ON-DEMAND TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SERVICE AND PLATFORM

• US 20080201178A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roundtrip Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Roundtrip Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Vizitei, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US11/774,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

The present invention contemplates an easy-to-use, cost-efficient, and flexible travel booking service and travel management platform. The travel booking service is a unique, subscription-based service that offers subscribers access to the fullest extent of travel service suppliers and also the lowest possible price. The travel management platform allows users to complete all steps of searching for and booking travel arrangements through the convenience of email. Once booked, travel arrangements are automatically calendared into the user'"'"'s calendar. Optional plug-ins allow the user to filter search results based on existing calendar commitments, receive notifications when new calendar entries conflict with travel arrangements, and make travel arrangements directly through the user'"'"'s calendar application rather than email.

Claims

1. A travel management platform for booking travel arrangements, comprising:

a workflow controller for sending and receiving email communications with a user and for managing a process for booking travel arrangements;

a natural language processor for receiving a natural language search query sent by the user to the workflow controller, and for interpreting the natural language search query into a translated search query; and

a middleware software program for receiving the translated search query, sending the translated search query to travel service suppliers, receiving travel products from the travel service suppliers that satisfy the translated search query, and sending the travel products to the workflow controller.

filtering the travel products based on the user'"'"'s pre-specified preferences and needs and a company'"'"'s travel rules and policies

10. A plug-in for the travel management platform of claim 1, consisting of means for booking travel arrangements such that the travel arrangements do not conflict with a users existing calendar engagements.

11. A plug-in for the travel management platform of claim 1, consisting of means for automatically notifying a user of a need to reschedule travel arrangements when calendar entries are made that conflict with existing travel arrangements.

12. A plug-in for the travel management platform of claim 1, consisting of means for booking travel arrangements through submitting travel needs directly through the user'"'"'s calendar application when entering events into the user'"'"'s calendar.

2. A method for searching for travel arrangements via email, comprising the steps of:

sending an email search query to a workflow controller;

interpreting the search query into a translated search query;

submitting the translated search query to travel service suppliers;

receiving travel products from travel service suppliers that satisfy the translated search query;

sending the user an email of the travel products.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the email search query is in natural language format.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the email search query comprises a form into which the user enters search one or more search queries.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein after receiving travel products from travel service suppliers that satisfy the translated search query, and before sending the user an email of the travel products, the travel products are reviewed by an agent to confirm that they satisfy the translated search query.

6. A method for booking travel arrangements via email, comprising the steps of:

sending an email book request containing a user'"'"'s desired travel arrangements to a workflow controller;

interpreting the email book request into a translated book request;

sending an email approval request containing the translated book request to the user;

sending an email response to the email approval request to the workflow controller;

interpreting the email response for approval or declination of the email approval request;

interfacing with travel service suppliers to book and confirm the translated book requests, if the email approval request is approved by the user;

sending an email the user containing an itinerary and calendar information;

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the email book request is in natural language format.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the email book request comprises a form into which the user makes entries.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein after interpreting the email response for approval or declination of the email approval request, the translated book request must be approved by the users superior before interfacing with travel service suppliers to book and confirm the translated book requests.