TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100017238A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, Alison, Mercuri, Marc, Johnson, Bruce E., Grayson, Martin, Mortimer, Rimes
• Application Number:
  US12/274,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

A travel management system. In one implementation, a state-based desktop client provides a travel planning and management workspace for the user. The user may perform travel planning activities, and log out of the travel workspace without having to repeat travel planning tasks. In another implementation, travel planning tasks may be stored as data feeds that keep up-to-date fare and availability data even when the user is not logged into the travel workspace.

Claims

1. A method for performing a search for travel services, comprising:

receiving a query for a travel service;

subscribing to a data feed for the travel service;

receiving a result for the travel service based on the data feed; and

displaying the result.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a persistent state of the query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel service is a flight, a hotel, a car rental or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data feed is a really simple syndication (RSS) feed for the travel service query.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a type of the query; and

sending an applet configured to perform the query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the applet is configured to search for a flight, a hotel, a car rental or combinations thereof.

7. A method for generating an itinerary for travel, comprising:

receiving a travel request from a user;

retrieving one or more enterprise policies associated with the travel request;

retrieving one or more travel preferences for the user;

determining one or more travel elements for the itinerary based on the travel request, the enterprise policies and the travel preferences; and

generating one or more itineraries based on the travel elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the travel request comprises an identification for the user, a departure city and a destination city.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies comprises determining whether the travel request is associated with a meeting scheduled on the user'"'"'s calendar.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies further comprises determining other attendees of the meeting.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies comprises determining travel dates for the travel request based on the user'"'"'s calendar.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the one or more itineraries; and

approving the selection according to the enterprise policies.

13. A method for managing an itinerary of a traveler during travel, comprising:

receiving a computerized travel request in response to a disruption to the itinerary;

retrieving one or more enterprise policies associated with the travel request;

retrieving one or more travel preferences for the traveler;

determining one or more travel elements for the itinerary based on the travel request, the enterprise policies and the travel preferences; and

modifying the itinerary based on the travel elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the disruption comprises a cancellation of a connecting flight.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the travel request comprises an identification for the traveler, a departure city and a first destination city.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies comprises determining whether the travel request is associated with a meeting that is scheduled on the traveler'"'"'s calendar.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the itinerary is modified based on a change of locations for the meeting.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies further comprises determining travel dates for the travel request based on the traveler'"'"'s calendar.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein retrieving the enterprise policies further comprises determining other attendees of the meeting.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising modifying one or more itineraries for the attendees of the meeting.