Self-service system for selling travel-related services or products
First Claim
1. A self-service method of selling services or products related to local visitor attractions of a destination area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:
- initiating two way communication between a user and the system;
querying the user as to whether the user has travel knowledge of said destination area;
providing to the user who is a first time visitor and who is not familiar with the destination area information concerning attractions usually preferred by first time visitors;
supplying choices of different local visitor attractions for selection to the user who is a repeat visitor and to the user who is a first time visitor after the providing step; and
closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the selected local visitor attraction(s) made by the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a self-service system of selling travel-related services or products by means of an interactive travel service system functioning like a travel agent, to simplify the search process by the system and the decision process by the user, the user is first queried as to travel knowledge, such as whether the user is a first-time visitor or is otherwise familiar with the travel destination, and as to personal attribute such as family orientation, age and preference for airlines, lodgings, car rental companies, price range and lifestyle. In accordance with the travel knowledge and attributes inputted electronically by the user, one or more recommendations or a whole listing will be presented for selection by the user. To simplify the process, the user is asked to input the relevant dates and the inventory database is searched so that only available choices will be presented. The system is particularly advantageous for self-service method of selling travel-related services or products such as local tour attractions, local bookings, car rental bookings, local or intrastate tour packages, airline tickets, out-of-state tour packages, cruises, optional tours or cruises, and other shopping options.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A self-service method of selling services or products related to local visitor attractions of a destination area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:
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initiating two way communication between a user and the system; querying the user as to whether the user has travel knowledge of said destination area; providing to the user who is a first time visitor and who is not familiar with the destination area information concerning attractions usually preferred by first time visitors; supplying choices of different local visitor attractions for selection to the user who is a repeat visitor and to the user who is a first time visitor after the providing step; and closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the selected local visitor attraction(s) made by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A self-service method of selling tours outside of a local area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:
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initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a destination; requesting the user to select a pricing category from a number of pricing categories for tours to a destination selected by the user; displaying information on tour packages outside of a local area; displaying a calendar on a display screen for the user to select departure and return dates for said tour; querying the user for selection of lodging and/or car rental; closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the tour with the lodging and/or car rental selected by the user; wherein said querying step queries the user as to whether the user is a first time visitor and whether the user is familiar with the selected destination, and said querying step further comprises; providing all available lodging at the selected destination when the user indicates that the user is a repeat visitor or is familiar with the selected destination, and providing one or two suggested choices for lodging when the user indicates that the user is a first time visitor or is unfamiliar with the selected destination.
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7. A self-service method of selling cruises by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:
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initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a cruise destination, a travel season and length of cruise desired; qualifying the user for input data on cruise travel knowledge, price range, lifestyle and age information; and recommending at least one particular cruise in response to the input data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of selling optional tours and other travel-related services and products on cruise ships by means of an interactive electronic travel system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:
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initiating two-way communication between a user and the system; providing to the user data and choice of said services or products, said data including information concerning ports of call for said services or products; qualifying the user for preferences and/or attributes; receiving said input data and searching a database for said desired services or products available during said ports of call; and closing a sale for optional tours and other travel-related services and products. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification