Co-brands for user interface in travel booking

• US 8,024,664 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ezrez Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ezrez Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Sabharwal, Sahil, Marciel, Valentine
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan; Rashedul
• Application Number:
  US11/752,832
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 715/760, 715/716, 715/717, 715/742, 715/744, 715/764, 715/765, 705/5, 705/6, 705/14, 705/26, 705/28, 705 39- 44
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Co-brands, virtual wrappers for web sites that allow clients to expand client inventories across different web sites, are disclosed. Different types of travel inventory can be provided across these web sites. A client can create different URLs, domains, look and feel, product filters, pricing rules, business logic, payment methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single instance. A client can create a co-brand and, using an administrator application, configure its settings to target specific geographic locations, targets markets or even themes. Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party vendors to direct traffic to client sites. Co-brand tools are designed to make items such as navigation, images, buttons, domain names, colors, fonts, languages and currencies. Co-brands make it easier for travel companies to have sites based on demographics, destination, and events that can lead to greater adoption and conversion.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a travel company client to present various travel inventory types through a plurality of online travel sub-websites, comprising:

defining a plurality of co-brands for an existing default online travel website through use of a single instance of an administrator application, wherein each co-brand is a virtual wrapper or skin that customizes a respective one of the plurality of online travel sub-websites presented by the existing default online travel website, the administrator application utilizing information from the existing default online travel website to display an interface for;

allowing the travel company client to define a default URL for defining each co-brand;

and

allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings for each co-brand, including receiving configurations from the travel company client for;

defining a set of one or more targeted geographic locations;

defining a language for each of the targeted geographic locations; and

defining a currency for each of the targeted geographic locations; and

providing a respective travel inventory search result to a user based on the respective co-brand settings.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an airline filter that targets selected airlines, and wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing the targeted airlines.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an activity filter corresponding to targeted geographic locations, and wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing activities filtered by the targeted geographic locations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an area filter, wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing targeted airports filtered by the area filter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an agent track.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining settings for a booking engine.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the settings for the booking engine comprise a selection of collect PNR owner setting, a date and time format, or a payment service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining settings for a payment gateway, through which payment for the travel itinerary is processed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the co-brands is associated with a contract group, wherein the contract group comprises settings for travel inventory access and pricing.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective settings for each co-brand includes defining the co-brand settings to target at least one of:

target markets, target themes, specific customer demographics, specific destinations, and events.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium with program instructions for allowing a travel company client to present various travel inventory types to a user through a plurality of online travel sub-websites, comprising instructions for:

defining a plurality of co-brands for an existing default online travel website through use of a single instance of an administrator application, wherein each co-brand is a virtual wrapper or skin that customizes a respective one of the plurality of online travel sub-websites presented by the existing default online travel website, the administrator application utilizing information from the existing default online travel website to display an interface for;

allowing the travel company client to define a default URL for defining each co-brand;

allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings for each co-brand, including receiving configurations from the travel company client for;

defining a set of one or more geographic locations;

defining a language for each of the targeted geographic locations; and

defining a currency for each of the targeted geographic locations; and

providing a respective travel inventory search result to the user based on the co-brand settings.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for an airline filter that targets selected airlines, and wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing the targeted airlines.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an activity filter, and wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing activities filtered by the targeted geographic locations.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an area filter, wherein providing a travel inventory search result includes providing targeted airports filtered by the area filter.

15. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining an agent track.

16. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining settings for a booking engine.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the settings for the booking engine comprise a selection of collect PNR setting, a date and time format, or a payment service.

18. The medium of claim 11, wherein allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings further includes receiving configurations from the travel company client for defining settings for a payment gateway, through which payment for the travel itinerary is processed.

19. The medium of claim 11, wherein at least one of the co-brands is associated with a contract group, wherein the contract group comprises settings or travel itinerary access and pricing.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for allowing the travel company client to configure respective settings for each co-brand such that each co-brand targets at least one of:

specific geographic locations, target markets, themes, specific customer demographics, specific destinations, and events.

21. A method for allowing a travel company client to present various travel inventory types through a plurality online travel sub-websites, comprising:

defining a plurality of co-brands for an existing default online travel website through use of a single instance of an administrator application, wherein each co-brand is a virtual wrapper or skin that customizes a respective one of the plurality of online travel sub-websites presented by the existing default online travel website, the administrator application utilizing information from the existing default online travel website to display an interface for;

allowing the travel company client to define a default URL for defining each co-brand; and

allowing the travel company client to configure respective co-brand settings for each co-brand, including receiving configurations from the travel company client for;

defining a set of one or more targeted geographic locations;

defining a language for each of the targeted geographic locations;

defining a currency for each of the targeted geographic locations;

defining an airline filter that targets selected airlines;

defining an activity filter corresponding to at least one of the targeted geographic locations;

defining settings for a booking engine; and

defining settings for a payment gateway; and

providing a respective travel inventory search result to a user based on the respective co-brand settings, including;

providing the targeted airlines; and

providing activities filtered by the activity filter.