System and method for managing reservation requests for one or more inventory items

• US 7,783,506 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Expedia Inc. (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Expedia Inc. (Expedia Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siegal, Seth L., Vaughan, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jabr; Fadey S
• Application Number:
  US09/932,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,294 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/6, 705/26, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system and method for managing reservation requests for one or more inventory items are provided. A user reservation request is obtained and processed to identify inventory data matching the reservation request. Reservation transaction, reservation items and reservation inventory records are generated corresponding to the user reservation request. If the transaction can be completed, a confirmation is sent to the user and a notification is sent to a supplier.

Claims

1. A method for processing reservation requests for one or more inventory items, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a computing device, a user request for reservation of one or more inventory items;

obtaining, by the computing device, inventory data corresponding to inventory items, wherein the inventory data is organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy; and

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record;

matching, by the computing device, the user request for reservation of one or more inventory items with the inventory data, wherein matching includes selecting two or more instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the reservation request;

generating, by the computing device, the results of matching the reservation request with inventory data, wherein the results include;

a reservation transaction record corresponding to the user request for reservation;

one or more reservation item records based on the reservation transaction record and the matched inventory data; and

one or more reservation inventory records corresponding to instances of data of the matched inventory data; and

transmitting, by the computing device, results of the matching, which results are presented on a display.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user request for reservation includes a set of criteria for identifying matching inventory items.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of criteria includes a date or date range for the reservation request.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of criteria includes a selection of a hotel room or hotel room type.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of criteria includes a selection of an airline flight or airline carrier.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of criteria includes a selection of car rental agency or car rental type.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the set of criteria includes a selection of a cruise or cabin type.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes calculating a consumer price for the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes calculating a supplier cost for the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes confirming a completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the reservation request.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein matching the user request for reservation with the inventory data includes:

placing the inventory data matching the user reservation request on hold;

confirming a completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the reservation request;

updating the reservation transaction, reservation item and reservation inventory records with the confirmation data; and

updating the inventory data to reflect a completed reservation request.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein placing the inventory data matching the user reservation request on hold includes placing the inventory data in a hold table.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein updating the inventory data includes deleting the inventory data from the hold table.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising deleting the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records and adding the matching inventory data to a corresponding inventory record if the transfer of a monetary amount cannot be confirmed.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein transmitting the results of the matching includes transmitting a notification to a supplier corresponding to the matched reservation request.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the notification includes a confirmation number.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the notification includes utilization information.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the notification includes a cost code associated with a supplier cost for the inventory item.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein transmitting the results of the matching includes transmitting a confirmation to a user corresponding to the matched reservation request.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising obtaining a supplier confirmation of the transmitted notification prior to transmitting the confirmation to a user.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inventory items are travel-based goods and services and wherein the reservation request is a travel-based reservation request.

22. A system for processing reservation of one or more inventory items, the system comprising:

at least one client computer operable to generate a request for reservation of at least one inventory item; and

a travel server configured to store inventory data corresponding to the at least one inventory item, the travel server configured to obtain the reservation request from the client computer, wherein the inventory data is organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three-level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy; and

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record;

wherein the travel server matches the request for reservation of at least one inventory item with the inventory data,

wherein matching includes selecting from instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the reservation request; and

generates the results of matching the request for reservation with inventory data, wherein the results include;

a reservation transaction record corresponding to the user request for reservation;

one or more reservation item records based on the reservation transaction record and the matched inventory data; and

one or more reservation inventory records corresponding to instance data of the matched inventory data.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the travel server processes the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records by confirming the completion of a financial transaction.

24. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising at least one supplier corresponding to the one or more inventory items, wherein the travel server is operable to transmit a notification of the matched reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records to the supplier associated with the matched reservation request.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the notification includes one or more cost codes operable to define a supplier cost authorization code for the matched reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records.

26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the travel server is further operable to transmit a confirmation of the matched reservation request to the user associated with the matched reservation request.

27. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the travel server includes a communication component operable to obtain a standard formatted notification to a supplier and to generate and transmit a supplier specified formatted notification.

28. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records include a price component, and wherein the travel server is operable to calculate a price based on the sum of the price components of the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records.

29. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records include a cost component, and wherein the travel server is operable to calculate a cost based on the sum of the cost components of the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records.

30. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the inventory items correspond to travel-based goods and services, and wherein the reservation request is a travel-based reservation request.

31. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the travel server is further operable to obtain a reservation cancellation request from the client computer and to process pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records in accordance with the reservation cancellation request.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the processing of the pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records includes updating the inventory data corresponding to the cancelled reservation request.

33. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the travel server is further operable to obtain a reservation modification request from the client computer and process pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records in accordance with the reservation modification request.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein the travel server is further operable to generate additional reservation item records in accordance with the reservation modification request.

35. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein the travel server is further operable to generate additional reservation inventory records in accordance with the reservation modification request.

36. A method for processing reservation requests for one or more inventory items, the method comprising:

obtaining by a computing device, multiple requests for a reservation action corresponding to at least one inventory item;

obtaining, by the computing device, inventory data corresponding to inventory items, wherein the inventory data is organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy and wherein the three level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy; and

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record;

matching concurrently, on the computing device, the multiple requests for reservation with the inventory data and wherein matching includes selecting from instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the reservation action request;

generating, by the computing device, the results of matching the reservation action request with inventory data, wherein the results include;

a reservation transaction record corresponding to the user request for reservation;

one or more reservation item records based on the reservation transaction record and the matched inventory data; and

one or more reservation inventory records corresponding to instances of data of the matched inventory data; and

transmitting, by the computing device, results of the matching.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the reservation action request is a reservation cancellation request, and wherein matching reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records according to the reservation action request includes:

placing inventory item information corresponding to the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records on hold;

updating the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records;

confirming the completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the cancellation request; and

if the financial transaction is confirmed, updating an inventory item store with the inventory item information on hold.

38. The method as recited in claim 37 further comprising updating inventory item utilization information in accordance with the cancellation request.

39. The method as recited in claim 37, wherein placing the inventory item information on hold includes placing the inventory item information in a hold table.

40. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein updating the inventory item store includes deleting the inventory item information in the hold table.

41. The method as recited in claim 37 further comprising rolling back the reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records if the financial transaction cannot be confirmed.

42. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein the reservation action request is a reservation modification request, and wherein matching reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records according to the reservation action request includes:

generating new reservation transaction, reservation item, or reservation inventory records corresponding to a new reservation portion of the modification request;

placing inventory item information corresponding to the new reservation transaction, reservation item, or reservation inventory records on hold;

placing inventory item information corresponding to the pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records on hold;

updating the pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records;

confirming the completion of a financial transaction corresponding to the cancellation request; and

if the financial transaction is confirmed, updating an inventory item store with the inventory item information on hold.

43. The method as recited in claim 42 further comprising updating inventory item utilization information in accordance with the modification request.

44. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein placing the inventory item information on hold includes placing the inventory item information in a hold table.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein updating the inventory item store includes deleting the inventory item information in the hold table.

46. The method as recited in claim 42 further comprising rolling back the pre-existing reservation transaction, reservation item, and reservation inventory records if the financial transaction cannot be confirmed.

47. The method as recited in claim 46 further comprising updating inventory item utilization information in accordance with the modification request.

48. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for processing reservation of one or more inventory items, comprising:

a data store for storing the inventory data, wherein the inventory data is organized in accordance with a three-level hierarchy, wherein the three-level hierarchy includes;

at least one group record defining a first level of detail for inventory information, wherein the first level of detail of each group record comprises information common to all item category records and inventory records below the group record in the hierarchy;

a set of item category records defining a second level of detail that is associated to a referenced group record and corresponds to types of inventory items for the referenced group, wherein the second level of detail of each item category record comprises information common to all inventory records below the item category record in the hierarchy; and

inventory records defining a third level of detail corresponding to instances of inventory item types referenced by the set of item category records, wherein the third level of detail of each inventory record in the hierarchy describes distinct inventory instances of item types than that of another inventory record;

a reservation transaction component operable to obtain reservation information based on matching user reservation requests for inventory items, wherein matching includes selecting from instances of inventory data from the three-level inventory information to correspond to the user reservation requests; and

a result generation component operable to generate the results of matching reservation requests with inventory data, wherein the results include;

a reservation transaction component corresponding to the user reservation request,

one or more reservation item components corresponding to instances of inventory identified in the matched inventory data, and

one or more reservation inventory components corresponding to instance data of the inventory items identified in the reservation inventory records.

49. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 48 further comprising a price component associated with the reservation transaction component, the one or more reservation item components, and the one or more reservation inventory components, the price component operable to define a price adjustment associated with each component.

50. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 48 further comprising a reservation traveler component operable to define one or more user preferences associated with the reservation request.

51. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 48, wherein the inventory items correspond to travel-based goods and services and wherein the reservation request is a travel based reservation request.

52. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one reservation inventory component corresponds to a hotel room.

53. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one reservation inventory component corresponds to an airline seat.

54. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one reservation inventory component corresponds to a room on a cruise ship or a cabin type.

55. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 51, wherein at least one reservation inventory component corresponds to a car rental type.