Abstract: A telematics server manages meeting request messages sent from, and to, a vehicle-coupled device. The server performs authentication services when a subscriber logs in to the server from the vehicle-coupled device, or with a device associated with the subscriber's telematics services account. Upon login, the server may append a session identifier to the request message. After the message passes through the server, an application running on a device remote from the vehicle receives the request message and accepts user input that permits the remote device to transmit its current location to the vehicle-coupled device in a confirmation message according to the session identifier. The telematics server can use the session identifier to determine the destination address of the vehicle-coupled device to forward the confirmation message to. The vehicle-coupled device displays the remote user device location on a map. The request and confirmation messages may include a media content file.

Abstract: A method for receiving, processing and managing service requests from a user is disclosed. The method includes receiving the service request from a user at a concierge service, generating an itinerary from the service request, sending the itinerary to a server in a consumer relation management system and automatically coordinating the service items of the service request among one or more concierge services. A method for automatically notifying a credit or debit card issuer about the future travel plan of a user is also disclosed. The method includes using the generated itinerary to automatically populate a security profile, and transfer the data from the security profile to an issuer, where the issuer uses these data to authorize future transactions in different locations that would normally be declined.

Abstract: An approach to facilitating in-vehicle-services-related tracking of passengers is provided. A first set of information relating to a first carrier and a second set of information relating to a second carrier that is different from the first carrier may be obtained. The first set of information may include first identification information and one or more first trip details. The second set of information may include second identification information and one or more second trip details. The first set of information may be determined to relate to a first trip of a particular passenger with the first carrier. The second set of information may be determined to relate to a second trip of the particular passenger with the second carrier. Preference information of the particular passenger may be determined based on the one or more trip details and the one or more second trip details.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for effectively managing aspects of hospitality for an event. Event's may include Olympic (or other) event. An inventory of event hospitality items is acquired for the creation of hospitality program for client groups. Information from client's guest which make up the client group may be collected in order to identify which hospitality inventory items could best fulfill the client's needs and requests during the days of the event. Hospitality inventory items may include tickets, transportation, hotel, food/beverages, and event staff. Hospitality parameters may be established for each client group, wherein the parameters determine how hospitality inventory items should be allocated for the client group.

Abstract: A high safety vehicular transportation system is used in an individual carpool car with at least one user and comprises a user module, a rescue unit and a server center. The user module stores and provides carpool data, stores and provides states of individual carpool car, submits a carpool request and comprises a save our soul (SOS) system. The SOS system transmits a distress signal. The rescue unit provides emergency rescue assistance if any user is in a dangerous situation. The server center receives, stores and provides carpool data, has an instantaneous tracking capability, provides carpool service to at least one user, calls the rescue unit if the server center receives the distress signal, receives the carpool request and generates at least one carpool mission to fulfill the carpool request. An operational method for a high safety vehicular transportation system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method comprising: receiving itinerary data from at least two sources; identifying a traveler associated with the itinerary data; and adding information about the identified traveler to the itinerary data.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates a purchase of a travel itinerary. During operation, the system obtains a query containing one or more destination preferences provided by a user for the travel itinerary, wherein the one or more destination preferences include at least one of a region and an experience. Next, the system matches the one or more destination preferences to a set of destinations and generates a ranking of the destinations based on a set of criteria associated with the query. The system then uses the set of destinations to perform a search of available travel itineraries matching the query. Finally, the system provides the available travel itineraries to the user based on the ranking.

Abstract: Provided a framework that allows a user who represents a group and carries out an accommodation reservation procedure to solicit participating members while holding an accommodation. The procedures includes: (1) receiving a tentative reservation application from an organizer, requesting approval from members, receiving responses to the request for approval from the members, and sequentially identifying a tentative reservation number, member and answer; (2) when the identified answer is “approved” (Yes in S1122), adding 1 to “number of members decided to participate” (S1124); (3) when the number of members decided to participate is the multiple of the maximum number of guests (Yes in S2026), adding 1 to “reservation placement plan quantity” (S2028), assigning a new reservation number, and registering reservation information of an order quantity 1 into the reservation DB (14) (S2030).

Abstract: A method and system is provided for making price-related predictions of items based on training a classifier using historical information including pricing information for the items and labels relating to the price-related information that are generated automatically from the historical information. A prediction system provides price-related predictions for airline tickets. The prediction system collects flight information for flights on a daily basis. The prediction system generates training data to train a classifier to make the price-related predictions using the flight information. After training the classifier, the prediction system then can make the price-related predictions for a trip.

Abstract: A system and method whereby an air charter brokerage service enables users with similar or matching travel plans to find each other to directly negotiate a shared flight itinerary using a web-based negotiation software application. The air charter brokerage service further enables users to directly book the shared itinerary using a web-based negotiation software application, whereby the air charter brokerage service provides a charter aircraft for the shared flight itinerary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for inferring a travel path in a public transportation system. The apparatus comprises: a single-line origin-destination (OD) inferring device configured to infer from boarding data of a bus line a passenger alighting stop on the line as an inferred passenger alighting stop according to historical data, wherein the boarding data comprises a passenger boarding stop during a predetermined time period and a number of boarding passengers at the stop. A transfer line inferring device is configured to infer a passenger transfer line as an inferred passenger transfer line according to the boarding data and the inferred passenger alighting stop obtained by the single-line OD inferring means.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to limiting the use of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by particular occupants based on permission data. More specifically, permission data may include destinations, routes, and/or other information that is predefined or set by a third party. The vehicle may then access the permission data in order to transport the particular occupant to the predefined destination, for example, without deviation from the predefined route. The vehicle may drop the particular occupant off at the destination and may wait until the passenger is ready to move to another predefined destination. The permission data may be used to limit the ability of the particular occupant to change the route of the vehicle completely or by some maximum deviation value. For example, the vehicle may be able to deviate from the route up to a particular distance from or along the route.

Abstract: A network-based communication and information discovery solution that pertains to network-accessible resources and the use of interlinks among resources. In one embodiment, dynamic interlinking of resources is proposed, wherein the resources reside in a web-based system and are accessible via web-clients. The resources can be representable by an administrator in a graph-like structure interlinking the resources with each other and thus defining a navigation model. An extended navigation model can be implemented by a user-generated, personal or collaborative interlinking functionality.

Abstract: A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to systems and methods for conducting an electronic auction for available cargo capacity on a cargo carrier. In one aspect, the embodiments may monitor the cargo carrier to determine its geographic location as the cargo carrier travels towards a starting point of a route; determine a route starting distance between the geographic location of the cargo carrier and the starting point of the route; begin the electronic auction to sell the available cargo capacity prior to the cargo carrier arriving at the starting point of the route, the electronic auction selling the available cargo capacity at a current route price that corresponds to the route starting distance; and receive input indicating a purchase of the available cargo capacity at the current route price. In some embodiments, a route may be partitioned into potentially overlapping segments, and electronic auctions may be conducted for each route segment.

Abstract: A user registers with an automated transportation use and billing system. The user's geographical location/position is monitored and periodically compared with the geographical location/position of one or more public transportation systems. When a determination is made that the user's geographical location/position is the same as the geographical location/position of a public transportation system, an assumption is made that the user is making use of the public transportation system and once the user's geographical location/position data differs from the public transportation system's geographical location/position data, it is further assumed that the user is no longer making use of the public transportation system. Data indicating the users assumed use of the public transportation system, calculated as described above, is then recorded and credited to the user's account.

Abstract: A computer based system for maximizing revenue by determining an optimal quantity of a product to be sold is disclosed. The system determines the optimal number of seats to be sold for a flight based upon the flight's capacity and forecasted costs associated with the flight. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models takes into account passenger itinerary data, passenger and market historical data, whether a passenger has flown on a previous leg of an itinerary, the ripple denied boarding effect of reaccommodating a denied passenger. The system evaluates the potential effect of double selling a unit of inventory (e.g., seats). Downstream inventory control, revenue management and reservations systems may use the optimization data to affect the operation of the airline.

Abstract: A method and system for coordinating travel arrangements. A global travel utility (“GTU”) system allows travel service provider (“TSP”) systems to be connected via a communications link to a “concierge” system. The GTU system includes computer systems that execute the TSP systems and the concierge system. The concierge system provides components for assisting the traveler in creating an itinerary and for storing traveler profile information. The concierge system also includes an event notification component that receives various event notifications from the TSP systems. Upon receiving an unanticipated event notification, the concierge system automatically identifies the itineraries impacted by the event and automatically changes those itineraries as appropriate.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to being executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations including upon occurrence of a scheduled time, polling an update distribution server to determine that an update for a computer executable software application is available, the computer executable software application configured to operate on the computing device and in response to determining that the update is available, obtaining the update over the Internet from the update distribution server, and selecting whether to install the update at a first time or to defer installing the update until a second time that is later than the first time.

Abstract: A travel system uses information pertaining to an initial origin and an ultimate destination of a traveler, instead of specific airports (or other travel depots) to plan and book a complete itinerary. The complete itinerary may include transportation, lodging, and/or car rentals for one or more travel legs to/from one or more destinations. In some embodiments, the travel system may import information associated with one or more appointments from the traveler's calendar to automatically plan and book the complete itinerary.

Abstract: A method/apparatus/system for onboard onwards travel ticketing is provided. Onboard onwards travel ticketing is provided by determining current location of a mode of transit, determining the destination of a user, identifying purchase options relevant to the destination, and providing the purchase options to the user. The purchase options can be a subset of all purchase options, which subset can be selected according to one or several bounding rules, and can be options for further travel. The user can then select one or several of the purchase options and can transact the purchase of one or several of the purchase options with the apparatus and/or system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for itinerary planning. The method commences with processing of network segments stored in a database to generate builds in response to receiving an itinerary planning request. At least one of the builds having a cost that is lowest is selected. The cost is determined as a function of at least two factors. The at least one build is outputted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for generating viable pattern-transfers for an itinerary-planning system. The method commences with the identification of pairs of patterns along fixed transit routes that are proximate one another. Each of the patterns include a number of stops connected by pattern segments traveled in a specific order. Pattern-transfers are identified between the stops along an inbound pattern of the pairs and the stops along an outbound pattern of the pairs. At least one of the pattern-transfers is discarded if traveling from the inbound pattern to the outbound pattern via the at least one of the pattern-transfers is unadvantageous compared to traveling from the inbound pattern to the outbound pattern via at least one other of the pattern-transfers. The undiscarded pattern-transfers are stored in storage for use by an itinerary-planning system.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing the setting of reservations and the pre-authorization of credit to purchase a desired service for which a reservation is made. A customer accesses a reservation system that is integrated with a credit authorization system. The customer may make a reservation and substantially simultaneously become pre-authorized to pay for services to be provided at the reservation by one of any number of credit providers. Pre-authorized credit and reservation information is then supplied to the service provider in advance of services being provided, expediting the overall transaction time and allowing for a secure and cardless transaction procedure. The reservation and preauthorization information are typically stored upon the reservation system and then passed to the point-of-sale systems, but other types of input/output storage devices could be used to perform this function.

Abstract: A document encryption and decryption system for selectively encrypting and decrypting files and any other items and method for same to protect or secure its contents by helping to prevent unauthorized individuals from viewing data in human-perceivable or readable form. The encryption system includes remote authentication to verify a user's credentials stored on a remote database hosted by a web server. The encryption system further includes remote delete to automatically delete encrypted items stored on the user's computer, handheld or portable device, smartphone, and any other computing device of any kind when it logs onto a network if the user's computer or computing device is reported lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised. Decryption keys allow selective decryption of encrypted items that are on the computer or computing device of any kind. A Windows Communication Foundation service helps with authenticating the users with the encryption key and login process stored and processed by the web server.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a group travel destination and compatible travel itinerary for a travel party to travel on a trip together. A unique identifier is created or used by each individual traveler, and each individual traveler is asked a series of hierarchical questions concerning parameters for travel in order to create a profile. Multiple traveler profiles are linked to form a set of travel party data. After further refining and polling a common destination and a common set of travel dates is selected from possible travel dates after a lookup by the system in each travelers individual calendars.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods used to search for information (e.g., from multiple sources). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), such systems and methods may select a subset of available relevant Internet information sources, such as suppliers and/or purchasers of goods, services, and/or commodities. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), a system and method are provided for determining when to launch an information search and for determining the set of information sources to search.

Abstract: A computer based system for maximizing revenue by determining an optimal quantity of a product to be sold is disclosed. The system determines the optimal number of seats to be sold for a flight based upon the flight's capacity and forecasted costs associated with the flight. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models and takes into account passenger itinerary data, passenger and market historical data, whether a passenger has flown on a previous leg of an itinerary, and the ripple denied boarding effect of reaccommodating a denied passenger. The system evaluates the potential effect of double selling a unit of inventory (e.g., seats). Downstream inventory control, revenue management and reservations systems may use the optimization data to affect the operation of the airline.

Abstract: A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.

Abstract: One embodiment accesses two or more photos taken by one or more travelers at one or more destinations and one or more points-of-interest located within the destinations; constructs one or more photo streams for each unique traveler-destination combination, wherein each one of the photo streams comprises two or more of the photos taken by the corresponding traveler at the corresponding destination; maps each one of the photos to one of the points-of-interest; constructs one or more timed paths for each unique traveler-destination combination based on the photo streams and the mapping between the photos and the points-of-interest, wherein each one of the timed paths comprises one or more of the points-of-interest located within the corresponding destination and visited by the corresponding travel; and constructs an itinerary based on a start point-of-interest, an end point-of-interest, a time constraint, and the timed paths.

Abstract: Multiple passenger multiple route travel queries are solved using travel planning systems that receive multiple, individual queries to produce individual solutions that meet joint travel requirements. The multiple, individual sub-queries are merged to produce joint solutions for the passenger groups.

Abstract: Techniques for processing a multiple passenger, multiple route query are disclosed. The techniques include a travel planning system that searches for airline tickets in response to queries and a server that sends multiple, individual queries to the travel planning system and combines solutions received from execution of the multiple individual queries by the travel planning system, producing answers for the multiple passenger, multiple route query.

Abstract: A method for passenger flow is described. A boarding pass identifier of a boarding pass is electronically identified at a workstation of one or more first workstations at a first level. Boarding pass information associated with the identified boarding pass identifier is electronically retrieved at the workstation. It is determined, via one or more computers, whether the boarding pass is valid based on the retrieved boarding pass information. If the boarding pass is determined valid, a holder of the boarding pass is directed, via one or more computers, to a queue for one workstation of a plurality of second workstations at a second level based on the retrieved boarding pass information. Each workstation of the second workstations has a different queue arranged before the workstation. If the boarding pass is determined not valid, the boarding pass holder is directed away from entering the queues. A system is also described.

Abstract: A flight-ticket price may be monitored by obtaining an itinerary record associated with a previously-booked flight itinerary, identifying a group of flight segments that corresponds to a ticket, “fingerprinting” the ticket, and determining a schedule to periodically monitor prices associated with the ticket. During at least one price-monitoring period, an up-to-date version of the itinerary record is obtained and “fingerprinted”. The “fingerprints” are used to verify that the flight ticket has not changed significantly, current pricing data is obtained, and a cost saving is determined to be currently obtainable, considering possible change penalties, by re-ticketing or re-booking the group of flight segments.

Abstract: An airline travel planning system is described. The system includes a server computer executing a server process including a search process to search for set of pricing solutions in accordance with at least one destination and at least one origin. The search process represents the set of pricing solutions in the form of a directed acyclic graph. The system also includes a client computer executing a client process on the set of pricing solutions. The client process has a manipulation process that manipulates the set of pricing solutions in response to user preferences.

Abstract: The present invention provides a schedule arrangement system and a method for trips matching, integration and output, the schedule arrangement system includes at least one information of an itinerary displaying board displaying an itinerary; a general displaying module displaying the general; a geographic displaying module displaying geographic; and at least an interaction existing thereamong for assisting the users in completing their schedule plans. In one embodiment, the schedule arrangement system further includes a matching system. In another embodiment, the schedule arrangement system further includes an integration system of schedule arrangement and resource reservation. In still another embodiment, the schedule arrangement system further includes a personalized travel information automatic output system.

Abstract: An information model for a party and property records management system includes a legal party role object for maintaining relationships between objects, such as legal party objects and revenue-object objects, within the information model. A legal party object could have several associated objects, such as an identification number object or a legal party communication object.

Abstract: A user interface for a fare summary tool is described. The user interface is for display on a monitor and includes a fare evaluation result table that displays fare rule summaries for fares in slices of an itinerary. A method for producing a rule summary is also described. The method retrieves fares and fare rules for a city pair over a specified time period and evaluates the retrieved fares against the retrieve rules to return a status corresponding to pass, fail defer. The method produces a summary of the results of evaluating the rules that indicates the status of the rules for each category of rules and displays the summary on a user output device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are described for optimizing the purchase of ad impressions across multiple content providers. A first candidate value for an effective cost per target user for an advertising campaign that includes providing advertisements on at least a first website and a second website can be identified. A first cost associated with achieving the first candidate value for the effective cost per target user at the first website can be determined. A second cost associated with achieving the first candidate value for the effective cost per target user at the second website can be determined. A total advertising campaign cost can be calculated using the first cost and the second cost. The calculated total advertising campaign cost can be compared to a predetermined advertising campaign budget and a second candidate value for the effective cost per target user can be identified based on the comparing.

Abstract: Methods and systems may retrieve travel data records corresponding to travel requests; retrieve expense data records reflecting expense transactions, compare the expense data records to the travel data records, and determine a likelihood that the expense data records match the travel data records. Methods and systems may also detect possible duplicate travel path information by obtaining a set of travel paths with at least two travel paths, breaking each travel path into at least one segment comprising a single unit of travel with an origin and a destination, comparing each leg in each travel path to each leg in every other travel path to determine whether any travel paths are duplicates, and listing any segment paths that are possible duplicates.

Abstract: Distances between locations traveled by a carpool driver in a carpooling system may be initially estimated by calculating direct, straight line distances between each of the location points. Travel speeds may also be initially estimated using an expected maximum vehicle speed, which may a maximum speed limit. An estimated travel time may then be calculated from this data to initially designate passengers as eligible or ineligible for carpooling with a carpool driver. Cancellation requests received from participants in assigned carpools may be processed to determine whether the carpool may still be conducted. If so, the carpool may continue. If not, the system may search for alternative assignments before sending any cancellation notifications to the participants. Cancellations may be sent only if the system is not able provide a suitable alternate assignment.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer readable medium, for fulfilling a need for at least one perishable item, the method including reserving a plurality of perishable items with at least partially unknown attribute profiles from a supplier; receiving values for at least some of the reserved at least partially unknown attribute profiles, wherein the received values are determined by tests conducted after the reserving step; determining based on the received values which of the plurality of perishable items satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item; and if at least one of the plurality of perishable items does not satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item, unreserving the at least one perishable item of the plurality of perishable items determined not to satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item.

Abstract: Software stored on a computer-readable storage medium at a user station configured for communications with a multiplicity of independently-operated data sources via a non-proprietary network instantiates a user interface function that enables a user at the user station to select one of a plurality of available network communications service providers, a communications function that establishes a communication link between the user station and a selected one of the multiplicity of independently-operated data sources using the selected one of the network communications service providers, and a data transport function that effectuates data transfers between the user station and the selected one of the data sources via the established communication link. Corresponding methods and a dedicated user station providing corresponding functions are also described.

Abstract: A system is provided that enables customers to search for event tickets for purchase. A computer interacts with the user to allow the user to specify criteria for event tickets the user wishes to purchase. The system presents relevant event ticket results, and provides filters for the user to further refine those search results. The user selects an event, and then selects tickets for that event. Ticket availability is shown, with seat locations indicated directly on an interactive venue map. For purchase, the user is directed to the selling ticket provider.

Abstract: Provided is a method and an apparatus for automatically determining practicality of a trip. A mobile device obtains at least one point of interest among a starting location and a finishing location for a trip. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, for each point of interest, the mobile device automatically determines an indication of practicality for making the point of interest an intermediate location to be visited during the trip based on both the starting location and the finishing location for the trip. By considering both the starting location and the finishing location, the points of interest can be presented to the user in a manner that reflects how practical it is to visit the points of interest given that the user is to end up at the finishing location.

Abstract: A process for storing and accessing data in databases of a computerized travel reservation system includes, for each type of information to be stored, created rules associating a set of criteria defining the trips to which the information applies, and a content representing the value of the information to be applied, the set of criteria of a rule including a pair of markets with a market of origin that is defined by the geographical zone of departure on the trip and a destination market which is defined by the geographical zone of arrival of the trip. A database stores the defined markets and a database stores the created rules.

Abstract: A ticketing management system and computer implemented method for managing ticket requests is provided including a request management system, configured to receive ticket requests and allocate tickets to purchasers, a back-end office ticketing system, configured to record ticket requests and a fulfillment center configured to receive the ticket requests from the back-end office ticketing system and deliver the tickets to the purchasers. The request management system includes a shopping module. The shopping module is configured to receive at least one primary request for an event and storing the primary request, receive at least one alternate request for an event and storing the alternative request and allocate events to a user based on the primary request and alternative request selections.

Abstract: A global flight center (GFC) having an improved global reservation system for passenger and cargo aircrafts and allows for the consolidation of aircraft flight schedules worldwide. It operates over the Internet by giving system users the ability to reserve aircraft in real time globally. With the creation of a new (hardware and software) system, the system creates an improved marketing method and possibilities between broker agencies and aircraft owner operators. For users of this new system, the new method creates an exclusive reservation system and relationship between all agents and broker parties—to the aircraft operators. This is accomplished by means of the GFC system's resources managing recruiting or registration style process which is done through the GFC interactive application on the website.

Abstract: An online reservation system including a fare search engine is described. The system comprises a database of published fares, a database of rules attached to the published fares and a fare family solver to categorize the published fares into sets of predefined generic fare families on the basis of the rules attached to the published fares. The fare family solver further comprises a generic partitioning fare family database holding the attributes of each predefined generic fare family allowing to determine to which fare family the published fares belong to. The attributes of each predefined generic fare family are first set up by a fare family composer operated by an administrator of the system. The online reservation system of the invention allows returning to the end-users of online travel service providers travel solutions categorized in families of fares having various ranges of prices and levels of restrictions attached to.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting travel information. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a document; annotating detected entities in the document; generating one or more travel leg structures using the annotations, wherein generating the one or more travel leg structures includes determining that one or more annotations match a valid travel schedule; and generating an itinerary from the one or more travel leg structures.