV device 15, there are arranged optical disks or video tapes 
for recording color movies (motion pictures) to introduce hotels or tours. 
As described later, when a tag image of the movie display process is 
double clicked, the image control block 119 activates the AV device 15 to 
playback the designated hotel or tour movie and further transmit 
information for controlling the movie display to the image display block 
121, so that the playbacked movie can be displayed in the outermost window 
as an in-front image. 
In the terminal device provided with multiwindow and multitask processing 
functions, a plurality of independent processes can be executed in 
parallel fashion. These processes are flight number reservation process, 
date designation process 37, place name/area designation process, 
reservation edition process, previous seat designation process, seat chart 
display process, reservation record reference process, hotel reservation 
process, motion picture display process, tour reservation process, etc. 
Each of these processes is provided with a function for forming each 
specific image. These images are multiwindow processed by the image 
control block 119 and then multidisplayed on the CRT 17. 
The function is provided such that information inputted by the operator or 
from the host computer can be transmitted to other process, where 
necessary. This function is shown in FIG. 2(A) as an inter-process 
communication block 123, and can be realized by storing information 
required for plural processes in a memory area used in common for these 
processes. The inter-process communication block 123 is functioning at all 
times as the background operation of each process. 
In addition to the above-mentioned processes, there are provided 
host-to-terminal communication process 125, menu control process 32, color 
arrangement control process 34, etc. 
The host-to-terminal communication process 125 transmits messages in the 
various processes to the host computer 19 and returns the related response 
data from the host computer 19 to the process. In other words, this 
process enables normal communications between the terminal 1 and the host 
computer 19. This host-to-terminal communication process 125 always exists 
as an independent process in the background of the various process, which 
is operated when the independent process transmits messages to the host 
computer 19. 
The menu control process 32 is started when a menu button (not shown) 
provided for the PD 30 is depressed. This process 32 transmits a menu 
image as described later to the image control block 119 so that the image 
control block 119 displays the menu image as the in-front image. Since a 
number of function items are displayed on this menu image, any required 
function can be selected by the clicking operation. 
The color arrangement control process 34 is started when "color arrange" is 
clicked on the menu image, to control the image control block 119 so that 
the colors of the in-front image, background and parts can be changed. 
When the color arrangement is appropriately selected, it is possible to 
divert or relax the operator himself or herself. 
The above-mentioned process will be described hereinbelow in detail, 
respectively with reference to FIGS. 3 to 14. 
The flight number reservation process is the one for performing the 
reservation procedure of flight numbers, and is provided with various 
functions shown by a flight number reservation image display block 35, a 
reservation status inquiry message transmit/receive block 41, a 
reservation status display block 43, a reservation message 
transmit/receive block 45, and a reservation result display block 47. 
The flight number reservation image display block 35 forms a flight number 
reservation image as shown in FIG. 3 and sends the image to the image 
control block 119. At the header position of this flight number 
reservation image, a pictogram 131 (referred to as "flight number 
reservation pictogram") is arranged. When the double clicks of this flight 
number reservation pictogram 131 is discriminated, the flight number 
reservation process 35 is suspended, and the flight number reservation 
image window is deleted by the image control block 119. The flight number 
reservation image includes three tag images of a domestic city designation 
tag image 133, an international city designation tag image 135 and a date 
designation tag image 137. In general, a tag image has an index function 
for representing a process, as already explained. When a pictogram within 
a tag image is double clicked (referred to as "a tag image is double 
clicked"), the process corresponding to the tag image is started and the 
corresponding image is displayed in front. Therefore, when the date 
designation tag image 137 is double clicked, the date designation process 
37 is started, so that a date designation image as shown in FIG. 4 is sent 
to the image control block 119 to display the date designation image in 
front. When the domestic city designation tag image 135 is double clicked, 
the place name/area designation process 39 is started and a domestic city 
designation image as shown in FIG. 5 or an international city designation 
image as shown in FIG. 6 is sent to the image control block 119 to display 
the domestic city designation image or the international city designation 
image in front. 
In the date designation process 37, a data can be designated on the date 
designation image. In the place name/area designation process 39, a 
section between the departure and the arrival can be designated on the 
domestic or international city designation image. The date and section 
designated at these processes are automatically transmitted to the flight 
number image display block 35 via the inter-process communication block 
123. On the flight number reservation image as shown in FIG. 3, there are 
arranged data boxes 139, 141 and 143 in which a date is displayed and 
section boxes 145 and 147 in which a flight section is displayed. Further, 
a box indicates generally a part in which an input date (letter or 
numeral) is displayed. In these date boxes 139, 141 and 143, the today's 
date is initially displayed in default of data. However, when a desired 
date is given via the inter-process communication block 123, the 
designated date is displayed in these boxes. Further, a designated flight 
section given via the inter-process communication block 123 is displayed 
in the departure and arrival boxes 145 and 147. Further, a succeeding day 
button 149 and a preceding day button 151 are additionally arranged. Here, 
the button generally indicates a part for requesting a predetermined 
operation at the process. When the succeeding day button 149 or the 
preceding day button 151 is clicked, a date displayed in the date boxes 
139, 141 and 143 is changed to a succeeding or preceding day. Therefore, 
when a date close to today can be displayed by using the succeeding button 
149 and the preceding button 151 without dependence upon the date 
designation image process 37. Further, a succeeding flight number button 
153 is provided for the flight section. Therefore, when this button 153 is 
clicked, the two displays in the departure box 145 and the arrival box 147 
are reversed, so that this operation is convenient when going and 
returning flight numbers are reserved in sequence. 
After the date and section have been designated, when a transmit button 155 
is clicked, the reservation status inquiry message transmit/receive block 
41 forms a reservation status inquiry message of the designated date and 
section and sends it to the host-to-terminal communication process 125. 
This host-to-terminal communication process 125 transmits this message to 
the host computer 19. In response to this reservation status inquiry 
message, the host computer 19 returns the reservation status data 
indicative of vacant seat flight numbers to the host-to-terminal 
communication process 125, and then to the reservation status inquiry 
message transmit/receive block 41. After having determined the received 
data to be correct data, the reservation status inquiry message 
transmit/receive block 41 gives the received data to a reservation status 
display block 43. 
After having transformed the reservation status data into an understandable 
language (e.g. Japanese language), the reservation status display block 43 
gives the transformed data language to a reservation image block 35. 
Thereupon, a list of vacant seat flight numbers is displayed in Japanese 
language in a reservation status scroll selector 171 in the flight number 
reservation image. The reservation status data sent from the host computer 
19 at a time usually correspond to those written on a single page of the 
reservation status scroll selector 171. Therefore, there exists the case 
where it is impossible to transmit all the data indicative of all the 
vacant seat flight numbers at a time. In this case, a succeeding page 
button 159 in the flight number reservation image is clicked. Then, the 
remaining data transmit request is given to the host computer 19 in the 
same route as described above, so that reservation status data on the 
succeeding page can be transmitted from the host computer 19. In general, 
the scroll selector displays a list of letter data. This list can be 
scrolled by moving the PD 30 along bars displayed on the right side of the 
image. Further, when one data in the list is clicked, the clicked data can 
be inputted. Therefore, whenever the reservation status scroll selector 
171 is scrolled, the list not seen on the succeeding page becomes visible. 
Further, when one of the vacant seat flight numbers on the list is 
clicked, the clicked flight number is designated as a reserved object. 
In this connection, where a flight number required to be reserved is 
determined at the beginning, it is unnecessary to inquire the reservation 
status. In this case, if the flight number designation button 161 is 
clicked, the flight number is displayed in box 163. When a flight number 
code is inputted through the keyboard 29, the flight number is displayed 
in the flight number box 163, so that the flight number designation can be 
completed. 
In the flight number reservation image, there are arranged a class switch 
selector 153 for selecting a boarding class and a seat number switch 
selector 154 for selecting the number of seats. In general, in the switch 
selector, a plurality of switches are arranged so as to correspond to a 
plurality of data to be selected. Therefore, a switch is clicked, a data 
corresponding to the clicked switch can be designated. "Y" is initially 
designated in the class switch selector 153 in default, and "1" is 
initially designated in the seat number switch selector 154 in default. 
However, when another switch is clicked, another class or another number 
of seats can be designated. After being designated, the switch of the 
designated class or the number of seats is displayed in a different color 
than that for the non-designated switches. Further, when "other" is 
designated in the class switch selector 153, a class input box 162 
appears. Here, when any given class code is inputted through the keyboard 
29, the inputted class code is displayed in the class input box 162, so 
that any given class can be designated. 
Further, in the flight number reservation image, there are provided an ARNK 
button 165 and an OPEN button 167 for designating specific reservation 
modes. When the ARNK button 165 is clicked, ARNK reservation can be 
designated. When the OPEN button 167 is clicked, a company code input box 
169 appears. In this case, when any given airline (i.e. aviation company) 
code is inputted through the keyboard 29, the inputted airline code is 
displayed in the company code input box 169, so that open reservations for 
the displayed airline can be designated. 
As described above, after details of the date, section, class, the number 
of seats, etc. have been designated, when the transmit button 155 is 
clicked, a message panel (not shown) for confirming whether the flight 
number reservation is desired or not on the flight number reservation 
image is displayed in front. Therefore, when the confirmation button in 
this panel is clicked, the reservation message transmit/receive block 45 
forms a message for reserving the designated details and sends the formed 
message to the host-to-terminal communication process 125 to transmit the 
formed message to the host computer 19. When data indicative of 
reservation acquisition is returned from the host computer 19, this data 
is sent to the reservation message transmit/receive block 45 via the 
host-to-terminal communication process 125. After checking to ensure that 
the received data is not erroneous data, the reservation message 
transmit/receive block 45 transmits the data to the reservation result 
display block 47. 
The reservation result display block 47 transmits the analyzed result of 
the received data, that is, the acquired reservation contents to a 
reservation edition image display block 51 via the inter-process 
communication block 123, and simultaneously displays a reservation 
acquisition and a succeeding operation instruction in Japanese, for 
instance a in the message box 172 on the flight number reservation image. 
Further, an interrupt button 157 is provided on the flight number 
reservation image. When this interrupt button 157 is clicked, all the 
processing so far executed are all disregarded; all the data display is 
deleted on the image; and an interrupt message is transmitted to the host 
computer 19 via the host-to-terminal communication process 125. In 
response to the interrupt message, the host computer 19 deletes the 
reservation acquired by the processing already executed up to now. 
The date designation process 37 will be described in detail hereinbelow. 
This process 37 forms the date designation image as shown in FIG. 4 and 
sends it to the image control block 119. The window size of this date 
designation image is a little smaller than that of the flight number 
reservation image shown in FIG. 3. 
In the date designation image, there is provided a calendar switch selector 
173 representative of the current month and a calendar switch selector 175 
representative of the next month. When either one of the calendar switch 
selectors 173 and 175 (or data package options) is clicked, the date data 
(or data package) corresponding to the clicked switch is sent to the 
flight number reservation image display block 35 via the inter-process 
communication block 123, and displayed in the date boxes on the flight 
number reservation image in the same way as described already. 
In the date designation image, there are arranged a date designation 
pictogram 177 for deleting the date designation image (the date 
designation process 37 is interrupted), a flight number reservation tag 
image 179 for displaying the flight number reservation image in front, a 
domestic city designation tag image 181 for displaying the domestic city 
designation image in front, an international city designation tag image 
183 for displaying the international city designation image in front, and 
an interrupt button 185 for interrupting all the above-mentioned 
designations. 
The place name/area designation process 39 will be described hereinbelow in 
detail. 
This process 39 forms the domestic city designation image as shown in FIG. 
5 and the international city designation image as shown in FIG. 6, and 
sends these images to the image control block 19. The window size of each 
of these domestic and international city designation images is also a 
little smaller than that of the flight number reservation image as shown 
in FIG. 3. 
In the domestic city designation image as shown in FIG. 5, there are 
provided main airport buttons 187 to 207 (or data package options) 
arranged on a domestic map, an airport scroll selector 209 representative 
of all the domestic airport lists, a departure/arrival switch selector 211 
for selecting a departure airport or an arrival airport, and departure and 
arrival boxes 213 and 214 for displaying departure and arrival airport, 
respectively. After a departure or arrival airport has been selected by 
the switch selector 211, when any one of the main airport buttons 187 to 
207 or any one of the airport names in the scroll selector 209 is clicked, 
the airport name is displayed in the departure box 213 or the arrival box 
214. Simultaneously, the selected airport data (or data package) is sent 
to the flight number reservation image display block 35 via the 
inter-process communication block 123 to display the airport data in the 
departure box 145 or the arrival box 147 in the flight number reservation 
image. Further, when a code display button 215 is clicked, an airport name 
displayed in each box is changed into a code display composed of three 
alphabetic letters. 
Further, in the domestic city designation image, there are provided a 
domestic city designation pictogram 217 for deleting the domestic city 
designation image, a flight number reservation tag image 219 for 
displaying the flight number reservation image in front, an international 
city designation tag image 220 for displaying the international city 
designation image in front, a date designation tag image 221 for 
displaying the date designation image in front, and an interrupt button 
223 for transmitting an interrupt message. 
In the international city designation image as shown in FIG. 6, there are 
provided scroll selectors 223 to 229 (or data package options) which 
display the essential city/international airport lists classified 
according to areal groups in the world, a switch selector 231 for 
selecting one of departure and arrival, and boxes 233 and 235 for 
displaying a departure place name and an arrival place name, respectively. 
The scroll selectors 223 to 229 are used to designate flight sections in 
the reservation of international flight numbers or in the designation of 
cities for tour reservations. Further, when one of the scroll selectors 
223 to 229 is scrolled, another area list including Hawaii, North America, 
South America, etc. (not shown) can be displayed. This area list is used 
to designate areas instead of cities when tours are reserved. 
Additionally, in the international city designation image, there are 
provided an international city designation pictogram 237, a flight number 
reservation tag image 239, a domestic city designation tag image 241, a 
date designation tag image 243, an interrupt button 245 and a code display 
button 247. The detailed description of the functions of these parts is 
omitted herein, because of substantially the same as the similar parts 
provided in other images. 
Further, as described later, the date designation image, the domestic city 
designation image and the international city designation image can be used 
when hotels or tours are reserved or when the reservation record is 
required, in addition to the flight number reservation. In these cases, 
data representative of dates, sections, cities, etc. are given to a 
reservation record reference image display block 71, a hotel reservation 
image display block 87, a tour reservation image display block 103, etc. 
via the inter-process communication block 123 to display these data in 
predetermined boxes, respectively. 
The reservation edition process will be described hereinbelow. In this 
process, information about passengers who acquired reservations such as 
names, places where to make contact, etc. are inputted to write out 
change, add, and delete these reservation records. This reservation 
edition process includes various functions represented by a reservation 
edition image display block 51, a reservation item input/output block 53, 
a reservation record preparation message transmit/receive block 55, and a 
reservation record display block 57. Further, at the initial conditions 
after the terminal has been started, only the reservation edition process 
is automatically started, and the other processes can be started when each 
tag image is clicked on the reservation edition image as explained below. 
The reservation edition image display block 51 forms a reservation edition 
image as shown in FIG. 7 and sends it to the image control block 119. This 
reservation edition image includes a flight number reservation tag image 
251, a hotel reservation tag image 253, a tour reservation tag image 255, 
a reservation reference tag image 257, a previous seat reservation tag 
image 259, and a movie tag image 261. When either one of these tag images 
is double clicked, the process corresponding to the double clicked tag 
image is started (at the initial condition when the terminal is 
activated), and the image corresponding to the process is displayed in 
front. Since this reservation edition image window is determined to be the 
largest size among other images, even if any other image is displayed in 
front, a part of the reservation edition image (at least the header 
position at which a reservation edition pictogram 246 is indicated) is 
always visible. Therefore, whenever clicked, it is possible to display the 
reservation edition image in front. 
The reservation contents acquired at each reservation process are 
transmitted to the reservation edition image display block 51 via the 
inter-process communication block 123. These reservation contents are 
listed on and displayed by a reservation content scroll selector 295 in 
the reservation edition image. 
In the reservation edition image, there are provided a scroll selector 271 
as a part for inputting reservation items, a name input box 273, an age 
input 275, a sex distinction switch selector 277, an infant button 279, a 
contact place (where to make contact), ranking switch selector 281, two 
contact place input boxes 283 and 285, two contact place sort switch 
selectors 287 and 289, a passenger (or applicant) name input box 291, and 
a personal relationship switch selector 293. These parts are controlled by 
the reservation item input/output block 53 according to the operation of 
the keyboard 29 or the PD 30. In more detail, when the name input box 273 
is clicked, this box is displayed by a thick black frame. Subsequently, if 
a passenger name is inputted through the keyboard 29, the name is 
displayed in the name input box 273. Thereafter, age input box 275 is 
displayed by a thick black frame. Subsequently, if an age is inputted 
through the keyboard 29, the age is displayed in the age input box 275. 
When the sex distinction switch selector 277 and the infant button 279 are 
clicked, respectively, the sex distinction of the passenger and the infant 
passenger are designated. All the passenger information designated as 
described above is listed and displayed by the passenger scroll selector 
271. Further, when one of the contact place boxes 283 and 285 is clicked, 
the clicked box is displayed by a thick black frame. Subsequently, if a 
telephone number is inputted through the keyboard 29, the input telephone 
number is displayed in the contact place input box displayed by a thick 
black frame. Since two place input boxes 283 and 285 are arranged, two 
contact places can be designated. When the contact place switch selectors 
287 and 289 are clicked, two sorts of contact places can be designated. 
The contact place switch selector 281 is used to change the place where to 
make contact. When clicked, the place boxes required to be changed is 
selected. After the passenger (or applicant) input box 291 has been 
clicked, if a passenger (or applicant) name is inputted through the 
keyboard 29, the name is displayed in the box 291. When the personal 
relationship select switch 293 is clicked, the personal relationship 
between the applicant and the passenger can be designated. 
After all the reservation items have been designated as described above, 
when a transmit button 297 is clicked, a confirmation panel (not shown) is 
displayed in the reservation edition image in the same way as in the 
flight number reservation. When a confirmation button arranged therewithin 
is clicked, the reservation record preparation message transmit/receive 
block 55 prepares a reservation record with respect to the designated 
reservation items, and the message for modification or addition where 
necessary and sends the prepared record to the host computer 19 via the 
host-to-terminal communication process 125. When data indicative of 
reservation record preparation completion is returned from the host 
computer 19, the data is inputted to the reservation record preparation 
message transmit/receive block 55 via the host-to-terminal communication 
process 125. The reservation record preparation message transmit/receive 
block 55 transmit the data (if not erroneous) to the reservation result 
display block 47. The reservation result display block 47 analyzes the 
input data, and displays a message indicative of the reservation record 
preparation on the reservation edition image. Thereafter, when a 
completion button 299 is further clicked, a completion message indicative 
of the reservation record preparation completion is sent to the host 
computer 19 via the same route as described above. Since data indicative 
of a reservation record number are returned from the host computer 19, 
this reservation record number is displayed in a reservation record number 
box 263 on the reservation edition image. Further, when a transmit button 
is not clicked but only a completion button 299 is clicked, the 
communications between the host computer 19 and the terminal are executed 
collectively. Further, when a previous seat designation process as 
described later is started, the above-mentioned reservation contents and 
reservation record number are transmitted from the reservation result 
display block 47 to a previous seat designation image display block 59 
(described later) via the inter-process communication block 123. 
In the reservation edition image, there are additionally provided a 
reservation edition pictogram 246 for deleting the reservation edition 
image, preparation date boxes 265 and 267 for displaying the reservation 
record preparation date, an available period box 269 for displaying the 
available period of the reserved record, an interrupt button 301 for 
transmitting an interrupt message, a confirmation button 302 for 
transmitting a reference message to confirm the reservation contents, etc. 
Further, it is also possible to change, delete and add the reservation 
record by use of the reservation edition image, in addition to the 
reservation record preparation. In these cases, however, it is necessary 
to select a function item of change, delete, or add, respectively on the 
menu image. 
The previous seat designation process will be described hereinbelow. In 
this process, a seat of the reserved flight number can be designated. The 
process includes the functions shown by a previous seat designation image 
display block 59, a designation item input/output block 61, and a seat 
status transmit/receive block 63. 
The previous seat designation image display block 59 forms a previous seat 
designation image as shown in FIG. 8 and sends it to the image control 
block 119. This image includes a passenger scroll selector 311 and a 
reserved flight number scroll selector 313. The passenger scroll selector 
311 displays a list of the passenger names transmitted from the 
reservation edition process, and the reserved flight number scroll 
selector 313 displays a list of the reserved flight numbers transmitted 
from the same reservation edition process. 
Prior to the seat designation, an inquiry as to the seat designation status 
is first made. In this case, generally one passenger and one reserved 
flight number are selected by click operation from the passenger scroll 
selector 311 and the reserved flight number scroll selector 313, and then 
the seat chart button 307 is clicked. Therefore, since the seat chart 
display process is started and data indicative of the selected passenger 
and the reserved flight number are transmitted to the seat chart display 
process, the seat status transmit/receive block 63 prepares an inquiry 
message of the seat designation status about the selected and reserved 
flight number and sends it to the host computer 19 via the 
host-to-terminal communication process 125. When data indicative of the 
seat designation status are returned from the host computer 19, the data 
are transmitted to the seat status transmit/receive block 63 via the 
host-to-terminal communication process 125. The seat status 
transmit/receive block 63 transmits the received data (if not erroneous) 
to the previous seat designation image display block 59. The previous seat 
designation image display block 59 further transmit the received seat 
designation status data to the seat chart display process. 
As described later, when the seat chart display process is started, a seat 
chart image as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in front to allow the operator 
to designate a seat on this image. Data indicative of the designated seat 
are sent to the seat designation image display block 59 via the 
inter-process communication block 123. The seat designation image display 
block 59 displays the flight number whose seats are designated, the 
passenger names, and the designated seat numbers on the previous seat 
scroll selector 315. 
In the seat designation image, there are additionally provided a seat 
designation pictogram 305 for deleting the seat designation image, and an 
interrupt button 309 for transmitting an interrupt message. 
The seat chart display process will be described hereinbelow. The process 
is provided with functions shown by a seat chart image display block 65, a 
seat designation message transmit/receive block 67 and a seat designation 
result display block 69. 
The seat chart image display block 65 forms a seat chart image as shown in 
FIG. 9 and sends it to the image control block 119. In this image, there 
are provided a passenger/designated seat scroll selector 319 for 
displaying a list of passengers and the designated seats and a flight 
number box 325 for displaying the flight number. The above-mentioned 
selected names and flight number transmitted from previous seat 
designation process are displayed on the seat designation scroll selector 
319 and the flight number box 325, respectively. Simultaneously, a seat 
chart 327 of the airplane model used for the reserved flight number is 
also displayed. 
In the seat chart 327, seat buttons 329 indicative of seats, respectively 
are arranged. In these seat buttons, the occupied seats are displayed in 
color different from that of the unoccupied seat on the basis of the seat 
designation status data transmitted from the previous seat designation 
process. Further, various information useful or required for seat 
selection decision (e.g. smoking seats, non-smoking seats, doorway 
positions) is displayed in different colors and letters so as to be 
distinguishable. 
To designate a seat, a seat button 329 within the seat chart 327 is clicked 
and then a transmit button 321 is clicked. Then, since a confirmation 
panel is displayed in front in the same way as in the flight number 
reservation, when the confirmation button is clicked, the seat designation 
message transmit/receive block 67 prepares a message indicative of the 
seat designation for the clicked seat button (329) number, and sends it to 
the host computer 19 via the host-to-terminal communication process 125. 
When data indicative of the seat designation completion are returned from 
the host computer 19, the data are transmitted to the seat designation 
message transmit/receive block 67 via the host-to-terminal communication 
process 125. The seat designation message transmit/receive block 67 gives 
the received data (if not erroneous) to the seat designation result 
display block 69. The seat designation result display block 69 analyzes 
the received data; displays the designated seat number in the 
passenger/designated seat scroll selector 319 on the seat chart image 327; 
changes the color of the designated seat button 329 in the seat chart 327; 
displays a message indicative of seat designation completion in Japanese; 
and transmit the received data to the previous seat designation image 
display block 59 via the inter-process communication block 123. 
In the seat chart image, there are additionally provided a seat chart 
pictogram 317 for deleting this image and interrupt button 323 for 
transmitting an interrupt message. 
The reservation record reference process will be described hereinbelow. 
This process is the one for referring to the previously prepared 
reservation record, and provided with various functions shown by a 
reservation record reference image display block 71, a reservation item 
input/output block 73, a reservation record list display block 81, a 
reservation reference message transmit/receive block 83, and a reservation 
record display block 85. 
The reservation record reference image display block 71 forms a reservation 
record reference image as shown in FIG. 10 and sends it to the image 
control block 119. In this image, there are provided a reference method 
select switch 333, a reservation record number designation box 334, a name 
designation box 335, a flight number designation box 337 and two 
designation boxes 339 and 341 as parts for designating the reservation 
record contents required for reference. These parts are controlled by the 
reservation item input/output block 73 according to the operation through 
the PD 30 and the keyboard 29. In more detail, when the reference method 
select switch 333 is clicked, the method is selected as to whether the 
reservation record is referred to on the basis of reservation record 
number or another item. When a reservation record number is selected, the 
reservation record designation box 334 is displayed by a thick frame. 
Subsequently, when a reservation record number is inputted through the 
keyboard 29, the input number is displayed in the reservation record 
designation box 334. Further, when a date, a flight number or a name is 
selected and further when a name designation box 335 or a flight number 
designation box 337 is clicked, the clicked box is displayed by a thick 
frame. Subsequently, when a passenger name or a flight number is inputted 
through the keyboard 29, the inputted item is displayed in the 
corresponding box shown by a thick frame. In the case of the date 
designation boxes 339 and 341, when the date designation tag image 351 is 
doubled clicked, the date designation image as shown in FIG. 4 is 
displayed in front. Therefore, if the date is designated on this image, 
the designated date data are transmitted via the inter-process 
communication block 123 and then displayed in the date designation boxes 
339 and 341. Further, it is unnecessary to designate all the three items 
of passenger name, flight number and date, because the reserved record can 
be referred to by only a passenger name or both a passenger name and a 
date. 
After the reservation items have been designated as described above, when 
the transmit button 343 is clicked, the reservation record reference 
message transmit/receive block 83 forms a message indicative of a 
reservation record reference as to the designated reservation item, and 
sends it to the host computer 19 via the host-to-terminal communication 
process 125. The response data from the host computer 19 are transmitted 
to the reservation record reference message transmit/record block 83 via 
the host-to-terminal communication process 125. When a plurality of 
reservation record numbers are included in the response data, the 
reservation record reference message transmit/record block 83 transmit the 
response data to the reservation record list display block 81. The 
reservation record list display block 81 displays a plurality of passenger 
names (or both passenger names and dates) in the reservation record in the 
reservation record candidate scroll selector 349 as a list on the 
reservation record reference image. 
When a passenger name of one reservation record is clicked in a list of the 
reservation record candidate scroll selector 349 and further the transmit 
button 343 is clicked, the reservation record reference message 
transmit/receive block 83 forms a reservation record reference message of 
the clicked reservation record number and sends it to the host computer 
19. 
When the reference is made on the basis of a reservation record number at 
the beginning; when one reservation record is designated from the list and 
then the reference is made again; or when there exists only one 
reservation record corresponding to the designated name or flight number, 
only a single reservation record data is included in the response data 
from the host computer 19. In this case, therefore, the reservation record 
reference message transmit/receive block 83 transmits the received 
response data to the reservation record display block 85. The reservation 
record display block 85 transmits the data to the reservation edit image 
display block 51 via the inter-process communication block 123, and 
simultaneously controls the image control block 119 to display the 
reservation edit image in front. As a result, the reservation record 
contents are displayed on the reservation edit image. The reservation 
record can be changed, cancelled or added on this reservation edit image. 
In the reservation record reference image, there are provided a reservation 
record reference pictogram 311 for deleting this image, an interrupt 
button 345, a succeeding page button 353 and a redisplay button 347 for 
transmitting a message of displaying above list again. 
The hotel reservation process will be described hereinbelow. This process 
is the one for reserving hotels and includes various functions shown by a 
hotel reservation image display block 87, a hotel reservation status 
inquiry message transmit/receive block 93, a reservation status display 
block 95, a reservation message transmit/receive block 99 and a hotel 
reservation result display block 101. These functions are basically the 
same as the similar functions of the flight number reservation process, 
except that there are some different points due to difference in reserved 
object between hotel and flight number. Therefore, only the different 
points are explained hereinbelow. 
The hotel reservation image display block 87 forms a hotel reservation 
image as shown in FIG. 11. In this image, the following peculiar parts for 
hotel reservation are provided. A city input box 357 displays a city name 
where hotels exists. This hotel designation can be performed by displaying 
the afore-mentioned domestic or international city designation image in 
front. An IN/OUT switch selector 371 is a parts for selecting any one of 
check-in date designation and check-out date designation. A designated 
check-in or check-out date is displayed in date boxes 373, 375, 377 and 
379. These designations can be made on the afore-mentioned date 
designation image displayed in front. Room code/number select switches 381 
and 391 are used to designate any one of room types and the number of 
rooms. The left side select switch 381 is used to designate single bed 
rooms, and the right side select switch 391 is used to designate double 
bed rooms. Room code select switches 383 and 393 are used to select a room 
type (charge). When "other" is selected with respect to the room type, 
since room type boxes 384 and 394 appear, the operator can input any given 
room type code through the keyboard 29. Room number boxes 385 and 395 are 
used to display the number of rooms designated through the keyboard 29. In 
these boxes, "1" is initially set in default of the number of rooms. 
Increment/decrement buttons 387, 389, 397 and 399 are used to increase or 
decrease the number of designated rooms. Location switch selector 401 is 
used to select an environment at which hotels exist. Sort select switch 
403 is used to select a sort of hotel, and grade select switch 405 is used 
to select a grade of hotel. Other requirements for hotel can be inputted 
through the keyboard 29 and displayed in an additional information input 
box 407. 
Among the above-mentioned items, when a city name and a date are designated 
at the minimum and further the transmit button 359 is clicked, the hotel 
reservation status inquiry message transmit/receive block 93 inquires the 
hotel reservation status of the designated items to the host computer 19. 
The reservation status data are returned from the host computer 19 to the 
reservation status display block 95, so that the hotel names, grades, room 
types (room charge), etc. are displayed as a list in a hotel list scroll 
selector 409. 
When a required hotel is selected within the hotel list scroll selector 409 
and further the transmit button 359 is clicked, a confirmation panel is 
displayed. By clicking a confirmation button therewithin, the reservation 
message transmit/receive block 99 transmits the reservation message to the 
host computer 19. The response data are sent from the host computer 19 to 
the hotel reservation result display block 10 to display a message of 
reservation acquisition in a message box 411. Simultaneously, since the 
response data are sent to a reservation edit image display block 51, the 
reserved hotel contents are displayed in the reservation content scroll 
selector 295 located at the lower part of the reservation edit image. To 
allow this display to be visible, the vertical dimension of the hotel 
reservation image is smaller (by that of the reservation content scroll 
selector 295) than the reservation edit image. Further, the vertical 
dimension of the tour reservation image (described hereinbelow) is also 
made smaller in the same way. 
The tour reservation process will be described hereinbelow. This process is 
basically the same as the flight number reservation process and similar to 
the above-mentioned hotel reservation process. Only the different points 
are explained hereinbelow. 
A tour reservation image display block 103 forms a tour reservation image 
as shown in FIG. 12. In this image, the following peculiar parts are 
provided. A departure/period/price switch selector 415 is used to select 
any one of the days departure, the period of tour, and the price of tour. 
Date boxes 417 and 419 display a designated day of departure. This 
departure day can be designated on the date designation image. A period 
box 421 displays a designated period of tour and a price box 427 displays 
a designated price of tour. These designations can be made through the 
keyboard 29. Increment/decrement buttons 423 and 425 increase or decrease 
the period of tour. Increment/decrement buttons 429 and 431 increase or 
decrease the price of the tour. City select switches 433 and 451 are used 
to select any one of -a plurality of departure cities and up to a maximum 
of four visit cities. A departure city box 433 displays a designated 
departure city. Four visit city boxes 437, 439, 453 and 455 display the 
designated visit cities. These designations can be made in the 
international city designation image. A room type switch selector 457 is 
used to select a room type. When "other" is selected, since a room type 
box 459 appears, a desired room type code can be entered through the 
keyboard 29. A person number box 461 displays a number of designated 
tourists inputted through the keyboard 29. The number of tourists is 
initially set at "1" in default. Increment/decrement switches 463 and 465 
increase or decrease the number of tourists. A flight pattern switch 
selector 467 is used to select any one of three flight patterns. When 
"other" is selected, since a flight pattern box 469 appears, a desired 
flight pattern can be set through the keyboard 29. An additional 
information box 471 is used to input additional information such as 
special requirements through the keyboard 29. 
Among the above-mentioned items, when the day of departure and the visit 
cities are designated at the minimum, it is possible to inquire into the 
reservation status by clicking the transmit button 441. The reservation 
status that is returned from the host computer 19 is displayed in a tour 
list scroll selector 473. In this list, tour codes, tour names, hotels, 
rooms, meals, flight patterns, prices, etc. are displayed. 
When a desired tour is selected from the tour list and then the transmit 
button 441 is clicked, a reservation message is transmitted to the host 
computer 19. When response data are returned from the host computer 19, a 
message of reservation acquisition is displayed in a message box 475, and 
the response data are transmitted to the reservation edit image display 
block 51. 
Motion picture display process 97 will be explained hereinbelow. After a 
desired hotel or tour has been selected from the hotel or tour list in the 
hotel or tour reservation image, when a visible part of the reservation 
edit image is clicked, the reservation edit image is displayed in front. 
Subsequently, when a motion picture (movie) tag image 261 in the 
reservation edit image is clicked, the motion picture process 97 is 
started. To this motion picture process 97, a hotel or tour code selected 
just now is transmitted via the inter-process communication block 123. The 
motion picture process 97 sends the selected code and a motion picture 
display image as shown in FIG. 13 to the image control block 119. This 
image control block 119 controls the AV device 15 to playback the hotel or 
tour motion picture corresponding to the selected code, so that the motion 
picture display image is arranged in front and further the corresponding 
motion picture is displayed in a motion picture area 479 within the motion 
picture display image. In this case, where some display modes such as 
image division, mosaic processing, picture standstill, etc. have 
previously been selected in a menu image (described later), the image 
control block 119 controls the motion picture so as to be displayed in the 
selected display mode. The motion picture display image can be deleted 
when a motion picture pictogram 477 is double clicked. 
Finally, the menu control process 32 will be explained hereinbelow. This 
process is started when the menu button of the PD 30 is depressed. The 
process menu images as shown in FIG. 14A and transmits these to the image 
control block 119 so that the menu image is displayed in front according 
to the cursor position. In this image, there are displayed a plurality of 
items (called parent items) such as "Reservation", "Change", "Execution", 
"Supplementary devices", "Color arrangement", "Display management" etc. 
When either one of these parent items is clicked, some items (called child 
items) are displayed on the side of the parent item as shown in FIGS. 
14B-14D. Some major parent items will be explained hereinbelow in more 
detail. 
FIG. 14B shows an example of display obtained when the parent item 
"Reservation" has been clicked. The child items are arranged in the order 
of "Next flight number", "Transmit", "Interrupt", and "Completion". When 
each of the child items is clicked, each corresponding operation can be 
executed in almost the same way as when the next flight number button, 
transmit button, interrupt button, and completion button displayed in the 
process image displayed just behind this menu image are clicked, 
respectively. 
FIG. 14C shows an example of display obtained when the parent item "Change" 
is clicked. In this case, "Delete" and "Insert" are displayed as child 
items. For instance, in the case where this menu image is on the 
reservation edit image, if a reservation item required to be deleted is 
clicked in the reservation image and thereafter the child item "Delete" is 
clicked, it is possible to delete the reservation item. Further, when the 
passenger scroll selector 271 or the reservation content scroll selector 
295 is clicked in the reservation content scroll selector 295 is clicked 
in the reservation edit image and thereafter the child item "Insert" is 
clicked, it is possible to add the passengers or reservation by use of the 
reservation edit image. 
FIG. 14D shows an example obtained when the parent item "Color arrangement" 
is clicked. In this case, the color arrangement control process 34 is 
started to form a panel as shown in FIG. 14D. The formed panel is 
displayed on the lower right side of the CRT image, for instance. In this 
panel, there are provided 16 background color samples in boxes 481 and 483 
and 16 color depth (shade) samples in boxes 487. When any desired color 
sample and color depth sample are clicked, a selected background color is 
displayed in an area 485. Here, if a confirmation button 491 is clicked, 
the color of the background image is changed into the selected background 
color for practical color confirmation. Subsequently, when a completion 
button 493 is clicked, the color of the background image is fixed to the 
selected background color. However, when a delete button 489 is clicked, 
this panel is deleted. 
FIG. 14E shows an example of child items obtained when "Display management" 
is clicked. The process names whose window is currently open are arranged 
in order as child items. When either one of these process names is 
clicked, the image control block 119 displays the clicked process image in 
front. This function is convenient for displaying any required small image 
in front as when the small image is not visible behind a large image and 
further there exists no tag image representative of the required small 
image in the large image. 
FIGS. 15 to 27 show flowcharts showing a series of reservation procedure 
processed in each of the above-mentioned processes, which are provided for 
assistance in clearly understanding the function and the operation of an 
embodiment of the reservation system terminal according to the present 
invention. 
When the terminal is turned on, the reservation edition process is first 
started automatically. This reservation edition process will be described 
with reference to FIG. 15. 
When data are inputted through the inter-process communications, the 
inputted data are displayed on the reservation edition image. When the 
reservation edition image is not displayed in front, the reservation 
edition can be selected in the menu processing (see FIG. 16). Or else, 
when a visible part of the reservation edition image is clicked, the 
reservation edition image can be displayed in front. During the in-front 
display of the reservation edition image, when each tag image displayed on 
the edition image, when each tag image displayed on the reservation 
edition image (e.g. flight number reservation, reservation record 
reference, previous seat, hotel, tour, motion picture, etc.) is double 
clicked, a process corresponding to the clicked tag image is started, and 
its started process image is displayed in front. Under these conditions, 
the operator has access to the process displayed in front. 
The flight number reservation process will be explained with reference to 
FIGS. 17A, B and C. When the flight number reservation image is not 
displayed in front, the flight number reservation image can be displayed 
in front by selecting the flight number reservation process in the menu 
processing, clicking a visible part of the flight number reservation 
image, or double clicking the flight number reservation tag image 
displayed on the reservation edition image, as already described. During 
the in-front display of the flight number reservation image, when each tag 
image of the date designation, domestic city designation or the 
international city designation is double clicked, the process 
corresponding to the double-clicked tag image (FIG. 18, 19 or 20) is 
started and displayed in front on the image. Date data and city data are 
inputted in the date designation process, the domestic city designation 
process or the international city designation process are transferred to 
the flight number reservation process through inter-process communications 
and then displayed on the flight number reservation image. When various 
buttons on the flight number reservation image are clicked, various 
operations corresponding to the clicked buttons can be executed such as 
inputted data display, message transmission to the host computer, response 
data reception from the host computer, the received data display, etc. all 
described already. When the flight number reservation pictogram is double 
clicked, the flight number reservation image can be deleted. 
FIG. 18 shows the date designation process. This date designation image can 
be displayed in front by selecting the date designation process in the 
menu processing, clicking a visible part of the date designation image or 
double clicking the date designation tag image on the other images (e.g. 
the flight number reservation image). During the in-front display of the 
date designation image, when any one of the date switches displayed on the 
image is clicked, the date data corresponding to the clicked switch are 
transferred to the reservation process through the inter-process 
communications. When the tag image of the flight number reservation, the 
domestic city designation or the international city designation displayed 
on the date designation image is double clicked, the process corresponding 
to the double-clicked tag image is displayed in front on the image (after 
having been started if the corresponding process is at halt). 
FIGS. 19A and 19B show the domestic city designation process. The domestic 
city designation image can be displayed in front by selecting the domestic 
city designation process in the menu processing, clicking a visible part 
of the domestic city designation image or double clicking the domestic 
city designation tag image on the other images. During the in-front 
display of the domestic city designation image, when the various switches 
or buttons are clicked, various operations related to the domestic city 
designation can be executed such as departure/arrival inputting, inputted 
data transferring to the flight number reservation process, etc. During 
the in-front display of the domestic city designation image, when either 
one of the flight number reservation tag image, the international city tag 
image, or the date designation tag image is double clicked, the process 
corresponding to the double-clicked tag image is displayed in front. 
FIGS. 20A and 20B show the international city designation process, which is 
basically the same in operation as the domestic city designation process. 
The reservation edition process will be explained hereinbelow with 
reference to FIGS. 21A to 21G. 
The reservation edition image can be displayed in front by selecting the 
reservation edition process in the menu processing or clicking a visible 
part of the reservation edition image. As already explained, since the 
size of the reservation edition image is the largest in all, it is 
possible to display in front the reservation edition image at any 
reservation procedure. When a tag image of another process is double 
clicked on this image, a process image corresponding to the double-clicked 
tag image is displayed in front. Further, various information processed in 
the other process and necessary for the reservation edition process is 
automatically transferred to the reservation edition process through 
inter-process communications and then displayed on the reservation edition 
image. When various buttons or switches displayed on the reservation 
edition image are clicked or thereafter the keyboard is operated, various 
operations can be executed such that inputted data are displayed on the 
reservation image; messages are transmitted to the host computer; response 
data from the host computer are received and displayed; etc., as already 
explained. 
FIGS. 22A and 22B shown the previous seat designation process. The previous 
seat designation image can be displayed in front by selecting the previous 
seat designation process in the menu processing, clicking a visible part 
of the previous seat designation image, or double-clicking the previous 
seat designation tag image on the reservation edition image. When various 
buttons on this image and lists within the scroll selector are clicked, 
various processing required for the previous seat designation process can 
be executed as already explained. 
FIGS. 23A and 23B show a seat chart process. This seat chart image for the 
seat chart process can be displayed in front by selecting the seat chart 
process in the menu processing, clicking a visible part of the seat chart 
image or a seat chart button on the previous seat image. Whenever the seat 
buttons are clicked on the seat chart image, the clicked seat numbers can 
be saved. When various buttons on the seat chart image are clicked, 
various operations can be executed in correspondence to the clicked 
buttons as already explained. 
The reservation record reference process will be explained with reference 
to FIGS. 24A and 24B. 
The reservation record reference image can be displayed in front by 
selecting the reservation record reference process in the menu processing, 
clicking a visible part of the reservation record reference image, or 
double-clicking the reservation record reference tag image on the 
reservation edition image. When various switches and buttons on this image 
are clicked, various operations corresponding to the clicked switches and 
buttons are executed, as already explained. When the contents of a 
specific reservation record is required to be referred to in this 
reservation record reference process, the contents are transferred to the 
reservation edition process automatically through the inter-process 
communications, and then displayed in front on the reservation edition 
image. 
FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C show the hotel reservation process, and FIGS. 26A, 
26B and C show the tour reservation process. These processes are basically 
similar to the flight number reservation process. That is, when various 
buttons and switches on the hotel or tour reservation image or lists 
within the scroll selector are clicked, various processing procedures 
corresponding to the clicked parts can be executed. 
FIGS. 27A and 27B show the international city designation process started 
by double clicking the international city designation tag image on the 
hotel or tour reservation image. This process includes the processing of 
the international city designation process shown in FIG. 20 and the 
processing of the visit city designation. 
FIG. 28 shows the motion picture process. The motion picture image can be 
displayed in front by selecting the motion picture process in the menu 
processing, clicking a visible part of the motion picture image, or 
double-clicking the motion picture tag image on the reservation edition 
image. Further, divided image or mosaic image processing or static image 
display can be executed. Further, the motion picture image can be deleted 
by double clicking the motion picture pictogram. 
One preferred embodiment of the present invention has been explained by way 
of example as described above. Without being limited thereto, however, the 
present invention can be applied not only to a reservation system for only 
flight number, hotel or tour, but also to the reservation system for other 
transport facilities, theaters, restaurants, etc. Further, it is also 
possible to omit some of the afore-mentioned processes according to the 
required reservation objects and the number of observation items. In the 
case of the most simple system, for instance, the reservation process and 
the host-to-terminal communication process may be sufficient. Further, it 
is also possible to incorporate one of the above-mentioned various process 
with a conventional system. Furthermore, the composition of the images can 
be modified in various ways.