Automated Internet Based Interactive Travel Planning and Management System

• US 20110022425A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Block, Jaro Volny, Scott Allen Mueller, Sharyn A. Brotz
• Original Assignee: David Block, Jaro Volny, Scott Allen Mueller, Sharyn A. Brotz
• Inventors: Block, David, Brotz, Sharyn A., Mueller, Scott Allen, Volny, Jaro
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,543 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel management system. The system includes a web-based planning and reservation interface system and an interactive access device. The system responds to details of a member'"'"'s desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member'"'"'s trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member. The system stores identification information to verify access device possession to prohibit unauthorized use of the system and to provide security pre-clearance to system members.

Claims

1. A travel management system comprising:

a central memory storing member profile records, each member profile record including member identification information and travel information of an associated system member;

a central server in communication with the central memory;

a portable access device associated with each member profile, the portable access device including a communications device for communicating with the central server and a local memory including the member identification information; and

a terminal at a travel facility, the terminal including a communication device for communicating with the central server to obtain information from a member profile record associated with a portable access device based on matching the member identification information included in the central memory with the member identification information included in the local memory.

2. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the central server maintains web pages and Internet communications are used to communicate with the central server.

3. The travel management system of claim 2 wherein the portable access device wirelessly accesses said web pages.

4. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the web pages include a plurality of specific web pages providing information on a plurality of individual travel facilities.

5. The travel management system of claim 4 wherein each specific web page is standardized to provide ease of use, familiarity and consistency among the plurality of specific web pages.

6. The travel management system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of individual travel facilities include facilities of different types with the plurality of specific web pages including groups of standardized web pages to provide ease of use, familiarity and consistency among web pages providing information on each type of facility.

7. The travel management system of claim 1 comprising:

an identification information input device for inputting member identification information, whereby the terminal obtains information from a member profile record associated with a portable access device based on matching member identification information input at the identification information input device, the member identification information included in the central memory and the member identification information included in the local memory.

8. The travel management system of claim 7 wherein each member profile is assigned a gradation level based on comprehensiveness of the member profile

9. The travel management system of claim 8 wherein each member profile assigned to certain gradation levels includes biometric information in the identification information, and wherein the identification input device includes a biometric reader capable of obtaining biometric information from an individual possessing the portable access device, whereby the terminal obtains information from a member profile record associated with a portable access device based on matching biometric information from an individual possessing the portable access device obtained by the biometric reader, the biometric information included in the central memory, and the biometric information included in the local memory.

10. The travel management system of claim 9 wherein the biometric information includes an image of the associated system member.

11. The travel management system of claim 10 wherein the image is a three dimensional image.

12. The travel management system of claim 9 wherein the biometric information includes a video of the associated system member.

13. The travel management system of claim 7, wherein the information obtained from the member profile indicates that the holder of the access device is a member in good standing to whom the portable access device was issued.

14. The travel management system of claim 13, wherein the terminal includes a portable scanning device for scanning carry-on luggage for dangerous contents.

15. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device includes an output device for providing information to a user.

16. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the output device includes a video screen and a speaker and the portable access device is configurable to provide a computer generated interactive personal assistant.

17. The travel management system of claim 15 wherein the portable access device includes an input device for receiving information from the user.

18. The travel management system of claim 16 wherein the input device includes a microphone and a processor capable of voice recognition processing for receiving input from the microphone.

19. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the central server includes means to establish a communication link between the portable access device and one or more other communication devices.

20. The travel management system of claim 19 wherein the communication link enables audio conferencing.

21. The travel management system of claim 19 wherein the communication link enables video conferencing.

22. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the local memory includes base identification data, authentication data and documentation data regarding the traveling member.

23. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the local memory includes license data and documentation data regarding the traveling member.

24. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device includes a removable chip and wherein at least a portion of the local memory is included on the removable chip.

25. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device includes a camera.

26. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device includes a global positioning device.

27. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device is waterproof.

28. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the communications device includes a transceiver for communicating with a wireless communications network.

29. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the local memory includes storage for personal identification information in addition to the member identification information.

30. The travel management system of claim 29 wherein the storage for personal identification information is separate from a portion of the local memory including the member identification information.

31. The travel management system of claim 30 where the portable access device includes a removable chip and the personal identification information is stored on the removable chip.

32. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device includes a transponder for signaling an automatic payment system.

33. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the member identification information is encrypted.

34. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the terminal includes a reader for reading information from the portable access device.

35. The travel management system of claim 34 wherein the local memory includes secure ticketing information readable by the terminal.

36. The travel management system of claim 1 wherein the portable access device is a flexible polymer plastic integrated multipurpose card for convenient storage within a user'"'"'s wallet.

37. The travel management system of claim 35 wherein the portable access device includes multiple layers with a removable layer for use in card readers.

38. The travel management system of claim 9 wherein the biometric information includes a voiceprint of the associated system member.