Providing Travel Information Using Cached Query Answers

• US 20100305983A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITA Software, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: De Marcken, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

Systems and techniques for presenting travel information to a user are described. A code that includes predetermined travel parameters specified by the user is included in a web page. Access to the web page by a user is detected. A travel query is populated with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user. Cached travel options that are obtained from prior queries and that satisfy the travel query are presented to the user.

Claims

1. A method for presenting travel information to a user, the method comprising:

including, a code in a web page, the code including predetermined travel parameters specified by the user;

detecting that the user has accessed the web page;

populating a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user; and

presenting, to the user, cached travel options obtained from prior queries, wherein the cached travel options satisfy the travel query.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the user to edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

populating a new travel query with the new travel parameters;

searching a cache database storing cached travel options for travel planning;

returning, to the user, a subset of travel options from the cached travel options satisfying the new travel query.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

5. A method for presenting travel information to a user, the method comprising:

including in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by a party that controls the web page;

detecting that the user has accessed the web page;

populating a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user; and

presenting, to the user, cached travel options obtained from prior queries, wherein the cached travel options satisfy the travel query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location identification information comprises an internet protocol (IP) address.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising anticipating one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing a web page that is associated with a party, and the predetermined travel parameters comprise a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the party that is associated with the web page, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting the cached travel options comprises displaying an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, wherein the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the party associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

12. A system for presenting travel information to a user, the system comprising:

a database storing cached travel options for travel planning, the cached travel options being obtained from prior queries; and

a processor configured to;

include, a code in a web page, the code including predetermined travel parameters specified by the user;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user; and

present, to the user, cached travel options stored in the database that satisfy the travel query.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an interface through which the user can edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

populate a new travel query with the new travel parameters;

search the database; and

return, to the user, a subset of travel options from the cached travel options satisfying the new travel query.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

16. A system for presenting travel information to a user, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

include in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by a party that controls the web page;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user; and

present, to the user, cached travel options obtained from prior queries, wherein the cached travel options satisfy the travel query.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the location identification information comprises an Internet protocol (IP) address.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor if further configured to anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing a web page that is associated with a party, and the predetermined travel parameters comprise a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the party that is associated with the web page, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein he processor if further configured to display an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, wherein the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the party associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

23. A computer program product for presenting travel information to a user, the computer program product being tangibly stored on machine readable media, comprising instructions operable to cause one or more processors to:

include, a code in a web page, the code including predetermined travel parameters specified by the user;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user; and

present, to the user, cached travel options obtained from prior queries, wherein the cached travel options satisfy the travel query.

24. The product of claim 23, further comprising instructions to enable the user to edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

25. The product of claim 24, further comprising instructions to:

populate a new travel query with the new travel parameters;

search a cache database storing cached travel options for travel planning; and

return, to the user, a subset of travel options from the cached travel options satisfying the new travel query.

26. The product of claim 23, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

27. A computer program product for presenting travel information to a user, the computer program product being tangibly stored on machine readable media, comprising instructions operable to cause one or more processors to:

include in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by a party that controls the web page;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user; and

present, to the user, cached travel options obtained from prior queries, wherein the cached travel options satisfy the travel query.

28. The product of claim 27, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

29. The product of claim 28, wherein the location identification information comprises an internet protocol (IP) address.

30. The product of claim 27, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

31. The product of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing a web page that is associated with a party, and the predetermined travel parameters comprise a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the party that is associated with the web page, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

32. The product of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to display an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, wherein the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the party associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

33. The product of claim 31, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.