Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for managing an extended record data structure in a content management system. A plurality of records are stored in an extended record data structure that include first data containers containing standard data elements and second data containers containing non-standard data elements. A record identifier is assigned to each record in the extended data structure for which one or more of the standard data elements and one or more of the non-standard data elements are related. For each record, an entry is created in an auxiliary data structure. The entry shares the record identifier of the record and comprises an auxiliary data container. The auxiliary data container includes a set of attributes related to the first and second data containers sharing the same record identifier in the record data structure. The extended record data structure is managed based on the auxiliary data structures.

Abstract: A distributed data store includes a storage layer comprised of a plurality of storage nodes, each storage node configured to receive and queue table operations, and an aggregation layer comprised of aggregator nodes configured to route table operations to storage nodes in the storage layer and merge results of table operations returned by storage nodes in the storage layer. Each storage node includes in part scan threads dedicated to continuous and full scanning of segments of a table that are respectively associated with processor cores upon which such scan threads are running.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for interacting with an interactive form. A plurality of values for a plurality of controls of an interactive form are received at a server. The server determines a plurality of recommendation rules based upon the values for interrelated controls. Each value comprises a portion of a travel-related search query entered into one control of the interactive form by each of a plurality of users. Each recommendation rule logically connects two or more of the interrelated controls.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for handling or managing delayed answers to shopping requests directed to travel content provider platforms. A query processing server of a travel reservation system receives a multi-provider shopping request from an inquiring entity, such as a travel agency, and directs it to a content provider platform, such a platform of a rental car agency. If the content provider platform responds within a given time limit, the query processing server forwards the response to the inquiring entity and updates cache data based upon the response. If the content provider platform does not respond within the given time limit, the query processing server forwards a cache-based response to the inquiring entity. If the content provider platform responds after the given time limit has exceeded, the query processing server updates the cached data to reflect to the belated response from the content provider platform.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for producing a representation of a ground-transportation network from timetable information of transportation services. By means of a computer, routing locations are determined from the timetable information. The routing locations include end points of the transportation services. Tuples of directly-connected routing locations are formed. Network paths are generated by linking the directly-connected routing locations. The entirety of these paths forming the representation of the ground-transportation network.

Abstract: A data cache platform maintains pre-computed database query results computed by a computation platform based on data maintained in the computation platform and is configured to determine probabilities of the cached database query results being outdated, to automatically issue re-computation orders to the computation platform for updating cached database query results on the basis of the determined probabilities of the pre-computed database query results being outdated and to receive the updated pre-computed database query results as results of the re-computation orders. The probability determination depends on a probabilistic model and on the occurrence of asynchronous real-time events. The real-time events are indeterministic with regard to the expiration of the cached database query results and only have a probabilistic influence on the discrepancies between the cached database query results maintained in the data cache platform and presumed actual database query results.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for exchanging content with a content management system comprising an extended record data structure. A plurality of records are maintained at the travel management system in an extended record data structure that includes first data containers containing standard data elements and second data containers containing non-standard data elements. Each non-standard data element is associated with a respective structure description file defining a structure of the attributes of the non-standard data element. A first data exchange message is generated at the travel management system and includes the structure description file of one of the non-standard data elements and a set of values corresponding to values of the attributes of the one of the non-standard data elements. The first data exchange message is transmitted according to a first data exchange format from the travel management system to the client device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for managing an extended record data structure in a content management system. A plurality of records are stored in an extended record data structure that include first data containers containing standard data elements and second data containers containing non-standard data elements. A record identifier is assigned to each record in the extended data structure for which one or more of the standard data elements and one or more of the non-standard data elements are related. For each record, an entry is created in an auxiliary data structure. The entry shares the record identifier of the record and comprises an auxiliary data container. The auxiliary data container includes a set of attributes related to the first and second data containers sharing the same record identifier in the record data structure. The extended record data structure is managed based on the auxiliary data structures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for accessing content in a travel management system. A request is received from an application to access a standard data element and a non-standard data element from an extended record data structure based at least in part upon access criteria. A plurality of attributes of a data container associated with the non-standard data element are filtered based at least in part upon a plurality of predefined filtering rules in order to generate filtered attributes. An abstract container is generated that includes the filtered attributes of the non-standard data element and that is assigned a unique abstract type.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for managing content in a travel management system. A standard data element and a non-standard data element comprising the content are received from one or more content providers. A first data container for the standard data element and a second data container for the non-standard data element are created in an extended record data structure. The first data container includes a common record identifier and first data values for first attributes corresponding to the standard data element. The second data container includes the common record identifier and second data values corresponding to second attributes for the non-standard data element. The travel management system manages access to the first container and the second container in the extended record data structure based on the common record identifier.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for assigning seats of passenger-transport vehicles to passengers. The passengers are subdivided into a plurality of groups. The passengers included in each group are connected by social-network relations and have less than a maximum number of social-network relations to other passengers outside of the group. Breaks of the social-network relations between the passengers are minimized when the passengers are subdivided into the groups. In response to one of the passengers being excluded from the groups, one of the groups is determined that includes at least one included passenger with at least one of the social-network relations to the excluded passenger to thereby increase the size of the group by adding the excluded passenger.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for interacting with an interactive form. One or more values of a first control of the interactive form may be received at a server. Each value may represent a portion of a travel-related search query entered at the client device. At least one recommended value for a second control of the interactive form, which is different from the first control of the interactive form, may be determined and communicated from the server to the client device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for configuring an enterprise service bus. Based on user configuration settings, a configuration instance may be generated for the enterprise service bus. The configuration instance is communicated to the enterprise service bus. During run-time, the configuration instance may be configured to control an execution data flow for business data, such as travel data, through the enterprise service bus. Alternatively, a configuration instance at the enterprise service bus may be received by the enterprise service bus during run-time. The configuration instance is based on user configuration settings. The enterprise service bus may be configured to control an execution data flow for business data, such as travel data, through the enterprise service bus based on the configuration instance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for processing a search request. A search request including a sequence of data strings and representing a plurality of search parameters is received. The strings are parsed and the search request is interpreted so as to define search parameters by recognizing items reflecting search criteria within the sequence of data strings. A query is built based on the result of the preceding process and at least one travel data service can be interrogated. This improves the search for information based on free-text input from the user. Application to methods for travel data service interrogation and to search engines.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for communicating between a travel service provider and a plurality of travelers using a virtual social network. A virtual forum is created in a virtual social network and associated with a travel service provided by a travel service provider. The virtual forum may be linked with user accounts in the social network belonging to travelers who have booked the travel service. The links may be defined in response to the traveler booking the travel service, or by the traveler requesting the link. The travel service provider may then provide information relating to the travel service to the traveler via the virtual forum. The virtual forum may further provide a communications medium for travelers to interact with other travelers. Interested parties who have not booked the travel service may be able to access a portion of the information available through the virtual forum.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product implement visual booking operations to search for travel products and/or present travel recommendations associated with travel products to users based upon visual elements in one or more digital images captured by a wearable or mobile device. Visual elements may be extracted and inferred to identify one or more travel destination locations that are geographically remote from a current location of a user, and the identified travel destination locations may be used to search a travel database to identify at least one travel product for travel from a travel origination location to a travel destination location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a payment solution. A request to generate a payment solution for a priced travel solution comprising at least one travel inventory item using a plurality of forms of payment may be received. Responsive to receiving the request, a payment amount may be allocated to each of the plurality of forms of payment based at least in part on a payment hierarchy that defines an order in which the plurality of forms of payment are to be used for payment of the priced travel solution and at least one payment constraint associated with at least one of the plurality of forms of payment. The payment solution may be generated based on the allocated payment amounts.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for handling electronic miscellaneous documents in response to involuntary modifications of services. A request, which includes first data for a passenger name record, is received for a change to an airline reservation. Second data for an electronic miscellaneous document that is linked to the first data for the passenger name record is also received. A determination is made as to whether the electronic miscellaneous document can be exchanged by applying at least one exchange eligibility rule to the first data for the passenger name record and the second data for the electronic miscellaneous document. If the electronic miscellaneous document can be exchanged, an exchange of the electronic miscellaneous document is automatically processed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for handling electronic miscellaneous documents in response to voluntary modifications of services. A request, which includes first data for a passenger name record, is received for the airline reservation change. Second data for a first electronic miscellaneous document, which is linked to the first data for the passenger name record, is also received. A determination is made as to whether the first electronic miscellaneous document can be exchanged by applying at least one exchange eligibility rule to the first and second data. If the first electronic miscellaneous document can be exchanged, a fare for a service associated with the first electronic miscellaneous document is obtained from a pricing engine associated with the first electronic miscellaneous document. In response to receiving the fare for the service, the passenger name record is updated with a second electronic miscellaneous document including the fare for the service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing an Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD). In response to receiving a request for an ancillary service, an aggregation module generates an aggregation record. The aggregation module may obtain passenger and segment data from a plurality of Passenger Name Records (PNRs), and add this data to the aggregation record. The aggregation record may thereby provide a database object including passenger and segment data from multiple PNRs associated with an itinerary. The aggregation record may be associated with an EMD, and may be configured so that a single EMD can be issued to a traveler for an ancillary service provided across an itinerary comprising multiple PNRs. A mapping record may also be generated that links the EMD, aggregation record, and PNRs. The mapping record may thereby provide an index that enables a database to quickly identify relationships between EMDs, aggregation records, and PNRs.