System and method for integrated trip planning based on fixed and flexible itinerary components
View Patent ↗The techniques introduced here include a method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination. The method comprises determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination. Further, each travel option is divided into a plurality of serial travel segments such that the travel segments serially connect the origin to the destination. For each of the travel options, the method further comprises estimating a time of travel in each of the travel segments. The estimated time of travel in a given travel segment is a function of both the nature of travel service associated with the segment and the one or more second user preferences associated with a travel service used in the segment. The method further comprises calculating, for each of the travel options, the total estimated travel time as a function of estimated travel times associated with each of the travel segments.
1. A method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination, the method comprising:
determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments;
for each of the travel options, identifying a total time of estimated travel for each of the plurality of serial travel segments, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and one or more second user preferences associated with the travel service corresponding to the given travel segment, wherein the second user preferences include a user intention indicator for a minimum layover time, wherein the user intention indicator includes an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure;
for each of the travel options, calculating a total estimated travel time as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the plurality of travel segments plus the minimum layover time as reflected by the user intention indicator; and
for each of the travel options, providing the total estimated travel time to the user as a predicted travel time to travel from the origin to the destination.
2. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the origin includes one or more of:
a property with an address;
a partial street address;
a name of a hotel;
a name of a landmark;
a transit terminal of a travel service; or
a location with a global positioning coordinates.
3. The method recited above in claim 2 , wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.
4. The method recited above in claim 2 , wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.
5. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the destination includes one or more of:
a property with an address;
a partial street address;
a name of a hotel;
a name of a landmark;
a transit terminal of a travel service; or
a location with a global positioning coordinates.
6. The method recited above in claim 5 , wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.
7. The method recited above in claim 5 , wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.
8. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the first user preferences include one or more of:
a date of travel;
a time of travel;
a preferred mode of transportation;
a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;
a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;
an earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;
a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;
a maximum layover time between each travel segments;
a minimum layover time between each travel segments;
a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination; or
a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.
9. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.
10. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the second user preferences include one or more of:
an intention to check-in baggage during travel;
a time allowance to check-in baggage;
a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service; or
a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.
11. The method recited above in claim 1 , wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:
determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;
determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes:
time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,
time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and
time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;
calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and
estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.
12. The method recited above in claim 11 , wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:
a travel service reliability;
a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;
a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment; or
a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.
13. A travel plan system for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination, the system comprising:
a computation subsystem configured to determine a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin to the destination, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments;
for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to identify a total time of estimated travel for each of the plurality of serial travel segments, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and one or more second user preferences associated with the travel service corresponding to the given travel segment, wherein the second user preferences include a user intention indicator to adjust estimated travel-related metrics, the user intention indicator including at least an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure or any combination;
for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to calculate a total estimated travel time as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the plurality of travel segments; and
for each of the travel options, the computation subsystem configured to provide the total estimated travel time to the user as a predicted travel time to travel from the origin to the destination.
14. The system recited above in claim 13 , wherein the origin includes one or more of:
a property with an address;
a partial street address;
a name of a hotel;
a name of a landmark;
a transit terminal of a travel service; or
a location with a global positioning coordinates.
15. The system recited above in claim 14 , wherein the origin includes property with the address, and the property with the address includes property other than hotels and houses.
16. The system recited above in claim 14 , wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports and railway stations.
17. The system recited above in claim 13 , wherein the destination includes one or more of:
a property with an address;
a partial street address;
a name of a hotel;
a name of a landmark;
a transit terminal of a travel service; or
a location with a global positioning coordinates.
18. The system recited above in claim 17 , wherein the property with an address includes property other than a hotel.
19. The system recited above in claim 17 , wherein the transit terminal of the travel service includes transit terminals other than airports or railway stations.
20. The system recited above in claim 13 , wherein the first user preferences include one or more of:
a date of travel;
a time of travel;
a preferred mode of transportation;
a preferred carrier in a given mode of transportation;
a maximum radius within which to choose transit terminals associated with a travel service from;
an earliest starting time to begin travel from origin;
a latest terminating time to arrive at destination;
a maximum layover time between each travel segments;
a minimum layover time between each travel segments;
a maximum travel time to travel from origin to destination; or
a maximum total travel cost to travel from origin to destination.
21. The system recited above in claim 20 , wherein the travel service type includes travel service by means other than trains and airplanes.
22. The system recited above in claim 13 , wherein the second user preferences include one or more of:
an intention to check-in baggage during travel;
a time allowance to check-in baggage;
a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service; or
a minimum layover time at the transit terminal before departure.
23. The system recited above in claim 13 , wherein the estimation of travel time for each of the plurality of serial travel segments further comprises:
determining active travel time spent traveling in a travel service associated with a given travel segment;
determining inactive travel time in the given travel segment, wherein such inactive travel time includes:
time spent transferring to the travel service associated with the given travel segment,
time spent handling baggage between a serially connected travel segments, and
time spent clearing security between the serially connected travel segments;
calculating a preliminary travel time as a sum of the determined active travel time and the determined inactive travel time for the given travel segment; and
estimating the travel time for the given travel segment as a sum of the preliminary travel time and an estimated travel-delay time.
24. The system recited above in claim 23 , wherein the estimated travel-delay time is a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:
a travel service reliability;
a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times;
a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment; or
a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment.
25. A method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination, the method comprising:
receiving the origin associated with a starting time from a user; wherein the starting time is the earliest starting time for the user to begin travel from the origin;
receiving the destination associated with a earliest terminating time and a latest terminating time from the user; wherein the earliest arriving time is the earliest terminating time for the user to arrive at destination and the latest arriving time is the latest terminating time for the user to arrive at destination;
determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination based on the starting time, the earliest terminating time and the latest terminating time, the determination of the plurality of travel options influenced by the one or more first user preferences, each travel option comprising a plurality of serial travel segments, the plurality of serial travel segments serially connected in a manner such that each travel segment is a component of a specific user travel from the origin on or after the starting time to the destination on or after the earliest terminating time and on or before the latest terminating time, further wherein at least two travel service types are found providing travel service for the plurality of serial travel segments;
for each of the travel options, identifying a total time of estimated travel for each of the plurality of serial travel segments, the total time of estimated travel for a given travel segment being a function of both a nature of travel service associated with the given travel segment and one or more second user preferences associated with the travel service corresponding to the given travel segment, wherein the second user preferences include a user intention indicator for a minimum layover time, wherein the user intention indicator includes an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure;
for each of the travel options, calculating a total estimated travel time as a function of the sum of total estimated travel times associated with each of the plurality of travel segments plus the minimum layover time as reflected by the user intention indicator; and
for each of the travel options, providing the total estimated travel time associated with the starting time, the earliest terminating time and the latest terminating time to the user as a predicted travel time to travel from the origin to the destination.