the present invention concerns methods and apparatus for implementing a multi - user advance reservation system where reservations are specified in terms of flexible constraints , inflexible constraints and business values . the specification of reservations in this manner allows an entity managing the reservation system to arbitrate among reservations received from a user population with a view toward maximizing business value across the user population . in methods and apparatus of the present invention , penalties and rewards associated with various reservation outcomes can be specified in reservations to assist in business value maximization . in an example , a reservation having a low business value may be declined when there is a significant possibility that a reservation having a high business would be submitted during the pendency of service delivery to the user issuing the reservation with a low business value .