KR20160122084A - A system and method for booking a travel product - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for booking a travel product by incorporating a digital code associated with a travel offer into a machine-readable label and displaying the label as part of a travel offer advertisement for the travel product. The machine-readable label may be scanned by a prospective customers mobile computing device to initiate communication between the mobile computing device and a reservation system. A customer may thereafter submit contact information and information regarding the travel offer to the reservation system. A travel dossier is generated with the received information and is queued for later review by a travel agent. The travel agent may thereafter review the travel dossier and adequately prepare to discuss the original travel offer and any alternative or substitute travel offers during a personal interaction with the customer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for reserving travel goods,

The present invention relates generally to computers, databases, and computer systems, and more particularly to methods, systems, and computer program products for booking travel products.

In the highly competitive market of travel product reservation and travel processing, online travel awards and offline travel awards compete for customers. Customer acquisition, conversion, and retention are important. Any mechanism for acquiring a potential customer anywhere, anytime, should be considered. However, since offline travel agencies and airlines are limited by business hours and resource constraints, their ability to interact with potential customers is limited. Also, if traditional small-scale travel agencies are crowded or crowded, customers with inquiries about travel goods or inquiries about travel can not use travel agency services. Likewise, while potential customers may find travel suggestions that appeal to, for example, office window advertisements, there is no room for immediate discussion with travel agents on the client's schedule. Often these potential sales leads are lost if potential customers turn to other travel agencies or online services. If a call center is overloaded by a potential travel buyer who prefers manual intervention by a travel agency, online travel agents and airlines may miss the potential advantage.

When a customer contacts directly with either an offline travel agent or an online call center travel agent, the travel agency spends time in the first personal interaction that simply acquires the information needed to create a customer profile to investigate future travel schedules. . The process can be time consuming and disruptive when a travel agent can not immediately present critical information such as travel goods or travel services appropriate to the customer. The initial personal interaction between a customer and a travel agent typically focuses on obtaining basic information from the customer, such as the customer's name, contact, address, and other information needed to form a useful customer profile. Therefore, due to the long process of starting a travel reservation with a travel agent, the client usually makes the most effort to schedule the travel and only agrees with the travel agent if the client decides firmly on the travel details desired. The travel agency does not have the opportunity to up-sell or cross-sell related services or alternative travel products to the customer. Also, if a reservation actually occurs, the price may have changed, or the selected travel offer or preferred schedule may no longer be available, resulting in complaints about the entire booking process as well as the travel agency.

Thus, there continues to be a need in the art for a way to facilitate reservations for travel goods.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a method for reserving a travel product is provided. The method includes maintaining a travel suggestion database, wherein the travel suggestion database includes a plurality of travel suggestions and a digital code associated with each travel suggestion. The method further includes receiving, by an online service, a name and a contact for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service, and a digital code associated with the travel offer. The method further comprises queuing a travel dossier to the reservation system, wherein the travel city includes a name and a contact for a user received from the mobile computing device. The method further includes accessing a travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion. The method further comprises, in response to determining the availability of the travel offer, associating the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system. The method further comprises transmitting the queued travel city to the travel agent so that the travel agent can contact the user using the contact and complete the reservation of the user for at least one travel item using the travel city .

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for reserving travel goods is provided. The system includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions, when executed by the processor, to cause the system to maintain a travel suggestion database, the travel suggestion database comprising a plurality of travel suggestions, Includes the digital code associated with the travel offer. When executed by the processor, the system further comprises instructions for causing the system to receive, by an online service, a name and contact for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service, and a digital code associated with the travel offer . The system further includes instructions for causing the system to queue a travel dossier to a reservation system when executed by the processor, wherein the travel city includes a user who is received from the mobile computing device Include the name and contact information. The system further includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to access the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion. The system, when executed by the processor, further comprises instructions for causing the system to associate the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system in response to the determination of the availability of the travel offer. The system, when executed by the processor, causes the system to contact the user using the contact, and to complete the reservation of the user for at least one travel item using the travel city To the travel agency, to the queued travel city.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product is provided for reserving travel goods. The computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and instructions stored on the non-transient computer readable storage medium, the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to maintain a travel suggestion database And the travel suggestion database includes a plurality of travel suggestions and a digital code associated with each travel suggestion. The computer program product, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to perform the steps of: receiving, by an online service, a digital code associated with a name and contact for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service, . The computer program product further comprises instructions, when executed by the processor, to cause the computer to queue a travel dossier to a reservation system, wherein the travel city includes instructions for receiving, from the mobile computing device, Include the name and contact for the user. The computer program product further includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computer to access a travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion. The computer program product, when executed by the processor, further comprises instructions for causing the computer to associate the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system in response to determining the availability of the travel offer. The computer program product, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to cause the travel agent to contact the user using the contact and to make the reservation of the user for at least one travel item using the travel city And to transmit the queued travel city to the travel agency so as to be able to do so.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various 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 an illustration of an exemplary operating environment, including a reservation system for communicating with a mobile computing device via an online service, such as the World Wide Web.
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the exemplary computer system of Figure 1;
3 is a schematic diagram of a reservation system including a database, a travel suggestion database, a profile database, and a business intelligence database in a travel city;
Figure 4 is a graphical illustration of a table in an exemplary travel chart.
5 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary travel suggestion table.
Figure 6 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary customer profile table.
7 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary business intelligence table.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a travel agency storefront and a mobile computing device.
Fig. 9 is a graphical illustration of advertisement display information regarding a travel suggestion.
10 is a graphical illustration of an online service interface on a mobile computing device.
11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary action set and corresponding data flow between a customer, a reservation system, and a travel agent.
12 is a flow diagram of a reservation process that may be performed by the reservation system of FIG. 1 with a mobile computing device.
13 is a flow diagram of an alternative or alternative travel suggestion decision process that may be performed by the reservation system of FIG.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and system for reserving travel goods. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented by one or more networked computers or servers. Networked computers can be operated by Global Distribution System (GDS) and can provide processing and database functions for travel related systems and modules.

The embodiments described below focus on an airline-oriented application, wherein the service component is an airplane flight, the travel means is an airplane, the travel product is a travel schedule that can include multiple flight segments, , And may be subject to no-show, cancellation or other schedule changes, and reserved seats may not be used by the customer at departure time. As such, the travel offers and travel products of the embodiments described below relate to the airline's underlying business environment. For example, a travel offer relates to suggesting a travel reservation that will return from another departure city to another destination on a particular day.

A travel offer is a collection of one or more goods or one or more travel-related services offered to a customer at a specific price point. For example, a travel offer may include a round trip airplane from the first city to the second city at $ 99, or a round trip airplane, hotel reservation, and event ticket at $ 599. The customer is invited to purchase the travel offer, and at the suggested price, they will purchase the built-in travel product or travel service that is listed in the travel offer.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an operating environment 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may include or reside within a reservation system 20 that may be located in a Global Distribution System (GDS). In general, the reservation system 20 operates to facilitate reservation of one or more travel goods or travel services that may be offered to a prospective customer as a travel offer at a predetermined price point. The travel offer can be advertised and configured with attractive parameters for future customers, and the customer can be invited to meet with the travel agent to discuss the reservation of the travel product reflected in the travel offer. The travel suggestion may be displayed as an advertisement with a machine readable label configured to utilize the digital code associated with the travel offer when the customer is scanning the machine readable label with the mobile computing device 12. [ Scanning of the machine readable label connects the mobile computing device 12 to online services such as the World Wide Web 24. The online service is configured to receive the digital code associated with the travel offer and the customer's name and contact and to pass that information to the reservation system 20. [

The reservation system 20 is configured to collect customer data before a personal interaction between a future customer and a travel agent. The details of the travel offer and the collected information can be used to form a travel dossier associated with future customers. The Travel City encapsulates details of the customer's contact and travel suggestions. The travel city may include a passenger name record (RNR) or a total travel record (TTR) in which the contact provided by the customer is listed. The additional customer information may be provided and retrieved from the profile data or from other components or elements in the reservation process if the customer had previously interacted with the reservation system 20. For example, if a customer had previously traveled with a particular travel carrier, the travel carrier might have stored customer profile information in the profile database. When a customer inquires about a travel proposal in the future, the reservation system can access the profile database to retrieve customer information and fill in the travel city with this additional information. The additional travel suggestion information may be retrieved and provided from a travel suggestion database that can be configured to identify the embedded travel commodity that is reflected in the travel suggestion using the digital code as a reference key or reference identifier. Thus, when a machine-readable label is scanned in an advertisement displaying a travel suggestion, a contact is inputted, and the information is transmitted to the reservation system 20, a travel city is created and customer information and travel offer information are described. The Travel City is then provided to the travel agency to use to prepare for the initial personal interaction with the customer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, before the booking system 20 provides the travel agency with a travel offer, the travel offer is verified to determine whether or not the travel offer is still viable. Considering the dynamic nature of the travel industry, the flight may have been overbooked or canceled, or the fare may have changed so that the travel offer is no longer valid. The reservation system 20 determines one or more alternate travel suggestions that are generally comparable to the original travel offer if it is determined that the travel offer is no longer valid. The travel city then provides information about the alternative travel offer. This process prevents the travel agent from providing the customer with information about the invalid travel offer and providing the first personal interaction between the customer and the travel agent when the alternative travel offer has already been determined.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reservation system 20 may determine one or more alternative travel offers that are generally comparable to the original travel offer, before the reservation system 20 provides the travel agency with a travel city. After that, information on the alternative travel offer is written in the travel city, and the travel agency can discuss the alternative travel offer with the customer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, before the reservation system 20 provides the travel agency with a travel agent, the reservation system 20 may be free of charge for one or more of the original travel offer, alternate travel suggestion, or alternate travel suggestion Travel suggestions or services can be determined. For example, if the initial travel offer is for an airplane trip to a particular destination, the reservation system 20 may be configured to offer a dinner reservation at a particular restaurant or a show reservation at a destination during the trip. Travel City then lists information about free travel goods or services, and the travel agency can discuss these free goods and services with customers.

After the travel city is established, the reservation system 20 queues or stores it in the travel city for the review of the travel company at the discretion of the travel agency. A notice may be sent to the travel agent in the form of an email or an appointment request to invite the travel agent to contact the prospective customer to review the travel city and discuss the next step in the booking process. The travel agency may receive the notification and review the travel city on the display screen 15 of the computing device 14. The travel agency may also perform additional investigations on the computing device 14 in an effort to prepare for the initial personal interaction with the client. Thus, the first personal interaction between the customer and the travel agent may become more efficient, and may result in additional transactions between the customer and the travel agent in the future, or the liking may increase.

The operating environment 10 may further include a network 22. The mobile computing device 12, the computing device 14, the reservation system 20, and the world wide web 24 may communicate with each other via the network 22. [ The network 22 may include one or more private or public networks (e.g., the Internet) that enable data exchange.

2, a mobile computing device 12, computing device 14, reservation system 20, and the world wide web 24 of the operating environment 10 are coupled to one of the exemplary computer systems 26, Or more computing devices or systems. The computer system 26 may include a processor 28, a memory 30, a mass storage device 32, an input / output (I / O) interface 34 and an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 36. The computer system 26 may be operatively coupled to one or more external resources 38 via the network 22 or the I / O interface 34. [ External resources may include, but are not limited to, servers, databases, mass storage devices, peripherals, cloud-based network services, or other suitable computer resources that may be utilized by computer system 26.

The processor 28 may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuit, analog circuit, digital circuit, And other devices that manipulate signals (analog or digital) based on stored operational instructions. The memory 30 may be a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory But may include a plurality of memory devices or a single memory device, including, but not limited to, other devices capable of storing information. The mass storage device 32 may include data storage devices such as hard drives, optical drives, tape drives, non-volatile solid state devices, or other devices capable of storing information.

The processor 28 may operate under the control of the operating system 40 resident in the memory 30. [ The operating system 40 is capable of managing computer resources such that computer program code embodied as one or more computer software applications, such as applications 42 residing within the memory 30, may have instructions to be executed by the processor 28 have. In an alternative embodiment, the processor 28 may execute the application 42 directly, in which case the operating system 40 may be omitted. One or more data structures 44 may also reside within memory 30 and may be utilized by processor 28, operating system 40, or application 42 to store or manipulate data.

The I / O interface 34 may provide a machine interface that operatively connects the processor 28 to other devices and computers, such as the network 22 or external resources 38. The application 42 then communicates with the network 22 or external resources 38 by communicating via the I / O interface 34 to provide various features, functions, applications, processes or modules, including embodiments of the present invention, You can work in cooperation. The application 42 may also have program code that is executed by one or more external resources 38 or may rely on functions or signals provided by other systems or network components external to the computer system 26 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention may be practiced anywhere within the computer system 26, distributed among multiple computers or other external resources 38, (Hardware and software) that are provided as a service through the network 22 of the computing system 100. In addition,

The HMI 36 may be operatively connected to the processor 28 of the computer system 26 in a known manner that allows a user to interact directly with the computer system 26. [ The HMI 36 may include a video or alphanumeric display, a touch screen, a speaker, or other suitable audible and visual indicators capable of providing data to the user. The HMI 36 also includes input devices such as alphanumeric keyboards, pointing devices, keypads, push buttons, control knobs, microphones, and the like, which can accept commands or inputs from a user and transmit the inputs to the processor 28 You can include controls.

The database 46 may reside on the mass storage device 32 and may be used to collect and organize data utilized by the various systems and modules described herein. The database 46 may include data and a supporting data structure for storing and organizing the data. Specifically, the database 46 may be arranged in any database organization or structure, including but not limited to a relational database, a hierarchical database, a network database, or a combination thereof. A database management system in the form of a computer software application executing as an instruction on processor 28 may be used to access information or data stored in a record of database 46 in response to a query, Other applications 42, or more than one module. 3, the database 46 includes a database 48, a travel suggestion database 50, a customer profile database 52, a business intelligence database 54, and a business intelligence database 54 in a travel city in an embodiment of the present invention. , Or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a reservation system 20 includes one or more of a mobile computing device 12, a computing device 14, a network 22, a World Wide Web 24, or other suitable computing system, The information stored or provided by the above can be utilized or adjusted. In general, the reservation system 20 provides various travel provider services related to supporting and enhancing the travel provider's work. For example, the reservation system 20 may provide information about the passenger and the extended travel record associated with that passenger. This includes passenger information such as passenger name, other traveler, frequent customer number, contact information, and travel information. The reservation system 20 may include or communicate with an inventory system (not shown) that provides information regarding the inventory and availability of the included travel providers. For example, an inventory system may provide information about the availability of passengers' seats or information about passengers. The inventory system may also provide information about the availability of hospitality providers, such as hotels and car rentals.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the reservation system 20 may include a database 48 in a travel city configured to store and maintain a table 56 in a travel city. A pseudo-database table representing the table 56 in the travel city is shown in FIG. The table 56 at the travel city may contain a plurality of rows, each row representing a travel city, hereinafter referred to as a travel city 58. [ In the travel chart shown in Fig. 4, in the embodiment of the table 56, each of the travel cities 58 includes a customer name field 72, a contact field 74, an initial travel offer identification field 76, A travel offer validity field 78, and an alternative travel offer identification field 80. [

The customer name field 72 in each travel city 58 indicates the customer name identifying the customer associated with the travel city 58, i.e., the individual who scanned the machine readable label associated with that travel offer indicated by the travel offer . The customer name field 74 includes a customer contact number such as a telephone number to be used to contact the customer associated with the travel city 58. [ The initial travel offer identification field 76 contains a reference identifier for the specific travel offer associated with the travel city 58. [ The first travel suggestion is a travel suggestion that encourages customers to scan the ad for further inquiries on the travel suggestions displayed on the ad. The initial travel suggestion validity field 78 contains information as to whether or not the initial travel suggestion is valid. At the time between when an advertisement for the initial travel suggestion is made and displayed and when the customer scans the ad, the flight may be full or canceled, or the initial travel offer may have become invalid for a number of other reasons. An alternative travel offer identification field 80 contains information regarding any travel offers that may be alternatives or additions to the original travel offer. For example, if the initial travel offer is no longer available, the reservation system 20 may consider the alternative travel offer and store this information in an alternative travel offer identification field 80. In addition, the reservation system 20 may determine an additional travel offer to be considered by the customer and store the travel offer in the travel offer identification field 80. Since the present invention includes any of the travel offer identification fields 80 included in the travel city 58, one alternative travel offer identification field 80 is shown for illustrative purposes only.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5, the reservation system 20 may include a travel suggestion database 50 configured to store and maintain the travel suggestion table 60. [ A pseudo database table indicating the travel suggestion table 60 is shown in Fig. The travel suggestion table 60 may include a plurality of rows, each row representing a specific travel suggestion, hereinafter referred to as a travel suggestion 62. 5, each travel suggestion 68 includes a code field 81, a travel suggestion identification field 82, a departure date field 84, a duration field 86, An expense field 88, a departure city field 90, and an arrival city field 92.

The cost field 81 is a reference code for the travel suggestion 62. This reference code or digital code may be used by machine readable labels to indicate the travel suggestion. The travel offer identification field 82 of each travel offer 62 includes a travel offer identification entry for indicating a specific travel offer 62. For example, the travel suggestion 62a includes a travel offer identification field entry of "PARIS-LONDON-01 ". The departure date field 84 includes a date entry that identifies when the associated travel offer 62 is scheduled to depart. The duration field 86 contains information regarding the duration for which the associated travel suggestion 62 is scheduled to be extended. The cost field 88 contains the amount associated with the travel offer 62. The departure city field 90 includes an inquiry for a particular city where the travel suggestion 62 is scheduled to depart. The arrival city field 92 contains information about the destination of the travel suggestion 62. [

Referring to Figures 3 and 6, the reservation system 20 may include a customer profile database 52 configured to store and maintain a customer profile table 64. A pseudo database table representing the customer profile table 64 is shown in Fig. The customer profile table 64 may include a plurality of rows, each row representing a particular customer profile, hereinafter referred to as a customer profile 66. Each customer profile 66 includes a customer name field 94, a contact number field 96, and an address field 98 in the embodiment of the customer profile table 64 shown in FIG. A specific customer profile 66 is created when the customer first communicates with the reservation system 20. In a continuous communication with the reservation system 20, the customer profile 66 for that customer may be referenced to provide additional data to the reservation system 20, if necessary.

The customer name field 94 includes a customer name for identifying a customer associated with the customer profile 66. [ The contact number field 96 contains the customer's contact number such as the telephone number to use to contact the customer associated with the customer profile 66. The address field 98 contains information about the customer's address associated with the customer profile 66. The information stored in the customer profile table 64 may be obtained through previous interaction with the customer, or may be derived from a program of a frequent flyer program or other type of customer loyalty. When the prospective customer scans the travel offer and the basic customer information is sent to the reservation system 20, the reservation system 20 checks the customer profile table 64 to determine if there is a customer profile 66 for the prospective customer . If there is a customer profile 66, the booking system 20 records the additional information retrieved from the profile 66, in relation to the customer, to the travel city 58 created by the scanning of the advertisement. This additional information may be used by the travel agency to better serve the customer.

Referring to Figures 3 and 7, the reservation system 20 may include a business intelligence database 54 configured to store and maintain a business intelligence table 68. A pseudo database table representing the business intelligence table 68 is shown in Fig. The business intelligence table 68 may include a plurality of rows, each row representing a particular business intelligence data point, hereinafter referred to as a business intelligence data point 70. 7, each business intelligence data point 70 includes a travel offer identification field 100, a scan time stamp field 102, a place field 104, and a reservation creation < RTI ID = 0.0 & Field 106. < / RTI >

The Travel Proposal Identification field 100 is a reference identifier for a specific travel suggestion of the embedded system. The information contained in the travel offer identification field 100 may refer to the travel offer 62 found in the travel offer table 60. [ The scan timestamp field 102 contains information about when an advertisement reflecting the travel suggestion 62 was scanned by a potential customer. For example, the business intelligence data point 70a includes an entry in the scan timestamp field 102 of 11:45 PM on December 2, 2014. This scan timestamp entry represents the time the potential customer scanned the advertisement for the travel offer "LONDON-MADRID-04 ". The Place field 104 contains information about where the scanning of the Travel Proposal Ad occurred. For example, the entry location 104a indicates that the "LONDON-MADRID-04" travel offer was scanned at the Broad Street Travel agency in London, England. The reservation creation field 106 indicates whether or not the scanning of the travel proposal advertisement ultimately results in reservation of the travel proposal. Each business intelligence data point 70 can be used to analyze and generate valuable business information related to statistics relating to specific travel offers, market penetration, location information, or other useful information. In one embodiment of the reservation system 20, a new business intelligence data point 70 is generated for entering into the business intelligence table 68 each time the mobile computing device 12 scans the ad.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the travel agency may be associated with a physical location, such as the store 108 with the storefront 109. The storefront 109 may be used to display an advertisement that incorporates the details of a particular travel offer 62 into a set of indicia 114. The indicia set 114 generally represents information stored in each travel suggestion 62 of the travel suggestion table 60. For example, the advertisement 110 of FIG. 9 is associated with a travel offer 62a. The travel offer 62a is a roundtrip transaction from Paris to Paris, as shown in the issuing city field 90a and destination city field 92a. The indicia set 114 also shows the departure date information stored in the departure date field 84a, the period information stored in the period field 86a, and the cost information stored in the cost field 88a. Through the indicia set 114, the advertisement 110 displays information about the reservation application of the travel suggestion 62 to encourage the future customer to consider the travel offer 62 reservation.

In one embodiment of the invention, the advertisement 110 may be combined with other marketing elements in addition to the storefront 109. [ For example, the advertisement 110 may be placed on a magazine advertisement, on a brochure, or on a flyer. Advertisements 110 may be introduced into townsquare, at bus stops, or as electronic display style advertisements located within a taxi. The advertisement 110 may even be placed on a T-shirt or other fabric or coated article. Even in this case, the ad 110 may be placed in or on any medium that will be used to focus attention on the travel deal included in the ad 110.

The advertisements 110 may include machine readable tags, such as NFC tags (near field communication tags), or machine readable labels, such as QR codes (quick response codes) or bar codes. Hereinafter, machine readable tags or labels will be referred to as labels 112. The label 112 includes a mechanism for transmitting the digital code associated with the embedded travel suggestion 62 from the label 112 to the scanning device. In this case, the label 112 may be scanned by the mobile computing device 12 to enter a digital code into the future customer's mobile computing device 12. The digital code associated with the specific travel suggestion 62 is stored in the digital code field 81 as shown in Figure 5 and the information about the travel suggestion 62 displayed on the ad 110 is provided to the mobile computing device 12, May be scanned and received by the mobile computing device 12 for input to the mobile computing device 12. Scanning of the label 112 also connects the mobile computing device 12 with the reservation system 20 via an online service such as the World Wide Web 24. The online service provides information about the travel suggestion (62) that the customer will review and consider. The physical print ad 110 can then be incorporated into the label 112 by incorporating the digital code stored in the digital code field 81 of the travel suggestion 62 into the future customer's mobile computing device Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 12 < / RTI > The customer may freely move on the ad 110 when the travel suggestion 62 is displayed on the mobile computing device 12, if the travel agent is not able to close the door or to discuss the travel offer 62 with the travel agent on the customer's schedule And the customer is connected to the reservation system 20 via the online service.

10, when a digital code is received at a customer's mobile computing device 12, an interface 116 for retrieving information stored in a travel suggestion table 60 for the associated digital code is initiated, To display this information to the customer. The interface 116 further includes a client information input element 118 for receiving manually entered information about the customer, such as the customer's first name, last name, phone number, preferred travel, and number of accompanying adults and children do. The interface 116 further includes an activation button 120 for posting the embedded digital code and the information provided in the contact input element 118 to the reservation system 20. This information is encapsulated in a datagram or other mechanism that provides this information to the reservation system 20 for use in facilitating the reservation process.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated a travel product reservation process 200 for a customer in accordance with the present invention. Process 200 begins at process block 202 where a customer views an advertisement displayed on a storefront or other viewable area and uses a mobile computing device to scan the machine readable label on the ad to interact with the advertisement do. The customer's mobile computing device then uses the interface to display information about the embedded travel suggestion and invite the client to enter the contact. If the customer has considered the offer on the mobile computing device, process block 202 moves to process block 204 where the customer requests an appointment with the travel agent to enter the contact to the mobile computing device and discuss the implied travel offer. If the client requests an appointment, process block 204 proceeds to process block 206.

At process block 206, the reservation system 20 receives the customer's appointment request with the contact entered by the customer. Upon receipt of this information, process block 206 proceeds to process block 208. At process block 208, the reservation system 20 compares the information entered by the customer with the profile present in the profile database to determine if this particular customer has previously interacted with the reservation system 20. [ For example, if the customer has previously booked another travel product, the profile database will contain the contact for that customer. At process block 208, if the profile database indicates that the customer has previously interacted with the reservation system 20, then all information about this reservation is retrieved from the profile database for future use in the process. If the booking system 20 determines that the customer is not in the profile database, the booking system 20 updates the profile database to include profile entries for the customer with any information entered by the customer. Process block 208 then proceeds to process block 210.

At process block 210, the reservation system 20 creates a travel city in the database in the travel city. The Travel City includes information about the customer, customer profile information, customer contact, and the first embedded travel suggestion reflected in the scanned travel offer. Process block 210 then proceeds to process block 212. At process block 212, the information about the initial travel suggestion is written in the travel city. In addition, the reservation system 20 determines that the first travel offer is no longer available or valid, and process block 212 organizes one or more alternative travel offers similar to the original travel offer, Type into the city. Reservation system 20 may also consider alternate travel offers regardless of whether the original travel offer is available or valid. Thus, the travel city may include an initial travel offer reflected in the scanned offer, and an alternative travel offer that the travel agent may use to discuss a number of travel options with the customer. Process block 212 then provides the travel agency to the travel agency at process block 214. The travel city may be queued or stored on the reservation system 20 or on the local computer of the travel agency, or on other mechanisms that store the travel city for later retrieval at the travel agency. Once the travel city is queued, process block 214 proceeds to process block 216. [

At process block 216, the travel agent retrieves the travel city from the queue and reviews the information contained therein. The travel agency can use the information contained in the Travel City to prepare and consider the travel suggestions and customer requests included in that Travel City. If the travel agency is well prepared and knowledgeable for the customer's needs, the travel agent contacts the customer at process block 218 and schedules the appointment. At process block 218, the travel agent may call the customer using the contact provided by the customer to schedule the flow of travel between the travel agent and the customer to discuss the initial travel offer and any alternative travel offer, , And may contact the customer with a mechanism for interacting with the customer. If the customer and the travel agent have scheduled an appointment, process block 218 proceeds to process block 220 where the customer and the travel agent make an appointment regarding the initial travel offer and any alternative or alternative travel offer. Before the actual appointment is made, because the travel agency has access to the travel city, the travel agency can have knowledge of the customer's needs and can resolve any scheduling issues or other considerations. This promises to be very efficient and professional and can provide additional services to customers or encourage opportunities to discuss deep travel business with travel agencies.

When an appointment is made at process block 220, the travel agent reserves a travel offer, a travel product, a travel option, or an itinerary that the customer ultimately determines at process block 222. A reserved travel offer is a travel option chosen by the customer after discussion with the travel agent during the appointment. The customer and the travel agent may change the details of the implied travel offer or associated travel goods or services, or the customer may choose alternative or alternate travel offers, or the customer and the travel agent may choose to offer travel goods and services in the new package, A new journey that meets the Each of these dynamic reservation scenarios will be collectively referred to as " selected travel offer " hereinafter. The reservation system 20 then receives the reservation request from the travel agent and updates the implicit reservation for the selected travel offer to reserve the customer. Process block 222 then proceeds to process block 224.

At process block 224, the business intelligence database is updated with relevant information regarding the customer's scanning for that travel offer and any relevant information associated with the entire booking process, from scanning the travel offer to booking the selected travel offer. Information that may be relevant to future business considerations, such as the location of the embedded advertisement, the date and time of the scanning of the advertisement, are considered and stored in the business intelligence database for future use. Business analytics can be done on the business intelligence database to determine the most effective deployment of marketing materials or the most attractive travel offers to customers.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a flow diagram illustrates a process 300 that may be executed by a reservation system 20 in conjunction with an advertisement 110 and a mobile computing device 12. Process 300 begins at block 302 where the customer obtains the digital code associated with the travel offer. The customer obtains the digital code by scanning the machine readable level or tag on the advertisement displaying the travel offer. By obtaining the digital code associated with the travel offer, the customer can view information about the travel offer on the customer's mobile computing device. Process block 302 then proceeds to process block 304. [ Process block 304 causes the customer to read and consider information regarding the travel offer to determine whether or not they wish to continue the booking process that reserves the travel goods or services included in the travel offer. The process block 304 then proceeds to process block 306. [

Process block 306 determines whether the customer wants to generate an appointment request. If, at process block 306, the customer determines that he does not want to generate an appointment request ("NO" branch of decision block 306), then process block 306 ends process 300. If, on the other hand, the customer wants to generate an appointment request at process block 306 ("YES" branch of decision block 306), process block 306 moves to process block 308.

At process block 308, the customer's contact information is collected and a request for appointment or personal interaction between the customer and the travel agent is generated. Process block 308 then proceeds to process block 310 where the received customer information is compared to a customer profile database to determine whether the customer is present in the customer profile database. If the customer is in the customer profile database, then process block 310 moves to process block 312. Alternatively, if at process block 310 the customer determines that it is not in the customer profile database, then the customer profile database is updated with the customer's contact and process block 310 is transferred to process block 312. At process block 312, a travel city is created that contains the received customer data and any relevant or useful customer data available from the customer profile database. The travel city also includes information about the first embedded travel suggestion, such as travel suggestion identification, departure date, duration, cost, departure city, or arrival city. In general, any information that may be useful to the travel agency is included in the travel city to assist the travel agency in performing personal interaction with the customer. Process block 312 then proceeds to process block 314.

Process block 314 determines whether the original travel offer is still available for reservation. If process block 314 determines that the first travel offer is still available for reservation ("YES" branch of decision block 314), process block 314 transfers to process block 318. If, on the other hand, it is determined in process block 314 that the first travel offer is not available for reservation ("NO" branch of decision block 314), process block 314 transitions to process block 316. At process block 316, an alternative travel offer is retrieved and entered into the travel city when the original travel offer is not available for reservation. Process block 316 then transitions to process block 318. At process block 318, the travel city is queued for further review of the travel side. The Travel City includes a customer's contact, the first travel offer, and a possible alternative travel offer if the original travel offer is not available. Process 300 then ends.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a flow diagram illustrates a flow of a booking system to dynamically determine an alternative or additional travel offer, or to provide a travel agent with additional or additional travel offers to discuss with the customer, since the initial travel offer is no longer valid. RTI ID = 0.0 > (400) < / RTI > The initial travel offer may no longer be valid due to a rate hike, overbooking of flights, or because an implied flight has been canceled.

Process 400 begins at process block 402, where it is determined whether or not an initial travel offer is still available. If the first travel suggestion is still available ("YES" branch of process block 402), process block 402 transitions to process block 404. If the first travel offer is no longer available ("NO" branch of process block 402), the process block transitions to process block 406. Process block 404 determines whether an additional travel suggestion should be retrieved. An additional travel offer may be searched to provide the travel agency with an additional offer for the customer along with the initial travel offer. One or more additional travel offers may provide the customer with a pre-formed related alternative and may also support cross-selling and high-priced sales at the travel agency side. An administrator or other decision entity of the reservation system 20 may determine whether to configure the reservation system 20 to provide additional travel suggestions if necessary. If it is determined at process block 404 that an additional travel suggestion should be retrieved ("YES" branch of process block 404), process block 404 transitions to process block 406. If it is determined at process block 404 that no additional travel suggestions need to be retrieved ("NO" branch of process block 404), then process 400 ends.

At process block 406, one or more sub-processes are initiated to retrieve an additional travel suggestion or alternate travel suggestion. For example, process block 406 may initiate a sub-process 406a that retrieves the travel offers with the lowest or lowest price available at the same departure date as the original travel offer. Process block 406 may initiate a sub-process 406b that generally matches the original travel offer, but has an alternative date or retrieves a travel offer using an alternative airline or airline. Process block 406 may initiate sub-process 406c to retrieve the travel offer with the most-sold or most popular features. Process block 406 may initiate sub-process 406d to retrieve a travel offer with an alternative destination that matches the customer's affinity. For example, if the first travel offer is a beach holiday, then a travel offer focused on another beach may be searched in the sub-process 406d.

Process block 406 may alternatively construct or dynamically generate a travel suggestion tailored to the customer based on the metric and information associated with the customer. For example, if the first travel suggestion includes a round-trip flight to Paris, and the customer profile information indicates that the customer has previously visited Rouen in France, process block 406 sends a round- You can create a travel offer that includes a train ticket that includes and visits Paris during the trip. Accordingly, the process block 406 may be configured not only to search for travel offers, but also to dynamically create travel offers to be provided to the travel agency.

After one or more of the sub-processes of process block 406 are initiated and as a result one or more alternative or alternative travel suggestions are retrieved or created, process block 406 is transitioned to process block 408. [ At process block 408, the embedded travel city is updated with additional or alternate travel suggestions retrieved or created at process block 406. [ The process 400 is then terminated. At least one alternative or alternative travel offer may be included for use in discussing travel options with customers if the travel agency reviews the travel city in preparation for discussing the travel option with the customer. Thus, the travel agent can present counter propositions efficiently to customers in order to secure a potential advantage.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of the present invention, whether implemented as part of or even a subset of a sequence of operating systems or specific applications, components, programs, objects, modules, or instructions, Quot; computer program code ", or simply "program code ". Typically, the program code resides at various times within the various memories and storage devices within the computer and, when read and executed by one or more processors within the computer, causes the computer to perform operations that embody various aspects of the embodiments of the invention and / Readable instructions that cause the computer to perform the operations necessary to execute the element. The computer readable program instructions for performing the operations of the embodiments of the present invention may be, for example, either assembly language, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages.

The various program codes described herein may be identified based on the application in which the code is implemented in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that any particular program language words that follow are for convenience only and that the present invention is not limited to use with any particular application identified and / or implied by such nomenclature. In addition, it should be understood that the manner in which a computer program is organized into routines, procedures, methods, modules, objects, and the like, as well as various software layers (e.g., operating systems, libraries, API's, applications, applets, etc.) It should be appreciated that if the various methods that can be assigned are generally infinite, then embodiments of the invention are not limited to the specific organization and allocation of program functionality described herein.

The program code embodied in any of the applications / modules described herein may be distributed individually or collectively as various types of program products. In particular, the program code may be distributed using a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored thereon for causing a processor to perform aspects of an embodiment of the present invention.

Non-volatile, non-volatile, non-removable and non-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, data modules, Tangible media. The computer-readable storage medium may be any type of storage medium such as RAM, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other solid state memory technology, memory, or other optical storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and which can be read by a computer. Computer-readable storage media are not to be construed as a transitory signal (e.g., radio waves or other electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a transmission medium such as waveguides, or electrical signals transmitted through wires) themselves. The computer-readable program instructions may be downloaded to an external computer or external storage device to or from a computer, other type of programmable data processing apparatus, or other device from a computer-readable storage medium.

Computer readable program instructions stored on a computer-readable medium can be stored on a computer-readable medium such that instructions stored on the computer readable medium include instructions that implement the functions, acts, and / or operations specified in the flowcharts, flowcharts, and / May be used to cause a computer, other type of programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to function in a particular manner. The computer program instructions may be provided to one or more processors of a general purpose computer, a professional computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus such that instructions that execute via the one or more processors may be processed in a sequence of operations in flow charts, flowcharts, and / To perform a specified function, act, and / or operation.

In certain alternative embodiments, the functions, acts, and / or operations designated in the flowcharts, flowcharts, and / or block diagrams may be implemented in accordance with embodiments of the present invention by reordering, . Also, any of the flowcharts, flowcharts, and / or block diagrams may include more or fewer blocks than shown in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments of the invention. As used in this specification, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, as used herein, the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, It will be understood that they do not exclude one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It is also to be understood that the terms " includes, "" having," " having, "" with, " " comprised & As used in either the detailed description or the claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term " comprising ".

While the present invention has been described in its entirety with a description of various embodiments and these embodiments have been described in significant detail, applicant's intention is not to limit or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative and illustrated examples. Thus, without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept, things that differ from those details can be made.

Claims (25)

A method for reserving a travel product,
Maintaining a travel offer database, said travel suggestion database comprising a plurality of travel offers and digital codes associated with each travel offer; maintaining the travel offer database;
Receiving, by an online service, a digital code associated with a name, a contact, and a travel offer for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service;
Queuing a travel dossier to a reservation system, wherein the travel city includes a name and a contact for a user received from the mobile computing device; queuing the travel city to the travel city; Wow,
Accessing the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion;
In response to determining the availability of the travel offer, associating the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system,
Delivering the queued travel city to the travel agent so that the travel agent can contact the user using the contact and complete the reservation of the user for at least one travel item using the travel city
Of the travel goods. The method according to claim 1,
Generating an alternative travel offer in response to the unavailability determination of the travel offer;
In response to creating the alternative travel offer, associating the alternative travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system
Further comprising the steps of: 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the travel offer is associated with a travel period and a price,
Further comprising the step of including the travel period, the price, or a combination thereof in the creation of the alternative travel offer. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising performing dynamic travel offer packaging to create the alternative travel offer. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital code is received from a QR (quick response) code or an NFC (near field communication) chip included in an advertisement of the travel suggestion. 6. The method of claim 5,
Maintaining a business intelligence database,
Collecting a set of metrics associated with the QR code, the NFC chip, the advertisement, the travel suggestion, or a combination thereof;
Storing the metric set in the business intelligence database
Further comprising the steps of: The method according to claim 1,
Accessing the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine a possible additional item;
Associating the potential additional item with a travel city in the reservation system so that the travel agent can notify the user of the potential additional item
Further comprising the steps of: The method according to claim 1,
Creating, by the reservation system, a reservation file including a name and a contact for the user;
Associating the reservation file with a travel city in the reservation system
Further comprising the steps of: The method according to claim 8, wherein the reservation file is a passenger name record or an entire travel record. The method according to claim 1,
Creating an alternative travel offer,
Associating the alternative travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system
Further comprising the steps of: 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel offer is associated with a travel period and a price,
Further comprising the step of including the travel period, the price, or a combination thereof in the creation of the alternative travel offer. The method according to claim 1,
Accessing a customer profile database associated with the travel agent to determine whether the database includes a record for the user;
Storing the user's name and contact as a new record in the customer profile database in response to determining that the customer profile database does not include a record for the user
Further comprising the steps of: A system for booking a travel product,
A processor,
Memory containing instructions
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
A travel suggestion database, wherein the travel suggestion database maintains a plurality of travel suggestions and a digital code associated with each travel suggestion,
An online service for receiving a name and a contact for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service and a digital code associated with the travel offer,
To a travel city in a reservation system, the travel city queuing a name and a contact for a user received from the mobile computing device,
Access the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion,
In response to determining the availability of the travel offer, associating the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system,
To allow the travel agent to contact the user using the contact and to pass the queued travel city to the travel agency so that the user can complete the reservation for at least one travel item using the travel city In-travel product reservation system. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
In response to the determination that the travel proposal is unavailable, to create an alternative travel proposal,
And in response to the creation of the alternative travel offer, associating the alternative travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
Wherein the travel period, the price, or a combination thereof is included in the creation of the alternative travel offer. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
And to perform dynamic travel suggestion packaging to create the alternative travel suggestion. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the digital code is received from a QR (quick response) code or an NFC (near field communication) chip included in an advertisement of the travel suggestion. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
Keeping a business intelligence database,
To collect a set of metrics associated with the QR code, the NFC chip, the advertisement, the travel suggestion, or a combination thereof,
And store the metric set in the business intelligence database. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
Access the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine possible additional items,
Wherein the travel agent associates the potential additional item with a travel city in the reservation system so that the travel agent can notify the user of the potential additional item. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
A reservation file including names and contacts for the user is created by the reservation system,
And associates the reservation file with a travel city in the reservation system. The system of claim 8, wherein the reservation file is a passenger name record or an entire travel record. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
Have you create an alternative travel offer,
And associates the alternative travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the travel suggestion is associated with a travel period and a price, and when executed by the processor,
Wherein the travel period, the price, or a combination thereof is included in the creation of the alternative travel offer. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to:
Access a customer profile database associated with the travel agent to determine whether the database includes a record for the user,
In response to determining that the customer profile database does not include a record for the user, storing the user's name and contact as a new record in the customer profile database. In a computer program product,
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
Instructions stored on the non-transient computer readable storage medium
Wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to:
A travel suggestion database, wherein the travel suggestion database maintains a plurality of travel suggestions and a digital code associated with each travel suggestion,
An online service for receiving a name and a contact for a user from a mobile computing device connected to the online service and a digital code associated with the travel offer,
To a travel city in a reservation system, the travel city queuing a name and a contact for a user received from the mobile computing device,
Access the travel suggestion database based on the received digital code to determine the availability of the travel suggestion,
In response to determining the availability of the travel offer, associating the travel offer with a travel city in the reservation system,
To allow the travel agent to contact the user using the contact and to pass the queued travel city to the travel agency so that the user can complete the reservation for at least one travel item using the travel city Computer program product.

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