TRAVEL MARKET ANALYSIS TOOLS

• US 20100205038A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: BARTOT, JAMES THEODORE, RAUSER, JOHN MICHAEL, HSU, DAVID WEI
• Application Number:
  US12/368,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

A method, system, and medium are provided for market intelligence tools for travel arrangements. A travel arrangement can be optimized by collecting and analyzing past event data for a desired travel selection. A data analysis engine aggregates, analyzes, and stores historical data of average travel ticket prices, as a function of the day of the year, for a travel selection. Another database analysis includes aggregating day-of-the-week data by the data analysis engine, wherein average travel ticket prices are given as a function of the day of the week, for both the departure day and the return day. Another database analysis includes aggregating advance purchase time data by the data analysis engine, wherein average travel ticket prices are given as a function of the number of days prior to a departure date. These database analyses are combined to form probabilities for the best and worst times to purchase travel tickets.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting an optimum travel arrangement, comprising:

using a computing system, comprising a user interface for said method;

providing a travel selection, comprising an origination location and a destination location;

aggregating historical data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective dates within a past time period for said travel selection;

aggregating day-of-the-week data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for each respective seven days of a week as a departure date and for each respective seven days of a week as a return date for said past time period;

aggregating advance purchase time data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date for said past time period; and

determining said optimum travel arrangement based upon combined results of said historical data, said day-of-the-week data, and said advance purchase time data for said past time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said optimum travel arrangement comprises a plurality of lowest travel prices calculated over a range of number of days prior to said departure date, for a corresponding length of time from said departure date to said return date.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying probability data, comprising a plurality of most economical times of travel procurement and a plurality of least economical times of travel procurement, for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said travel prices comprise an average price and a corresponding floor price.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a link to secure said optimum travel arrangement.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying said historical data, said day-of-the-week data, said advance purchase time data, and said optimum travel arrangement on a user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said historical data, said day-of-the-week data, and said advance purchase time data are updated on a regular schedule.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of travel prices comprises a plurality of airline ticket prices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said optimum travel arrangement further comprises an optimum hotel arrangement.

10. A travel arrangement system, comprising:

a computing system, comprising a user interface;

a data analysis engine;

an historical database, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective dates within a past time period for a travel selection, said travel selection comprising an origination location and a destination location;

a day-of-the-week database, comprising a plurality of travel prices for each respective seven days of a week as a departure date and for each respective seven days of a week as a return date for said past time period;

an advance purchase time database, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date for said past time period; and

a results database for combined results of said historical database, said day-of-the-week database, and said advance purchase time database for said past time period, via said data analysis engine.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said results database for combined results comprises a plurality of lowest travel prices calculated over a range of number of days prior to said departure date, for a corresponding length of time from said departure date to said return date.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said historical database, said day-of-the-week database, said advance purchase time database, and said results database for combined results provide information to display on said user interface.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of travel prices comprises a plurality of airline ticket prices.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a probability database, comprising a plurality of most economical times of travel procurement and a plurality of least economical times of travel procurement, for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said probability database comprises an optimum range of said plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date.

16. A computer readable medium for performing the steps of a method for selecting an optimum travel arrangement, comprising:

using a computing system, comprising said computer readable medium for performing said steps;

providing a travel selection, comprising an origination location and a destination location;

aggregating historical data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective dates within a past time period for said travel selection;

aggregating day-of-the-week data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for each respective seven days of a week as a departure date and for each respective seven days of a week as a return date for said past time period;

aggregating advance purchase time data, comprising a plurality of travel prices for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date for said past time period; and

determining said optimum travel arrangement based upon combined results of said historical data, said day-of-the-week data, and said advance purchase time data for said past time period.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said optimum travel arrangement comprises a plurality of lowest travel prices calculated over a range of number of days prior to said departure date, for a corresponding length of time from said departure date to said return date.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising displaying probability data, comprising a plurality of most economical times of travel procurement and a plurality of least economical times of travel procurement, for a plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said displaying probability data comprises displaying an optimum range of said plurality of respective number of days prior to said departure date.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein said plurality of travel prices comprises a plurality of airline ticket prices.