Systems and methods for integration of travel and related services and operations
One aspect of the invention is directed to integrating mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, etc., into a mobile retail environment commercial system. A mobile device includes a mobile store module that provides an interactive user experience that allows a traveler to browse goods or services that are available in the mobile retail environment. The device further includes a mobile store inventory records module that maintains records of goods and services that are available in each particular mobile retail environment. An update module facilitates data connectivity with a remote server to update the stored data in the mobile store inventory records module. The remote server, in turn, is communicatively coupled with a transportation service provider system, such as an airline business system that provides information on individual travelers and their itineraries. The mobile device further includes an in-flight data exchange module that facilitates interaction with a point-of-sale device.
1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a personal mobile retail environment for off-line shopping that utilizes a mobile device of a traveler, the personal mobile retail environment being associated with specific scheduled itinerary including a departure time, a departure location, a destination arrival time and a destination arrival location, and a transit period that exists when the mobile retail environment is traveling between the departure location and destination arrival location, the method comprising:
receiving, by a computer system via a computer network, prior to the departure time, itinerary information relating to the traveler;
receiving, by the computer system via a computer network, prior to the departure time, commitment information representing vendor/supplier-committed availability of the goods or services for purchase during the transit period and available for delivery during the transit period or at the destination arrival location;
generating, by the computer system, prior to the departure time, an on-board store definition based on the itinerary information and commitment information, wherein the on-board store definition includes a description of the goods or services that are available for purchase in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period and excludes goods or services that are unavailable for purchase in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period; and
sending, by the computer system via a computer network, the on-board store definition to the mobile device of the traveler prior to the departure time, wherein the on-board store definition facilitates off-line shopping in the personal mobile retail environment using the mobile device of the traveler.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the computer system via a computer network, charge pre-authorization information representing a monetary limit for the personal mobile retail environment.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein in receiving the charge pre-authorization information, the charge pre-authorization information is provided by a transportation provider information system.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
sending, by the computer system via a computer network, the on-board store definition and commitment information to a point-of-sale device to be located in the mobile retail environment during the transit period.
5. A system for configuring a personal mobile retail environment for off-line shopping that utilizes a mobile device of a traveler, the personal mobile retail environment being associated with specific scheduled itinerary including a departure time, a departure location, a destination arrival time and a destination arrival location, and a transit period that exists when the mobile retail environment is traveling between the departure location and destination arrival location, the system comprising:
a back-office system of at least one computer server configured to be communicatively coupled with a transportation provider information system, a vendor/supplier information system, a point-of-sale device on-board a vehicle, and the mobile device of the traveler, wherein the back-office system is configured to:
receive itinerary information relating to the traveler provided by the transportation provider information system prior to the departure time;
receive commitment information representing vendor/supplier-committed availability of the goods or services for purchase during the transit period and available for delivery during the transit period or at the destination arrival location, the commitment information being provided by the vendor/supplier information system prior to the departure time;
generate an on-board store definition prior to the departure time based on the itinerary information and commitment information, wherein the on-board store includes a description of the goods or services that are available in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period and excludes goods or services that are unavailable for purchase in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period; and
send the on-board store definition to the mobile device of the traveler prior to the departure time, wherein the on-board store definition facilitates off-line shopping in the personal mobile retail environment using the mobile device of the traveler.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the back-office system is further configured to receive charge pre-authorization information representing a monetary limit for the personal mobile retail environment.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the back-office system is further configured to receive charge pre-authorization information as provided by the transportation provider information system.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the back-office system is further configured to send the on-board store definition and commitment information to a point-of-sale device to be located in the mobile retail environment during the transit period.
9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the charge pre-authorization information, sending, by the computer system via a computer network, a purchase limit based on the charge pre-authorization information to the mobile device of the traveler prior to the departure time.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the computer system via a computer network after the destination arrival time, information indicative of a completion of a purchase by the traveler in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period.
11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the back-office system is further configured such that, in response to receiving the charge pre-authorization information, the back-office system sends a purchase limit based on the charge pre-authorization information to the mobile device of the traveler prior to the departure time.
12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the back-office system is further configured to receive, after the destination arrival time, information indicative of a completion of a purchase by the traveler in the personal mobile retail environment in the transit period.