Incremental searching in multi-passenger multi-route travel planning

• US 20070174239A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyan, Justin A., de Marcken, Carl G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A multiple routes for multiple passengers are produced by ordering passenger groups and for each passenger group, constructing an individual query and sending the individual query to a travel planning system. Solutions based on the individual query are received from the travel planning system and a single individual solution is selected from the response. Constraints are added to subsequent individual queries based on previously selected individual solutions and joint travel requirements or preferences.

Claims

1. A method for providing multiple routes for multiple passengers, the method executed over a computer network, the method comprising:

constructing an individual query;

sending the individual query to a travel planning system;

receiving solutions from processing of the individual queries; and

selecting a single individual solution from the response; and

deriving constraints from the single individual solution to apply to a subsequent individual query for a subsequent group.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ordering passenger groups, for each subsequent passenger group; and

adding constraints to subsequent individual queries for the subsequent passenger group based on previously selected individual solutions and joint travel requirements or preferences.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

filtering a set of individual solutions for a particular passenger group according to the joint travel requirements.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the individual solution for a passenger group by the user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the individual solution for a passenger group automatically.

6. A method for providing multiple routes for multiple passengers, the method executed over a computer network, the method comprising:

sending an individual query to a travel planning system for a first one of a plurality of passenger groups;

producing a table of individual solutions for the first one of the passenger groups;

for the first passenger group,

deriving a set of constraints based on individual solutions in the table of individual solutions and joint travel requirements for an individual query for the first passenger group;

constructing a modified individual query according to the derived constraints; and

sending the modified individual query for the first passenger group to a travel planning system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

sorting passenger groups according to constraints on travel and wherein the first passenger group is chosen as the group with the most constraints.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a set of solutions returned from the travel planning system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of constraints does not reflect all of the constraints imposed by the individual solutions.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

choosing an individual solution from the solutions returned from the travel planning system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the individual solution is selected by the user.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the individual solution is selected automatically.

13. A computer readable medium storing a program product for providing multiple routes for multiple passengers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

order passenger groups; and

for each passenger group,

construct an individual query;

send the individual query to a travel planning system;

receive solutions from processing of the individual queries; and

select a single individual solution from the response.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

add constraints to subsequent individual queries based on previously selected individual solutions and joint travel requirements or preferences.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

filter a set of individual solutions for a particular passenger group according to the joint travel requirements.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

select the individual solution for a passenger group by the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions to:

select the individual solution for a passenger group automatically.

18. A computer readable medium storing a program product for providing multiple routes for multiple passengers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

send an individual query to a travel planning system for a first one of a plurality of passenger groups;

produce a table of individual solutions for the first one of the passenger groups;

for the first passenger group,

derive a set of constraints based on individual solutions in the table of individual solutions and joint travel requirements for an individual query for the first passenger group;

construct a modified individual query according to the derived constraints; and

send the modified individual query for the first passenger group to a travel planning system.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising instructions to:

sort passenger groups according to constraints on travel and wherein the first passenger group is chosen as the group with the most constraints.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising instructions to:

receive a set of solutions returned from the travel planning system.

21. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising instructions to:

choose an individual solution from the solutions returned from the travel planning system.

22. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the individual solution is selected by the user.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the individual solution is selected automatically.