Meeting site selection based on all-inclusive meeting cost
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method of selecting a meeting facility for hosting a meeting, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a range of dates, a list of attendees of the meeting, and an originating location for each of the attendees;
calculating an all-inclusive cost for hosting the meeting at each of a plurality of potential meeting facilities based on the specified range of dates and the specified list of attendees; and
ranking the plurality of potential meeting facilities based on the calculated all-inclusive costs.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Meeting or conference facilities are evaluated based on an all-inclusive meeting cost. The all-inclusive meeting cost is used to rank the facilities based on the lowest all-inclusive meeting cost or on highest quality below a maximum cost. Meeting planners can then compare total meeting cost at facilities with different characteristics, and find the facilities that offer the most value. An application server is used to calculate all-inclusive meeting cost from a comprehensive database of cost factors. The list of generated meeting facilities and their costs can be generated quickly for a large number of potential meeting facilities.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of selecting a meeting facility for hosting a meeting, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a range of dates, a list of attendees of the meeting, and an originating location for each of the attendees;
calculating an all-inclusive cost for hosting the meeting at each of a plurality of potential meeting facilities based on the specified range of dates and the specified list of attendees; and
ranking the plurality of potential meeting facilities based on the calculated all-inclusive costs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system comprising:
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a processor;
a network connection; and
a memory, the memory including instructions that when executed by the processor performing the functions of (1) receiving a request from a user via the network connection, the request including information defining minimum requirements of a meeting facility;
(2) calculating an all-inclusive cost for a plurality of meeting facilities based on the received request; and
(3) transmitting a list of a sub-set of the plurality of meeting facilities to the user, the sub-set being based on the calculated all-inclusive cost. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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16. A method of evaluating a plurality of potential meeting facilities for an optimal meeting facility, the method comprising the steps of:
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defining minimum requirements for the optimal meeting facility;
transmitting the minimum requirements to an application server; and
receiving a list of ranked meeting facilities, the list being ranked based on an all-inclusive cost calculation corresponding to an estimated total cost of holding the meeting at each meeting facility.
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19. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the steps of:
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receiving a request from a user, the request including information relating to minimum requirements for a meeting facility;
calculating an all-inclusive cost for a plurality of meeting facilities based on the received request; and
transmitting a list comprising a sub-set of the plurality of meeting facilities to the user, the sub-set being based on the calculated all-inclusive costs.
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20. A system comprising:
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an application server;
a database coupled to the application server, the database storing information corresponding to a plurality of meeting facilities;
a meeting planner user agent processor having an interface for accepting requests for a list of potential meeting facilities ranked according to an all-inclusive cost of hosting a meeting;
a meeting facility user agent processor corresponding to at least one of the plurality of meeting facilities, the meeting facility user agent processor having an interface for accepting requests to modify information in the database relating to the meeting facility corresponding to the meeting facility user agent processor; and
a network coupling the meeting planner user agent processor, the meeting facility user agent processor, and the application server;
whereinthe application server receives and processes the requests from the meeting planner user agent and the meeting facility user agent.
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Specification