Patent ID: 8117073
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method comprising: in response to an unexpected travel event, automatically identifying, via a computing device, a sole first entity to adjust travel or meeting plans pre-established for one or more group members, the first entity having exclusive authority over the one or more group members to make adjustments to travel; appointing, via the computing device, a human group manager as the first entity; determining, via the computing device, that the human group manager, as the first entity, is unable to timely respond to the unexpected travel event; when the human group manager is unavailable, applying, via the computing device, a set of predetermined rules to accomplish an escalation to check a series of alternatives to the human group manager until an available alternative to the human group manager is found to make adjustments to travel; identifying, via the computing device, according to the set of predetermined rules to accomplish an escalation, a software agent as the first entity in substitution for the human group manager; receiving, via the computing device, information from the identified first entity concerning adjusting the pre-established travel or meeting plans for the one or more members; changing, via the computing device, the travel or meeting plans for a first member of the one or more group members based on criticality of attendance by the first member of the one or more group members at a travel destination or meeting as a primary requisite; changing, via the computing device, the travel or meeting plans for at least a second member of the one or more group members as a secondary requisite, after the changing of the travel or meeting plans for the first member; changing, via the computing device, the travel plans for the one or more members of the group members based on synchronizing the travel plans among the one or more group members as a tertiary requisite, after the changing of the travel or meeting plans for the second member; making accessible, via the computing device, to the identified first entity information regarding a modification of the pre-established travel or meeting plans; and automatically notifying, via the computing device, the one or more group members of the modification of the pre-established travel or meeting plans, the modification involving new travel arrangements.