Automated travel planning system
First Claim
1. An automated travel planning system, comprising:
- a database operable to store traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler'"'"'s preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency'"'"'s preferences; and
a processor connected to said database and operable to;
receive travel request information;
access said database to retrieve the traveler portfolio information and the competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information;
apply weighting values to the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences; and
make a weighted comparison between the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated travel planning system (10) is provided. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores information relating to each individual traveler and business entity customer of a travel agency and also information relating to the travel agency itself. This information may include, for example, data concerning the frequent flyer/renter programs in which a traveler participates, smoking and seating preferences for a traveler, preferred travel vendors of a business entity, restrictions on fare classes (e.g., business or coach classes only) imposed by a business entity on its employees, and promotions available to a travel agency. When travel request information is received from a specific customer (individual and/or business entity) of the travel agency, the system automatically retrieves information relating to the customer from the database and also information relating to the travel agency. The system (10) preferably uses the retrieved information to determine a travel plan that is satisfactory to the individual customer who is traveling, the business traveler customer which employs the individual, and the travel agency.
237 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automated travel planning system, comprising:
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a database operable to store traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler'"'"'s preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency'"'"'s preferences; and a processor connected to said database and operable to; receive travel request information; access said database to retrieve the traveler portfolio information and the competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; apply weighting values to the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences; and make a weighted comparison between the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Computer software operable to be controlled by a computer for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium; and software stored on the computer readable storage medium, the software operable to; receive travel request information; access a database in response to said received travel request information to retrieve traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler'"'"'s preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency'"'"'s preferences; make a weighted comparison between at least the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising the steps of:
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generating traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler'"'"'s preferences and competing portfolio information comprising at least a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency'"'"'s preferences; storing said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in a database; receiving travel request information; retrieving from said database said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; applying weighting values to the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences; and making a weighted comparison between at least the traveler'"'"'s preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification