US6018715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated travel planning system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1996-02-29
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2016-02-29
Abstract
Abstract An automated travel planning system (10) is provided. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores information relating to each individual traveler and business entity customer of a travel agency and also information relating to the travel agency itself. This information may include, for example, data concerning the frequent flyer/renter programs in which a traveler participates, smoking and seating preferences for a traveler, preferred travel vendors of a business entity, restrictions on fare classes (e.g., business or coach classes only) imposed by a business entity on its employees, and promotions available to a travel agency. When travel request information is received from a specific customer (individual and/or business entity) of the travel agency, the system automatically retrieves information relating to the customer from the database and also information relating to the travel agency. The system (10) preferably uses the retrieved information to determine a travel plan that is satisfactory to the individual customer who is traveling, the business traveler customer which employs the individual, and the travel agency.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Lynch
- 👤 Jonathan A. Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02; G06Q10/028; G06Q10/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An automated travel planning system, comprising: a database operable to store traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; and a processor connected to said database and operable to: receive travel request information; access said database to retrieve the traveler portfolio information and the competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; apply weighting values to the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences; and make a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An automated travel planning system, comprising: a database operable to store traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; and a processor connected to said database and operable to: receive travel request information; access said database to retrieve the traveler portfolio information and the competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; apply weighting values to the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences; and make a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processor processes fuzzy logic to determine a travel plan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the travel agency's preferences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said database comprises a relational database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a file server.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said competing portfolio information comprises business entity portfolio information, comprising at least a business entity's travel preferences.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the business entity's preferences.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
Computer software operable to be controlled by a computer for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and software stored on the computer readable storage medium, the software operable to: receive travel request information; access a database in response to said received travel request information to retrieve traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; make a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
Computer software operable to be controlled by a computer for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and software stored on the computer readable storage medium, the software operable to: receive travel request information; access a database in response to said received travel request information to retrieve traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences, and competing portfolio information comprising a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; make a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said competing portfolio information comprises business entity portfolio information, comprising at least a business entity's travel preferences.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer software of claim 8, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the travel agency's preferences.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer software of claim 8, wherein said competing portfolio information comprises business entity portfolio information, comprising at least a business entity's travel preferences.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer software of claim 11, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between the traveler's preferences and the business entity's travel preferences.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising the steps of: generating traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences and competing portfolio information comprising at least a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; storing said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in a database; receiving travel request information; retrieving from said database said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; applying weighting values to the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences; and making a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for automatically generating a travel plan, comprising the steps of: generating traveler portfolio information comprising at least a traveler's preferences and competing portfolio information comprising at least a set of competing preferences including at least a travel agency's preferences; storing said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in a database; receiving travel request information; retrieving from said database said traveler portfolio information and said competing portfolio information in response to said received travel request information; applying weighting values to the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences; and making a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the competing preferences to determine a balanced travel plan.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the travel agency's preferences.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said retrieving step further comprises the step of determining what information is retrieved from said database in response to said received travel request information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said storing step comprises storing in a relational database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the competing portfolio information comprises business entity portfolio information comprising at least a business entity's travel preferences.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, wherein determining a balanced travel plan comprises making a weighted comparison between at least the traveler's preferences and the business entity's preferences.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |