Methods and systems for selecting travel products
First Claim
1. A method for searching a database stored on a remotely located computer connected through the Internet to a Web enabled device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting from a plurality of selection criteria at least one subset of selection criteria;
(b) screening and selecting from the database using the subset of selection criteria for data records satisfying at least one member of the subset of the selection criteria;
(c) rank ordering the data records selected in step (b); and
(d) displaying the data records that have been rank ordered in step (c).
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for selecting travel products is described. The methods and system of the invention enable a travel agent or client to search a travel database that contains information about: (i) technical specifications about a travel product; (ii) price information for the travel product; (iii) comparative pricing information about the travel product, e.g., travel specials; (iv) graphical and pictorial information about the travel product; (v) sales and promotional messages; (vi) a uniform resource locator (URL) address for a Web site containing information and hyperlinks to other Internet sites of interest on the Worldwide Web; or (vii) on virtual faxes. The methods and system of the present invention enable the travel agent to search a remotely located travel database using a wide range of selection criteria and provide the supplier of travel products with a comparatively inexpensive and rapid method for distributing information about all their travel products using a system of virtual faxes. The methods and systems of searching, retrieving and distributing information using this invention may be applied to other areas requiring rapid distribution of information to a geographically disperse group of users.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for searching a database stored on a remotely located computer connected through the Internet to a Web enabled device, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) selecting from a plurality of selection criteria at least one subset of selection criteria;
(b) screening and selecting from the database using the subset of selection criteria for data records satisfying at least one member of the subset of the selection criteria;
(c) rank ordering the data records selected in step (b); and
(d) displaying the data records that have been rank ordered in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer readable storage medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to search a database stored on a remotely located computer connected through the Internet to a Web enabled device, the set of instructions performing the steps comprising:
-
(a) selecting from a plurality of selection criteria at least one subset of selection criteria;
(b) screening the database using the subset of selection criteria for data records satisfying at least one member of the subset of the selection criteria;
(c) rank ordering the data records selected in step (b); and
(d) displaying the data records that have been rank ordered in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for distributing at least one virtual fax over the Internet to a plurality of Web enabled devices, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) logging-on from the Web enabled device through a network to a file server that contains a database storing a plurality of virtual faxes;
(b) selecting at least one selection criteria from a plurality of selection criteria;
(c) retrieving from the database all virtual faxes that satisfy the selection criteria used in step (b); and
(d) displaying the virtual fax from step (c) on the Web enabled device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A computer readable storage medium storing a set of search instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to direct Web enabled devices linked over the Internet, the set of instructions performing the steps of:
-
(a) logging-on from the Web enabled device through a network to a file server that contains a database storing a plurality of virtual faxes;
(b) selecting at least one selection criteria from a plurality of selection criteria;
(c) retrieving from the database all virtual faxes that satisfy the selection criteria in step (b); and
(d) displaying the virtual fax from step (c) on the Web enabled device.
-
Specification