A method useful with a computer network for providing a searchable data
base of restaurants which can be accessed by prospective patrons, and once
having obtained access the patron can then examine the listing and select
the desired restaurant. Upon selection, the prospective patron exchanges
with the restaurant data base an interactive information exchange in which
the patron specifies the desired reservation date and time and the number
of prospective guests. Upon receipt of this information a comparison is
made between the seats desired and the number of seats estimated to be
available at that time, and if the comparison matches then the requested
reservation is confirmed. If there is no match, then an automated
arithmetic process computes the next available time and submits that to
the patron in the interactive process. In the course of the foregoing
computation the process adopts a running average of occupancy intervals
which is then used to estimate the next available time. This interval may
be based on payment reconciliation, provided by a concurrently running
process. Various attention garnering devices may be utilized by each
restaaurant to attract the potential patrons.
