System, method, and computer program product for comparing the cost of driving an owned or leased vehicle to the cost various transportation options

• US 7,561,963 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TVL LP (Sabre Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sabre Incorporated (Sabre Corp.)
• Inventors: Brice, Tony, Abadzic, Amela, Strothmann, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/246,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 701/123, 701/210, 705/6
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product calculate the cost for a traveler to drive the traveler'"'"'s personal vehicle on a trip of a defined distance and duration, and compare the cost of driving the traveler'"'"'s personal vehicle to the cost of other transportation options, such as the cost of renting a vehicle and driving the rental vehicle on the trip. In this regard, a system for comparing a cost of driving a traveler'"'"'s vehicle to a cost of other transportation options comprises a server capable of calculating a total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on a trip. The server is further capable of calculating a total cost to drive a rental vehicle on the trip. The server is further capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

Claims

1. A system for comparing a cost of driving a traveler'"'"'s vehicle to a cost of other transportation options, the system comprising:

a computing device capable of calculating a total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on a trip, the traveler'"'"'s vehicle defined by a vehicle make and a vehicle model, the trip at least partially defined by a number of miles from a departure location to a destination location;

the computing device further capable of calculating a total cost to drive a rental vehicle on the trip, the trip further defined by a number of days from a beginning of the trip to an end of the trip, the rental vehicle defined by a vehicle type; and

the computing device further capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is further defined by at least one of a mileage, an engine size, a number of cylinders, and a transmission type.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip based on a fuel cost per gallon, a fuel economy of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and a maintenance cost per mile.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is owned by the traveler.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is leased by the traveler.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a depreciation cost per mile if a mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is less than a predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a second maintenance cost per mile if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than the predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a contract mileage overage fee if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than a predefined contract mileage limit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a depreciation cost per mile if the traveler is planning to buy the vehicle after an expiration of a predefined lease period.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further capable of calculating a total cost to travel on the trip via at least one additional transportation mode, the at least one additional transportation mode selected from the group comprising commercial airline, bus, and train;

and wherein the computing device is further capable of comparing the total cost to travel via the at least one additional transportation mode to the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip and to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further capable of calculating a probability of an occurrence in the traveler'"'"'s vehicle of a mechanical problem during the trip.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is a traveler'"'"'s first vehicle, wherein the computing device is further capable of calculating a total cost to drive at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip, and wherein the computing device is further capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s first vehicle and the at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a cost of lodging and a cost of meals during the trip.

13. A method of comparing a cost of driving a traveler'"'"'s vehicle to a cost of other transportation options, the method comprising:

calculating a total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on a trip, the traveler'"'"'s vehicle defined by a vehicle make and a vehicle model, the trip at least partially defined by a number of miles from a departure location to a destination location;

calculating a total cost to drive a rental vehicle on the trip, the trip further defined by a number of days from a beginning of the trip to an end of the trip, the rental vehicle defined by a vehicle type; and

comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is further defined by at least one of a mileage, an engine size, a number of cylinders, and a transmission type.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is based on a fuel cost per gallon, a fuel economy of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and a maintenance cost per mile.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is owned by the traveler.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is leased by the traveler.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is further based on a depreciation cost per mile if a mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is less than a predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is further based on a second maintenance cost per mile if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than the predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is further based on a contract mileage overage fee if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than a predefined contract mileage limit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is further based on a depreciation cost per mile if the traveler is planning to buy the vehicle after an expiration of a predefined lease period.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

calculating a total cost to travel on the trip via at least one additional transportation mode, the at least one additional transportation mode selected from the group comprising commercial airline, bus, and train; and

comparing the total cost to travel via the at least one additional transportation mode to the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip and to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

calculating a probability of an occurrence in the traveler'"'"'s vehicle of a mechanical problem during the trip.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is a traveler'"'"'s first vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises:

calculating a total cost to drive at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip, and comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s first vehicle and the at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip is further based on a cost of lodging and a cost of meals during the trip.

25. A computer program product for comparing a cost of driving a traveler'"'"'s vehicle to a cost of other transportation options, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein executable on a programmable apparatus and configured to direct the operation of the programmable apparatus, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion capable of calculating a total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on a trip, the traveler'"'"'s vehicle defined by a vehicle make and a vehicle model, the trip at least partially defined by a number of miles from a departure location to a destination location;

a second executable portion capable of calculating a total cost to drive a rental vehicle on the trip, the trip further defined by a number of days from a beginning of the trip to an end of the trip, the rental vehicle defined by a vehicle type; and

a third executable portion capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is further defined by at least one of a mileage, an engine size, a number of cylinders, and a transmission type.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip based on a fuel cost per gallon, a fuel economy of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and a maintenance cost per mile.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is owned by the traveler.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is leased by the traveler.

30. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a depreciation cost per mile if a mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is less than a predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle, and wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a second maintenance cost per mile if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than the predefined lifespan mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a contract mileage overage fee if the mileage of the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is greater than a predefined contract mileage limit.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a depreciation cost per mile if the traveler is planning to buy the vehicle after an expiration of a predefined lease period.

33. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion capable of calculating a total cost to travel on the trip via at least one additional transportation mode, the at least one additional transportation mode selected from the group comprising commercial airline, bus, and train; and

a sixth executable portion capable of comparing the total cost to travel via the commercial airline to the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip and to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

34. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion capable of calculating a probability of an occurrence in the traveler'"'"'s vehicle of a mechanical problem during the trip.

35. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the traveler'"'"'s vehicle is a traveler'"'"'s first vehicle, wherein the first executable portion is further capable of calculating a total cost to drive at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip, and wherein the third executable portion is further capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s first vehicle and the at least one additional traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

36. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the first executable portion calculates the total cost to drive the traveler'"'"'s vehicle on the trip further based on a cost of lodging and a cost of meals during the trip.