System and method for real-time, personalized, dynamic, interactive voice services for travel availability information

• US 20030194065A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microstrategy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microstrategy Incorporated
• Inventors: Orolin, Nicholas J., Saylor, Michael J., Richards, Frederick III, Langseth, Justin, Zirngibl, Michael, Patnaik, Anurag
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1058 Shopping and product ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1066 Game playing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/355 Interactive dialogue design tools, features or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 : via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 : Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 : Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 : Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 : comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5158 : in combination with automated outdialling systems devices for signalling identity of wanted subscriber H04M1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 : Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 : Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 : Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

System and methods for real-time, interactive transmission of information about travel schedules and creation of travel schedules are provided. A user defines desired travel parameters, such as dates, times, costs and the like related to a travel component. Travel components are reviewed to determine if traveler parameters are triggered. If a travel component triggers traveler parameters, options for other travel components may be determined. A user may be contacted and communicated information about the travel component and options, thereby allowing a user to interactively create a travel schedule.

Claims

1. A method for providing interactive real-time transmission of travel information to a user having at least one traveler parameter set by the user as a trigger condition, the method comprising:

determining that the at least one traveler parameter has been satisfied;

determining options to create a travel schedule based on the at least one satisfied traveler parameter;

generating content from the at least one satisfied traveler parameter and the options;

establishing communication with the user; and

communicating the content to the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a transmission from the user in response to the content, wherein the transmission comprises instructions to create a travel schedule.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a created travel schedule comprises at least one travel component.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of converting the content to speech output and wherein the step of establishing communication comprises establishing voice communication.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting the content comprises transmitting the speech output.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein establishing voice communication includes establishing telephone communication.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one travel component satisfies the at least one traveler parameters;

and

wherein the step of determining options further comprises determining options for at least one other travel component based on the at least one travel component.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one travel component is one of the group consisting of an airline flight, a rental car reservation, and a room reservation.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein instructions to create a travel schedule comprise instructions to reserve at least one travel component that satisfies the at least one traveler parameter.

10. A system for providing interactive real-time transmission of travel information to a user having at least one traveler parameter set by the user as a trigger condition, the system comprising:

means for determining that the at least one traveler parameter has been satisfied;

means for determining options to create a travel schedule based on the at least one satisfied traveler parameter;

means for generating content from the at least one satisfied traveler parameter and the options;

means for establishing communication with the user; and

means for communicating the content to the user.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising means for receiving a transmission from the user in response to the content, wherein the transmission comprises instructions to create a travel schedule.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a created travel schedule comprises at least one travel component.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising means for converting the content to speech output and wherein the means for establishing communication comprises means for establishing voice communication.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the means for transmitting the content comprises means for transmitting the speech output.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein establishing voice communication includes establishing telephone communication.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one travel component satisfies the at least one traveler parameters;

and

wherein the means for determining options further comprises means for determining options for at least one other travel component based on the at least one travel component.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one travel component is one of the group consisting of an airline flight, a rental car reservation, and a room reservation.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein instructions to create a travel schedule comprise instructions to reserve at least one travel component that satisfies the at least one traveler parameter.

19. A method for providing interactive real-time transmission of travel information to a user having traveler parameters set by the user as a trigger condition, the method comprising:

determining at least one travel component that satisfy the traveler parameters;

determining options to create a travel schedule based on the satisfied traveler parameters and the at least one travel component;

generating content from the satisfied travelers parameters, the at least one travel component and the options;

converting content into speech output;

establishing telephone communication with the user;

communicating the speech output to the user via the telephone communication; and

receiving a transmission via the telephone communication from the user in response to the speech output, wherein the transmission comprises instructions to create a travel schedule by selecting the at least one travel component.

20. A system for providing interactive real-time transmission of travel information to a user having traveler parameters set by the user as a trigger condition, the system comprising:

means for determining at least one travel component that satisfy the traveler parameters;

means for determining options to create a travel schedule based on the satisfied traveler parameters and the at least one travel component;

means for generating content from the satisfied travelers parameters, the at least one travel component and the options;

means for converting content into speech output;

means for establishing telephone communication with the user;

means for communicating the speech output to the user via the telephone communication; and

means for receiving a transmission via the telephone communication from the user in response to the speech output, wherein the transmission comprises instructions to create a travel schedule by selecting the at least one travel component.