System for batch scheduling of travel-related transactions and batch tasks distribution by partitioning batch tasks among processing resources

• US 5,764,981 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sabre Incorporated (Sabre Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sabre, Inc.
• Inventors: Drexel, Richard J. III, Brice, Tony J., Mitchell, Curtis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US08/664,330
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 395/201, 395/202, 395/203, 395/204, 395/205, 395/206, 395/207, 395/208, 395/209, 395/210, 395/211, 395/212, 395/670, 395/671, 395/672, 395/673, 395/674, 395/675
• US Class Current: 718/101
• 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

Abstract

A data management method and architecture that enables users to integrate central reservation system communications with local accounting and reporting functions. More particularly, the present invention comprises a batch scheduling function that automatically executes predetermined batch tasks and distributes the executable load efficiently among available processing resources. The invention provides significant improvements in environments which require access to mass data storage systems such as the central information repositories used in the travel industry.

Claims

1. A system for batch processing of travel-related reservation data comprising:

a centralized reservation system;

a plurality of processing resources communicably linked to the centralized reservation system and configured to perform a plurality of back-office functions;

a batch task scheduling function interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for scheduling batch tasks; and

a batch task distribution function coupled to the batch task scheduling function and interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for partitioning the batch tasks among said plurality of processing resources.

2. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a client server platform communicably linked to the centralized reservation system and providing a communication link between the centralized reservation system and a plurality of end users.

6. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a printing means coupled to at least one of the plurality of processing resources for generating reports.

3. A system for scheduling batch tasks which control the processing of travel transactions, comprising:

a client server platform;

a local area network coupled to the client server platform;

a plurality of processing resources coupled to the local area network and providing a plurality of back-office system transactions applications;

a batch task scheduling function controllably interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for scheduling the generation of reports; and

a batch task distribution function coupled to the batch task scheduling function and controllably interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for partitioning the batch tasks among said plurality of processing resources.

8. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a printing means coupled to at least one of said plurality of processing resources for generating reports.

4. A method of scheduling the batch processing of travel-related reservations with back office applications of the travel providers local processing resources, comprising:

initiating a communications link with a central reservation system having a mass data base containing a plurality of travelrelated reservation data;

requesting travel-related reservation data from the central reservation system via the communications link;

using the local processing resources to process the data received from the central reservation system;

scheduling a batch task to process the data; and

distributing the batch task among the local processing resources for processing at a predetermined time.

9. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of printing reports from the processed travel-related reservation data.

5. A system for processing travel reservation transactions on a batch driven basis comprising:

a centralized reservation system containing airline reservation information; and

a plurality of processing resources communicably linked to the centralized reservation system and containing a plurality of back-office applications wherein at least one of the back office application comprises;

a batch scheduling function interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for scheduling periodic processing of reservation transaction data; and

a batch task distribution function coupled to said batch scheduling function and interfaced to the plurality of processing resources for partitioning the periodic processing of said reservation transaction data among said plurality of processing resources.

7. A system for scheduling batch tasks that control the processing of travel-related transactions comprising:

a client server platform;

a local area network coupled to the client server platform;

a plurality of processing resources coupled to said local area network and providing a plurality of back-office transaction applications;

a batch scheduling function interfaced to said plurality of processing resources for scheduling the processing of the travel-related transactions using batch tasks; and

a batch task distribution function coupled to said batch scheduling function and interfaced to said plurality of processing resources for partitioning said batch tasks among said plurality of processing resources, said batch tasks causing the processing of said travel-related transactions at some predetermined time.