Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product calculate the cost for a traveler to drive the traveler's personal vehicle on a trip of a defined distance and duration, and compare the cost of driving the traveler's personal vehicle to the cost of other transportation options, such as the cost of renting a vehicle and driving the rental vehicle on the trip. In this regard, a system for comparing a cost of driving a traveler's vehicle to a cost of other transportation options comprises a server capable of calculating a total cost to drive the traveler's vehicle on a trip. The server is further capable of calculating a total cost to drive a rental vehicle on the trip. The server is further capable of comparing the total cost to drive the traveler's vehicle on the trip to the total cost to drive the rental vehicle on the trip.

Abstract: Systems predict the availability of travel resources and select an appropriate data source for obtaining travel resource inventory availability information by analyzing historical travel resource availability data. Such systems receive customer travel requests and determine candidate itineraries. The candidate itineraries are used to determine the probability that the candidate itineraries will remain available for certain periods of time based on historical availability information and fare rules. Such systems increase the reliability of booking travel itineraries by determining when it is necessary to obtain updated availability information. The systems make this determination by looking up candidate itineraries in a situation table calculated from historical availability information.

Abstract: Systems predict the availability of travel resources and select an appropriate data source for obtaining travel resource inventory availability information by analyzing historical travel resource availability data. Such systems receive customer travel requests and determine candidate itineraries. The candidate itineraries are used to determine the probability that the candidate itineraries will remain available for certain periods of time based on historical availability information and fare rules. Such systems increase the reliability of booking travel itineraries by determining when it is necessary to obtain updated availability information. The systems make this determination by looking up candidate itineraries in a situation table calculated from historical availability information.

Abstract: Pricing an inventory unit includes receiving inventory data corresponding to the inventory unit and analyzing the inventory data to determine a dynamic market condition for the inventory unit. In addition, pricing an inventory unit further includes setting a sales price for the inventory unit based upon the dynamic market condition. Moreover, pricing an inventory unit may further include offering the inventory unit for sale at the sales price or setting a sales commission for the inventory unit based upon the dynamic market condition. In addition, pricing the inventory unit may include a framework for managing multiple criteria and objectives in determining an appropriate response to a dynamic market condition.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with certain principles related to the present invention determine an impact of schedule changes on passenger flow and re-accommodate disrupted passengers. A passenger flow re-accommodation process is performed that determines a value for a disrupted passenger based on selected criteria and rules that may be established by travel service providers. The value and available travel service information are used by the process to rebook the disrupted passenger on a selected alternative itinerary. A notification of a successful rebooking may be provided to the disrupted passenger and/or the travel service provider.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with certain principles related to the present invention periodically collect historical fare information associated with fares previously offered by travel service providers for a predetermined amount of time. After each periodic collection, a set of lowest fares from among the collected historical fare information is extracted and stored in a separate database. The database may be continuously updated with new extracted lowest fare information upon each periodic collection of the historical fare information. The lowest fare information stored in the database may be made available to a requesting entity through, for example, the Internet. Accordingly, in accordance with certain principles related to the present invention, travel buyers and/or sellers may receive information reflecting the historical fares offered by travel service providers for a past predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A system to evaluate movement of computer application functions from an existing computer system platform to an alternate computer system platform. The process includes determining the cost of a generic computing unit by dividing the total costs of the existing computer system platform by the total number of application functions. The percentage of the generic unit attributable to various categories is determined, including hardware and software, support and personnel, and facility costs. Yearly percentage cost changes for the existing computer system platform for a selected number of years are applied in each category. Training costs per generic unit for the alternate computer system platform are applied. The conversion costs per generic unit are applied to the generic unit. The costs of each category in the alternate computer system as a percentage of the existing computer system platform costs are applied to the generic unit to produce comparative costs of the alternate environment.