Graphical Travel System for the Internet

• US 20090313054A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,595,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a travel system allows the beginning and end points to be selected, and then displays a line indicating the travel, and calculates fares.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a client computer, having a cursor moving element, and an actuator that is actuated to select a current position of said cursor moving element, said client computer including a connection to a network,

said client computer running a program which produces a graphical user interface using information received over said connection, said graphical user interface allowing entry of a desired starting area for travel, and a desired ending area for said travel,

said program displaying information indicative of travel options between the selected starting area and ending area, wherein said program further allows and controls at least one of said starting area or said ending area to be changed in size to form a changed in size area, by using said cursor moving element to select a size of said at least one of said at least one of said starting area or said ending area, and wherein said information that is displayed includes information about said changed in size area, and includes options for different locations within said changed in size area.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein, said graphical user interface displaying a map of an area within which the travel will occur, and allowing said starting area for said travel to be selected within said area by using said cursor moving element to place a cursor of the graphical user interface over said starting area, and actuating to select said starting area, and allowing said ending area for said travel to be selected by using said cursor moving element to place the cursor of the graphical user interface over said ending area, and actuating to indicate said ending area.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said client computer displays an image of a line extending between said starting point and said ending point, overlaid on said map.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said line includes an indication of a stopping point between said beginning point and said ending point.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said starting area and ending area include information about airports within said areas, and said change in size is operative to add or subtract airports within said areas.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said client computer also displays information about how much the trip deviates compared with an optimum route from said starting area to said ending area.

7. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a memory storing a travel itinerary on the server computer, and a biometric information entry device at the client computer, which allows entering biometric information that is used to access a stored travel itinerary from the client computer.

8. A system, comprising:

a client computer, having a processor that is programmed to display a graphical user interface, displaying a hyperlinked image including hyperlinks for a plurality of airports which airports can form begin and end points of a trip, and said client computer including a movable element which is movable over said hyperlinked image, and said movable element is actuated to select an area of said hyperlinked image including at least one airport, and said movable element being variable to change a number of said airports which are included within said area, and said movable element permitting selection of said area as said begin and/or end point of the trip.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said processor in said client computer is programmed to display a screen tip including additional information, which is additional to the information included on said hyperlinked image, about at least one of said plurality of airports.

10. A system as in claim 8, wherein said processor in said client computer is operative to determine a matrix of flights between all airports within an area for said begin point and all airports within an area for said end point, where there is more than one airport within at least one of the beginning or end points.

11. A system as in claim 8, wherein said processor in said client computer is operative to determine an optimal flying route between said begin point and said end point, and display an actual selected flying route relative to said optimal flying route.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said processor is further operative to determine a deviation between the optimal flying route and said selected flying route.

13. A system as in claim 8, further comprising a biometric information reader associated with said client computer, wherein said processor controls said client computer controls obtaining said biometric information, and said server computer stores travel information about individuals that is associated with biometric information about the individuals, and returns said travel information to said client computer based on biometric information sent from said client computer.

14. A system as in claim 8, further comprising allowing a user to make a binding offer, including payment information, for any of plural airline routes between any of said begin points, and any of said end points, where there are more than one airport within at least one of the beginning points or end points.

15. A system as in claim 8, wherein said program sends information indicative of both said starting area and said ending area over a network to a server, and receives travel information over said network indicative of travel options between the selected starting area and ending area said travel information.

16. A system as in claim 8, wherein said hyperlinked image is based on information received from a server computer.

17. A system comprising:

a server computer, including a connection to a network,

said server computer running a program which receives information indicative of movement of a cursor of a graphical user interface from a remote computer, and uses said information to establish a desired starting area for travel, and a desired ending area for said travel, said program determining information indicative of travel options between the selected starting area and ending area;

wherein said program on said server computer further receives information about a changed in size area adjacent to at least one of said starting area or said ending area to form a changed in size area, and displays information about said changed in size area, and producing output information that includes options for travel between different locations within said changed in size area.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein said server client computer producing information that will display a map of an area within which the travel will occur, and receiving information indicative of said starting area for said travel having been selected within said graphical user interface, and receiving information indicative of said ending area having been selected within said graphical user interface, wherein said changed in size area is shown on said map.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein said server computer produces information that is indicative of display of an image of a line extending between said starting point and said ending point, overlaid on said map.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein said starting area and ending area include information about airports within said areas, and said change in size adds or subtracts airports within said areas.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein said server computer also displays information about how much a selected trip deviates compared with an optimum route from said starting area to said ending area.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein said amount of deviation includes information about travel times of different routes.

23. A system as in claim 17, further comprising a memory storing a travel itinerary on the server computer.

24. A system as in claim 22, wherein said server computer receives biometric information and uses said biometric information to access a stored travel itinerary.

25. A system as in claim 17, further comprising a client computer connected to said network, said client computer displaying said options for travel.

26. A system, comprising:

a server computer, producing information to display a graphical user interface, said information including that includes a hyperlinked image including hyperlinks for a plurality of airports, where said airports can form begin and end points of a trip,

and said server computer receives information from a movable element which is movable over said hyperlinked image and which is actuated to select an area of said hyperlinked image including at least one airport, and said information from said movable element being variable to change a number of said airports which are included within said area, and said movable element permitting selection of said area as said begin and/or end point of the trip.

27. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server computer also sends different trip options for trips between said beginning and end points.

28. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server provides information to display a screen tip including additional information which is additional to the information included on said hyperlinked image, said screen tip including information about at least one of said plurality of airports.

29. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server is operative to determine a flights between airports within an area for said begin point and airports within an area for said end point, where there is more than one airport within at least one of the beginning or end points.

30. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server is operative to determine an optimal flying route between said begin point and said end point, and produce information that displays an actual selected flying route relative to said optimal flying route.

31. A system as in claim 30, wherein said server is further operative to determine a deviation between the optimal flying route and said selected flying route and produce information that displays said information.

32. A system as in claim 26, wherein said server computer stores travel information about individuals that is associated with biometric information about the individuals, and accesses travel information based on receiving biometric information.

33. A system as in claim 26, further comprising allowing a user to make a binding offer, including payment information, for any of plural airline routes between any of said begin points, and any of said end points, where there are more than one airport within at least one of the beginning points or end points.