Travel management system utilizing multiple computer reservation systems (CRSS)

• US 7,493,261 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GetThere LP (Sabre Corp.)
• Original Assignee: GetThere LP (Sabre Corp.)
• Inventors: Goyal, Narendra, GaBany, Robert Jay, Chen, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Mooneyham; Janice A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, FONYA M
• Application Number:
  US09/834,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,868 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method for travel management that utilizes multiple computer reservation systems (CRSs) for making travel related bookings. In one embodiment, a server provides access to a plurality of computer reservation systems (CRSs) for a client initiating a travel booking request. The client can book a travel item segment from any one of the accessible CRSs. CRSs for particular travel item segments are predefined for the client, along with particular conditions, prior to a travel booking request. The predefined CRSs are accessed to check the availability of travel items. The available travel items are displayed to the client for booking. When the client books a travel item, the booked travel item segment is stored in a super passenger name record (PNR). In some embodiments, the super PNR includes a CRS designation associated with each travel item segment.

Claims

1. A travel management system (TMS) for making travel related bookings, the TMS comprising:

a server to provide access to a plurality of computer reservation systems (CRSs) for a client initiating a travel booking request;

a booking engine to allow the client to book at least one travel item segment from any one of the accessible CRSs, wherein the booking engine generates a super passenger name record (PNR) including information associated with at least one booked travel item segment and information identifying each CRS for a respective booked travel item segment; and

a terminal access editor (TAE) to define a selection of the plurality of CRSs for the client to be stored in a database and accessed during the travel booking request for the client.

2. The travel management system of claim 1, wherein the booking engine:

reads the database to determine the selected plurality of CRSs to be accessed during the travel booking request; and

accesses the selected plurality of CRSs to check the availability of travel items at the CRSs for the travel booking request.

3. The travel management system of claim 2, wherein the selection of the plurality of CRSs includes a default CRS or a primary CRS and at least one secondary CRS.

4. The travel management system of claim 2, further comprising a client interface to:

display available travel items accessed from the selected plurality of CRSs for the travel booking request at the client; and

allow the client to select a desired travel item.

5. The travel management system of claim 4, wherein for each selected travel item, the booking engine books the selected item with the respective CRS.

6. The travel management system of claim 4, wherein only the lowest cost travel item accessed from the selected plurality of CRSs is displayed.