U.S. patent application number 13/235878 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for co-brands for user interface in travel booking.
Invention is credited to Valentine Marciel, Sahil Sabharwal.
Application Number | 20120079394 13/235878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44587178 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120079394 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marciel; Valentine ; et
al. |
March 29, 2012 |
CO-BRANDS FOR USER INTERFACE IN TRAVEL BOOKING
Abstract
Co-brands, virtual wrappers for web sites that allow clients to
expand client inventories across different web sites, are
disclosed. Different types of travel inventory can be provided
across these web sites. A client can create different URLs,
domains, look and feel, product filters, pricing rules, business
logic, payment methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single
instance. A client can create a co-brand and, using an
administrator application, configure its settings to target
specific geographic locations, targets markets or even themes.
Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party vendors to
direct traffic to client sites. Co-brand tools are designed to make
items such as navigation, images, buttons, domain names, colors,
fonts, languages and currencies. Co-brands make it easier for
travel companies to have sites based on demographics, destination,
and events that can lead to greater adoption and conversion.
Inventors: |
Marciel; Valentine;
(Honolulu, HI) ; Sabharwal; Sahil; (Foster City,
CA) |
Family ID: |
44587178 |
Appl. No.: |
13/235878 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11752832 |
May 23, 2007 |
8024664 |
|
|
13235878 |
|
|
|
|
60808274 |
May 24, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/744 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
G06Q 10/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/744 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01 |
Claims
1. A method for allowing a travel company client to present various
travel inventory types through a plurality of online travel
sub-websites, comprising: defining a plurality of co-brands for an
existing online travel website through use of a single instance of
an administrator application, wherein each co-brand is a virtual
wrapper that customizes a respective one of the plurality of online
travel sub-websites presented by the existing online travel
website; displaying, through the administrator application, an
interface for allowing the travel company client to configure
respective co-brand settings for each co-brand; and providing to a
user a respective travel inventory search result that is at least
partially based on the respective co-brand settings.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent
application entitled "Co-Brands for User Interface in Travel
Booking", Ser. No. 11/752,832 filed May 23, 2007, which claims
priority to provisional U.S. patent application entitled "Co-Brands
for User Interface in Travel Booking", Ser. No. 60/808,274, filed
on May 24, 2006. Each of these applications is incorporated in its
entirety by this reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to online travel booking, and
more particularly to the granularity of customization of web sites
for online travel booking.
[0004] 2Related Art
[0005] Online travel booking is well known in the art. Users can
access travel booking web sites, perform searches for various
travel services, select desired itinerary, and book the itinerary.
However, conventional travel booking web sites are static. They do
not change for different targets, and if customization is provided,
such customization tends to be specific to a web site or only at a
high level. Granular customization is not provided.
[0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for dynamic virtual
wrappers for travel booking web sites. These wrappers should
provide customization at enough granularity to allow clients to
create different interfaces across target markets off a single
instance. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY
[0007] Co-brands, virtual wrappers for web sites that allow clients
to expand client inventories across different web sites, are
disclosed. A client can create different URLs, domains, look and
feel, product filters, pricing rules, business logic, payment
methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single instance. A
client can create a co-brand and, using an administrator
application, configure its settings to target specific geographic
locations, targets markets or even themes, such as "Romantic" or
"Tropical". Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party
vendors to direct traffic to client sites. Co-brand tools are
designed to make items such as navigation, images, buttons, domain
names, colors, fonts, languages and currencies--this means that an
average computer user can create new sites with different marketing
angles with simple upload tools, as opposed to requiring the
assistance of more experienced web site designers who need to
create new wireframes or code. Co-brands make it easier for travel
companies to have sites based on demographics (e.g. teen vs. baby
boomer), destination (e.g. Las Vegas vs. Hawaii), events (e.g.
consumer goods convention vs. a sales incentive cruise) that can
lead to greater adoption and conversion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of co-brand functionalities
provided in accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates the setting of airline filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the setting of activity filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates the setting of area filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates the setting of the booking engine for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates the associating of contract groups with a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates the setting of a payment gateway for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Co-brands are virtual wrappers or skins for web sites that
allow clients to expand client inventories across different web
sites. Different types of travel inventory can be provided across
these web sites. A client can create different URLs, domains, look
and feel, product filters, pricing rules, business logic, payment
methods, languages, currencies, etc. off a single instance. A
client can create a co-brand and, using an administrator
application (such as in a computer readable medium with program
instructions), configure its settings to target specific geographic
locations, targets markets or even themes, such as "Romantic" or
"Tropical". Additionally, co-brands are used to allow third party
vendors to direct traffic to client sites. For example, co-brands
allow a tour operator such as American Airlines Vacations.TM., who
specializes in multiple destinations, to create numerous sub-sites
off of their default site, specifying the Caribbean, Hawaii,
Europe, or New York. Each sub site can have graphics, colors,
advertising, links and marketing tools specialized towards each
destination. A credit card company such as American Express.TM. can
offer different look and feel sites targeted to their Centurion,
Platinum or Classic card holders.
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of co-brand functionalities
provided in accordance with the present invention. The
functionalities include activities areas, airlines filters, area
filters, booking engine settings, payment gateways, and credit card
filters. Each of these functionalities is described further
below.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the setting of airline filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. In one
embodiment, a list of existing airline filters is displayed. One or
more of the airline filters can be selected, where itinerary search
results are filtered to target the selected airlines.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates the setting of activity filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. In one
embodiment, a list of geographical locations is displayed. One or
more of the locations can be selected, where itinerary search
results are filtered to target the selected geographic
locations.
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the setting of area filters for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. In one
embodiment, a list of departing and/or arriving airports is
displayed. One or more of the airports can be selected, where
itinerary search results are filtered to target the selected
airports.
[0020] The airline, activity, and area filters can be set according
to a marketing objective of the client.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates the setting of the booking engine for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. In one
embodiment, a default URL 501 can be defined for the co-brand. A
language 502, currency 503, and agent track 504 can also be
selected for the co-brand, allowing for a genuine international
tool. For example, a client can define multiple co-brands, with
different language, currency, and agent track settings, for
different geographic locations. Further, a client can select credit
card settings 505 to restrict credit cards used for payments on the
web site. For example, if there is an American Bank promotion, and
a co-brand is set up, the customer can only use American Express
Card to make the payment on the co-brand.
[0022] Further settings for the booking engine include the
selection of the collect PNR Owner 506 setting , the date and time
format at the co-brand level 507. The payment service and
Google.TM. map key 508 can also be set on the co-brand level. The
PNR Owner 506 makes it an option to collect the traveler name or
the name of the person making the reservation, e.g. an exec
assistant. For example, Jet Blue.TM. converted labels to say "Who's
Flying?" and "Who's Buying?"
[0023] To provide further flexibility, contract groups can be
defined and associated with a co-brand. A contract group allows for
specific functions, such as inclusion/exclusion of connector
sources or suppliers, different pricing rules, etc. Multiple
contract groups can be associated with a single co-brand, or a
single contract group can be associated with multiple co-brands.
Contract groups are described further in co-pending U.S. patent
application entitled "Multiple Client Instance for Dynamic Travel
Booking", Ser. No. 11/752,842, filed on May 23, 2007. This
application is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates the associating of contract groups with a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. In the
illustrated example, contract groups "Disney Agency Group",
"Pegasus Certification", and "Ungrouped Agencies" are associated
with the co-brand.
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates the setting of a payment gateway for a
co-brand in accordance with the present invention. A connection to
a payment gateway, through which payment for an itinerary is
processed, is first defined using a connection manager. Credentials
for the payment gateway can then be set and saved at the co-brand
level.
[0026] Co-brands, dynamic virtual wrappers for travel booking web
sites, have been disclosed. With co-brands, a client can create
different URLs, domains, look and feel, product filters, pricing
rules, business logic, payment methods, languages, currencies, etc.
off a single instance. A client can create a co-brand and, using an
administrator application, configure its settings to target
specific geographic locations, targets markets or even themes, such
as "Romantic" or "Tropical". Additionally, co-brands are used to
allow third party vendors to direct traffic to client sites.
Co-brand tools are designed to make items such as navigation,
images, buttons, domain names, colors, fonts, languages and
currencies--this means that an average computer user can create new
sites with different marketing angles with simple upload tools, as
opposed to requiring the assistance of more experienced web site
designers who need to create new wireframes or code. Co-brands make
it easier for travel companies to have sites based on demographics
(e.g. teen vs. baby boomer), destination (e.g. Las Vegas vs.
Hawaii), events (e.g. consumer goods convention vs. a sales
incentive cruise) that can lead to greater adoption and
conversion.
[0027] Foregoing described embodiments of the invention are
provided as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended
to limit the invention to precise form described. In particular, it
is contemplated that functional implementation of invention
described herein may be implemented equivalently in hardware,
software, firmware, and/or other available functional components or
building blocks, and that networks may be wired, wireless, or a
combination of wired and wireless. Other variations and embodiments
are possible in light of above teachings, and it is thus intended
that the scope of invention not be limited by this Detailed
Description.
* * * * *