Computer-based systems and methods for collaborative travel planning
View Patent ↗Computer-based systems and methods for providing real-time collaborative travel planning among a group of travelers. The systems and methods may use an Internet website that provides travelers with real-time visibility into both planned and/or booked travel itineraries of the traveling companions for a particular journey. When a traveler books or selects part of the traveler's itinerary, notifications of the booking or selection may be sent to the other travelers in the group. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for real-time interactive discussions by the traveling companions about the journey. Throughout the life of the journey, each traveler may collaborate with his or her traveling companions to plan the most efficient journey utilizing real-time visibility of each traveler's itinerary.
1. A computer-implemented collaborative travel planning method comprising:
receiving electronically, via a data network, by a computer system, a collaborative journey request from a first traveler, the collaborative journey request including journey data for a journey involving the first traveler and at least one second traveler, wherein the journey data comprises a date for the journey, a location associated with the journey, and an identifier for the at least one second traveler, wherein the computer system comprises:
at least one server providing a user interface accessible by the first traveler and the at least one second traveler via the data network for real-time collaborative travel planning between the first traveler and the at least one second traveler, wherein the user interface comprises:
a first portion that displays user-selectable control elements for the first traveler and the at least one second traveler to at least one of search for, tentatively select, or book itinerary components related to the journey; and
a second portion that displays a messaging interface for the first traveler and the at least one second traveler to exchange messages related to the journey in real-time;
a computerized reservation system (CRS) in communication with the at least one server, wherein the CRS is programmed to:
retrieve travel service provider data for the first traveler and the at least one second traveler to at least one of search for or tentatively select the itinerary components via the user-selectable control elements of the user interface; and
book itinerary components, requested via the user-selectable control elements of the user interface, with travel service providers; and
at least one computer database that stores data, the data comprising the journey data;
sending, by the computer system, via the data network, a notification to the at least one second traveler regarding the first traveler's collaborative journey request, wherein the notification includes a hyperlink for accessing the user interface;
receiving electronically, via the data network, by the computer system, from the at least one second traveler, a response to the notification, wherein the response comprises either an acceptance of the collaborative journey request or a rejection of the collaborative journey request;
generating, by the at least one server, an itinerary component interface based on at least one journey itinerary selection received electronically from either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler, via the data network, by the computer system, wherein each journey itinerary selection comprises a tentative selection or a booking request for an itinerary component for the journey, and wherein the itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element selectable by either: i) the first traveler to add an itinerary component associated with a journey itinerary selection received by the computer system from the at least one second traveler to a journey itinerary of the first traveler, or ii) the at least one second traveler to add an itinerary component associated with a journey itinerary selection received by the computer system from of the first traveler to a journey itinerary of the at least one second traveler; and
displaying, by the computer system on the user interface, journey information for the journey, wherein the journey information comprises the journey itinerary of the first traveler and the at least one second traveler, wherein each journey itinerary comprises at least one of a tentatively selected itinerary component or a booked itinerary component for the journey.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the itinerary component for the journey of each journey itinerary selection comprises a transportation component, a lodging component, or a rental vehicle component.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hyperlink comprises a URL for a web site for the user interface.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, via the data network, by the computer system, a message from either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler, wherein the message is posted on the messaging interface.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the message is viewable on the messaging interface by the first traveler and the at least one second traveler.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a notification, via the data network, from the computer system, to the at least one second traveler when the first traveler makes the journey itinerary selection that is received by the computer system.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element selectable by the at least one second traveler to add the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection just made by the first traveler to the journey itinerary of the at least one second traveler.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a notification, via the data network, from the computer system, to the first traveler when the at least one second traveler makes the journey itinerary selection that is received by the computer system.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a notification, via the data network, from the computer system, to the first traveler when the at least one second traveler changes a previously made journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a notification, via the data network, from the computer system, to the first traveler when the at least one second traveler cancels a previously made journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element selectable by the first traveler to add the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection just made by the at least one second traveler to the journey itinerary of the first traveler.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a notification, via the data network, from the computer system, to the first traveler when the at least one second traveler makes a response to the notification sent to the at least one second traveler regarding the collaborative journey request.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving electronically, via the data network, by the computer system, a selection of the user-selectable control element by either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler; and
booking, by the CRS, either the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler for the first traveler in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the first traveler, or the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection of the first traveler for the at least one second traveler in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the at least one second traveler.
14. A computer system for facilitating interdependent travel planning among a plurality of travelers, the computer system comprising:
at least one server;
at least one computer database that stores data, wherein the at least one computer database is in communication with the at least one server;
wherein the at least one server is programmed to:
receive, via a data network, a collaborative journey request from a first traveler, the collaborative journey request including journey data for a journey involving the first traveler and at least one second traveler, wherein the journey data comprises a date for the journey, a location associated with the journey, and an identifier for the at least one second traveler;
provide, via the data network, a user interface accessible by the first traveler and the at least one second traveler for real-time collaborative travel planning between the first traveler and the at least one second traveler, wherein the user interface comprises:
a first portion that displays user-selectable control elements for the first traveler and the at least one second traveler to at least one of search for, tentatively select, or book itinerary components related to the journey; and
a second portion that displays a messaging interface for real time interactive messaging between the first traveler and the at least one second traveler related to the journey;
send, via the data network, a notification to the at least one second traveler regarding the first traveler's collaborative journey request, wherein the notification includes a hyperlink for accessing the user interface;
receive, via the data network, from the at least one second traveler, a response to the notification, wherein the response comprises either an acceptance of the collaborative journey request or a rejection of the collaborative journey request;
generate an itinerary component interface based on at least one journey itinerary selection received from either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler, via the data network, wherein each journey itinerary selection comprises a tentative selection or a booking request for an itinerary component for the journey, and wherein the itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element selectable by either: i) the first traveler to add an itinerary component associated with a journey itinerary selection received by the at least one server from of the at least one second traveler to a journey itinerary of the first traveler, or ii) the at least one second traveler to add an itinerary component associated with a journey itinerary selection received by the at least one server from of the first traveler to a journey itinerary of the at least one second traveler; and
display, on the user interface, journey information for the journey, wherein the journey information comprises the journey itinerary of the first traveler and the at least one second traveler, wherein each journey itinerary comprises at least one of a tentatively selected itinerary component or a booked itinerary component for the journey; and
a computerized reservation system (CRS) in communication with the at least one server and the at least one computer database, wherein the CRS is programmed to:
retrieve travel service provider data for the first traveler and the at least one second traveler to at least one of search for or tentatively select the itinerary components via the user-selectable control elements of the user interface; and
book the itinerary components, requested via the user-selectable control elements of the user interface, with travel service providers.
15. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein:
the at least one server is further programmed to receive electronically, via the data network, a selection of the user-selectable control element by either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler; and
the CRS is programmed to book either the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler for the first traveler in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the first traveler, or the itinerary component associated with the journey itinerary selection of the first traveler for the at least one second traveler in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the at least one second traveler.
16. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one server is further programmed to generate the itinerary component interface comprising a second user-selectable control element selectable by either: i) the first traveler to add more than one itinerary component associated with more than one journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler to a journey itinerary of the first traveler upon a single selection of the second user-selectable control element, or ii) the at least one second traveler to add more than one itinerary component associated with more than one journey itinerary selection of the first traveler to a journey itinerary of the at least one second traveler upon a single selection of the second user-selectable control element.
17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one server is further programmed to receive electronically, via the data network, a selection of the second user-selectable control element by either the first traveler or the at least one second traveler; and
the CRS is programmed to book either the more than one itinerary component associated with the more than one journey itinerary selection of the at least one second traveler for the first traveler in response to the selection of the second user-selectable control element by the first traveler, or the more than one itinerary component associated with the more than one journey itinerary selection of the first traveler for the at least one second traveler in response to the selection of the second user-selectable control element by the at least one second traveler.
18. A computer system for facilitating interdependent travel planning among a plurality of travelers, the computer system comprising:
at least one server;
a computerized reservation system (CRS) in communication with the at least one server; and
at least one computer database that stores data, wherein the at least one computer database is in communication with the at least one server and the CRS;
wherein the at least one server is programmed to:
receive journey data for a journey from a first traveler, wherein the journey data comprises a date for the journey, a location associated with the journey, and an identifier for a second traveler for the journey, wherein the received journey data is stored in the at least one computer database;
provide a user interface accessible by the first traveler and the second traveler, wherein the user interface comprises:
a first portion that displays an itinerary component interface based on at least one journey itinerary selection received from the first traveler, wherein each journey itinerary selection comprises a tentative selection or a booking request for an itinerary component for the journey, and wherein the itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element selectable by the second traveler to add at least one itinerary component associated with the at least one journey itinerary selection of the first traveler to a journey itinerary of the second traveler; and
a second portion that that displays a messaging interface for the first traveler and the second traveler to exchange messages related to the journey in real-time; and
transmit itinerary component options to the second traveler, wherein the itinerary component options comprise:
one or more than one itinerary component option determined by the CRS based on the journey data; and
the at least one itinerary component selectable via the user-selectable control element of the itinerary component interface; and
wherein the CRS is programmed to:
search for the determined one or more than one itinerary component option based on the journey data;
book at least one of: i) the determined one or more than one itinerary component option or (ii) the at least one itinerary component, requested via the user-selectable control element, with a travel service provider.
19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein:
the at least one server is further programmed to receive electronically, via the data network, a selection of the user-selectable control element by the second traveler; and
the CRS is programmed to book the at least one itinerary component associated with the at least one journey itinerary selection of the first traveler for the second traveler in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the second traveler.
20. A computer-based system for facilitating interdependent travel planning, the system comprising:
at least one computer database that stores data;
at least one server in communication with the at least one computer database, wherein the at least one server is programmed to:
provide a graphical user interface to end-users connected to the at least one server via a data network, wherein the user interface displays:
a first portion that displays a journey itinerary of a first end-user and one or more than one second end-user, wherein the journey itinerary of the first end-user comprises at least one journey itinerary selection of the first end-user; and
a second portion that displays a messaging field for the first end-user and the one or more than one second end-user to exchange messages;
generate an itinerary component interface based on the at least one journey itinerary selection of the first end-user for each of the one or more than one second end-user, wherein each itinerary component interface comprises a user-selectable control element, selectable to add at least one itinerary component associated with the at least one journey itinerary selection received from the first end-user to the journey itinerary of a selecting second end-user; and
receive, via the data network, a selection of the user-selectable control by at least one of the one or more than one second end-user; and
a computerized reservation system (CRS) in communication with the at least one server and the at least one computer database, wherein the CRS is programmed to book the at least one itinerary component associated with the at least one journey itinerary selection of the first end-user for the at least one second end-user in response to the selection of the user-selectable control element by the at least one second end-user.