Mobile application using facilitating dedicated communication between specific users

• US 9,232,350 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fortis Riders Acquisition Corp., Fortis Riders Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fortis Riders Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Foy, Nathan, Coleman, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US14/293,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/416, 705/5, 705/6, 705/13, 715/738
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for facilitating dedicated communication between specific users relating to a travel transaction, the system including a travel resource mobile application. The mobile application may be installed on a mobile device, wherein the user of the mobile application and other users are included in a group which participates in the travel transaction, and each such user is assigned a role. The mobile application may also provide travel information and secure communication to each user of the group of users, wherein the group of users may be restricted based on the travel transaction. The mobile application may retrieve user contact information from the mobile device to facilitate communication between the group of users while masking the contact information of each user. The mobile application may also determine a location of at least one user from a group of users.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating dedicated communication

between specific users relating to a travel transaction for a single traveler, the system comprising:

a travel resource mobile application that is configured to;

be installed on a mobile communications device to add a new resident application on the mobile device and when installed associates a single traveler, wherein the single traveler is a user of the resident application, with an account in the resident application, and further wherein the user of the resident application and other users are included in a group which participates in the travel transaction for the single traveler, and each such users is assigned a role;

provide travel information to each user of the group of users, wherein the travel information is based on each user'"'"'s role; and

provide secure communication between the group of users, wherein the group of users is restricted based on the travel transaction;

wherein the travel resource mobile application is further configured to retrieve user contact information from an onboard source of locally-generated content on the mobile device to facilitate communication between the group of users while masking the contact information of each user;

thus allowing the group of users to conduct the travel transaction for the traveler.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure communication further includes chat functionality between the group of users.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel resource mobile application is further configured to determine a location of at least one user from a group of users.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the travel resource mobile application is further configured to determine a vehicle location of a car service of one user from a group of users.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the travel resource mobile application is further configured to estimate an arrival time based on the vehicle location and the location of the user of the resident application.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the travel resource mobile application is further configured to provide each user the ability to indicate their location to the other users in the group.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel information is flight information associated the user of the resident application and the user providing flight services.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the group of users is an exclusive group.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the location of at least the user of the resident application is determined using GPS.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a travel itinerary associated with the user of the resident application.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel information includes information provided by a travel agent, airline, car service, hotel, rental car company, or a travel company.

12. A method for facilitating dedicated communication between specific users relating to a travel transaction for a single traveler, which method comprises:

providing a travel resource mobile application;

installing the travel resource mobile application on a mobile communications device to add a new resident application on the mobile device and when installed associates a single traveler, wherein the single traveler is a user of the resident application with an account in the resident application, and further wherein the user of the resident application and other users are

included in a group which participates in the travel transaction;

assigning a role to each user of a group of users;

providing travel information to each user of the group based on each user'"'"'s role; and

providing secure communication between the group of users, wherein the group of users is restricted based on the travel transaction between the users of the group;

further comprising retrieving user contact information from the mobile device to facilitate communication between the group of users while masking the contact information of each user;

thus allowing the group of users to conduct the travel transaction for the traveler.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the secure communication further includes chat functionality between the group of users.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transaction is a travel itinerary associated with one user of the group.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the travel information is information provided by a travel agent, airline, car service, hotel, rental car company, or a travel company.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a location of at least one user from the group of users;

determining a vehicle location of a car service of another user of the group; and

estimating an arrival time based on the vehicle location and the at least one user'"'"'s location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing each user with the ability to indicate their location to the other users in the group.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the location of at least one user is determined using GPS.