SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTELLIGENTLY REROUTING STRANDED TRAVELERS

• US 20100004958A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Oesterlin, Robert G., Fleishman, Michael L., Mcconnell, Kevin C., Ackermann, Bryan A.
• Application Number:
  US12/166,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A method is disclosed to intelligently reroute stranded travelers. The method includes receiving in a computer, a message from a customer containing preferences for travel services, including willingness to accept alternative travel services, and storing the preferences in a customer database. The method then includes receiving in the computer, a message from the customer containing a trip plan that includes at least one segment with a desired mode of transportation, a desired departure location, a desired time, and a desired destination, and storing the trip plan in the customer database. The method then includes receiving in the computer, a message from at least one travel service, including available scheduling for the at least one segment, and data for alternative times and modes of transportation, and storing the available scheduling and the data. The method then includes receiving in the computer, a message from the customer agreeing to the available scheduling for the at least one segment. The method then includes receiving in the computer, a message from the at least one travel service, that the agreed to scheduling for the at least one segment has become unavailable. The method then includes accessing the preferences and the data. The method then includes determining acceptable alternative times and modes of transportation from the data and the preferences for the at least one segment. The method then includes automatically scheduling one of the acceptable alternative times and modes of transportation for the at least one segment. And finally, the method includes sending a notification to the customer of the automatically scheduled alternative time and mode of transportation for the at least one segment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving in a computer, a message from a customer containing preferences for travel services, including willingness to accept alternative travel services, and storing said preferences in a customer database;

receiving in said computer, a message from said customer containing a trip plan that includes at least one segment with a desired mode of transportation, a desired departure location, a desired time, and a desired destination, and storing said trip plan in said customer database;

receiving in said computer, a message from at least one travel service, including available scheduling for said at least one segment, and data for alternative times and modes of transportation, and storing said available scheduling and said data;

receiving in said computer, a message from said customer agreeing to said available scheduling for said at least one segment;

receiving in said computer, a message from said at least one travel service, that said agreed to scheduling for said at least one segment has become unavailable;

accessing said preferences and said data;

determining acceptable alternative times and modes of transportation from said data and said preferences for said at least one segment;

automatically scheduling one of said acceptable alternative times and modes of transportation for said at least one segment; and

sending a notification to said customer of said automatically scheduled alternative time and mode of transportation for said at least one segment.