Travel information method and associated system

• US 7,269,568 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WorldAware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iJET International, Inc
• Inventors: Meyer, Mark Gregory, McIndoe, Darrell Bruce, Stiles, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon; Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US10/968,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 705/6, 705/5, 705/25, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/5
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method and system for providing travel information to a consumer are disclosed. The method includes acquiring information from at least one information source, which may be a variety of sources such as external or consumer-driven sources; characterizing the acquired information by its pertinence to travel; transforming the characterized travel information into a useable format; applying rules to this transformed travel information in connection with the consumer-specific travel profile; and, delivering a report to the consumer of the results of this application. The associated system performs these functions, among others, to provide information for a traveler planning a trip to a particular destination or destinations.

Claims

1. A computer system, for providing travel related information to a user having a profile, comprising:

a computer having executable code segment(s) and layer(s);

a content acquisition segment configured to acquire information from at least one information source;

an information transformation layer configured to transform the acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities;

an information application layer configured to apply said transformed travel information to said profile;

a product creation layer configured to create a product for said user indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile; and

a content identification segment (CIS) configured to identify potential said information source(s) and includes a content robot engine having an automated robot process that identifies potential said information source(s).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the content identification segment (CIS) includes a content robot engine having an automated process that identifies said information source(s).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content acquisition segment includes one or more acquisition agent(s) to retrieve content from said information source(s) and one or more notification agent(s) that provide information to modify said acquisition agents so as to change content acquired.

4. A method for providing travel-related information to a consumer having a consumer-specific profile, comprising:

a. performing identification of potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS);

b. acquiring information from at least one of said information sources;

c. transforming said acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities;

d. using rules for applying said transformed travel information to said consumer-specific travel profile; and

e. creating a product for said consumer indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said consumer-specific travel profile.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said acquiring includes partnering with an external internet site for providing said at least one information source.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said transforming further includes a step selected from the group consisting of processing acquired data through a health information board, performing an advisement function, and developing business rules.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said transforming includes applying medical information and epidemiology findings from clinic networks to provide at least a portion of said transformed travel information.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said creating includes creating a travel report for said consumer.

9. The method of claim 4, further including identifying alert information related to a travel destination of said consumer.

10. The method of claim 9, further including distributing said alert information to said consumer.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein if alert information occurs and is included in said report, further including distributing said alert information in said report to said consumer.

12. The method of claim 4, further including delivering a product to said consumer indicative of said transformed travel data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said delivering is performed using a distribution channel selected from the group consisting of the internet, wireless communication media, and physical delivery locations.

14. A computer system having for providing travel related information to a user having a profile, comprising:

a computer having executable code segment(s) and layer(s);

a content acquisition segment configured to acquire information from at least one information source;

an information transformation layer configured to transform the acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities;

an information application layer configured to apply said transformed travel information to said profile;

a product creation layer configured to create a product for said user indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile; and

a content identification segment (CIS) configured to identify potential said information sources.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the content acquisition segment is further configured to acquire and identify the content of said acquired information with regard to a specific domain of said acquired information.

16. The system of claim 14, further including a rules engine for applying rules to the profile.

17. The system of claim 14, further including a travel information report segment configured to generate a report indicative of said results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said travel information report comprises a pre-Trip information section, a destination information section, a general advice section, and a products/services section.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of said sections contains travel information customized for the user including data selected from the group consisting of the user'"'"'s personal profile, a destination, and a season of travel.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said report is generated in at least one electronic format.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said report includes a trip rating indicative of the risk of the trip represented by said travel related information.

22. The system of claim 17, further including an event/alert segment configured to manage the receipt of at least one event corresponding to the definition of at least one alert to the user.

23. The system of claim 22, further including distributing said defined alert.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the event/alert segment is further configured to apply keyword analysis to incoming content.

25. A method for providing travel-related information to a user having a profile, comprising:

a. performing identification of at least one or more potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS);

b. acquiring information from said at least one information source;

c. transforming said acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities;

d. using rules for applying said transformed travel information to said profile; and

e. creating a product for said user indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile, wherein said information is received from an external network.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, using said CIS for enabling determining information sources that should no longer be relied upon.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said transforming includes one selected from the group consisting of processing acquired data through a health information board, performing an advisement function, and developing business rules.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said transforming further includes applying medical information and epidemiology findings from clinic networks to provide at least a portion of said transformed travel information.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said creating includes creating a travel report for the user.

30. The method of claim 25, further including identifying alert information related to a travel destination of the user.

31. The method of claim 30, further including distributing said alert information to the user.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein if alert information occurs and is included in said report, further including distributing said alert information in said report to the user.

33. The method of claim 25, further including delivering a product to the user indicative of said transformed travel data.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said delivering is performed using a distribution channel selected from the group consisting of the internet, wireless communication media, and physical delivery locations.