Abstract: A computer-implemented method to retrieve results for a travel search task executed on a computer system hosting a travel meta-search engine comprises obtaining a travel search task specifying one or more values of each search task parameter of a set travel search task parameters, obtaining search task normalization information for the search task, normalizing the search task, wherein normalizing the search task includes adapting at least one search parameter of the search task based on the search task normalization information, determining a cache key corresponding to the normalized travel search task, determining if a cache of the computer system hosting a travel meta-search engine includes a search result for the normalized search task, the cache including search results of previous travel search tasks indexed by a cache key and if the cache includes a search result for the normalized search task, retrieving the search result from the cache.

Abstract: Among other things, information is received from a user interacting with a user interface about a trip that is being planned from an origin to a destination, the information including a user indication of travel modes to be considered in planning the trip and the possible travel modes including at least three of bus, train, car, water, and air. Two or more alternative travel options are determined each including two or more of the modes based on the received information; and the options are presented to the user through the user interface.