Travel planning system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for a user to develop a travel plan having at least two travel components, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of parameters on which each said travel component is parameterized by at least one of said plurality of parameters, wherein each said parameter is associated with an initial range of values;
(b) providing first means for choosing by user, a value for a first parameter;
(c) determining the respective ranges of values of all parameters other than said first parameter, responsively to said chosen first parameter value according to predefined relationships between said other parameters and said first parameter; and
(d) presenting to the user said determined range of values for said other parameters.
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Abstract
A vacation planner system wherein a user is able, at a web site, to completely develop and confirm a travel plan including the cohesive integration of the travel components of transportation, lodging and activities. The system provides the user at each stage of the planning, a range of options that has been determined based on information previously supplied by the user, simplifying the travel planning process.
194 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for a user to develop a travel plan having at least two travel components, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of parameters on which each said travel component is parameterized by at least one of said plurality of parameters, wherein each said parameter is associated with an initial range of values;
(b) providing first means for choosing by user, a value for a first parameter;
(c) determining the respective ranges of values of all parameters other than said first parameter, responsively to said chosen first parameter value according to predefined relationships between said other parameters and said first parameter; and
(d) presenting to the user said determined range of values for said other parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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10. A method for a user to develop a travel plan having at least three travel components comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of parameters on which each said travel component is parameterized by at least one of said plurality of parameters, wherein each said parameter is associated with an initial range of values;
(b) providing means for choosing by user, a value for a destination;
(c) determining the respective ranges of values of all parameters other than said first parameter, responsively to said chosen destination according to predefined relationships between said other parameters and said destination; and
(d) presenting to the user said determined range of values for said other parameters. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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18. A method for a user having personal information, to develop a travel plan, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing means for developing a user profile;
(b) providing means for developing by user, the travel plan wholly or partially, in conjunction with said user profile;
(c) providing means for confirming by user said developed travel plan, wherein content of said user profile is under the control of the user throughout the development of the travel plan, and includes personal information or not as controlled by the user, and wherein the user is required to include personal information in said user profile only to confirm said developed travel plan. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for assisting a user to obtain goods or services via a computer user interface, comprising the steps of:
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(a) displaying in a first window on said user interface, a plurality of goods or services for selection;
(b) providing a multimedia presentation associated with a first goods or services;
(c) providing means for presenting said multimedia presentation to the user in a second window; and
(d) providing means for selecting goods or services to obtain via said second window on said user interface. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for a user to select a round trip air travel package, comprising:
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(a) the user providing a departure location, a destination, a departure date, and a return date;
(b) determining at least a departing flight and a returning flight consistent with said departure and return dates, said destination and said departure location;
(c) grouping said departing flights and said returning flights according to the price of pairs of said departure flights and arrival flights;
(d) displaying said groups of departure flights and return flights to the user;
(e) providing means for selecting by user, a departing flight and a returning flight from one of said groups.
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29. A system for providing interaction between a vacation sales consultant and a user comprising:
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(a) a first computer connected to a network and operable by the vacation sales consultant;
(b) a second computer connected to a network and operable by the user;
(c) means for developing a travel plan by the vacation sales consultant on said first computer for subsequent transfer to and display on said second computer;
(d) means for the user to change directly said travel plan on said second computer,
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36. A method for an aggregator to sell its package of component goods or services, to a customer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) an aggregator supplying a provider of component goods or services, with means for selling the package, wherein the package includes said provider'"'"'s component goods or services;
(b) the customer purchasing the package via said selling means;
(c) said provider sharing with said aggregator the revenue received in association with said purchase of package. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A computer system for a user using a web site for the development of plan to obtain goods or services, comprising:
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(a) means for organizing the goods or services into categories;
(b) means for determining the goods or services that are available for user to choose;
(c) user means for choosing goods or services from said available goods or services;
(d) user interface means, for providing in a summary bar;
(i) means for displaying information about each category of goods or services, each said category information being also a link to additional information about each said category and to said choosing means; and
(ii) means for displaying summary information of chosen goods or services. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification