Automated system for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements
First Claim
1. An automated system for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements, comprising:
- a database operable to store travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information; and
a processor operable to;
retrieve inventory information from a plurality of computer reservation systems;
store said inventory information in said database;
in response to receipt of travel request information comprising a traveler'"'"'s preferences, access said database to retrieve travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information; and
identify at least one alternate low-cost travel arrangement based at least in part on a relationship between the computer reservation system inventory information retrieved from the database and the travel request information.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated system (10) is provided for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements. The system (10) obtains inventory information specifying the rates and/or availability of a plurality of travel arrangements, from one or more computer reservation systems. The inventory information is stored in a database (14) along with one or more portfolios of information (relating to a travel agency and each business entity customer of the travel agency) that can be used to discount the listed rates of the travel arrangements. In response to travel request information received from a customer, the system (10) automatically retrieves the inventory and/or discount information from the database (14) and determines a plurality of low-cost alternate travel arrangements that are available to the customer Consequently, a travel agent using the system (10) does not have to spend time manually identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An automated system for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements, comprising:
-
a database operable to store travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information; and a processor operable to; retrieve inventory information from a plurality of computer reservation systems; store said inventory information in said database; in response to receipt of travel request information comprising a traveler'"'"'s preferences, access said database to retrieve travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information; and identify at least one alternate low-cost travel arrangement based at least in part on a relationship between the computer reservation system inventory information retrieved from the database and the travel request information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An automated system for identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements, comprising:
-
a database operable to store travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information; and a processing network connected to the database and operable to; access a plurality of computer reservation systems and retrieve computer reservation system inventory information; store said retrieved computer reservation inventory information in said database; receive travel request information comprising a traveler'"'"'s preferences; access said database to retrieve travel agency profile information and computer reservation system inventory information in response to said received travel request information; generate at least one set of travel parameters in response to said received travel request information; and identify at least one alternate low-cost travel arrangement based at least in part on a relationship between the computer reservation system inventory information retrieved from the database and the set of travel parameters. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for automatically identifying alternate low-cost travel arrangements, comprising:
-
accessing a plurality of computer reservation systems and retrieving computer reservation system inventory information; generating travel agency profile information; storing said retrieved computer reservation system inventory information and said generated travel agency profile information in a database; receiving travel request information comprising a traveler'"'"'s preferences; retrieving from said database said computer reservation system inventory information and said travel agency profile information in response to said received travel request information; and identifying at least one alternate low-cost travel arrangement based at least in part on a relationship between the computer reservation system inventory information retrieved from the database and the travel request information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification