KR20150126993A - Virtual forum for travel services - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for communicating between a travel service provider and a plurality of travelers using a virtual social network. A virtual forum is created in a virtual social network and associated with a travel service provided by the travel service provider. The virtual forum may be linked with user accounts of the social network belonging to the travelers who booked the travel service of the travel service provider. The links may be generated in response to the traveler booking the travel service, or when the traveler requests the link connection. The travel service provider may provide information relating to the travel service to the traveler via the virtual forum. The virtual forum may further provide a communications medium for the travelers to interact with the other travelers. Interested parties who have not booked the travel service may be able to access a section of the information through the virtual forum.

Description

{VIRTUAL FORUM FOR TRAVEL SERVICES}

The present invention relates generally to computer and computer software, and more particularly to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing communication between travelers and travel service providers using virtual social networks.

Travelers using commercial travel services usually book specific travel services by booking services before departure. After the service has been booked, the next contact between the traveler and the travel service provider is often not made until check-in. Thus, travelers often can not know the changes in travel services that have occurred since the service was booked, for example changes in departure times or changes in service conditions. The lack of communication may persist during and after the service is provided. Thus, a traveler may have difficulty determining the progress of a service or operational event, such as a delay or cancellation of a travel segment, which may require a change in the itinerary. Travelers may also not be aware of additional services available during and after the trip that may improve the travel experience. After the service is provided, the travel service provider may also have difficulty obtaining feedback from the traveler or providing follow-up to the traveler.

In addition to the lack of communication between service providers and travelers, travelers can also have limited opportunities to communicate and share information with other travelers while traveling. Travelers are often held in their seats during a boring time period while traveling between departure and destination by travel services. Thus, a traveler can be limited to talking to a person sitting next to his or her seat. This experience can disappoint many travelers, especially if they have little in common with the adjacent passengers. Some travel services provide dining and bar areas where travelers can spend time together, but these areas generally have limited availability and may not appeal to some travelers. Furthermore, some travelers may be reluctant to communicate with other travelers or to interact with other travelers who have little knowledge.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system, method, and computer program product that improves communications between travel providers and travelers and allows travelers to communicate while traveling.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of communicating using a virtual social network is provided. The method includes creating a travel service to transport a plurality of travelers, and in response to creating the travel service, creating a virtual forum in the virtual social network. The method further comprises associating the virtual communication space with the travel service.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for communicating using the virtual social network. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory including instructions operable, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to generate a travel service that carries the plurality of travelers, In response to the creation of the travel service, to create the virtual communication space in the virtual social network. The command causes the device to further associate the virtual communication space with the travel service.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product is provided that includes a non-transient computer-readable storage medium containing instructions. Wherein the instructions cause the processor to cause the processor to create a travel service that carries the plurality of travelers when executed by the processor, and in response to creating the travel service, So as to perform the operation of generating the communication space of the terminal device. The command causes the processor to further associate the virtual communication space with the travel service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, .
1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary operating environment including a global distribution system (GDS), a social network system, a service provider system, a traveler system, and a travel agent system.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer that may be used to implement the system of Figure 1;
3 is a schematic diagram illustrating communications between a traveler and a travel agent system, a GDS, a service provider data management module, and a social media platform for creating virtual communication spaces and bookmarking travel services of FIG. 1;
4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a social media sphere including the plurality of social media platforms of Fig. 3, and a plurality of entities associated with a travel service.

또는 Twitter

와 같은 소셜 네트워크 서비스에서 여행자에 의해 유지되는 소셜 미디어 계정(social media account)에 링크될 수 있다. 이 링크는 여행자가 여행 서비스를 부킹한 것에 응답하여 또는 여행자가 이 링크를 요청한 것에 응답하여 자동적으로 발생할 수 있다. 여행자가 소셜 미디어 계정을 가상의 소통공간에 링크하면, 정보는 가상의 소통공간을 통해 여행자에 제공될 수 있다. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in one or more computing systems, such as a Global Distribution System (GDS) or a social network system. The computing system may be configured such that a traveler can book a train or airplane seat, a travel service such as a berth of a cruise ship, or any other type of travel service. The embodiment of the present invention can create a virtual communication space and associate this virtual communication space with the travel service. Travelers who book a travel service may subscribe to or link to a virtual communication space to access and share information about the service, or to book a travel service or to communicate with others who are interested in the travel service. . For this purpose, the virtual communication space is, for example, Facebook

Or Twitter

And may be linked to a social media account maintained by a traveler in a social network service such as < RTI ID = 0.0 > This link can occur automatically in response to a traveler booking a travel service or in response to a traveler requesting this link. When a traveler links a social media account to a virtual communication space, the information can be provided to the traveler through a virtual communication space.

Exemplary shared information may include updates to the status of the travel service (e.g., weather conditions on time, delayed, canceled, arriving or departing areas), suggestions for purchasing additional services or upgrades, And any other travel-related information that may be present. During a trip, the service provider may use the virtual communication space to propagate information related to the operation of the travel service, such as expected arrival time, current location, or anticipated delay. The virtual communication space can also provide a catalyst for social communication during trips by allowing the traveler to find other traveler's interests and communicate with other travelers. Travelers can also access in-flight services and entertainment, for example, social media applications that provide games. After the trip, the virtual communication space can provide follow-up by the travel provider to handle service problems and provide a communication medium for managing the customer relationship by the travel service provider.

1, an operating environment 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may include a global distribution system (GDS) 12, a social network system 14, a service provider system 16, a traveler system 18, And a travel agency system 19. The GDS 12, the social network system 14, the service provider system 16, the traveler system 18 and the travel agent system 19, respectively, may communicate via the network 20. The network 20 may include one or more private or public networks (e.g., the Internet) capable of exchanging data.

The GDS 12 may be configured to provide communication between the social network system 14, the service provider system 16, the traveler system 18 and the travel agent system 19. The GDS 12 allows a traveler to book reservations to the service provider system 16 via the GDS 12 and the travel agent system 19. To this end, the GDS 12 may maintain a link to a plurality of provider systems, such as the service provider system 16, over the network 20. These links allow the GDS 12 to route reservation requests received from the travel agent system 19 to the service provider system 16. [ The GDS 12 allows the travel agency system 19 to book services from multiple service providers. The GDS 12 may also provide communication between the social network system 14 and the service provider system 16. [ For example, the GDS 12 can transmit to the social network system 14 information for creating a virtual communication space, and information about the travel service to be propagated by the virtual communication space. The GDS 12 may also receive information from the social network system 14, for example, an update to a user account or virtual communication space, information requests for travel services, or any other appropriate information.

In response to the traveler having booked the ticket, the GDS 12 may receive and store a Passenger Name Record (PNR). The PNR may be generated at least partially by the service provider system 16 and may include one or more reservation records including travel itineraries and traveler information associated with one or more bookings. The PNR may be stored in the PNR database 48 (FIG. 3) accessible to the GDS 12 and may include data that creates a travel schedule for a particular trip, passenger, or passenger group. The generated itinerary may include travel services from a plurality of travel service providers. In order to easily locate the PNR in the PNR database 48, a record locator or other suitable identifier may be associated with this PNR.

The service provider system 16 may include a computer reservation system (CRS) for each travel service provider. The CRS may include one or more databases for storing and retrieving data related to booking travel services, tracking service provider inventories, and issuing electronic tickets for booked travel services. The service provider system 16 may also provide information to the GDS 12 about the status of the billed travel service, such as an on-time status, availability, price update, or any other suitable information. For example, in response to receiving data indicating that a traveler has checked in at a starting point, boarded a conveyance, or received some other service, the service provider system 16 sends data indicating the traveler's status change To the GDS (12). The GDS 12 may provide data to the social network system 14 that reflects this change.

The traveler system 18 may include any suitable computing device that allows the traveler to access the social network system 14. [ Exemplary computing devices may include, but are not limited to, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a smart phone. The social network system 14 may provide a platform for a virtual social network. A virtual social network may optionally include a plurality of user accounts, for example, interconnected by a virtual link. A virtual link can identify a virtual relationship between linked user accounts. A user with an account can create a user profile and another user list associated with this user. Virtual social networks allow users to share information about interests, activities, and backgrounds. This sharing of information can facilitate the user to form a real life connection with other users with similar interests. To provide access to a user, the social network system 14 may include one or more applications that allow the traveler system 18 to access a virtual social network, such as a web server application.

The travel agent system 19 may be configured to book a trip through the GDS 12 and may be operated by an offline travel agency, online travel agent, travel management company or any other entity that sells or buys a travel service for the traveler have. To that end, the travel agent system 19 may include one or more applications that allow the traveler to access the GDS 12. The travel agent system 19 may further include one or more web server applications that allow the traveler to book a trip using a web browser or other application running in the traveler system 18. [

2, the GDS 12, the social network system 14, the service provider system 16, the traveler system 18 and the travel agent system 19 of the operating environment 10 are connected to the exemplary computer 22, , ≪ / RTI > and the like. The computer 22 includes at least one processor 24, a memory 26, a mass storage memory device 28, an input / output (I / O) interface 30 and a human machine interface . ≪ / RTI > The computer 22 may also be operatively coupled to one or more external resources 34 via the network 20 or the I / O interface 30.

The processor 24 may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, electric field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuit, analog circuit, Or any other device that manipulates the signal (analog or digital) based on an operating command stored in the memory. The memory 26 may be a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory But may include a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices, including, but not limited to, any other device capable of storing information. The mass storage memory device 28 may include a data storage device such as a hard drive, an optical drive, a tape drive, a non-volatile solid state device, or any other device capable of storing information.

The processor 24 may operate under the control of an operating system 36 resident in the memory 26. Operating system 36 may enable instructions to be executed on processor 24 via computer program code embodied in one or more computer software applications, such as application 38, which manages computer resources and resides in memory 26 . In an alternative embodiment, the processor 24 may execute the application 38 directly, in which case the operating system 36 may be omitted. The one or more data structures 40 may also reside in the memory 26 and may be used by the processor 24, the operating system 36, or the application 38 to store or manipulate data.

The I / O interface 30 may provide a machine interface operatively connecting the processor 24 to other devices and systems, such as the network 20 or external resources 34. The application 38 may operate in conjunction with the network 20 or external resources 34 and communicate through the I / O interface 30 and may provide various features, functions, or modules, including embodiments of the invention . The application 38 may also include program code that is executed by one or more external resources 34 or is dependent on a function or signal provided by another system or network component external to the computer 22. [

The computer 22 and application 38 may be used to provide one or more servers that respond to requests over the network 20. [ Each server may also include multiple applications 38 running through a plurality of computers 22, a single application 38 running on a single computer 22, or a combination thereof. In fact, since the configuration of hardware and software is almost endless, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention may be located external to computer 22, (Hardware and software) that are distributed among the computing resources, or provided as services through the network 20, such as a cloud computing service.

The HMI 32 may be operably coupled to the processor 24 of the computer 22 in a known manner that allows a user to interact directly with the computer 22. [ The HMI 32 may include a video or alphanumeric display, a touch-screen, a speaker, and any other suitable audio and visual indicators capable of providing information to the user. The HMI 32 may be an input device such as the aforementioned touch-screen, alphanumeric keyboard, pointing device, keypad, push button, control knob, microphone, etc., which may receive commands or inputs from a user and transmit the input And a control unit.

The database 42 may reside in the mass storage memory device 28 and may be used to collect and organize the data used by the various systems and modules described herein. The database 42 may include data and support data structures for storing and organizing data. In particular, the database 42 may be arranged in any database organization or structure, including but not limited to relational databases, hierarchical databases, network databases, or combinations thereof. A database management system in the form of a computer software application executed as an instruction in the processor 24 may be used to access information or data stored in a record of the database 42 in response to a query, May be dynamically determined and executed by the application 38 or by one or more modules.

Referring now to Figure 3, the GDS 12 communicates with the data provider module's data management module 44, the social media platform 46, the PNR database 48, the schedule database 50 and the business rules database 52 . In one embodiment of the invention, the data management module 44 may be hosted by the service provider system 16 and the social media platform 46 may be hosted by the social network system 14.

The GDS 12 may receive the data 54 from the data management module 44 that creates one or more travel services for which the virtual communication space 56 has been created. The data 54 may include any data that uniquely identifies the travel service, such as flight number or train number, and the date provided to the travel service. The GDS 12 may also receive data 58 from a data management module 44 that creates a virtual communication space publication business rule. The business rule includes a travel service associated with the virtual communication space 56 among the plurality of travel services and a pre-departure lead time for creating the virtual communication space 56 or making the communication space available . For example, the virtual communication space 56 may be created three months before or the day before the day on which the associated travel service is scheduled to start, according to the type of travel service and the business rules of the travel service provider.

Based on the received data 54,58, the GDS 12 may provide information about the travel service that may be associated with the virtual communication space 56, such as a scheduled departure time, (48, 50, 52) to a list, a business rule (e.g., one night stay required), a record identifier, a passenger identifier (e.g., email address) or any other appropriate data . The GDS 12 may send a request 60 to the social media platform 46 to create or open a virtual communication space 56 prior to the appropriate time on the day of departure of the travel service. In response to receiving the request 60, the social media platform 46 may create a virtual communication space 56. [ The social media platform 46 may create a virtual communication space 56, for example, by creating an event page and associating the event page with an account on a social media platform that belongs to a travel service provider. The travel service provider can manage the virtual communication space 56 by using personal access to the account. The virtual communication space 56 may also include a private account for the selected social media platform 46, or a specific account that creates a follower. The GDS 12 may communicate with a number of social media platforms 46 and the virtual communication space 56 may be associated with a particular social media platform 46 or a number of social media platforms 46 ). ≪ / RTI >

After the travel service is scheduled, the GDS 12 can determine if an event has occurred regarding the travel service. In response, the GDS 12 may send an event notification 62 to the reservation system backend, which may be part of the GDS 12. The reservation system can decide whether to notify the traveler. If the reservation system determines to notify the traveler, the traveler can be notified via the virtual communication space 56. [

In order to book a travel service, the traveler can send a request 64 from the traveler system 18 to the travel agent system 19. The request 64 may include data identifying the travel service the traveler wishes to book and may be transferred to the travel agent system 19 in response to the traveler providing the appropriate input to the user interface of the travel agent system 19 have. In response to receiving the request 64, the travel agent system 19 may send a request 66 to the GDS 12 to book the travel service. In response to receiving the request 66, the GDS 12 may send a link request 68 to the social media platform 46 requesting that the virtual communication space 56 be linked with the traveler's social media account have. In order to identify the traveler's social media account, the traveler may be asked to provide their social media account identity and password. In one embodiment of the invention, the GDS 12 may identify the traveler's social media account based on the email address provided by the traveler, obtained from the PNR, or associated with the record identifier of the PNR. If this is the first time that a traveler has provided his or her e-mail, the GDS 12 or travel agent system 19 may request that the traveler provide a password to be associated with the e-mail address. The traveler is registered in the system and is assigned a new account so that the traveler can log in using his / her email and password and visit subsequent to the travel agent system 19 or the GDS 12.

The GDS 12 may request social media account information so that the GDS 12 can request that the social media platform 46 link the traveler's social media account to the virtual communication space 56. [ This account information may include the identity of the social media account and an access code or password. The GDS 12 may receive account information from the traveler as part of the bookkeeping process. This account information may also be part of a traveler profile stored in another area accessible by the travel agent system 19, the traveler system 18 or the GDS 12. In any event, in response to receiving the social media account information, the GDS 12 may add the information 70 to the PNR associated with the traveled service that is bookmarked in the PNR database 48.

The traveler's social media account may also be linked to the virtual communication space 56 by being listed as an authorized follower of the virtual communication space 56. [ The traveler can automatically receive the update in response to the data being pushed to the traveler by the virtual communication space 56 by being listed in the follower of the virtual communication space 56. [ The traveler can also subscribe to the virtual communication space 56 after logging in to the social media account and by requesting that his account be linked to the virtual communication space 56. [

Referring now to FIG. 4, a social media spear 72, including one or more social media platforms 46a-46n, may provide access to one or more virtual communication spaces 56a-56n. This access may be provided to the travel service provider's operating staff 74, marketing staff 76 and business partner 78 as well as to the traveler 80 and to the traveler 80's. The social media spear 72 may provide a communication medium for exchanging information between a plurality of parties associated with the travel service. Each of these entities may have different access levels for the social media platform in the media spear. For example, the acquaintance 80 may have a lower access level than the traveler 82. This lower access level can prevent the acquaintance 80 from seeing all the information available to the traveler 82. Similarly, the business partner 78 may have an access level that does not allow the operating staff 74 or the marketing staff 76 of one of the social media platforms 46a-46n to view all of the information available .

The information may be transmitted to the traveler 82 via one or more of the virtual communication spaces 56a-56n via data or social media accounts associated with one or more virtual communication spaces 56a-56n. For example, the travel service provider's operational staff 74 or marketing staff 76 may provide information to the traveler 82 via one or more of the virtual communication spaces 56a-56n before, during, It can be optionally shared. The customer relationship staff from marketing staff 76 may follow up with traveler 82 after arrival in case of delay, or may request traveler 82 to respond to the customer survey. A business partner 78, such as a business that sells a product or service at an airport terminal, a railway station, or during a travel service, uses the virtual communication space 56a-56n to share information about the product, (82). The information shared through the virtual communication spaces 56a-56n can be selectively restricted to the traveler 82 or the public can be made available.

The virtual communication space 56 may also provide a communication medium for the traveler 82 to exchange information with another traveler 82 who has booked the travel service. This may include posting or sharing information about the travel service (for example, advice on activities at the destination), chatting or finding a topic to discuss while boarding and traveling through the travel service. To this end, the virtual communication space 56 can be configured so that the traveler 82 can create a communication page in the virtual communication space. The communication page may include an online game page that provides a multi-player online game, a chat room page that allows the traveler to communicate directly with each other, or a chat room page that allows the traveler 82 to view text, pictures, audio or video (e.g., Quot;), < / RTI > and the like. In any case, the communication page can be configured such that another traveler 82 can request a communication page and receive access to this communication page.

The virtual communication space 56 can also provide travelers with in-transit entertainment such as games that can be accessed via the traveler system 18. [ For example, a traveler can use the travel service to join an interactive game with another traveler, or access information related to the travel service, such as the current location of the travel service and the expected time of arrival. A portion of the information provided by the virtual communication space 56, such as the progress of the travel service or the expected arrival time, may also be publicly available. The acquaintance 80 of the traveler 82 may access the public information through his or her own social media account, for example, to inform that the arrival of the traveler 82 is potentially delayed.

Embodiments of the present invention may allow a travel service provider to create a unique virtual communication space 56 that provides a communication medium specific to the travel service. The virtual communication space 56 may be temporary and may disappear after a period of time generated after arrival. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the virtual communication space 56, such as a posting selected by the traveler, may be maintained after the virtual communication space 56 is deleted. The virtual communicative space 56 can also manage "friends" or "followers" in progress by a travel provider who can manage security issues and provide access credentials. If the traveler 82 provided the social media account information before or during the bookkeeping time, the GDS 12 automatically notifies the traveler 82 to enter the appropriate virtual communication space 56a-56n at the time the travel service was booked . The traveler 82 may also request that the social media account be linked to one of the virtual communication spaces 56a-56n by logging into the account and sending the link request to the virtual communication space 56. [ The traveler 82 may also enable the acquaintance 80 to obtain access to the virtual communication space 56, for example, by sending an invitation to the social media account of the acquaintance. Linking to the virtual communication spaces 56a-56n can be selectively controlled by the traveler 82. [

As an example of specifying and using the virtual communication space 56, one traveler 82 may travel from Paris to Amsterdam at a certain departure time and date (e.g., April 21, 2013, 1:00 PM) You can book a train. The traveler 82 may enter the virtual communication space 56 for this train and post another traveler's question about this train (e.g., "A good restaurant that can eat mussel in Amsterdam Do you know? "). Other travelers who book the same train can answer this question (for example, "Go to the Rijksen restaurant, this restaurant offers a certified Amsterdam experience"). You can see that other travelers have answered or voted, including the traveler 82 posting the initial question. This vote may be a binary vote (for example, like or dislike) or may include a rating (for example, 1 star to 5 stars). For example, a traveler who is interested in eating a mussel or who rides on a train that agrees with the recommendation can place a high rating on this post, The number of posts and polls received may be related to the associated travel service (for example, Paris-Amsterdam trains 2014/04/21, Trn Nb: In response to the addition of a new virtual communication space 56 for a subsequent train service from Paris to Amsterdam, the GDS 12 (or any other suitable system) Lobu These posts can be selected based on the number and ranking of votes received and displayed as a subpanel on one side of a new virtual communication space page. In this way, this post may be accessible to travelers who have boarded a new train with the same origin and destination. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the related posts are shown only to travelers with a common origin or destination For example, a post about activity in Amsterdam, made in a communication space for trains from Paris to Amsterdam, can be added to the virtual communication space 56 for trains from Nice to Amsterdam.

Posts can also be made or used for data mining by accessing the archived post database. For example, the GDS 12 may determine the number of times a particular word was used in a post of one or more virtual communication spaces 56 associated with a particular source-destination pair. The GDS 12 can extract trending topics or topics for travelers traveling between this origin and destination. This data can be used to determine the advertisement that exists in the virtual communication space 56. For example, if the word "pizza" appears at a high frequency in a post to a virtual communication space 56 for a train to Amsterdam, the GDS 12 may select an advertisement for the restaurant providing the pizza, Can be displayed in the communication space (56). This data may also be sold to a third party, such as a transportaton provider, which may be informed of a business decision, such as whether to add a particular item (e.g., pizza) to the menu being transported have.

The program code embodying any of the embodiments of the invention described in the specification may be distributed separately or collectively to a number of different types of program products. In particular, the program code may be distributed using a computer-readable medium and a communication medium, which may include a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium that is essentially non-volatile includes volatile and nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, nonvolatile, And removable and non-removable tangible media. The computer readable storage medium may be any of a variety of storage devices including but not limited to RAM, ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM), or other optical storage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be read by a computer and used to store the desired information can do. The communication medium may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, or other program modules. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media, e.g., wired networks or direct-wired connections, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Any combination of the above may also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The methods described herein may be implemented to generate a machine having a processor executing instructions that implement the functions / operations specified herein by computer program instructions supplied to the processor of any type of computer. These computer program instructions may also be stored on a computer readable medium to enable the computer to function directly in a particular manner. To this end, the computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer to perform a series of operating steps, thereby creating a computer implemented process that, when executed, provides a process for implementing the functions / operations specified herein.

Further, the program code described herein may be identified based on an application or software component in which the program code is implemented in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, that any specific program term is therefore only used for convenience, and that the invention is not limited to use with any particular application identified or implied by such term. It is further understood that the various features, applications, and devices described herein may also be used alone or in any combination. Further, the manner in which a computer program can be composed of routines, procedures, methods, modules, objects, etc. is generally endlessly possible, and the program functionality may be implemented in a general computing system (e.g., an operating system, library, API, ), Or among various software layers across one or more hardware platforms, it is understood that the invention is not limited to any particular organization and assignment of program functionality described herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments at all. As used herein, the singular terms "work" and "above " are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the term "comprising" and / or "having" means that there is a stated feature, integer, step, operation, element and / , Steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups are not intended to be < / RTI > Further, when the terms "comprising", "having", "having", "having", "consisting", or variations thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, It is to be understood that the same is intended in a broad sense.

The embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way of illustrative example, and these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, but it is not intended that the applicant intend to limit or create the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, in a broader aspect, the invention is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown or described. Accordingly, these details may be deviated from the details of the inventor's general inventive concept without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims (20)

A method of communicating using a virtual social network,
Creating, by the server, a travel service to transport a plurality of travelers;
Creating virtual communication space in the virtual social network by the server in response to generating the travel service; And
And, by the server, associating the virtual communication space with the travel service. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a virtual communication space comprises:
Creating an event page, a private feed, or an account in a virtual social network. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the virtual communication space is associated with a user profile of a service provider providing travel services and the user profile is one of a plurality of user profiles including a virtual social network. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of sending a link request to the traveler's user profile requesting a user profile to which the user profile is linked in the virtual communication space, in response to the traveler booking the travel service. 5. The method of claim 4,
Further comprising the step of generating a link between the user profile and the virtual communication space in response to the traveler receiving the link request. 6. The method of claim 5,
Further comprising the step of transmitting data to be displayed to the traveler from the virtual communication space to the application in response to the user profile being linked to the virtual communication space and the traveler communicating with the virtual social network via the application Way. The method according to claim 6,
Characterized in that in response to the data being added to the virtual communication space, the data is pushed to the application by the virtual communication space. The method according to claim 1,
The virtual communication space is linked to a first plurality of user profiles each associated with a corresponding traveler of a plurality of travelers bookmarked in a travel service,
Receiving data from one of the user profiles of the first plurality of user profiles; And
Further comprising the step of adding data to the virtual communication space. 9. The method of claim 8,
Creating a first access level that provides access only to a first portion of the virtual communication space;
Generating a second access level that provides access only to a second portion of the virtual communication space;
Providing a first access level to each user profile of a first plurality of user profiles; And
Further comprising providing a second access level to each user profile of a second plurality of user profiles that are not linked to the virtual communication space. The method according to claim 1,
The virtual communication space is linked to a plurality of user profiles, each user profile of the plurality of user profiles is associated with a traveler who is booked in the travel service,
Receiving, in a virtual communication space, data from a first user profile of a plurality of user profiles;
Responsive to receiving the data, creating a communication page; And
Further comprising sending a link request to a second user profile of the plurality of user profiles requesting a second user profile to be linked to the communication page. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of receiving data identifying the traveler's social media account in response to the traveler having booked the travel service,
Wherein the virtual communication space is associated with a travel service based on the data. An apparatus for communicating using a virtual social network,
One or more processors; And
Wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
Creating a travel service to transport a plurality of travelers;
An operation of creating a virtual communication space in a virtual social network in response to the creation of the travel service; And
And to perform an operation of associating a virtual communication space with a travel service. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the command creates a virtual communication space by creating an event page, personal data or account in a virtual social network. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the virtual communication space is associated with a user profile of a service provider providing travel services and the user profile is one of a plurality of user profiles including a virtual social network. 13. The method of claim 12,
In response to the traveler having bookmarked the travel service, sending a link request to the traveler's user profile requesting that the user profile be linked to the virtual communication space. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the virtual communication space is linked to a first plurality of user profiles each associated with a corresponding traveler of a plurality of travelers bookmarked in a travel service,
Receiving data from one of a user profiles of a first plurality of user profiles; And
Further comprising the step of adding data to the virtual communication space. 17. The method of claim 16,
Generating a first access level that provides access only to a first portion of the virtual communication space;
Generating a second access level that provides access only to a second portion of the virtual communication space;
Providing a first access level to each user profile of a first plurality of user profiles; And
Further comprising providing a second access level to each user profile of a second plurality of user profiles that are not linked with a virtual communication space. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the virtual communication space is linked with a plurality of user profiles, each user profile of the plurality of user profiles is associated with a traveler that is booked in the travel service,
Receiving, in a virtual communication space, data from a first user profile of a plurality of user profiles;
In response to receiving the data, generating a communication page; And
And sending a link request to the second user profile of the plurality of user profiles requesting that the second user profile be linked to the communication page. 13. The method of claim 12,
In response to the traveler having booked the travel service, to perform further operations to receive data identifying the traveler's social media account,
Wherein the virtual communication space is associated with the travel service based on the data. As a computer program product,
Non-transient computer-readable storage medium; And
Comprising instructions stored on a non-transient computer-readable storage medium, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
Creating a travel service to transport a plurality of travelers;
An operation of creating a virtual communication space in a virtual social network in response to the creation of the travel service; And
And to associate a virtual communication space with the travel service.

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