Self-service system for selling travel-related services or products

• US 5,732,398 A
• Filed: 11/09/1995
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard S. Tagawa
• Original Assignee: Keyosk Corp.
• Inventors: Tagawa, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tkacs, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/555,433
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 395/201, 395/205, 395/206, 395/213, 395/216, 395/221, 395/222, 395/226, 395/227, 395/601, 395/602, 395/603, 395/604, 395/605, 395/610, 395/806, 395/807, 395/326, 395/352
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0697 Reservation devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

In a self-service system of selling travel-related services or products by means of an interactive travel service system functioning like a travel agent, to simplify the search process by the system and the decision process by the user, the user is first queried as to travel knowledge, such as whether the user is a first-time visitor or is otherwise familiar with the travel destination, and as to personal attribute such as family orientation, age and preference for airlines, lodgings, car rental companies, price range and lifestyle. In accordance with the travel knowledge and attributes inputted electronically by the user, one or more recommendations or a whole listing will be presented for selection by the user. To simplify the process, the user is asked to input the relevant dates and the inventory database is searched so that only available choices will be presented. The system is particularly advantageous for self-service method of selling travel-related services or products such as local tour attractions, local bookings, car rental bookings, local or intrastate tour packages, airline tickets, out-of-state tour packages, cruises, optional tours or cruises, and other shopping options.

Claims

1. A self-service method of selling services or products related to local visitor attractions of a destination area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

initiating two way communication between a user and the system;

querying the user as to whether the user has travel knowledge of said destination area;

providing to the user who is a first time visitor and who is not familiar with the destination area information concerning attractions usually preferred by first time visitors;

supplying choices of different local visitor attractions for selection to the user who is a repeat visitor and to the user who is a first time visitor after the providing step; and

closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the selected local visitor attraction(s) made by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a daily planner and calendar on a display screen for the user to input dates for said local visitor attractions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the user for input data concerning number of persons in a party, and name(s) for which a reservation for said services or products is to be made and recording name(s) inputted by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, said confirming step including displaying a confirmation on a display screen with dates, itemized cost and total cost of the purchase made by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting payment for the attraction(s) selected by the user; and

delivering one or more value voucher(s) for the paid attraction(s) to the user.

6. A self-service method of selling tours outside of a local area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

initiating two way communication between a user and the system;

asking the user to select a destination;

requesting the user to select a pricing category from a number of pricing categories for tours to a destination selected by the user;

displaying information on tour packages outside of a local area;

displaying a calendar on a display screen for the user to select departure and return dates for said tour;

querying the user for selection of lodging and/or car rental;

closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the tour with the lodging and/or car rental selected by the user;

wherein said querying step queries the user as to whether the user is a first time visitor and whether the user is familiar with the selected destination, and said querying step further comprises;

providing all available lodging at the selected destination when the user indicates that the user is a repeat visitor or is familiar with the selected destination, and providing one or two suggested choices for lodging when the user indicates that the user is a first time visitor or is unfamiliar with the selected destination.

7. A self-service method of selling cruises by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

initiating two way communication between a user and the system;

asking the user to select a cruise destination, a travel season and length of cruise desired;

qualifying the user for input data on cruise travel knowledge, price range, lifestyle and age information; and

recommending at least one particular cruise in response to the input data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an audiovisual presentation on said recommended cruise(s).

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating two way communication between the user and a travel agent following the presentation to assist the user in making a decision to close a sale.

10. A method of selling optional tours and other travel-related services and products on cruise ships by means of an interactive electronic travel system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of:

initiating two-way communication between a user and the system;

providing to the user data and choice of said services or products, said data including information concerning ports of call for said services or products;

qualifying the user for preferences and/or attributes;

receiving said input data and searching a database for said desired services or products available during said ports of call; and

closing a sale for optional tours and other travel-related services and products.

11. The method of claim 10, said confirming step including displaying a confirmation on a display screen with ports of call, itemized cost and total cost of the purchase made by the user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

accepting payment for optional tours and other travel-related services and products selected by the user;

delivering at least one value voucher for paid optional tours and other travel-related services and products to the user.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising two-way communicating between the ships and regional reservation centers to link the kiosks located on board the ships to the regional reservation centers and to travel-related service providers on shore.