Groupware travel itinerary creation
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating groupware creation of a travel itinerary comprising:
- receiving, via a groupware client, a request to create a first travel itinerary for a trip of a user having a user identifier;
in response to the request, querying a database for a second travel itinerary stored in association with the identifier;
providing, via the groupware client, the second travel itinerary as elements of an interface of the groupware client;
receiving, via the interface of the groupware client, information relating to the trip;
generating travel itinerary options based on the information;
identifying from among the travel itinerary options a best match based on a travel policy of an organization authorizing the trip; and
transmitting to the groupware client the travel itinerary options with the best match pre-selected.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses facilitating groupware creation of a travel itinerary. The present invention enables querying of a backend application with an identifier of a groupware user. A past travel itinerary based on the identifier is retrieved to populate a template used to create a current travel itinerary. The template may be a graphical user interface representation of a workflow object. The user provides additional information regarding the trip. The information is submitted to the backend application, which determines options for each itinerary component (e.g. flight, car rental, and hotel) and a best match option for each component. The groupware client enables the user to select from the options to create a tentative travel itinerary. The groupware client may also enable the user to submit the tentative travel itinerary to another groupware user for approval, e.g. a supervisor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating groupware creation of a travel itinerary comprising:
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receiving, via a groupware client, a request to create a first travel itinerary for a trip of a user having a user identifier;
in response to the request, querying a database for a second travel itinerary stored in association with the identifier;
providing, via the groupware client, the second travel itinerary as elements of an interface of the groupware client;
receiving, via the interface of the groupware client, information relating to the trip;
generating travel itinerary options based on the information;
identifying from among the travel itinerary options a best match based on a travel policy of an organization authorizing the trip; and
transmitting to the groupware client the travel itinerary options with the best match pre-selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A machine readable medium having instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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providing, in a groupware client, a tool to create a travel itinerary;
in response to selection of the tool, providing an interface in the groupware client to receive trip information;
transmitting the trip information to a backend application;
receiving from the backend application travel itinerary options, at least one of the options identified as a best match option;
presenting the options with the best match option pre-selected;
receiving a selection from among the itinerary options;
making a reservation based on the selection; and
automatically creating in the groupware client a calendar entry based on the selection. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for facilitating groupware creation of a travel itinerary comprising:
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a storage system interface connected to a storage system storing a travel policy of an organization and a past travel itinerary of a user representing the organization;
a groupware interface connected to a groupware client, the groupware interface receiving trip information from the user via the groupware client; and
a backend application connected to the groupware interface and the storage system interface, the backend application providing travel itinerary options based on the past travel itinerary and the trip information, the backend application further identifying a best match from among the travel itinerary options based on the travel policy of the organization. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for collaborative determination of a travel itinerary comprising:
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a business process server including a groupware interface and a backend application;
a first groupware client connected to the server via the groupware interface, the first groupware client receiving from the backend application travel itinerary options based on an organizational travel policy, the first groupware client further enabling a first user to select from the travel itinerary options to create a travel itinerary; and
a second groupware client connected to the groupware interface of the server, the second groupware client receiving from the server the travel itinerary and enabling a second user to approve or reject the travel itinerary. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification