System and method for synchronizing passenger name record data

• US 20030177044A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orbitz LLC (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Orbitz LLC (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alford, Michael J., Liew, Roger, Sokel, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method are provided for maintaining updated passenger travel records across multiple system platforms. A network server is adapted to receive input data from a passenger including an indication that the passenger desires to purchase tickets or make reservations for travel related services. A database is provided and stores the input data received by the network server. A booking engine interfaces with a global distribution system and the network server. The booking engine acts to purchase the ticket or book the reservation on the global distribution system. The booking engine further acts to request and receive a copy of a passenger name record created by the global distribution system. The booking engine then forwards a copy of the received passenger name record to the database. The database is adapted to form an association between the received copy of the passenger name record and the input data received from the passenger, and store the copy of the passenger name record. The database may further perform a comparison between the input data and the received passenger name record to identify discrepancies.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining an up-to-date record of a passenger'"'"'s travel arrangements comprising the steps of:

receiving passenger and flight data;

storing the passenger and flight data on a database;

purchasing a ticket on a global distribution system, the global distribution system creating a passenger name record corresponding to the passenger and flight data;

requesting and receiving a copy of the passenger name record from the global distribution system;

comparing the data in the passenger name record to the passenger and flight data stored in the database; and

storing updated passenger and flight data in the database to correct discrepancies between the data stored in the database and data in the passenger name record.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

making a change to the passenger name record;

requesting a copy of the passenger name record after making the change; and

updating the passenger and flight data stored on the data base to reflect the change made to the passenger name record.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of receiving an indication that a change has been made in the passenger name record and requesting a copy of the changed passenger name record is response to such indication.

4. A system for maintaining updated passenger travel records comprising:

a network server adapted to receive input data from a passenger including an indication that the passenger desires to purchase a ticket for a particular flight;

a database adapted to store the input data received by the network server;

a booking engine adapted to interface with a global distribution system and the network server, the booking engine acting to purchase a ticket on the global distribution system corresponding to the flight for which the passenger has indicated a desire to purchase a ticket, the booking engine being further adapted to request and receive a copy of a passenger name record created by the global distribution system and forward a copy of the passenger name record to the database; and

wherein the database is adapted to form an association between the received copy of the passenger name record and the input data received from the passenger, and store the copy of the passenger name record.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

means for altering the data in the passenger name record; and

means for requesting an updated copy of the passenger name record when the data in the passenger name record has been altered.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for altering the data in the passenger name record comprises an input terminal operatively connected to the global distribution system.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the booking engine includes means for receiving an indication that a change has been made to the passenger name record, said means for requesting an updated copy of the passenger name record acting to request such a copy when the booking engine receives an indication that the data in the passenger name record has been altered.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the input data stored on the database includes flight data and additional travel services data, and wherein the system further includes means for comparing the updated copy of the passenger name record to the additional travel services data to determine whether the data in the updated passenger name record conflicts with the additional services data.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising means for adjusting the additional travel services data to accord with the updated passenger name record data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for adjusting the additional travel services data comprises a rebooking function within the booking engine, whereby the booking engine attempts to rebook additional travel services in accord with the updated passenger name record.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the additional travel services include rental car accommodations.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the additional travel services include hotel accommodations.

13. A data synchronization method for coordinating a passenger'"'"'s travel requirements among a plurality of travel service providers, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a central database for storing a comprehensive travel record, the comprehensive travel record including data related to the travel services to be provided by the travel service providers;

receiving data indicating a change in the travel services to be provided by a first travel service provider;

determining whether the change in the travel services to be provided by the first travel service provider affect the travel services to be provided by a second travel service provider;

changing the travel services to be provided by the second travel services provider to accommodate the changes to the travel services to be provided by the first travel service provider; and

updating the comprehensive travel record stored in the central database to reflect the changes to the travel services to be provided by the first travel service provider and the second travel service provider.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the travel service providers is a commercial airline and the travel services provided by the airline include at least one flight segment.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the travel service providers is a hotel.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the travel service providers is a rental car company.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the travel service providers is a restaurant.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the travel services providers is a cruise line.

19. A system for synchronizing a passenger'"'"'s travel requirements among a plurality of travel service providers, the system comprising:

a central database for storing a passenger record, the passenger record including data related to the travel services to be provided by the travel service providers; and

a Booking Connectivity Server (BCS) server adapted to interface with reservations and booking systems of said travel service providers and the central database, so that the BCS server can reserve and book travel services provided by the travel service providers, the BCS server being further operative to receive updated data from the reservations and booking systems of the travel service providers relating to changes in the services provided by the travel service providers and operative to store the updated data in the database.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

comparison means for determining whether the updated data related to changes in the travel services to be provided by a first travel service provider affect the travel services to be provided by a second travel service provider; and

means for changing the travel services to be provided by the second travel service provider to accommodate the changes to the travel services to be provided by the first travel service provider.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the travel service providers is a commercial airline and the travel services provided by the airline include at least one flight segment.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the travel services providers as a hotel.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the travel services providers is a rental car company.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the travel services providers is a restaurant.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the travel services providers is a cruise line.