System and method for redemption and exchange of unused tickets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a computer based system for exchanging unused tickets, a booking for a new ticket;
obtaining, by the computer based system, new ticket information from a passenger name record (PNR) associated with the new ticket, wherein the PNR is in a global distribution system (GDS);
querying, by the computer based system, a centralized repository of unused tickets;
retrieving, by the computer-based system, unused ticket PNRs from a plurality of GDS queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket;
parsing, by the computer-based system, PNR remarks from the unused ticket PNRs to obtain ticket information related to the unused tickets;
standardizing, by the computer based system, the PNR remarks to create standardized PNR remarks;
receiving, by the computer based system, new price information for the new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using the standardized PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket;
updating, by the computer based system, a status of the unused ticket PNRs to indicate that the unused tickets have been used;
adding, by the computer based system, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and
enabling, by the computer based system, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of facilitating and performing the redemption and exchange of unused tickets includes steps of determining the availability of unused tickets, calculating a redemption value of an available unused ticket, and updating a status of the unused ticket. The availability is determined by querying a database containing information pertaining to unused tickets. The redemption value is calculated based on the application of validation rules. The status is updated after a decision as to whether to redeem the unused ticket has been made. The redemption value is obtainable by exchanging the unused ticket for a new ticket. The tickets may be for air travel.
73 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computer based system for exchanging unused tickets, a booking for a new ticket; obtaining, by the computer based system, new ticket information from a passenger name record (PNR) associated with the new ticket, wherein the PNR is in a global distribution system (GDS); querying, by the computer based system, a centralized repository of unused tickets; retrieving, by the computer-based system, unused ticket PNRs from a plurality of GDS queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket; parsing, by the computer-based system, PNR remarks from the unused ticket PNRs to obtain ticket information related to the unused tickets; standardizing, by the computer based system, the PNR remarks to create standardized PNR remarks; receiving, by the computer based system, new price information for the new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using the standardized PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket; updating, by the computer based system, a status of the unused ticket PNRs to indicate that the unused tickets have been used; adding, by the computer based system, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and enabling, by the computer based system, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system for exchanging unused tickets, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, by the computer based system, a booking for a new ticket; obtaining, by the computer based system, new ticket information from a passenger name record (PNR) associated with the new ticket, wherein the PNR is in a global distribution system (GDS); querying, by the computer based system, a centralized repository of unused tickets; retrieving, by the computer-based system, unused ticket PNRs from a plurality of GDS queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket; parsing, by the computer-based system, PNR remarks from the unused ticket PNRs to obtain ticket information related to the unused tickets; standardizing, by the computer based system, the PNR remarks to create standardized PNR remarks; receiving, by the computer based system, new price information for the new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using the standardized PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket; updating, by the computer based system, a status of the unused ticket PNRs to indicate that the unused tickets have been used; adding, by the computer based system, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and enabling, by the computer based system, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.
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23. A system comprising:
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a processor for exchanging unused tickets, 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, a booking for a new ticket; obtaining, by the processor, new ticket information from a passenger name record (PNR) associated with the new ticket, wherein the PNR is in a global distribution system (GDS); querying, by the processor, a centralized repository of unused tickets; retrieving, by the processor, unused ticket PNRs from a plurality of GDS queues, wherein the retrieving is based on specific formats and commands of a particular GDS and a ticket number associated with the unused ticket; parsing, by the processor, PNR remarks from the unused ticket PNRs to obtain ticket information related to the unused tickets; standardizing, by the processor, the PNR remarks to create standardized PNR remarks; receiving, by the processor, new price information for the new ticket, wherein the new price information is based upon the new ticket, validation rules using the standardized PNR remarks and a value of at least a portion of the unused tickets that can be applied to the price of the new ticket; updating, by the processor, a status of the unused ticket PNRs to indicate that the unused tickets have been used; adding, by the processor, the new price information to the PNR for the new ticket; and enabling, by the processor, the new ticket to be purchased based upon the new price information.
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Specification