EP1532564A1 - Method of allocating seats to customers in a computer reservation system - Google Patents

Method of allocating seats to customers in a computer reservation system

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Publication number
EP1532564A1
EP1532564A1 EP03765143A EP03765143A EP1532564A1 EP 1532564 A1 EP1532564 A1 EP 1532564A1 EP 03765143 A EP03765143 A EP 03765143A EP 03765143 A EP03765143 A EP 03765143A EP 1532564 A1 EP1532564 A1 EP 1532564A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seats
seat
allocation
placement
customers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP03765143A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Olivier OFF. MEDITERRANEEN DE BREVETS FAVOREL
David OFF. MEDITERRANEEN DE BREVETS HASSAN
Emilio OFFICE MEDITERRANEEN DE BREVETS VIZZARI
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Amadeus SAS
Original Assignee
Amadeus SAS
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Publication date
Priority claimed from FR0208243A external-priority patent/FR2842003A1/en
Application filed by Amadeus SAS filed Critical Amadeus SAS
Publication of EP1532564A1 publication Critical patent/EP1532564A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/02—Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of allocating seats to customers usable by a computer reservation system.
  • This process will find its application particularly in the field of air transport.
  • the present invention makes it possible to meet these expectations and proposes, to do this, a method of allocating seats according to different parameters.
  • a first advantage of this process is to take into account different priority levels of customers. It can therefore adapt to the presence of different classes of air service such as business class or even economy class.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that it takes into account different selection criteria in order to better respond to the preferences expressed by customers. In this regard, different criteria can be selected and among which the passenger's proximity with third parties, the seats or the areas of the plane in which the passenger wishes to be placed, the membership of a multi-section flight (with connection ), mass distribution or even special comfort services such as the preservation of free seats around the passenger.
  • the present invention implements various computer means including a database making it possible to use different criteria contributing to the determination of a plan for allocating seats to customers.
  • the seat allocated to him is then considered to be unavailable. This is particularly the case when he has already checked in and has a boarding pass with a published seat number. In other cases, the seats are considered available.
  • the inclusion attribute will depend on whether the reservation is confirmed by the customer or not. However, if a client has a seat whose reservation is confirmed (particularly a registration with a published seat number), we can carry out a procedure for finding a better possible seat by the allocation steps of the invention. In this context, the customer is guaranteed minimum satisfaction by the seat which is already published and a search for a better seat is carried out.
  • IT means will be used in particular for the implementation.
  • These means include data storage means and particularly a computer database as well as processing means in the form of a processor.
  • This group of available seats is defined by subtracting all the seats on the aircraft from the seats considered to be unavailable, including those for which the reservation is confirmed. Other seats may also be considered unavailable for other reasons, in particular if they cannot be used during the flight.
  • each customer is assigned a priority level in the database.
  • the database also includes, for each client, data relating to investment criteria.
  • 4- Multi-section flight criteria in some cases, connections are necessary between several sections of the same flight.
  • a particular placement criterion on the plane can be considered, in particular to ensure the availability of a seat for a passenger within the framework of a connecting flight.
  • this criterion is particularly usable for passengers with a high priority level.
  • these may be additional services that should be met, such as the preservation of free seats around the passenger.
  • the placement criteria may have different levels of importance and the calculation will therefore be weighted accordingly.
  • some criteria may be absolutely mandatory, others of minor importance or others of moderate importance. We therefore assign to each criterion a particular weight.
  • the process automatically includes any customer to whom a seat has been allocated but who does not meet their preferences and who has not been confirmed.
  • Table 2 gives an example of determining the group of seats available for allocation. It illustrates various cases of unavailability of seats. In the end, out of 100 seats, only 33 seats fall into the group of seats available for allocation.
  • the allocation server will allocate the 33 seats available to the 33 passengers who have the highest priority level. The other 7 will not have allocated seats and will be placed on the waiting list.
  • the seat allocation process will favor the following placement criteria: wish expressed by the passenger (90%): the allocation process will take all the decisions necessary to satisfy the wishes of the passengers, most suitable seat (80%); the allocation process will allocate passengers the most suitable seats near the most suitable passengers, additional comfort criterion (courtesy seat) (60%): the allocation process will try to keep free seats next to passengers having the highest rank.
  • the seat allocation process will favor the following placement criteria: aircraft area (80%): the allocation process will allocate seats mainly taking into account their category. For example, minors traveling alone will have seats in the same area of the plane (rear of the cabin). Passengers traveling regularly will be seated at the front of the cabin, adjacency criteria (70%): a large number of groups and families travel in Economy Class and need to be seated side by side.
  • the method of allocating seats to customers calculates, for each passenger, a number of possible seats and classifies them. For example, the passenger
  • DUPONT may be allocated 4 seats:

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  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Description

"Procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients dans un système de réservation par ordinateur". "Method of allocating seats to customers in a computer reservation system".
La présente invention concerne un procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients utilisable par un système de réservation par ordinateur.The present invention relates to a method of allocating seats to customers usable by a computer reservation system.
Ce procédé trouvera particulièrement son application dans le domai ne des transports aériens.This process will find its application particularly in the field of air transport.
Dans ce domaine, on utilise fréquemment des systèmes de réservation mettant en oeuvre des moyens informatiques afin de gérer les réservations de sièges et les plannings de vol ou encore les tarifs associés aux services de transport.In this field, reservation systems frequently employing computer resources are used to manage seat reservations and flight schedules or the prices associated with transport services.
Jusqu'à présent, le placement des personnes à bord de l'avion s'effectue par une affectation manuelle de la part d'un employé. Les critères essentiellement retenus par l'employé pour effectuer ce placement sont la répartition des masses dans l'engin et la prise en compte, au cas par cas, des souhaits des passagers.Until now, the placement of people on board the aircraft has been done by manual assignment by an employee. The criteria essentially retained by the employee to carry out this placement are the distribution of the masses in the machine and the taking into account, on a case by case basis, of the wishes of the passengers.
De par le développement du transport aérien et des services associés, ainsi que par la forte concurrence de ce secteur économique, il est actuellement ressenti un besoin d'adaptation accru aux souhaits du client ainsi qu'un besoin de rationalisation des étapes de placement des personnes à bord de l'avion.Due to the development of air transport and associated services, as well as the strong competition from this economic sector, there is currently felt a need for increased adaptation to customer wishes as well as a need to rationalize the stages of placement of people On board the plane.
La présente invention permet de répondre à ces attentes et propose, pour ce faire, un procédé d'allocation de sièges suivant différents paramètres.The present invention makes it possible to meet these expectations and proposes, to do this, a method of allocating seats according to different parameters.
Un premier avantage de ce procédé est de prendre en compte différents niveaux de priorité des clients. Il peut donc s'adapter à la présence de différentes classes de service aérien telles que classe affaire ou encore classe économique. Un autre avantage de l'invention est qu'elle prend en compte différents critères de choix afin de mieux répondre aux préférences exprimées par les clients. A ce sujet, différents critères pourront être sélectionnés et parmi lesquels l'adjacence du passager avec des tierces personnes, les sièges ou les zones de l'avion dans lesquelles le passager souhaite être placé, l'appartenance à un vol multi tronçons (avec correspondance), la distribution des masses ou encore des services de confort particuliers tel que la préservation de places libres autour du passager.A first advantage of this process is to take into account different priority levels of customers. It can therefore adapt to the presence of different classes of air service such as business class or even economy class. Another advantage of the invention is that it takes into account different selection criteria in order to better respond to the preferences expressed by customers. In this regard, different criteria can be selected and among which the passenger's proximity with third parties, the seats or the areas of the plane in which the passenger wishes to be placed, the membership of a multi-section flight (with connection ), mass distribution or even special comfort services such as the preservation of free seats around the passenger.
Contrairement au mode manuel de placement utilisé actuellement, le procédé ici proposé a l'avantage d'être révisable à chaque changement de situation et particulièrement en cas d'annulation de réservation ou de nouvelle réservation.Unlike the manual placement method currently used, the method proposed here has the advantage of being revisable at each change of situation and particularly in the event of cancellation of a reservation or a new reservation.
Pour parvenir à ces avantages, la présente invention met en oeuvre différents moyens informatiques dont une base de données permettant d'exploiter différents critères concourants à la détermination d'un plan d'allocation des sièges aux clients.To achieve these advantages, the present invention implements various computer means including a database making it possible to use different criteria contributing to the determination of a plan for allocating seats to customers.
D'autres buts et avantages apparaîtront au cours de la description qui suit d'un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention qui n'en n'est cependant pas limitatif.Other objects and advantages will appear during the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is not, however, limiting.
Dans ce cadre, la description qui suit s'applique à une réservation de sièges pour des transports aériens, à bord d'un avion. Cependant, cette application n'est pas limitative et l'invention pourra être mise en œuvre pour toute autre secteur technique où une réservation de places est nécessaire.In this context, the following description applies to a reservation of seats for air transport on board an aircraft. However, this application is not limiting and the invention may be implemented for any other technical sector where a reservation of places is necessary.
L'invention concerne un procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients, utilisable par un système de réservation par ordinateur et comportant les étapes d'allocation suivantes : affectation, dans une base de données, à chaque client, de données relatives à des critères de placement ; détermination d'une valeur de satisfaction du client pour un siège en fonction de l'adéquation aux critères de placement, affectation, dans une base de données, à chaque client, d'un niveau de priorité, allocation par un serveur d'allocation, à chaque client, par ordre décroissant de niveau de priorité, du siège disponible ayant la valeur de satisfaction maximale. Ce procédé pourra se présenter suivant les variantes préférées introduites ci- après : réi ère es é ap o n a c aque n erva ion ou annulation de siège, si les sièges disponibles sont tous affectés, placement des clients restants sur liste d'attente, on affecte à chaque siège au moins un attribut d'inclusion dans le groupe des sièges disponibles, pour la définition des sièges disponibles pour l'allocation, on exclut du groupe des sièges disponibles les sièges dont la réservation est confirmée par le client, pour les clients dont le siège a une réservation confirmée, on effectue une procédure de recherche d'un meilleur siège éventuel par les étapes d'allocation, les critères de placement comportent des données de zone ou d'emplacement de sièges souhaités par le client, les critères de placement comportent un critère d'adjacence du client avec au moins un autre client, on affecte à chaque critère de placement un attribut le définissant soit comme obligatoire, soit comme préférentiel, on affecte à chaque critère de placement un attribut de pondération pour la détermination des valeurs de satisfaction. Dans le cadre de l'invention, on distingue les sièges pour lesquels une réservation a déjà été confirmée et qui sont considérés comme non disponibles pour le futur, des sièges pour lesquels la réservation n'est pas encore confirmée, c'est-à- dire non définitive. Ces derniers sièges sont inclus dans la procédure d'allocation ici présentée. A chaque itération du procédé selon l'invention, ces sièges disponibles peuvent être réalloués selon l'évolution des critères mis en œuvre par le procédé de l'invention.The invention relates to a method for allocating seats to customers, usable by a computer reservation system and comprising the following allocation steps: allocation, in a database, to each customer, of data relating to criteria placement; determination of a customer satisfaction value for a seat according to the adequacy of the placement criteria, assignment, in a database, to each client, of a priority level, allocation by an allocation server, each customer, in descending order of priority level, of the available seat with the maximum satisfaction value. This process may be presented according to the preferred variants introduced below: rei ere re ap onac aque n erva ion or seat cancellation, if the available seats are all allocated, placement of the remaining customers on the waiting list, each seat is assigned at least one attribute for inclusion in the group of seats available, for the definition of the seats available for allocation, the seats whose reservation is confirmed by the client are excluded from the group of available seats, for customers whose seat has a confirmed reservation, a search procedure is carried out for a better possible seat by the allocation steps, the placement criteria include data of area or location of seats desired by the client, the placement criteria include a criterion of adjacency of the client with at least one other client, we assign to each placement criterion an attribute defining it either as compulsory or as preferential, we assign to each placement criterion a weight attribute eration for determining satisfaction values. Within the framework of the invention, a distinction is made between seats for which a reservation has already been confirmed and which are considered to be unavailable for the future, from seats for which the reservation has not yet been confirmed, that is to say say no final. These latter seats are included in the allocation procedure presented here. At each iteration of the method according to the invention, these available seats can be reallocated according to the evolution of the criteria implemented by the method of the invention.
Dans la pratique, si un passager a confirmé sa réservation, le siège qui lui a été alloué est considéré alors comme non disponible. C'est particulièrement le cas lorsqu'il a déjà opéré l'enregistrement et qu'il possède une carte d'embarquement avec un numéro de siège publié. Dans les autres cas, les sièges sont considérés disponibles.In practice, if a passenger has confirmed his reservation, the seat allocated to him is then considered to be unavailable. This is particularly the case when he has already checked in and has a boarding pass with a published seat number. In other cases, the seats are considered available.
Dans la base de données utilisée par la présente invention, le caractère de disponibilité ou non des sièges sera défini au moins par un attribut d'inclusion dans le groupe des sièges disponibles. Si cet attribut est positif, le siège est inclus dans la masse des sièges disponibles pour le calcul de l'allocation. Dans le cas contraire, le siège est exclu du procédé d'allocation.In the database used by the present invention, the availability or otherwise of seats will be defined at least by an inclusion attribute in the group of seats available. If this attribute is positive, the seat is included in the mass of seats available for calculating the allocation. Otherwise, the seat is excluded from the allocation process.
De façon plus précise, l'attribut d'inclusion sera fonction du fait que la réservation est confirmée par le client ou non. Cela étant, si un client a un siège dont la réservation est confirmée (particulièrement un enregistrement avec un numéro de siège publié), on pourra effectuer une procédure de recherche d'un meilleur siège éventuel par les étapes d'allocation de l'invention. Dans ce cadre, on garantit au client une satisfaction minimale par le siège qui est déjà publié et on effectue une recherche d'un meilleur siège.More specifically, the inclusion attribute will depend on whether the reservation is confirmed by the customer or not. However, if a client has a seat whose reservation is confirmed (particularly a registration with a published seat number), we can carry out a procedure for finding a better possible seat by the allocation steps of the invention. In this context, the customer is guaranteed minimum satisfaction by the seat which is already published and a search for a better seat is carried out.
Pour la procédure selon l'invention, on utilisera particulièrement des moyens informatiques pour la mise en œuvre. Ces moyens comprennent des moyens de stockage de données et particulièrement une base de données informatique ainsi que des moyens de traitement sous forme d'un processeur.For the procedure according to the invention, IT means will be used in particular for the implementation. These means include data storage means and particularly a computer database as well as processing means in the form of a processor.
Dans un premier temps, on procède à la définition du groupe de sièges disponibles auquel on va appliquer le procédé d'allocation. Ce groupe de sièges disponibles est défini par soustraction à l'ensemble des sièges de l'avion des sièges considérés comme non disponibles dont ceux pour lesquels la réservation est confirmée. D'autres sièges peuvent également être considérés comme non disponibles pour d'autres raisons, en particulier si ils ne peuvent pas être utilisés en cours de vol.First, we define the group of available seats to which we will apply the allocation process. This group of available seats is defined by subtracting all the seats on the aircraft from the seats considered to be unavailable, including those for which the reservation is confirmed. Other seats may also be considered unavailable for other reasons, in particular if they cannot be used during the flight.
On affecte, par ailleurs, dans la base de données, à chaque client, un niveau de priorité. On pourra utiliser comme niveau de priorité les différents niveaux de classes utilisés actuellement dans le transport aérien, telles la classe affaire et la classe économique. Cependant, tout autre type de classification peut être utilisé pour affiner le calcul.In addition, each customer is assigned a priority level in the database. The different levels of classes currently used in air transport, such as business class and economy class, can be used as a priority level. However, any other type of classification can be used to refine the calculation.
La base de données comporte également, pour chaque client, des données relatives à des critères de placement.The database also includes, for each client, data relating to investment criteria.
On donne ci-après différents exemples de critères de placement qui pourront être utilisés :Various examples of placement criteria that can be used are given below:
1- Zone de l'avion dans laquelle le passager d'un certain niveau de priorité devrait être placé,1- Area of the airplane in which the passenger of a certain level of priority should be placed,
2- Siège particulier convenant au passager, 3- Critère d'adjacence ou de relation avec d'autres passagers : suivant ce critère, il est possible d'effectuer une allocation en respectant un placement à proximité d'un ou plusieurs autres passagers dans l'avion. On peut également définir différents de niveaux de respect de ce critère d'adjacence. En particulier, il peut être uniquement préférentiel ou, au contraire, obligatoire.2- Special seat suitable for the passenger, 3- Adjacent or relationship with other passengers criterion: according to this criterion, it is possible to make an allocation while respecting placement near one or more other passengers on the plane. We can also define different levels of compliance with this adjacency criterion. In particular, it can be only preferential or, on the contrary, compulsory.
4- Critère de vol multi tronçons : dans certains cas, des correspondances sont nécessaires entre plusieurs tronçons d'un même vol. Dans ce cadre, un critère de placement particulier dans l'avion peut être considéré, notamment pour assurer la disponibilité d'un siège pour un passager dans le cadre d'un vol en correspondance.4- Multi-section flight criteria: in some cases, connections are necessary between several sections of the same flight. In this context, a particular placement criterion on the plane can be considered, in particular to ensure the availability of a seat for a passenger within the framework of a connecting flight.
5- Critère de distribution des masses dans l'engin : ce critère est nécessaire pour assurer une bonne répartition du poids dans l'avion et assurer la sécurité du transport.5- Criterion of mass distribution in the machine: this criterion is necessary to ensure a good distribution of the weight in the plane and to ensure the safety of transport.
6- Critère additionnel de confort : ce critère est particulièrement utilisable pour des passagers de niveau de priorité élevé.6- Additional comfort criterion: this criterion is particularly usable for passengers with a high priority level.
A titre d'exemple, il peut s'agir de services additionnels qu'il convient de satisfaire comme la préservation de places libres autour du passager.For example, these may be additional services that should be met, such as the preservation of free seats around the passenger.
Les critères de placement dont les exemples ont été donnés ci-dessus peuvent avoir différents niveaux d'importance et le calcul sera donc pondéré en conséquence. En particulier, certains critères peuvent être absolument obligatoires, d'autres d'importance mineure ou d'autres d'importance moyenne. On affecte donc à chaque critère un poids particulier.The placement criteria, the examples of which have been given above, may have different levels of importance and the calculation will therefore be weighted accordingly. In particular, some criteria may be absolutely mandatory, others of minor importance or others of moderate importance. We therefore assign to each criterion a particular weight.
On donne ci-après un exemple particulier de mise en œuvre de l'invention.A particular example of implementation of the invention is given below.
Tableau 1Table 1
Le tableau ci-dessus donne diverses possibilités de caractéristique d'allocation de sièges à des clients.The table above gives various possibilities for seating allocation characteristics to customers.
Les clients avec un statut « Rejeté » ne seront pas pris en compte dans le procédé d'allocation.Customers with a "Rejected" status will not be taken into account in the allocation process.
Le procédé inclut automatiquement tout client auquel un siège a été alloué mais qui ne satisfait pas ses préférences et qui n'a pas été confirmé.The process automatically includes any customer to whom a seat has been allocated but who does not meet their preferences and who has not been confirmed.
En outre, pour les clients qui ont un siège déjà confirmé, une procédure d'allocation selon l'invention reste possible pour la recherche d'un éventuel meilleur siège. L'attribut « Indicateur d'attribution manuel » est alors placé à « Oui ».In addition, for customers who have a seat already confirmed, an allocation procedure according to the invention remains possible for the search for a possible better seat. The attribute "Manual allocation indicator" is then set to "Yes".
Tableau 2Table 2
Le tableau 2 donne un exemple de détermination du groupe de sièges disponibles pour l'allocation. Il illustre divers cas d'indisponibilité de sièges. Au final, sur 100 sièges, seuls 33 sièges entrent dans le groupe de sièges disponibles pour l'allocation.Table 2 gives an example of determining the group of seats available for allocation. It illustrates various cases of unavailability of seats. In the end, out of 100 seats, only 33 seats fall into the group of seats available for allocation.
Si, par exemple, 40 clients doivent faire l'objet d'une allocation, le serveur d'allocation va attribuer les 33 sièges disponibles aux 33 passagers qui ont le niveau de priorité le plus élevé. Les 7 autres n'auront pas de sièges alloués et seront placés sur liste d'attente.If, for example, 40 clients are to be allocated, the allocation server will allocate the 33 seats available to the 33 passengers who have the highest priority level. The other 7 will not have allocated seats and will be placed on the waiting list.
A titre indicatif, deux exemples suivent en ce qui concerne la pondération affectée à chaque critère à prendre en compte.As an indication, two examples follow with regard to the weighting assigned to each criterion to be taken into account.
Exemple de poids des critères de placement en Première Classe :Example of the weight of the criteria for placement in First Class:
- Zone de l'avion : 20%- Plane area: 20%
- Siège le plus adapté : 80%- Most suitable seat: 80%
- Souhait exprimé par le passager : 90%- Wish expressed by the passenger: 90%
- Critère d'adjacence : 15%- Adjacency criterion: 15%
- Critère de distribution des masses : 10%- Mass distribution criterion: 10%
- Critère additionnel de confort (siège de courtoisie) : 60%- Additional comfort criterion (courtesy seat): 60%
Dans cet exemple, le procédé d'allocation de sièges privilégiera les critères de placement suivant : souhait exprimé par le passager (90%) : le procédé d'allocation prendra toutes les décisions nécessaires à la satisfaction des souhaits des passagers, siège le plus adapté (80%) ; le procédé d'allocation attribuera aux passagers les sièges les plus adaptés près des passagers les plus adaptés, critère additionnel de confort (siège de courtoisie) (60%) : le procédé d'allocation essaiera de garder libres des sièges à côté des passagers ayant le plus grand rang.In this example, the seat allocation process will favor the following placement criteria: wish expressed by the passenger (90%): the allocation process will take all the decisions necessary to satisfy the wishes of the passengers, most suitable seat (80%); the allocation process will allocate passengers the most suitable seats near the most suitable passengers, additional comfort criterion (courtesy seat) (60%): the allocation process will try to keep free seats next to passengers having the highest rank.
D'autres critères de placement seront considérés comme moins importants : critère de distribution des masses (10%) : la Première classe représente, habituellement, une petite partie de l'avion et le critère de distribution des masses n'est pas la clé du procédé d'allocation. Critère d'adjacence (15%) : la plupart des voyageurs, en Première classe, sont des hommes d'affaires n'ayant pas besoin d'être assis côte à côte (comme une famille pourrait l'être en Classe Economique). Voici maintenant un exemple de poids des critères de placement en Classe Economique :Other placement criteria will be considered less important: mass distribution criterion (10%): First class usually represents a small part of the plane and the mass distribution criterion is not the key to allocation process. Adjacency criterion (15%): most travelers in First Class are businessmen who do not need to be seated side by side (as a family could be in Economy Class). Here is an example of the weight of the criteria for placement in Economy Class:
- Zone de l'avion : 80%- Plane area: 80%
- Siège le plus adapté : 30%- Most suitable seat: 30%
- Souhait exprimé par le passager : 50%- Wish expressed by the passenger: 50%
- Critère d'adjacence : 70%- Adjacency criterion: 70%
- Critère de distribution des masses : 10%- Mass distribution criterion: 10%
- Critère additionnel de confort (siège de courtoisie) : 05%- Additional comfort criterion (courtesy seat): 05%
Dans cet exemple, le procédé d'allocation de sièges privilégiera les critères de placement suivant : zone de l'avion (80%) : le procédé d'allocation attribuera les sièges principalement en tenant compte de leur catégorie. Par exemple, les mineurs voyageant seuls auront des sièges dans la même zone de l'avion (arrière de la cabine). Les passagers voyageant régulièrement seront assis à l'avant de la cabine, critère d'adjacence (70%) : un grand nombre de groupes et de familles voyagent en Classe économique et ont besoin d'être assis côte à côte. Le procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients calcule, pour chaque passager, un nombre de sièges possibles et les classe. Par exemple, le passagerIn this example, the seat allocation process will favor the following placement criteria: aircraft area (80%): the allocation process will allocate seats mainly taking into account their category. For example, minors traveling alone will have seats in the same area of the plane (rear of the cabin). Passengers traveling regularly will be seated at the front of the cabin, adjacency criteria (70%): a large number of groups and families travel in Economy Class and need to be seated side by side. The method of allocating seats to customers calculates, for each passenger, a number of possible seats and classifies them. For example, the passenger
DUPONT pourra se voir attribuer 4 sièges :DUPONT may be allocated 4 seats:
12A : rang 95%-> satisfait tous les critères de placement (le passager souhaitait un hublot et le siège 12A est situé près d'un hublot). C'est un très bon siège pour le passager DUPONT. 14B : rang 80% -> satisfait une partie des critères de placement. C'est un bon siège pour le passager DUPONT. 20E : rang 20% ... 34F : rang 12% ... Le procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients prend en compte tous les sièges possibles pour chaque passager et cherche une concordance : DUPONT aura le siège 14B, DURANT aura le siège 21A etc.... afin de maximiser la satisfaction des passagers de l'avion. 12A: row 95% -> satisfies all the placement criteria (the passenger wanted a window and seat 12A is located near a window). It is a very good seat for the DUPONT passenger. 14B: rank 80% -> meets part of the investment criteria. It is a good seat for the DUPONT passenger. 20E: rank 20% ... 34F: rank 12% ... The process of allocating seats to customers takes into account all possible seats for each passenger and seeks a match: DUPONT will have seat 14B, DURANT will have the seat 21A etc ... in order to maximize the satisfaction of the passengers on the plane.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé d'allocation de sièges à des clients, utilisable par un système de réservation par ordinateur caractérisé par le fait qu'il comporte les étapes d'allocation suivantes : affectation, dans une base de données, à chaque client, de données relatives à des critères de placement ; détermination d'une valeur de satisfaction du client pour un siège en fonction de l'adéquation aux critères de placement, affectation, dans une base de données, à chaque client, d'un niveau de priorité, allocation par un serveur d'allocation, à chaque client, par ordre décroissant de niveau de priorité, du siège disponible ayant la valeur de satisfaction maximale.1. Method for allocating seats to customers, usable by a computer reservation system characterized in that it comprises the following allocation steps: allocation, in a database, to each customer, of relative data placement criteria; determination of a customer satisfaction value for a seat according to the adequacy of the placement criteria, assignment, in a database, to each client, of a priority level, allocation by an allocation server, each customer, in descending order of priority level, of the available seat with the maximum satisfaction value.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 caractérisé par le fait qu'on réitère des étapes d'allocation à chaque nouvelle réservation ou annulation de siège.2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that it reiterates allocation steps with each new reservation or cancellation of seat.
3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2 caractérisé par le fait que si les sièges disponibles sont tous affectés, placement des clients restants sur liste d'attente.3. Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that if the available seats are all allocated, placement of the remaining customers on the waiting list.
4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3 caractérisé par le fait qu'on affecte à chaque siège au moins un attribut d'inclusion dans le groupe des sièges disponibles, pour la définition des sièges disponibles pour l'allocation.4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that one assigns to each seat at least one inclusion attribute in the group of available seats, for the definition of seats available for allocation.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4 caractérisé par le fait qu'on exclut du groupe des sièges disponibles les sièges dont la réservation est confirmée par le client.5. Method according to claim 4 characterized in that excludes from the group of available seats the seats whose reservation is confirmed by the customer.
6. Procédé selon la revendication 5 caractérisé par le fait que pour les clients dont le siège a une réservation confirmée, on effectue une procédure de recherche d'un meilleur siège éventuel par les étapes d'allocation.6. Method according to claim 5 characterized in that for customers whose seat has a confirmed reservation, a procedure is carried out for finding a better possible seat by the allocation steps.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6 caractérisé par le fait que les critères de placement comportent des données de zone ou d'emplacement de sièges souhaités par le client.7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the placement criteria include area or seat data desired by the client.
8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7 caractérisé par le fait que les critères de placement comportent un critère d'adjacence du client avec au moins un autre client.8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the placement criteria include a criterion of adjacency of the client with at least one other client.
9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8 caractérisé par le fait qu'on affecte à chaque critère de placement un attribut le définissant soit comme obligatoire, soit comme préférentiel.9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that one assigns to each placement criterion an attribute defining it either as compulsory or as preferential.
10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8 caractérisé par le fait qu'on affecte à chaque critère de placement un attribut de pondération pour la détermination des valeurs de satisfaction. 10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that a weighting attribute is assigned to each placement criterion for the determination of satisfaction values.
PATENTCOOPERATIONTREATYPATENTCOOPERATIONTREATY
PCTPCT
DECLARATION OF NON-ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT (PCT Article 17(2)(a), Rules 13ter.l(c) and 39)DECLARATION OF NON-ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT (PCT Article 17 (2) (a), Rules 13ter.l (c) and 39)
This International Searching Authority hereby déclares, according to Article 17(2)(a), that no international search report will be establishcd on the international application for the reasons indicated below.This International Searching Authority hereby declares, according to Article 17 (2) (a), that no international search report will be establishcd on the international application for the reasons indicated below.
1. X The subject matter of the international application relates to: a. | | scientific théories. b. ^ mathematical théories. c. r~j plant varieties. d. rj animal varieties. e. r~j essentially biological processes for the production of plants and animais, other than microbiological processes and the products of such processes. f. ππ schemes, rules or methods of doing business. g. [""] schemes, rules or methods of performing purely mental acts. h. ] schemes, rules or methods of playing games. i . |_j methods for treatment of the human body by surgery or therapy. j. [~ J methods for treatment of the animal body by surgery or therapy. k. r~ _] diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body. 1. ["J mère présentations of information, m. [" computer programs for which this International Searching Authority is not equipped to search prior art.1. X The subject matter of the international application relates to: a. | | scientific theories. b. ^ mathematical theories. vs. r ~ j plant varieties. d. rj animal varieties. e. r ~ j essentially biological processes for the production of plants and animais, other than microbiological processes and the products of such processes. f. ππ schemes, rules or methods of doing business. g. [ "" ] schemes, rules or methods of performing purely mental acts. h. ] schemes, rules or methods of playing games. i. | _j methods for treatment of the human body by surgery or therapy. j. [~ J methods for treatment of the animal body by surgery or therapy. k. r ~ _] diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body. 1. [ " J mère presentations de information, m. [ " Computer programs for which this International Searching Authority is not equipped to search prior art.
2. ra The failure of the following parts of the international application to comply with prescribed requirements prevents a meaningful search from being carried out:2. ra The failure of the following parts of the international application to comply with prescribed requirements prevents a meaningful search from being carried out:
| | the description [xj the claims ] the drawings| | the description [xj the claims] the drawings
3. PI The failure of the nucleotide and or amino acid séquence listing to comply with the standard provided for in Annex C of the3. PI The failure of the nucleotide and or amino acid sequence listing to comply with the standard provided for in Annex C of the
Administrative Instructions prevents a meaningful search from being carried out:Administrative Instructions prevents a meaningful search from being carried out:
| | the written form has not been fumished or does not comply with the standard.| | the written form has not been fumished or does not comply with the standard.
| | the computer readable form has not been furnished or does not comply with the standard.| | the computer readable form has not been furnished or does not comply with the standard.
4. Further comments:4. Further comments:
Form PCT/IS A/203 (July 1998) Form PCT / IS A / 203 (July 1998)
EP03765143A 2002-07-02 2003-06-13 Method of allocating seats to customers in a computer reservation system Withdrawn EP1532564A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

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FR0208243 2002-07-02
FR0208243A FR2842003A1 (en) 2002-07-02 2002-07-02 Method of allocating seats to clients in a computerized airline seat reservation system, includes allocating placement criteria and satisfaction values into database and using an allocation server
US44469303P 2003-02-04 2003-02-04
US444693P 2003-02-04
PCT/FR2003/050011 WO2004010349A2 (en) 2002-07-02 2003-06-13 Method of allocating seats to customers in a computer reservation system

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