Patent US5732398A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5732398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-service system for selling travel-related services or products
Assignee: TAGAWA RICHARD S
•
Filing: 1995-11-09
•
Granted: 1998-03-24
•
Expires: 2015-11-09
Abstract
Abstract In a self-service system of selling travel-related services or products by means of an interactive travel service system functioning like a travel agent, to simplify the search process by the system and the decision process by the user, the user is first queried as to travel knowledge, such as whether the user is a first-time visitor or is otherwise familiar with the travel destination, and as to personal attribute such as family orientation, age and preference for airlines, lodgings, car rental companies, price range and lifestyle. In accordance with the travel knowledge and attributes inputted electronically by the user, one or more recommendations or a whole listing will be presented for selection by the user. To simplify the process, the user is asked to input the relevant dates and the inventory database is searched so that only available choices will be presented. The system is particularly advantageous for self-service method of selling travel-related services or products such as local tour attractions, local bookings, car rental bookings, local or intrastate tour packages, airline tickets, out-of-state tour packages, cruises, optional tours or cruises, and other shopping options.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S. Tagawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/045; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/18; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G07F17/42; A; A63; A63B; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0697
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A self-service method of selling services or products related to local visitor attractions of a destination area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; querying the user as to whether the user has travel knowledge of said destination area; providing to the user who is a first time visitor and who is not familiar with the destination area information concerning attractions usually preferred by first time visitors; supplying choices of different local visitor attractions for selection to the user who is a repeat visitor and to the user who is a first time visitor after the providing step; and closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the selected local visitor attraction(s) made by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A self-service method of selling services or products related to local visitor attractions of a destination area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; querying the user as to whether the user has travel knowledge of said destination area; providing to the user who is a first time visitor and who is not familiar with the destination area information concerning attractions usually preferred by first time visitors; supplying choices of different local visitor attractions for selection to the user who is a repeat visitor and to the user who is a first time visitor after the providing step; and closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the selected local visitor attraction(s) made by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a daily planner and calendar on a display screen for the user to input dates for said local visitor attractions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the user for input data concerning number of persons in a party, and name(s) for which a reservation for said services or products is to be made and recording name(s) inputted by the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, said confirming step including displaying a confirmation on a display screen with dates, itemized cost and total cost of the purchase made by the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: accepting payment for the attraction(s) selected by the user; and delivering one or more value voucher(s) for the paid attraction(s) to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
215 words
A self-service method of selling tours outside of a local area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a destination; requesting the user to select a pricing category from a number of pricing categories for tours to a destination selected by the user; displaying information on tour packages outside of a local area; displaying a calendar on a display screen for the user to select departure and return dates for said tour; querying the user for selection of lodging and/or car rental; closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the tour with the lodging and/or car rental selected by the user; wherein said querying step queries the user as to whether the user is a first time visitor and whether the user is familiar with the selected destination, and said querying step further comprises: providing all available lodging at the selected destination when the user indicates that the user is a repeat visitor or is familiar with the selected destination, and providing one or two suggested choices for lodging when the user indicates that the user is a first time visitor or is unfamiliar with the selected destination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
215 words
A self-service method of selling tours outside of a local area by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a destination; requesting the user to select a pricing category from a number of pricing categories for tours to a destination selected by the user; displaying information on tour packages outside of a local area; displaying a calendar on a display screen for the user to select departure and return dates for said tour; querying the user for selection of lodging and/or car rental; closing a sale and confirming a reservation for the tour with the lodging and/or car rental selected by the user; wherein said querying step queries the user as to whether the user is a first time visitor and whether the user is familiar with the selected destination, and said querying step further comprises: providing all available lodging at the selected destination when the user indicates that the user is a repeat visitor or is familiar with the selected destination, and providing one or two suggested choices for lodging when the user indicates that the user is a first time visitor or is unfamiliar with the selected destination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A self-service method of selling cruises by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a cruise destination, a travel season and length of cruise desired; qualifying the user for input data on cruise travel knowledge, price range, lifestyle and age information; and recommending at least one particular cruise in response to the input data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A self-service method of selling cruises by means of an interactive electronic travel service system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two way communication between a user and the system; asking the user to select a cruise destination, a travel season and length of cruise desired; qualifying the user for input data on cruise travel knowledge, price range, lifestyle and age information; and recommending at least one particular cruise in response to the input data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an audiovisual presentation on said recommended cruise(s).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating two way communication between the user and a travel agent following the presentation to assist the user in making a decision to close a sale.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of selling optional tours and other travel-related services and products on cruise ships by means of an interactive electronic travel system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two-way communication between a user and the system; providing to the user data and choice of said services or products, said data including information concerning ports of call for said services or products; qualifying the user for preferences and/or attributes; receiving said input data and searching a database for said desired services or products available during said ports of call; and closing a sale for optional tours and other travel-related services and products.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of selling optional tours and other travel-related services and products on cruise ships by means of an interactive electronic travel system functioning like a travel agent, comprising the steps of: initiating two-way communication between a user and the system; providing to the user data and choice of said services or products, said data including information concerning ports of call for said services or products; qualifying the user for preferences and/or attributes; receiving said input data and searching a database for said desired services or products available during said ports of call; and closing a sale for optional tours and other travel-related services and products.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10, said confirming step including displaying a confirmation on a display screen with ports of call, itemized cost and total cost of the purchase made by the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising: accepting payment for optional tours and other travel-related services and products selected by the user; delivering at least one value voucher for paid optional tours and other travel-related services and products to the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising two-way communicating between the ships and regional reservation centers to link the kiosks located on board the ships to the regional reservation centers and to travel-related service providers on shore.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4179723A
Cited
USRE32115F1
Cited
US4359631A
Cited
USRE32115E
Cited
USD269822S
Cited
US4449186A
Cited
US4490810A
Cited
US4818854A
Cited
US4922439A
Cited
US5235680A
Cited
US5235680B1
Cited
US5274758A
Cited
US5235509A
Cited
US5393964A
Cited
US5239480A
Cited
US5237499A
Cited
US5408417A
Cited
US5422809A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |