SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXTUALIZED, INTERACTIVE MAPS FOR FINDING AND BOOKING SERVICES
In one embodiment, a method that can be performed on a system, is provided for contextualized interactive maps for finding and booking services. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a user's request for one or more services related to an identified location; presenting a map to the user, the map including interactive data identifying one or more services per the request by the user; receiving from the user, a request for a booking for one or more of the services; and processing the booking request.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method comprising:
receiving, via an electronic portal service operating on a server, a user's request for one or more services related to an identified user's location including available restaurants and a request for a limousine to pick up a passenger at the user's location, wherein the request is sent from a user's personal digital assistant (PDA) and a plurality of vendors are coupled to the electronic service portal, wherein the location is identified by at least one of an itinerary and calendar;
presenting, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, a map to the user's PDA, the map including interactive data identifying one or more services per the request by the user, the interactive data based on real-time updates from the electronic portal service and including a length of time before a limousine can pick up a passenger at the user's location and the interactive data displaying a description of restaurant offerings and environment when a PDA cursor is located over a restaurant on the map, wherein the services selected to be presented are in part selected based on demographic data from a network of users;
receiving, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, from the user, a request for a booking for one or more of the services; and
processing, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, the booking request.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the interactive data related to the one or more services includes real-time updates from the electronic services portal.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the real-time updates include reservation availability.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the real-time update includes a identifying a time when services are available.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the services include one or more of a restaurant, a hotel, a car rental, and an airline reservation.
26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the location is identified by one of global position system and user input.
27 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed by a computer system, perform a method comprising:
receiving, via an electronic portal service operating on a server, a user's request for one or more services related to an identified user's location including available restaurants and a request for a limousine to pick up a passenger at the user's location, wherein the request is sent from a user's personal digital assistant (PDA) and a plurality of vendors are coupled to the electronic service portal, wherein the location is identified by at least one of an identified itinerary and calendar;
presenting, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, a map to the user's PDA, the map including interactive data identifying one or more services per the request by the user, the interactive data based on real-time updates from the electronic portal service and including a length of time before a limousine can pick up a passenger at the user's location and the interactive data displaying a description of restaurant offerings and environment when a PDA cursor is located over a restaurant on the map, wherein the services selected to be presented are in part selected based on demographic data from a network of users;
receiving, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, from the user, a request for a booking for one or more of the services; and
processing, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, the booking request.
28 . The machine-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the interactive data related to the one or more services includes real-time updates from the electronic services portal.
29 . The machine-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein the real-time updates include reservation availability.
30 . The machine-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein the real-time update includes a identifying a time when services are available.
31 . The machine-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the services include one or more of a restaurant, a hotel, a car rental, and an airline reservation.
32 . The machine-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein the location is identified by one of global position system and user input.
33 . A system comprising:
at least one computing device for receiving, via an electronic portal service operating on a server, a user's request for one or more services related to an identified location including available restaurants and a request for a limousine to pick up a passenger at the user's location, wherein the request is sent from a user's personal digital assistant (PDA) and a plurality of vendors are coupled to the electronic service portal, wherein the location is identified by at least one of an identified itinerary and calendar;
the computing device for presenting, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, a map to the user's PDA, the map including interactive data identifying one or more services per the request by the user, the interactive data based on real-time updates from the electronic portal service and including a length of time before a limousine can pick up a passenger at the user's location and the interactive data displaying a description of restaurant offerings and environment when a PDA cursor is located over a restaurant on the map, wherein the services selected to be presented are in part selected based on demographic data from a network of users;
the computing device for receiving, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, from the user, a request for a booking for one or more of the services; and
the computing device for processing, via the electronic portal service operating on the server, the booking request.
34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the interactive data related to the one or more services includes real-time updates from the electronic services portal.
35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the real-time updates include reservation availability.
36 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the real-time updates include identifying a time when services are available.
37 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the services selected to be presented are in part selected based on at least one of demographic data from a network of users having previous input about the identified contacts of a social network having previously booked requests at the services selected to be presented; or a match based on required or predetermined criteria relating to individuals being members of a group.