Automated internet based interactive travel planning and reservation system

• US 20020010604A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airport Media (Times Media Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Airport Media (Times Media Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Block, David
• Application Number:
  US09/875,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel planning and reservation system responds either via voice communication or data communication, to details of a member'"'"'s desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member'"'"'s trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member.

Claims

1. A method for providing a computerized interactive rapid response travel planning and reservation system comprising the steps of:

providing a website for members to access said system via the Internet;

enrolling a new member into said system via pull-down menus or voice communication, for obtaining a name, address, telephone number, credit card information, and profile information including travel preferences such as carrier seating, travel class, self or valet parking, and other options, said enrollment step terminating with the assignment of a unique PIN number to the member;

maintaining a database containing active PIN numbers of said members;

providing means in said system for permitting a member to use any one of a plurality of devices including a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), a cell phone, a WebTV, a personal computer, an iCell telephone, a mobile telephone, and a palm computer, to access and communicate with said system via the Internet, through use of either voice queries, responses, and commands, or computerized menu driven prompts, commands, and responses;

programming the system to respond to a member'"'"'s request for access by first checking the member'"'"'s PIN number against said database of active PIN numbers, and if the PIN number is active establishing either voice or data communication with the member dependent upon the type of device the member has used to access said system;

prompting a member, upon access to said system, to advise of travel arrangements to be made;

maintaining a database web site addresses for travel service and related providers including airports, airlines associated with each airport, ground transportation providers (railroads, limousines, etc.), hotels, retailers, ship lines, restaurants, and other providers;

responding to said member'"'"'s responses to prompts, for immediately contacting necessary providers to make reservations for the member, and to issue any necessary tickets either directly to said member, or arrange for the member to pick-up the tickets at a predetermined location;

issuing said member either one of a written or oral confirmation of all travel plan arrangements made; and

saving the confirmation in said system for at least the period of time said member will be traveling, for permitting by said member at any time during the travel period.

2. A method for providing a computerized interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel planning and reservation system comprising the steps of:

forming a database including airport domain names, ground transportation services, domain names, hotel domain names, resaurant domain names, department store domain names, and airline domain names;

forming a database including individual PIN numbers of active members of said system, along with travel preference profiles for each active member;

communicating over the Internet with active members of said system, said system including means permitting a member to so communicate through use of any one of a plurality of devices including a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), a cell phone, a WebTV, a personal computer, an iCell telephone, a mobile telephone, and a palm computer;

responding to a member'"'"'s request for making travel arrangements;

prompting said member to provide departure airport, arrival airport, desired arrival time, hotel preferences if any, ground transportation, valet or self parking needs, restaurant needs, length of stay, and other travel related information;

contacting via the Internet all necessary travel service providers to arrange for all travel requirements of said member;

providing Kiosks at different location within the concourses of each airport to permit members a direct link to said system;

transmitting airline tickets directly to a member for printout at the members site, or providing tickets to a member via said airport Kiosks; and

storing the travel itinerary access by the member during the time period covering the associated trip.

3. A travel arrangement system for enabling a user to select custom travel plans, to be apprised of real-time travel services, conditions and status, and to self-process such travel plans, said system comprising:

a computer accessible by a user, said computer being adapted for connection to the Internet through a communication link;

a central processor connected to said Internet, including a modifiable database for storing and supplying real-time information data associated with travel services, conditions, activities and statuses of various individual travel service providers and travel sites associated with said providers to the user through said computer;

said central processor further being adapted to receive input from said user related to selection of travel services, travel plans, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof, and process said input for establishing travel arrangements with said corresponding travel service providers;

a plurality of servers each associated with one of said travel service providers, connected to said central processor for continuously providing and updating the real-time information data stored in said modifiable database; and

a plurality of travel ticket dispensers each located at said corresponding travel service provider sites for printing travel tickets to said user in response to the processing by the central processor and coded input request of said user for retrieval.