Travel Information Method And Associated System

• US 20070016439A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WorldAware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WorldAware, Inc.
• Inventors: Meyer, Mark, McIndoe, Darrell, Stiles, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/428,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system for providing travel information to a consumer are disclosed. The method and system may include identifying one or more potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS). Further, the method and system may include acquiring information from at least one information source, which may be a variety of sources such as external or consumer-driven sources; characterizing the acquired information by its pertinence to travel; transforming the characterized travel information into a useable format; applying rules to this transformed travel information in connection with the consumer-specific travel profile; and, delivering a report to the consumer of the results of this application. Finally, an information system segment may be provided that may include a collection subsystem, and analysis subsystem, and a distribution subsystem. The associated system may perform these functions, among others, to provide information for a traveler planning a trip to a particular destination or destinations.

Claims

1. A method for providing travel-related information to a user, comprising:

identifying one or more potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more potential information sources is manually identified by subject matter experts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by domain experts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by an automated process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by a combination of (1) manually identified by subject matter experts or domain experts and (2) identified by an automated process.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring information from at least one information source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transforming said acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a user profile.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a product to the user indicative of said transformed travel data.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising creating a product for said user indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile.

11. A system for providing travel related information to a user having a profile, comprising:

a content identification segment (CIS) including a content opportunities list containing a listing of identified one or more potential content sources so as to maintain them in the list.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more potential content sources is manually identified by subject matter experts.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more potential content sources is identified by domain experts.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein content identification segment (CIS) further includes a content robot engine that automatically identifies at least some of the one or more potential content sources and includes them in the content opportunities list.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more potential content sources are identified by a combination of (1) manually identified by subject matter experts or domain experts and (2) identified by the content robot engine with an automated process.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a content acquisition/aggregation segment that acquires and classifies the content of acquired content with regard to a specific domain.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a transformation layer that transforms the acquired content into information pertinent to travel related activities.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising an information application layer that applies the travel related information to a user profile.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a product creation layer that creates a product for a user indicative of applying the transformed travel information to the user profile.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a rules engine for applying rules to the profile.

21. An information system segment implemented, at least in part, in a computer system, and structured for use in a system for providing travel related information to a consumer having a consumer-specific profile, comprising:

a collection subsystem obtaining information from at least one data source;

an analysis subsystem filtering said obtained information to identify characteristics of said obtained information that will impact travel or the consumer; and

a distribution-subsystem directing said filtered data to at least one portion of said system for providing travel related information, said distribution subsystem having a component for classifying said filtered data as supplemental content or as an alert.

22. The segment of claim 21, wherein said collection subsystem includes means for applying queries to obtain said information.

23. The segment of claim 21, wherein said analysis subsystem includes a filter pipe and an index pipe.