SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED TRIP PLANNING BASED ON FIXED AND FLEXIBLE ITINERARY COMPONENTS

• US 20130261956A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anuvu IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Marks, Joshua Benegal
• Granted Patent: US 9,255,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/425
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3423 Multimodal routing, i.e. combining two or more modes of transportation, where the modes can be any of, e.g. driving, walking, cycling, public transport
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

The techniques introduced here include a method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination. The method comprises determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination. Further, each travel option is divided into a plurality of serial travel segments such that the travel segments serially connect the origin to the destination. For each of the travel options, the method further comprises estimating a time of travel in each of the travel segments. The estimated time of travel in a given travel segment is a function of both the nature of travel service associated with the segment and the one or more second user preferences associated with a travel service used in the segment. The method further comprises calculating, for each of the travel options, the total estimated travel time as a function of estimated travel times associated with each of the travel segments.

Claims

10. A method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, identifying a total time of estimated travel for each of the plurality of serial travel segments, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences associated with the travel service corresponding to the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, calculating a total estimated travel time as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the plurality of travel segments; and

for each of the travel options, providing the total estimated travel time to the user as a predicted travel time to travel from the origin to the destination.

11. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

12. The method recited above in claim 11, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

13. The method recited above in claim 11, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

14. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

15. The method recited above in claim 14, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

16. The method recited above in claim 14, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

17. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

18. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

19. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

20. The method recited above in claim 10, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

21. The method recited above in claim 20, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

22. A method for estimation of a departure time from an origin, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, sorting the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option into a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, the sorting of the plurality of serial travel segments based on the nature of the travel service associated with each of the plurality of serial travel segments, wherein the fixed-travel segment includes travel services associated with a predetermined departure schedule and the flexible-travel segment includes travel services associated with a user determined departure schedule;

for each of the travel options, determining a subset of one or more serial travel segments from the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option, the subset including all serially connected travel segments between a starting travel segment and a ending travel segment, wherein the starting travel segment originates from the origin and the ending travel segment terminates with the travel segment serially connected to the first travel segment associated with the fixed-travel segment;

for each of the travel options, identifying a total time of estimated travel for each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences related to the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, calculating a total estimated travel time to the first fixed-travel segment as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset; and

for each of the travel options, estimating the departure time from the origin by measuring backward from the departure time of the first fixed-travel segment, wherein the amount of time to be measured backward from the departure time of first fixed-travel segment is determined by the total estimated travel time from the origin to the first fixed-travel segment.

1. A method for determining travel options for a user between an origin and a destination, the method comprising:

receiving one or more first user preferences associated with a travel between the origin and the destination; and

determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

2. The method recited above in claim 1, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

3. The method recited above in claim 2, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

4. The method recited above in claim 2, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

5. The method recited above in claim 1, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

6. The method recited above in claim 5, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

7. The method recited above in claim 5, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

8. The method recited above in claim 1, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

9. The method recited above in claim 1, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

23. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

24. The method recited above in claim 23, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

25. The method recited above in claim 23, wherein the origin includes partial street address, and the partial street address includes partial address other than intersection address and neighborhood address.

26. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

27. The method recited above in claim 26, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

28. The method recited above in claim 26, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

29. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

30. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

31. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

32. The method recited above in claim 22, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

33. The method recited above in claim 32, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

24-1. The method recited above in claim 23, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

34. A method for estimation of an arrival time at a destination, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, sorting the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option into a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, the sorting of the plurality of serial travel segments based on the nature of the travel service associated with each of the plurality of serial travel segments, wherein the fixed-travel segment includes travel services associated with a predetermined departure schedule and the flexible-travel segment includes travel services associated with a user determined departure schedule;

for each of the travel options, determining a subset of one or more serial travel segments from the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option, the subset including all serially connected travel segments between a starting travel segment and a ending travel segment, wherein the starting travel segment originates with the last travel segment associated with the fixed-travel segment and the ending travel segment terminates at the destination;

for each of the travel options, identifying a total time of estimated travel for each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences related to the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, calculating a total estimated travel time from the last fixed-travel segment to the destination as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset; and

for each of the travel options, estimating the arrival time at the destination by summing up the total estimated travel time with the arrival time of the last fixed-travel segment.

35. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

36. The method recited above in claim 35, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

37. The method recited above in claim 35, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

38. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

39. The method recited above in claim 38, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

40. The method recited above in claim 38, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

41. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

42. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

43. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

44. The method recited above in claim 34, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

45. The method recited above in claim 44, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

46. A travel plan system for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination, the system comprising:

a computation subsystem configured to determine a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to identify a total time of estimated travel for each of the plurality of serial travel segments, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences associated with the travel service corresponding to the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to calculate a total estimated travel time as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the plurality of travel segments; and

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to provide the total estimated travel time to the user as a predicted travel time to travel from the origin to the destination.

47. The system recited above in claim 46, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

48. The system recited above in claim 47, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

49. The system recited above in claim 47, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

50. The system recited above in claim 46, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

51. The system recited above in claim 50, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

52. The system recited above in claim 50, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

53. The system recited above in claim 46, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

54. The system recited above in claim 53, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

55. The system recited above in claim 46, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

56. The system recited above in claim 46, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

57. The system recited above in claim 56, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

58. A travel plan system for estimation of a departure time from an origin, the system comprising:

a computation subsystem configured to determine a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to sort the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option into a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, the sorting of the plurality of serial travel segments based on the nature of the travel service associated with each of the plurality of serial travel segments, wherein the fixed-travel segment includes travel services associated with a predetermined departure schedule and the flexible-travel segment includes travel services associated with a user determined departure schedule;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to determine a subset of one or more serial travel segments from the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option, the subset including all serially connected travel segments between a starting travel segment and a ending travel segment, wherein the starting travel segment originates from the origin and the ending travel segment terminates with the travel segment serially connected to the first travel segment associated with the fixed-travel segment;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to identify a total time of estimated travel for each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences related to the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to calculate a total estimated travel time to the first fixed-travel segment as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset; and

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to estimate the departure time from the origin by measuring backward from the departure time of the first fixed-travel segment, wherein the amount of time to be measured backward from the departure time of first fixed-travel segment is determined by the total estimated travel time from the origin to the first fixed-travel segment.

59. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

60. The system recited above in claim 59, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

61. The system recited above in claim 59, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

62. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

63. The system recited above in claim 62, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

64. The system recited above in claim 62, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

65. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

66. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

67. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

68. The system recited above in claim 58, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

69. The system recited above in claim 68, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

70. A system for estimation of an arrival time at a destination, the system comprising:

a computation subsystem configured to determine a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to sort the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option into a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, the sorting of the plurality of serial travel segments based on the nature of the travel service associated with each of the plurality of serial travel segments, wherein the fixed-travel segment includes travel services associated with a predetermined departure schedule and the flexible-travel segment includes travel services associated with a user determined departure schedule;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to determine a subset of one or more serial travel segments from the plurality of serial travel segments associated with a given travel option, the subset including all serially connected travel segments between a starting travel segment and a ending travel segment, wherein the starting travel segment originates with the last travel segment associated with the fixed-travel segment and the ending travel segment terminates at the destination;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to identify a total time of estimated travel for each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and a one or more second user preferences related to the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to calculate a total estimated travel time from the last fixed-travel segment to the destination as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the one or more serial travel segments included in the subset; and

for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to estimate the arrival time at the destination by summing up the total estimated travel time with the arrival time of the last fixed-travel segment.

71. The system recited above in claim 70, wherein the origin includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

72. The system recited above in claim 71, wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.

73. The system recited above in claim 71, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.

74. The system recited above in claim 70, wherein the destination includes one or more of:

a property with an address;

a partial street address;

a name of a hotel;

a name of a landmark;

a transit terminal of a travel service;

or

a location with a global positioning coordinates.

75. The system recited above in claim 74, wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.

76. The system recited above in claim 74, wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.

77. The system recited above in claim 70, wherein the first user preferences includes one or more of:

a date of travel;

a time of travel;

a preferred mode of transportation;

a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;

a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;

a earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;

a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;

a maximum layover time between each travel segments;

a minimum layover time between each travel segments;

a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination;

or

a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.

78. The system recited above in claim 77, wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.

79. The system recited above in claim 70, wherein the second user preferences includes one or more of:

a intention to check-in baggage during travel;

a time allowance to check-in baggage;

a intention to utilize travel-related facilities;

a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service;

or

a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.

80. The system recited above in claim 70, wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:

determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;

determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes;

time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,

time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and

time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;

calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and

estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.

81. The system recited above in claim 80, wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:

a travel service reliability;

a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;

a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment;

or

a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.

82. A travel plan system for determining travel options for a user between an origin and a destination, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store a set of instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the travel plan system to perform a method, the method including;

receiving one or more first user preferences associated with a travel between the origin and the destination; and

determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.

83. A travel plan system for determining travel options for a user between an origin and a destination, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving one or more first user preferences associated with a travel between the origin and the destination; and

routing means for determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments.