Method and apparatus for providing flexible travel discounts to travelers

• US 20070106554A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Entertainment Publications LLC (SurveyMe, Limited.)
• Original Assignee: Entertainment Publications LLC (SurveyMe, Limited.)
• Inventors: Manns, Paul, Meads, David
• Application Number:
  US11/267,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date

Abstract

Systems and method of providing online discount offer programs to users provide for receiving travel information associated with the user and presenting a set of discount offers to the user based on the travel information. A modified set of discount offers can be presented to the user in response to input from the user, where the input identifies a change in the travel information.

Claims

1. A method of providing an online discount offer program to a user comprising:

receiving travel information associated with the user;

presenting a set of discount offers to the user based on the travel information; and

presenting a modified set of discount offers to the user in response to input from the user, the input identifying a change in the travel information.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

prompting the user with a list of attractions associated with the travel information;

receiving a user selection of at least one of the attractions; and

generating the modified set of discount offers based on the user selection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the list of attractions is selected from a group comprising museums, amusement parks, sports venues, concert halls and monuments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes receiving an initial travel destination and the change includes a user selection of a new travel destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes receiving a travel date and the change includes a user selection of a new travel date.

6. The method of claim 5, further including establishing an expiration date of the modified set of discount offers based on the new travel date.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting of the modified set of discount offers is conducted after the user has purchased access to the discount offers.

8. The method of claim 1, further including:

enabling the user to print one or more coupons associated with the modified set of discount offers;

permitting the change in the travel destination if the change does not include a user selection of a new travel date; and

preventing the change in the travel destination if the change includes a user selection of a new travel date.

9. A method comprising:

confirming that a user has purchased access to an online discount offer program;

receiving travel information associated with the user, the travel information including an initial travel destination and an initial travel start date;

selecting an initial set of discount offers based on the initial travel destination and the initial travel start date;

establishing an expiration date of the initial set of discount offers based on the initial travel start date;

presenting the initial set of discount offers to the user;

receiving input from the user that identifies a change in the travel information;

selecting a modified set of discount offers based on the change in the travel information; and

presenting the modified set of discount offers to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the input that identifies the change includes receiving input that identifies a new travel date, the method further including establishing a modified start date of the modified set of discount offers based on the new travel date.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the input that identifies the change includes receiving input that identifies a new travel destination.

12. The method of claim 11, further including prompting the user with a list of attractions selected based on at least one of the initial travel destination and the new travel destination.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a first memory coupled to said processor to store a database of discount offers and instructions adapted for the purpose of receiving travel information, retrieving a first set of said discount offers related to said travel information from said database, receiving changes to said travel information, retrieving a second set of said discount offers related to said changes to travel information from said database and transmitting said sets of discount offers.

14. The computer system of claim 13, further including;

a network interface coupled to said processor and capable of communicating with a network; and

a second processor;

a second memory coupled to said second processor to store instructions adapted for the purpose of transmitting travel information, receiving said first set of discount offers, instructions adapted for the purpose of transmitting changes to said travel information, receiving said second set of discount offers; and

a second network interface coupled to said second processor capable of communicating with said network.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the first memory further stores instructions adapted to establish an expiration date of the sets of discount offers based on said travel information and said changes to travel information.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the travel information includes a travel date and the changes include a user selection of a new travel date.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said travel information includes a travel destination and said changes to travel information include changes to said travel destination.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein said travel information includes a user selection of an attraction.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first memory further stores instructions adapted for the purpose of facilitating a purchase of a discount package and instructions permitting the transmittal of discount offers only after said purchase of a discount package has occurred.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first memory further stores instructions adapted for the purpose of presenting discount offers in a printable form and prohibiting the receipt of changes to travel information after discount offers have been presented in printable form.