Apparatus, systems and methods for presenting comparative information

• US 20020019821A1
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cruise411.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cruise411.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenbluth, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/737,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019821A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for presenting comparative information in a networked environment in the travel industry are disclosed. The apparatus, systems and methods aggregate data feeds from many disparate sources, thus providing reviewing, comparing and/or searching mechanisms for the information carried by those data feeds, as well as apparatus, systems and methods for purchasing, reserving and/or booking travel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for comparing travel industry information comprising:

input means for at least two data feeds;

aggregation means for said data feeds;

search means for said aggregation means; and

presentation means for any output of said search means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said input means comprises at least one XML data feed.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said input means comprises at least one data feed through an API.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said aggregation means comprises a database means.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said aggregation means further comprises a data homogenization means.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said search means comprises;

a search interface means; and

a SQL query means.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said apparatus further comprises an Internet access means.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said presentation means further comprises a means for output over an Internet connection.

9. An apparatus for comparing cruise industry information comprising:

input means comprising at least one XML data feed and at least one data feed through an API;

aggregation means comprising a database for said data feeds;

search means for said aggregation means comprising a search interface means and a SQL query means; and

presentation means for any output of said search means.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said apparatus further comprises an Internet access means.

11. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said presentation means further comprises a means for output over an Internet connection.

12. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said presentation means further comprises a comparison means.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of inputting data from at least two data feeds further comprises inputting data from at least one XML data feed.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein the step of inputting data from at least two data feeds further comprises inputting data through at least one API.

16. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of said aggregating said data further comprises aggregating said data in a database means.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein the step of said aggregating said data further comprises homogenizing said data before populating said database means.

18. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of said searching said data further comprises using a search interface means and a SQL query means.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein the step of said searching said data further comprises using an Internet access means for searching said data.

20. A method as in claim 13 wherein the step of presenting the results of said search further comprises outputting any result of said search over an Internet connection.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein the step of outputting any result of said search over an Internet connection further comprises comparing the result of said search.

23. A method as in claim 20 wherein the step of outputting any result of said search over an Internet connection further comprises comparing the result of said search.

24. A database produced by the method of claim 13.

13. A method for comparing travel industry information comprising the steps of:

inputting data from at least two data feeds;

aggregating said data;

searching said data; and

presenting the results of said search.

22. A method for comparing cruise industry information comprising the steps of:

inputting data from at least one XML data feed and at least one data feed through an API;

homogenizing said data;

populating a database means with said data;

searching said data using a search interface means and a SQL query means; and

presenting the results of said search through outputting any result of said search over an Internet connection.

25. A database produced by the method of claim 22.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

selecting cruise information by the client from the list of cruises provided to the client'"'"'s computer;

requesting comparison of the attributes of the selected cruises and by a single click, sending the request by browser from the client computer to the host server, thereby accessing a Cruise Comparison Tool;

re-formatting the stored cruise data by the Cruise Comparison Tool into a comparative document; and

sending to the comparative document from the host server to the client computer by the browser.

29. The comparative document provided by the Cruise Comparison Tool of claim 28.

26. A computerized method for booking travel comprising the steps of:

searching for a cruise;

further selecting certain preferences for a cruise;

further selecting a specific travel class or cabin category for said cruise;

further selecting a specific cabin location for said cruise;

further selecting any other options for said cruise;

providing a summary of all selections for said cruise;

paying for said cruise; and

,

confirming said booking on said cruise.

27. A method of evaluating a variety of cruises available during a selected period of time by a customer using a browser running on a client computer, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a first request by the browser to the cruise domain name host for a first HTML document listing and describing the cruises available during the selected time period;

displaying the HTML document on the client'"'"'s computer,

selecting, by said client, the cruise;

sending a state object from the host server to said browser, wherein the state object identifies the selected cruise; and

storing the state object on the client computer by the browser.

30. A Cruise Comparison Tool comprising means for comparing cruise data from at least two sources and means for presenting said data through an Internet connection.