Coordination Of Plural Reservations (e.g., Plural Trip Segments; Transportation And Accommodation, Etc.) Patents (Class 705/6)
  • Publication number: 20110225012
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a travel itinerary. An itinerary creation engine may receive a request for a travel itinerary, identify one or more midpoints between the requested origin and destination (or proximate locations), and generate an itinerary that includes a route between the one or more midpoints and the origin or the destination (or proximate locations).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Travelport, LP
    Inventors: Bryan William Harwood, Luke Alfred Vassallo
  • Patent number: 8019630
    Abstract: A system includes a number of services and agents interconnected by a communication network. A consumer agent identifies a template specifying one or more events for a task. The consumer agent implements an iterative process in which the template may be further defined and/or refined to provide links to one or more of the services that provide features for fulfilling events within an itinerary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Dale
  • Patent number: 8019065
    Abstract: Interacting digitally communicating devices cooperate to schedule future meetings include a capability to handle conditional acceptance of meeting requests. For example, a conditional acceptance may be subject to Boolean logic functions of the acceptance status(es) of other meeting invitees (e.g., the condition that another specific one or more invitees also accept the meeting request).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: David V. MacFarlane, Neil P. Adams, Christopher R. Wormald
  • Patent number: 8005696
    Abstract: A multiple routes for multiple passengers are produced by ordering passenger groups and for each passenger group, constructing an individual query and sending the individual query to a travel planning system. Solutions based on the individual query are received from the travel planning system and a single individual solution is selected from the response. Constraints are added to subsequent individual queries based on previously selected individual solutions and joint travel requirements or preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ITA Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl G. de Marcken, Justin A. Boyan
  • Patent number: 8005695
    Abstract: Determining multiple routes for multiple passenger groups, includes sending to a scheduler, multiple individual queries with a bias to produce individual solutions that meet joint travel requirements, merging results from the multiple individual queries to produce joint solutions for the passenger groups and returning the joint solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ITA Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl G. de Marcken, Justin A. Boyan
  • Patent number: 8001019
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products manage access to and update warehouse data associated with one or multiple online data systems. A security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions associated with the online data system. A method involves examining warehouse data and updating a status of warehouse operations, detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system, and rendering warehouse operation functions and the status via an interface. The method further involves receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions, determining whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected, and prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the selected warehouse operation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raymond Joseph Phelan, Douglas William Meyer, Gary Anthony Tonhouse, Patrick Lyle Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8000987
    Abstract: A method includes determining a standard set of activities to perform an assessment and certification process, and identifying cost elements and cost drivers for each activity of the standard set of activities. Additionally, the method includes determining requirements for a particular assessment and certification project, and determining a cost estimation based upon at least one of the standard set of activities, the cost elements, the cost drivers, and the requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna M. Hickey, Randy S. Johnson, Shelby J. Lassiter, Gregory Merkel
  • Patent number: 7991664
    Abstract: A method for mapping a business transaction involves obtaining a transaction record of the business transaction, where the transaction record includes business information associated with performing the business transaction, analyzing the transaction record to determine available business information, submitting available business information to a mapping service to obtain a map of a business location, and displaying the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventor: Evan Kenneth Stone
  • Patent number: 7987239
    Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product are presented for a fragment caching methodology. After a message is received at a computing device, a fragment in the message body is cached. Cache ID rules from an origin server accompany a fragment to describe a method for forming a unique cache ID for the fragment such that dynamic content can be cached away from an origin server. A cache ID may be based on a URI and/or query parameters and/or cookies that are associated with a fragment. After user authentication, a cookie containing the user's role may be used in subsequent requests for role-specific fragments and in the cache identifier for role-specific fragments, thereby allowing requests from other users for role-specific fragments to be resolved in the cache when the users have the same role because these users would also have the same cookie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh S. Agarwalla, James R. H. Challenger, George P. Copeland, Arun K. Iyengar, Mark H. Linehan, Subbarao Meduri
  • Patent number: 7983939
    Abstract: In a method for automatically mapping a cabin and travel class structure of an disrupted flight into replacement flights, cabin and travel class structure of the disrupted flight are retrieved. For each affected passenger, a base disrupted flight is determined from the passenger itinerary. For the disruption period, cabin and travel class structure of the replacement flights are split into sub-periods. For each sub-period, mapping begins by establishing a direct match between cabin and travel class structures. The direct match is validated against actual cabin and travel class structure of the replacement flights, including pinpointing all found discrepancies. All class matching tables (CMTs) applying to the disrupted flight and disruption period considered are retrieved from a rule repository. Cabin and travel class structure of the replacement flights are further split in sub-periods to imbed the actual validity periods of retrieved CMTs. Rules of the retrieved CMTs resolve all found discrepancies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Amadeus s.a.s.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Chevance, Luc Choubert, David Pasero, Erwan Peran
  • Patent number: 7983956
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Sachin Goel
  • Patent number: 7972267
    Abstract: A method of diabetes management, comprising (a) providing a glucose meter in communication with a portable microprocessor-based unit; (b) transmitting blood glucose level data into the hand-held microprocessor-based unit from the blood glucose meter; (c) running a program of instructions on the portable microprocessor-based unit or the glucose meter or both; (d) inputting data based upon the blood glucose level data as input data for the program of instructions; and (e) providing a signal to inject insulin when the blood glucose level data indicates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Health Hero Network, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110145025
    Abstract: A method of selecting at least one trip from a plurality of possible trips, each of the plurality of possible trips being for travel from an origin location and comprising stops at a plurality of destinations. The method is performed in computer apparatus configured to execute the method. The method comprises: determining a fare for each of a plurality of different leg options for each leg, each leg being between one of: the origin location and a destination; and two destinations; selecting a plurality of candidate leg options for each leg based on comparative amounts of the determined fares, the plurality of candidate leg options being fewer in number than the plurality of different leg options; and determining at least one trip based on the plurality of candidate leg options for each leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Donghua Jiang, Marc Patoureaux, Thierry Dufresne
  • Patent number: 7962354
    Abstract: A system and method of booking an itinerary on at least one of a multiplicity of host environments include a plurality of host adaptor modules. Each host adaptor module is configured to interact with one of the plurality of host ticketing environments. A booking engine is provided for receiving commands related to booking the air travel itinerary and determining an appropriate host ticketing environment for processing the commands based on a number of predefined criteria. When the booking engine receives a command it forwards the command to a first host adaptor module which is associated with first host ticketing environment selected by the booking engine for processing the command. The host adaptor module receives the command and issues the command to said first host ticketing environment. The first host adaptor module in turn receives a response from the first host ticketing environment and determines whether the response comports with an expected response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Orbitz LLC
    Inventors: Roger Liew, David Shemenski, Greg Ball, Warren Nisley, John Sokel, Steve Hoffman, Leon Chism
  • Patent number: 7957987
    Abstract: Airline scheduling may be performed using software agents that participate in a mediated auction. To schedule flights, agents are used to represent airports and aircraft in the process of scheduling aircraft to service flights between airports. Airport agents represent airports that have made requests for flights. Aircraft agents represent aircraft that may be scheduled to service a flight from one airport to another airport. An aircraft agent submits a bid to service a flight. Bids received from multiple aircraft agents for a flight are evaluated and aircraft are selected based on the demand of passengers for the flight, the cost of the aircraft corresponding to the bidding aircraft agents to perform the flight, and the minimization of aircraft costs across all flights being scheduled. A resource manager agent helps to ensure that an aircraft agent does not bid for a flight when the aircraft represented by the aircraft agent is in need of maintenance or is unprofitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: EDS South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventor: Josef J. Langerman
  • Patent number: 7953618
    Abstract: A transport system having commuters with identification and/or vehicles with identification (“identifiers”) authorizing them to take part in the transport system, at least one vehicle park in which authorized commuters may park vehicles and/or take on board authorized commuters who may or may not have parked vehicles and transport them to a specified destination and/or for set down near the specified destination, a hub at which vehicles of authorized commuters or others may take on board authorized commuters and transport them to the or a said vehicle park, optionally near the specified destination, at least one pickup point from which authorized commuters may be transported back to the hub, and a benefit sharing system involving the use of the identifiers at the vehicle park(s) and/or said hub whereby an authorized commuter, when a driver of authorized commuter(s) leaving and/or returning to or arriving at the vehicle park(s) and/or hub, benefits at some detriment to each carried commuter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: John H Pearce, Paul Minett
  • Patent number: 7949595
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Ticketmaster
    Inventors: Adam Sussman, Robert Bennett, Dennis Denker
  • Patent number: 7945463
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ticketmaster
    Inventors: Adam Sussman, Robert Bennett, Dennis Denker
  • Patent number: 7937214
    Abstract: A guidance route search device essentially having means for specifying a route point and means for selecting a guidance schedule. The route specifying means specifies plural route points guided up to a destination point. The selecting means functions to select a guidance schedule covering plural route points reachable by previously set time of arrival at a destination point and causing staying time at the plural route points to be the maximum within maximum staying time set in advance for the route points. This enables a guidance schedule for guiding through plural route points to be generated with consideration of staying time at each route point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Masaki Kaneda, Masahiro Ueno, Hiromi Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7937280
    Abstract: A system (10) for planning and scheduling service events for one or more assets includes a demand optimizer engine (12) that receives information regarding future service requirements for an asset and operating characteristics of the asset. The demand optimizer engine (12) also generates a service plan identifying one or more planned service events during which one or more services are to be performed on the asset and identifying a planned start time and a planned end time for each service event so as to minimize the amount of time the asset is non-operational and the costs associated with each service event. The system (10) also includes a supply optimizer engine (14) that receives the service plan from the demand optimizer engine (12) and generates a service schedule for one or more of the planned service events based on information regarding the flow of one or more parts used in conjunction with the services of each planned service event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: i2 Technologies US, Inc.
    Inventors: Heung-Wah Leung, Jonathan Cherneff, Feng Liu, Tassio Carvallo
  • Publication number: 20110077984
    Abstract: A method of travel planning and booking that allows a traveler to create on a website a profile of travel preferences, stores the profile of travel preferences, and allows the traveler to enter on the website a travel plan comprising a departure address, proposed destinations and arrival and departure times for each destination. It then identifies options for the travel plan based on the profile of travel preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Terry K. Gilliam
  • Publication number: 20110071864
    Abstract: A system for settling the payment of a travel e-ticket includes: data storage elements for storing passenger name records in a database; elements for identifying passenger name records eligible for a late payment service in the database, each passenger name record being associated to at least one segment, elements for detecting when a predetermined event occurs prior to transportation carrier departure, a server associated to the database and arranged for retrieving therefrom all passenger name records eligible for the late payment service; elements for selecting at least one segment that can be priced for each retrieved passenger name record; elements for pricing the segment; elements for issuing a coupon associated to the segment; elements for updating the database with issuance information concerning the segment; elements for voiding all travel coupons for which no change of coupon status has been reported by an airport departure control system handling the carrier departure; elements for receiving a chang
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: AMADEUS s.a.s.
    Inventors: Nicolas HOURDOU, Thibaut RUY
  • Publication number: 20110071865
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a computer implemented concierge system. The system includes receiving an itinerary having one or more guest interests indicated therein; receiving one or more vendor features or capabilities; filtering candidate trips by matching the guest interests with the vendor features; and displaying the filtered candidate trips for selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Alice Leeds, John Pankey, Michael Hawthorne
  • Patent number: 7912742
    Abstract: A method for visualizing airline flight schedules graphically simulates the effect of a program implemented in airline flight operations to reduce the effect of disruptions in scheduled airline flights. One or more disruptions are introduced into a pre-selected airline flight schedule, using frequency distributions of disruptions and disruption severities, resulting in a disrupted flight schedule that reflects both initial and propagated delays. The disrupted flight schedule is used to visually simulate flight operations in 4-D, allowing comparisons of “as is” and “what if” scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Philip L. Trautman
  • Patent number: 7899690
    Abstract: An Internet enabled, business-to-business computerized transaction system is disclosed in its preferred embodiment for use in providing rental car services for high volume users and comprises an Internet web portal through which the high volume user may access a plurality of service providers including an integrated business computer network for at least one rental vehicle service provider. The rental vehicle services provider computer network is configured to interconnect a geographically diverse plurality of branch offices, cataloguing their available rental vehicles and schedules for same as well as handling all transactional data relating to its business. The Internet web portal provides ubiquitous connectivity and portability for a multi-level business organization who regularly places high volumes of rental purchases with its business partner and also those other service providers who may or may not have the same integrated business computer system and software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Crawford Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Weinstock, Kimberly Ann DeVallance, Randall Allan Haselhorst, Craig Stephen Kennedy, David Gary Smith, William T. Tingle, Anita K. Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 7899692
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a user interface to receive an electronic status change for an airline flight and an airline reservation system to determine whether at least one ancillary travel service associated with the airline flight should be modified based on the received electronic status change. The system includes a messaging interface to electronically transmit a request to modify the at least one ancillary travel service based on the electronic status change if the determination is made to modify the at least one ancillary travel service. The messaging interface further electronically transmits payment information to the travel service provider for use in crediting or debiting a payment associated with the at least one modified ancillary travel service. The payment information is associated with a customer that reserved the at least one ancillary travel service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Gerardino Canciller Caballero, David P. Evans, Terry Wayne Hornbaker, Martin J. Drefs, Jefferson Bridger Walsh
  • Patent number: 7895065
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an itinerary planner is described. The itinerary planner generates itineraries for visiting locations which are personalized to the user's preferences. Unknown conditions are handled by contingency plans that the itinerary planner generates in an anytime manner. The first itineraries are derived in a short time, and as more computation time is allowed, additional itineraries that better suit the preferences of the user are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Khemdut Purang, Mark Earl Plutowski
  • Patent number: 7885838
    Abstract: A system and method for grouping and selling products or services using a computer system, potentially connected to a network. The computer system includes a computer with multiple terminals, potentially instantiated as a server computer or computers and distributed client computers. The computer system presents a sales interface on some terminals. The sales interface shows products or services and groups of products and/or services that are for sale. The computer system presents a back end interface on some terminals, which can be used to enter new products, services and groupings of products and/or services to be offered for sale on the sales interface. Descriptions of the products or service offerings are entered into the computer system either by data entry operators using the back end interface or by a program reading product or service descriptions from external computer systems. The method groups these products or services according to an affinity algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Site59.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick G. Sobalvarro, Tracey D. Weber, Alexander R. Krymm
  • Publication number: 20110029336
    Abstract: A method of keeping coherent contents of a travel shopping basket gathering travel products from independent travel service providers is described. The method is characterized in that it includes a first step to synchronize the travel shopping basket upon reception of notifications of changes received from the independent travel service providers, and to further determine what changes have been brought to the gathered travel products by the independent travel service providers. It includes a second step to aggregate the changes into the travel shopping basket so that to transform characteristics of the gathered travel products into specific attributes of the travel shopping basket; and to integrate local attributes into the travel shopping basket. Finally, a third step is aimed at correlating all attributes of the travel shopping basket against each other, matching all attributes functionally equivalent and removing duplicated attributes from the travel shopping basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: AMADEUS s.a.s
    Inventors: Bruno VIEILLARD-BARON, Tobias ENGVALL, Odile TONNET
  • Patent number: 7881955
    Abstract: A reservation and management system for recreational activities offered by a plurality of activity operators, comprises a database for storing information regarding a plurality of recreational activities, including inventory information and a financial record containing financial information, for reservation transactions carried out for said activity and profile information for a plurality of subscribers, including activity operators and resellers. The system includes a reservation information compiler for providing information for an activity, a transaction module for updating inventory information and financial record following a reservation transaction request. A plurality of purchase modules are also provided, allowing clients and resellers to access information and make reservation for activities. An operator inventory management module allows to receive and update activity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rezact Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Ewart, John Robert Christopher Winlo
  • Patent number: 7881989
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Manatron, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennings Wayne Moore, Larry Joseph Deniston, Terry Lee Merkle, Douglas Alan Bennett, Robert James Golisek
  • Publication number: 20110022428
    Abstract: A system, method or computer simulates a transport environment by providing a plurality of transport routes within a transport environment. Each transport route has a set of parameters providing a plurality of itineraries, each having one or more transport routes selected from the plurality of transport routes and itinerary properties including the parameters of the one or more transport routes within the itinerary. A plurality of software agents corresponding to passengers is provided. The software agents include an itinerary selector configured to select one of the plurality of itineraries based on a comparison of the itinerary properties and a set of passenger requirements. Information describing the simulated transport environment, following selection of itineraries by the software agents, forms an output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Roger Allen Parker
  • Patent number: 7877280
    Abstract: A travel system for processing travel requests based on a user's travel destination goal such as a meeting place and time. The travel system selects a destination terminal, if one is not provided, and estimates a travel time between the destination terminal and the destination goal. An itinerary is then built interactively with the user selecting air, bus or train transportation, ground transportation, and, optionally, hotels, restaurants, and activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Travelocity.com LP
    Inventors: Terrell B. Jones, Joseph R. Offutt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7869833
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal including a memory unit configured to store at least one call related event, a display configured to display a time line, and a controller configured to display the at least one call related event on the time line based on a time information of the at least one call related event. Further, the time line includes a circular-shaped time line, a chart-shaped time line, a spiral-shaped time line, a snowman-shaped time line, a star-shaped time line, a rectangular-spiral-shaped time line, or a square-shaped time line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Huhn Kim
  • Publication number: 20110000402
    Abstract: A system and method for handling recyclable materials and products manufactured therefrom is provided. The method includes receiving recyclable material extracted from post consumer and post industrial sources at a manufacturing facility, acquiring information associated with the recyclable material received at the manufacturing facility, such as properties and certification(s) relating thereto, and storing the acquired information in a database for subsequent access. The recycling method may also include manufacturing a product at the manufacturing facility from the recyclable material, generating product information associated with the product such as properties and certification(s) relating thereto, and storing the product information in the database. The product may then be shipped with the product information and certification information stored in a tangible medium to provide quality certified “green” recycled products for use in building construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Louis P. Grasso, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100312588
    Abstract: The invention established a business travel system based on the network platform to the public, making the internal management of travel agency become platform, and providing all-directions services according to different clients and needs. Its technical scheme as following: system including a database, a logging module, a client module by which a user can access the network platform to design and manage business travel scheme, a operator module by which an operator access the network platform to manage and trace the entire process. Wherein the client module further includes the journey basic information input module, everyday schedule input module, order form generating and quoting module and member list adding module. The operator module further includes a service activity adding module, an airline ticket confirming module, a hotel confirming module, a cicerone scheduling module, a local reception scheduling module and the third-time order form generating and quoting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Fanghua Lei
  • Publication number: 20100305984
    Abstract: A method and apparatus identify a set of trips satisfying base criteria, at least some of the trips comprising a series of trip segments connected to an intermediate location between an origin location and the destination location. Each intermediate location is connected to only two of the trip segments. At least two of the trip segments have different transportation modes. The method and apparatus further identify a subset of the trips that satisfy secondary criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ophir Ben-Yitschak, Yoram P. Nissenboim, James A. Graziano, II
  • Patent number: 7840427
    Abstract: The network system matches the supply and demand of transportation services by incorporating unused transportation capacity (i.e., empty seats) with a real-time allocation and matching service that enables individuals and goods to conveniently hire that capacity with attractive pricing, rapid responsiveness, better information availability and trusted security. The network system provides an electronic registry of capacity containing an indication of the spare transport capacity and location of a plurality of transport vehicles, an electronic registry of demand containing an indication of the demand for transportation needs of a plurality of individuals and a central processing capability to effect a match of the transport capacity of at least one transport vehicle with the transport demand of at least one individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Sean O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7839286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out IT-assisted, customer-oriented airline baggage management, in which the transport route of the airline baggage between check-in and the sorting destination is monitored with the aid of legible information carriers. In order to provide passengers with specific information relating to what has happened to their airline baggage and, if appropriate, to allow losses to be identified quickly, video monitoring is on the one hand carried out with respect to the transport route and, on the other hand, the transport route of the pieces of airline baggage is tracked by successive readers on the basis of the legible information carriers which have been applied to the pieces of airline baggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Himmel
  • Patent number: 7840341
    Abstract: A system which automatically makes a travel plan by using on-vehicle or portable terminal. The system can prepare a travel plan in which the concrete destination and route are specified when rough positional and temporal conditions are inputted. The objective area and schedule inputted through the terminal are transmitted to an information center. At the information center, a basic frame of the travel meeting the received conditions is prepared. For a day trip, an example of the basic frame is “departure-walk-lunch-amusement park-night view-return”. After the basic frame is prepared, concrete facilities meeting the actions are specified by making access to a data base. The specified facilities are inputted to the basic frame, and thus a concrete plan is completed. The completed plan is supplied to the terminal and displayed on a display to the persons who want to travel. The completed plan is further supplied to a navigation system and the system guides the persons in accordance with the plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Masafumi Kizu, Makoto Morita, Masanobu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7840425
    Abstract: A travel product reservation system having a central computer system for processing the user requests, includes elements for calculating and returning to the user selling price information relating to travel products, the central computer system being accessible from at least one user station. The reservation system includes: database containing rules for determining the association with a fare family for each travel fare, a search engine for products that meet the input criteria of a user request and associated fares, the search engine being in communication with the database for accessing the determination rules and applying them to the travel products that meet the input criteria, for returning to the user station, for display, a reply containing information relating to the products that meet the input criteria, sorting them into fare families.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Amadeus, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Bénédicte Isnardon, Thierry Blaszka, Frédéric Hoff, Natalia Perekhvatova, Rudy Daniello
  • Patent number: 7831452
    Abstract: Ticketing systems and methods are provided specifically relating to a player's ticket and a player's ticket option. A player's ticket references at least one player and allows the player's ticket holder to attend all sporting events played in by the at least one player referenced on the player's ticket. A player's ticket option references at least one player and allows the player's ticket option holder to exercise the option to obtain a player's ticket that allows attending all sporting events played in by the at least one player referenced on the player's ticket option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Sharad A Ghosh
  • Patent number: 7822539
    Abstract: There are provided a guide route search device and a guide route search method for searching a guide route via a plurality of points as well as a computer program for realizing the method. A guide route satisfying the route point condition such as a stay time at each point is searched. According to another aspect of the invention, after searching a guide route, an operator can perform a correction such as addition, deletion, or modification of the route points or rearrangement of the arrival order at the points. It is possible to judge whether the guide route after the correction satisfies the route point condition. According to still another aspect of the invention, a guide route is superimposed together with the current position on the map image. The map color and/or brightness is changed according to the arrival time at a route point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Hiromi Akiyoshi, Masaki Kaneda, Masahiro Ueno, Yuko Iwami, Youko Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 7822841
    Abstract: A computer system for hosting computing clusters for clients. The system includes clusters each including a set of computing resources and each implemented in custom or differing configurations. Each of the configurations provides a customized computing environment for performing particular client tasks. The configurations may differ due to configuration of the processing nodes, the data storage, or the private cluster network or its connections. The system includes a monitoring system that monitors the clusters for operational problems on a cluster level and also on a per-node basis such as with monitors provided for each node. The system controls client access to the clusters via a public communications by only allowing clients to access their assigned cluster or the cluster configured per their specifications and performing their computing task. Gateway mechanisms isolate each cluster such that communications within a cluster or on a private cluster communications network are maintained separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Modern Grids, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7818190
    Abstract: A camping reservation system receives camping reservations from a camping facility agent or a user of a camping facility. The agent or the user enters information relating to the user, the user's camping vehicle, camping accommodations requested by the user, and reservation information. The reservation information is transferred to a transaction processor via a communications link, where the processor automatically generates transaction documents related to the user, the camping facility agent, and the camping reservation. A confirmation document is sent to the camping facility for which a camping pad has been reserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kampgrounds of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jef Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20100257003
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for integrating travel and expense management. The present invention enables an entity to integrate not only data that matches exactly, but also determine the likelihood that data that does not match exactly nevertheless corresponds to each other. The system comprises: a network; at least one terminal coupled to the network; and at least one server coupled to the network. The server comprises a program that includes: retrieving travel data records corresponding to travel requests; retrieving expense data records reflecting expense transactions; comparing the expense data records to the travel data records; and determining a likelihood that the expense data records match the travel data records.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CONCUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Fredericks, Joseph Dunnick, Valery Gorodnichev, Jeannine Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7809378
    Abstract: A location visit detail service, typically provided by a wireless carrier to a subscriber, includes a portable wireless device, a location identification means and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives location data generated by the location identification means. The central processor data transforms the location data into time and position data pairs that identify the location of the portable wireless device at a particular time. Through a geographic information system database, the position data is converted to street address data. The details data is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber, which can use the details data to provide a summary report describing the activity of the service person. This summary report can be used for preparation of bills or for gathering statistics on (individual or group) service person efficiency. Alternatively, the wireless carrier can prepare the report that is then transmitted to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Sunil Contractor
  • Patent number: 7801752
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program for pre-selling tickets to determine whether to book an event or activity, and for facilitating the sale of those tickets. Consumers who pre-purchase a ticket are plainly notified if an event has not yet been booked. They are also shown the progress toward the likely booking of the event. A successful pre-sale of tickets triggers the booking of the event. An unsuccessful pre-sale results in the event not being booked. Consumers who help effect an event booking may be given privileges over those who purchase traditional tickets for the same event after it has already been booked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: IMDB.COM, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Neulight
  • Patent number: 7801629
    Abstract: Processing passengers for departure from an airport comprises a first line for passengers to be processed through a control point on the basis of first-in first-out. There is a second line for passengers to be processed on a non first-in first-out basis. The availability for the second line is determined by at least one of the following characteristics, namely the status of the passenger relative to an airline class of service; delays in flight times of one or more flights using the airport; cancellations of other flights using the airport; security factors at the airport; staffing at the airport; calendar date of flight, time of day of flight; number of passengers for the flight; numbers of passengers for other flights; and baggage handling. The system also processes passengers for arrival at an airport. The system also processes passengers for arrival at an airport so as facilitate baggage handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Hale, Phu Van Nguyen, Kenneth W. Schweizer
  • Patent number: RE42001
    Abstract: A computer system and a method is disclosed for determining a travel scheme minimizing which minimizes travel costs for an organization, where the organization expects to purchase travel trips for a plurality of travelers for a plurality of travel links. Each travel link comprises a travel origin and a travel destination, and is served by at least one of the carriers. The system comprises a data input device for receiving travel information relating to the carriers and the links, a data storage device for storing the travel information received by the data input device, a processor, and a data output device. From the travel information, the system constructs an objective function representing a travel cost to the organization to purchase travel trips for the plurality of travelers for the plurality of predetermined links, and a set of constraints comprising restrictions relating to the objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Danamichele Brennen O'Brien