Providing travel information using cached query answers

• US 7,711,587 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITA Software, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: De Marcken, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US11/650,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/6, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37, 705/1, 707/104.1, 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 707/1, 707/10, 707/3, 707/E17.014, 340/825.28, 340/825.29
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• 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 30/0256 User search

Abstract

Systems and techniques for presenting travel information to a user are described. A code that includes predetermined travel parameters specified by the user is included in a web page. Access to the web page by a user is detected. A travel query is populated with the predetermined travel parameters and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user. Cached travel options that are obtained from prior queries and that satisfy the travel query are presented to the user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

producing, by a computer a code when a user accesses a web page which is controlled by an entity, the code identifying the user and including parameters derived from predetermined travel parameters specified by the user in a travel query;

detecting by one or more computers that the user has accessed the web page;

anticipating one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page by;

populating by one or more computers a new travel query with the anticipated predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user;

sending the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options obtained from prior travel queries, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receiving by the one or more computers a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

sending by one or more computers, to the user, the set of the cached travel options satisfying the travel query.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the user to edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

searching the cache storing the cached travel options with the new travel planning query;

returning a subset of travel options from the cached travel options with the subset of travel options satisfying at least the new travel query.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

5. A computer implemented method comprising:

including in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by a entity that controls the web page;

detecting by one or more computers that a user has accessed the web page;

anticipating one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page by;

populating by one or more computers a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user, with the travel query is not solicited by the user;

sending the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options obtained from prior travel queries, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receiving a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

sending, to the user, the cached travel options satisfying the travel query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location identification information comprises an internet protocol (IP) address.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein presenting the cached travel options comprises displaying an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, wherein the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the entity associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and wherein the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

11. A system comprising:

a database storing cached travel options for travel planning, the cached travel options the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the fights for travel between an origin and a destination; and

a processor configured to;

produce, a code when a user accesses a web page, which is controlled by an entity, the code sufficient to identify the user and including parameters derived from predetermined travel parameters specified by the user in a travel query;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page, the processor further configured to;

populate a new travel query with the anticipated predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user;

send the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receive a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

send, to the user, the set of the cached travel options that satisfy the travel query.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an interface through which the user can edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

search the cache with the new travel planning query; and

return a subset of travel options from the cache with the subset of travel options satisfying at least the new travel query.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

15. A system for presenting travel information to a user, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

include in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by an entity that controls the web page;

detect that a user has accessed the web page;

anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page the processor further configured to;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user, with the travel query is not solicited by the user;

send the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options obtained from prior travel queries, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receive a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

send, to the user, the cached travel options satisfying the travel query.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location identification information comprises an internet protocol (IP) address.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor if further configured to display an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the entity associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.

21. A computer program product for presenting travel information to a user, the computer program product being tangibly stored on machine readable media, comprising instructions operable to cause one or more processors to:

produce, a code when a user accesses a web page, which is controlled by an entity, the code sufficient to identify the user and including parameters derived from predetermined travel parameters specified by the user in a travel query;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page, comprising instructions to;

populate a different travel query with the anticipated predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event, and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user;

send the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receive a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

send, to the user, the set if the cached travel options that satisfy the travel query.

22. The product of claim 21, further comprising instructions to enable the user to edit the predetermined travel parameters and the variable parameter with new travel parameters.

23. The product of claim 22, further comprising instructions to:

search a cache storing cached travel options for travel planning with the new travel planning query; and

return a subset of travel options from the cached travel options with the subset of travel options satisfying at least the new travel query.

24. The product of claim 21, wherein the travel query is not solicited by the user.

25. A computer program product for presenting travel information to a user, the computer program product being tangibly stored on machine readable media, comprising instructions operable to cause one or more processors to:

include in a web page, a code comprising predetermined travel parameters specified by an entity that controls the web page;

detect that the user has accessed the web page;

anticipate one or more travel parameters in response to the user accessing the web page the processor further configured to;

populate a travel query with the predetermined travel parameters that include a departure date corresponding to a start of an event to be hosted by the entity, a return date corresponding to an end date of the event, and a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the event and a variable parameter based on identification information associated with the user, the variable parameter comprising an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user, with the travel query is not solicited by the user;

send the travel query to a cache that stores cached travel options, the cached travel options comprising sets of flights and sets of fares usable with the flights for travel between an origin and a destination;

receive a set of the cached travel options that satisfy the query; and

send, to the user, the cached travel options satisfying the travel query.

26. The product of claim 25, wherein the identification information comprises location identification information sufficient to determine a geographic location of the user.

27. The product of claim 26, wherein the location identification information comprises an internet protocol (IP) address.

28. The product of claim 25, wherein the travel query is populated with a variable parameter including one of an outbound city, a destination city, an outbound airport, and a destination airport.

29. The product of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to display an advertisement comprising the cached travel options, the advertisement is affiliated with an enterprise paying the entity associated with the web page for permitting the inclusion of the code.

30. The product of claim 25, wherein the predetermined travel parameters comprise a destination airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a lodging establishment, and the variable parameter comprises an origin airport corresponding to an airport nearest to a geographic location of the user.