Systems and methods for generating customized travel itineraries

• US 9,552,604 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Bettridge, Ellen, Brendell, Brian, Chuang, I-Hsin, LaFiura, Jennifer L., Reano, Sheyla, Shores, Patricia, Moreno, Ryan Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, TUANKHANH D
• Application Number:
  US13/027,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 707705-788
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

A method for generating a customized travel itinerary is disclosed. The method may comprise associating an individual with a travel sign based upon the results of a travel quiz; associating the individual with a travel location based upon the travel sign and a travel date; and associating the individual with an activity item based upon the travel sign. The method may additionally comprise receiving, by a mobile communication device, a travel itinerary comprising a plurality of travel locations; displaying, by the mobile communication device, a first travel location from the plurality of travel locations prior to a scheduled departure time for the first travel location; and displaying, by the mobile communication device, a second travel location from the plurality of travel locations prior to a scheduled departure time for the second travel location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer-based system, survey data about travel interests of an individual;

assigning, by the computer-based system, a travel sign to the individual based on the survey data of the travel interests;

creating, by the computer-based system, a travel itinerary based on the travel sign;

storing, by the computer-based system, the travel itinerary having multiple booked reservations,

wherein the travel itinerary includes a first booked reservation for a first travel location associated with a first departure time and options for a second travel location associated with a second departure time, and wherein the first travel location and second travel location are booked, but unknown to an individual associated with the travel itinerary;

transmitting, by the computer-based system, a packing list including items needed by the individual when traveling in the first travel location and for traveling in the second travel location, while restricting disclosure of the second travel location;

transmitting, by the computer-based system and to a mobile communication device of the individual, an access code to obtain the travel itinerary for the first travel location while restricting a display of the second travel location,

wherein the mobile communication device determines the second travel location from the options, after travel to the first travel location is completed on a first day;

determining, by the computer-based system and in response to completion of the first day, the second travel location from the options and based on the travel sign and activities completed on the first day;

providing, by the computer-based system, in response to the determining and to the mobile communications device, the second travel location for a second day;

acquiring, by the computer-based system and in response to the transmitting the access code, a location of the individual while at the second location,

transmitting, by the computer-based system, in response to the acquiring, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on the second day, a suggested first mystery activity item for the second day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested first mystery activity;

receiving, by the computer-based system and from the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested first mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested first mystery activity item;

transmitting, by the computer-based system and to the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested first mystery activity item;

transmitting, by the computer-based system, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on a third day, a suggested second mystery activity item for the third day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested second mystery activity;

receiving, by the computer-based system and from the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested second mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested second mystery activity item; and

transmitting, by the computer-based system and to the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested second mystery activity item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, by the computer-based system, the individual with at least one of:

the first travel location or an activity item based upon answers of the individual to a plurality of questions associated with a travel questionnaire.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising associating, by the computer-based system, the individual with the first travel location based upon a travel budget of the individual, a travel history of the individual, and a geographic location of the individual.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising notifying, by the computer-based system, a travel agent that the individual has completed a travel questionnaire.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displaying, by the computer-based system and through an agent client, at least one of:

responses to a travel quiz, a travel sign, or responses to a travel questionnaire.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, at least one of a travel location or an activity item selected by a travel agent.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating, by the computer-based system, the individual with a travel location that is within a region afforded by a travel budget of the individual.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising tagging, by the computer-based system, at least one of:

the first travel location or an activity item to indicate that the individual associated with a particular travel sign may have an interest.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, feedback from the individual about at least one of the first travel location or an activity item.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising deferring, by the computer-based system, from associating the individual with at least one of:

the second travel location or a second activity item, based upon negative feedback about at least one of;

the pending second travel location or second activity item.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, by the computer-based system, an access code to the individual, wherein the access code enables the individual to access, through the mobile device, the travel itinerary comprising at least one of:

the first travel location, the second travel location or an activity item.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising enabling, by the computer-based system, access to the first travel location less than one week prior to the first departure time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the travel sign is from the group comprising:

technologician, Trek Star cyber survivor, taste blazer, trengineer, adrenalista, glamorist, rustikeer, scenester, celebutante, histocrat, blisstorian, gastronaut, farbarian, detourist, zenturian, karmakaze, poshaholic, or hiplomat.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first travel location or the second travel location are selected based on the travel sign.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first travel location or the second travel location are selected based on a top trending interest of the individual.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile communication device, survey data about travel interests of an individual;

assigning, by the mobile communication device, a travel sign to the individual based on the survey data of the travel interests;

creating, by the mobile communication device, a travel itinerary based on the travel sign;

storing, by the mobile communication device, the travel itinerary having multiple booked reservations,

wherein the travel itinerary includes a first booked reservation for a first travel location associated with a first departure time and options for a second travel location associated with a second departure time, and wherein the first travel location and second travel location are booked, but unknown to an individual associated with the travel itinerary;

creating and displaying, by the mobile communication device, a packing list including items needed by the individual when traveling in the first travel location and for traveling in the second travel location, while restricting disclosure of the second travel location;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an access code to obtain the travel itinerary for the first travel location while restricting a display of the second travel location,

determining, by the mobile communication device and in response to completion of the first day, the second travel location from the options and based on the travel sign and activities completed on the first day;

displaying, by the mobile communication device, in response to the determining, the second travel location for a second day;

acquiring, by the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the access code, a location of the individual while at the second location,

displaying, by the mobile communication device, in response to the acquiring, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on the second day, a suggested first mystery activity item for the second day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested first mystery activity;

receiving, by the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested first mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested first mystery activity item;

displaying, by the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested first mystery activity item;

displaying, by the mobile communication device, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on a third day, a suggested second mystery activity item for the third day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested second mystery activity;

receiving, by the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested second mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested second mystery activity item; and

displaying, by the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested second mystery activity item.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, by the mobile communication device, additional information associated with at least one of:

the first travel location or the second travel location.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising uploading, by the mobile communication device, travel content to a travel log associated with a social networking website.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, by the mobile communication device, a location associated with the mobile communication device;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an activity item based upon the location of the mobile device and a travel profile associated with the individual.

20. A system comprising:

a processor;

a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,

the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by the processor, survey data about travel interests of an individual;

assigning, by the processor, a travel sign to the individual based on the survey data of the travel interests;

creating, by the processor, a travel itinerary based on the travel sign;

storing, by the processor, the travel itinerary having multiple booked reservations,

wherein the travel itinerary includes a first booked reservation for a first travel location associated with a first departure time and options for a second travel location associated with a second departure time, and wherein the first travel location and second travel location are booked, but unknown to an individual associated with the travel itinerary;

transmitting, by the processor, a packing list including items needed by the individual when traveling in the first travel location and for traveling in the second travel location, while restricting disclosure of the second travel location;

transmitting, by the processor and to a mobile communication device of the individual, an access code to obtain the travel itinerary for the first travel location while restricting a display of the second travel location,

wherein the mobile communication device determines the second travel location from the options, after travel to the first travel location is completed on a first day;

determining, by the processor and in response to completion of the first day, the second travel location from the options and based on the travel sign and activities completed on the first day;

providing, by the processor, in response to the determining and to the mobile communications device, the second travel location for a second day;

acquiring, by the processor and in response to the transmitting the access code, a location of the individual while at the second location,

transmitting, by the processor, in response to the acquiring, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on the second day, a suggested first mystery activity item for the second day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested first mystery activity;

receiving, by the processor and from the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested first mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested first mystery activity item;

transmitting, by the processor and to the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested first mystery activity item;

transmitting, by the processor, based on the travel sign of travel interests and on a third day, a suggested second mystery activity item for the third day at the second location, while the individual is at the second location, wherein the individual was previously unaware of the suggested second mystery activity;

receiving, by the processor and from the mobile communication device and in response to the transmitting the suggested second mystery activity item, a selection of the suggested second mystery activity item; and

transmitting, by the processor and to the mobile communication device and in response to the receiving the selection, additional information about the suggested second mystery activity item.