Method and apparatus for providing travel destination information and making travel reservations
First Claim
1. A method of providing travel destination information for self-service selection and viewing and for facilitating the initiation of communications to make travel reservations without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional, comprising the steps of:
- (a) inputting information concerning a plurality of travel destinations into an information storage and retrieval system for storing, referencing and retrieving the travel destination information where each travel destination is uniquely identified by at least one travel destination parameter;
(b) querying the user for input data, the input data being at least one travel destination information parameter for identifying information associated with the travel destinations;
(c) searching the information storage and retrieval system for travel destinations corresponding to the travel destination information responsive to the selection made by the user without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional;
(d) displaying the information associated with the selected travel destination;
(e) accessing a remotely accessible source for making travel destination reservations.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and Method for providing travel destination information and making travel destinations which includes an information storage and retrieval system for storing, referencing and retrieving various travel destinations from a database. A querying device queries the user for input used to define the field for the travel destination desired, while a display device displays information associated with a selected travel destination. An accessing device is provided for making travel reservations concerning a selected travel destination. The apparatus and method optionally includes a reproducing device for printing information concerning travel destinations or reservations, a valuable media accepting device for accepting payment associated with travel reservations, or an accounting indicator device for accumulating statistical information on selected travel destinations.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method of providing travel destination information for self-service selection and viewing and for facilitating the initiation of communications to make travel reservations without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inputting information concerning a plurality of travel destinations into an information storage and retrieval system for storing, referencing and retrieving the travel destination information where each travel destination is uniquely identified by at least one travel destination parameter; (b) querying the user for input data, the input data being at least one travel destination information parameter for identifying information associated with the travel destinations; (c) searching the information storage and retrieval system for travel destinations corresponding to the travel destination information responsive to the selection made by the user without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional; (d) displaying the information associated with the selected travel destination; (e) accessing a remotely accessible source for making travel destination reservations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An apparatus for self-service selection and review of travel destination information and for initiating communications for making travel destination reservations in response to a plurality of input data set items provided by a user without the aid of a travel agent or a travel professional, comprising:
-
(a) Information storage and retrieval means for storing, referencing and retrieving information on a plurality of travel destinations, each of the travel destinations being identified by at least one travel destination parameter; (b) Querying means for querying the user to select from among the plurality of travel destinations without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional; (c) Input means for receiving a travel destination information selection from a user without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional; (d) Display means for displaying a travel destination information selection made by the user; (e) Communication means for accessing a remotely accessible source for making travel destination reservations; (f) Control means connected to the information storage and retrieval means, display means, query memos, input means and communication means for controlling and coordinating the operation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of providing golf-related information for self-service selection and viewing and for facilitating the initiation of communications associated with the provided golf-related information without the aid of a golf-related information agent or golf professional, comprising:
-
(a) inputting information concerning a plurality of travel destinations into an information storage and retrieval system for storing, referencing and retrieving the golf-related information, each record of golf-related information being uniquely identified by at least one golf-related information parameter; (b) querying the user for input data, the input data being at least one golf-related information parameter;
(c) searching the information storage and retrieval system for golf-related information corresponding to the golf-related information responsive to the input data selection made by the user without the aid of a golf-related information agent or golf professional;(d) displaying the information associated with the selected golf-related information; (e) accessing a remotely accessible source for inquiring about golf-related information.
-
-
28. An apparatus for self-service selection and review of golf-related information and for initiating communications for making inquiries concerning golf-related information in response to a plurality of input data set items provided by a user without the aid of a golf-related information agent or golf professional, comprising:
-
(a) Information storage and retrieval means for storing, referencing and retrieving golf-related information, each record of golf-related information being identified by at least one golf-related information parameter; (b) Querying means for querying the user for input data, the input data being at least one golf-related information parameter; (c) Input means for receiving a golf-related information selection made by a user without the aid of a golf-related information agent or golf professional; (d) Display means for displaying a golf-related information selection made by a user; (e) Communication means for accessing a remotely accessible source for making inquiries concerning golf-related information; (f) Control means connected to the information storage and retrieval means, display means, query means, input means and communication means for controlling and coordinating the operation thereof.
-
-
29. A free-standing self-contained unit for providing self-service selection and review of travel destination information and for initiating communications for making travel destination reservations in response to a plurality of input data set items provided by a user without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional, comprising:
-
(a) a monitor oriented in a manner that permits viewing of displayed information; (b) an input means that permits users to input information without the aid of a travel agent or travel professional in response to queries displayed on the monitor; (c) a microcomputer CPU and at least 4 MB of random access memory for accessing and processing information for display on the monitor; (d) a hard drive that contains information on travel destinations that is accessible by the microcomputer; (e) a communications link associated with the microprocessor for remotely accessing a source of information for making travel reservations; and (f) speakers for audially communicating information associated with a selected travel destination and the making of travel destination reservations. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
Specification