Abstract:
A 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent for business and leisure travelers to customize sequential multi-destination route trip is disclosed. The system comprises a Web based 3-Dimensional matrix consisting axes of departure city, arrival city, and travel services that provide a customized sequential multi-destination route travel service. A traveler may easily search all possible multi-destination travel places substituting a number of cases of each sequential route, and make a customized travel itinerary.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to Web-based travel service systems and more particularly to schedule and reservation systems of dynamic multi-destination route travel defined by traveler customized profiles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    With the growing popularity of the Internet and the Web technology, many business and leisure travelers are employing online sources as the scheduling and reservation tool for expected travel. Numerous Web-based systems of travel scheduling and reservation are available for both business and leisure travelers across the Internet. Commonly, the systems provide various types of travel factors regarding a destination city specified by the traveler such as flights, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, activities, and other factors. Especially, the flight scheduling information consisting of departure city, arrival city, and fare of the flight etc. is very important factor in the system. Presently, the existing Web-based travel service systems are divided with two kinds of prototype. While one is a static point-to-point destination model, the other one is a static multiple destination model. 
         [0003]    First of all, the static point-to-point destination model among the Web-based travel service systems operates to provide reservation information and process of flights, hotels, and rental cars. The model has a quite simple and popular system that just provides the travel reservation of one destination per each session. If a traveler wants to get the other travel information or reservation, one should input the other destination as a new session. With the static point-to-point destination model, the business and leisure travelers who should register multiple destination routes for the trip have to search and reserve flights, hotels, rental cars etc. for the each destination. Also, it is difficult to figure out multi-destination trips, such as more than three destinations, at a glance. 
         [0004]    The other model of the Web-based travel scheduling and reservation system is a static multi-destination model. Only some of the general Web-based travel scheduling and reservation systems are recently providing this multi-destination model for business and leisure travelers who wants to make schedule and reservation for multiple destinations at once. Through this model, travelers can select and reserve multiple destinations at once, but this model is called static model not dynamic model due to several reasons. 
         [0005]    First, this model is a travel scheduling and reservation system not making a sequential multiple destination route but providing a discrete multiple destination route. The model still searches the expected flight airline information between two destinations, but the information is not related with the other destination routes. In other words, the traveler only makes reservation of two points on the multi-destination travel route per each session. Second, the static multi-destination model does not consider number of cases for the order of the multiple travel destinations. A traveler has to previously decide the order of the multiple travel destination route, and can not compare the other number of cases for the other possible routes. It is very confusing for a traveler to decide which route of travel destination is optimal associated with several factors, such as cost, traveling time, and travel purpose. Third, the process of making the static multi-destination scheduling and reservation system is not flexible. When a traveler wants to change, add, or drop the sequence of multiple travel destinations, it is very difficult and complicated to correct and modify whole travel plan again. Fourth, the existing static multi-destination scheduling and reservation systems do not customize a sequential multiple route associated with available travel service factors, such as hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and activities. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there remains a need in the system for a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent that allows a business and leisure travelers to make scheduling and reserving sequential route trips for multiple destinations at once. Further, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent is needed to calculate and figure out the number of cases of travel routes for the multiple destinations. In addition, the new agent is needed a function that can correct and modify the travel routes for the multiple destination flexibly and dynamically. Finally, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent is needed to customize a sequential multiple travel route associated with travel service factors as the travel scheduling and reservation process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a system and method of a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent that substantially improves the shortcomings and disadvantages of the existing Web-based travel service systems. According to particular embodiments, the system and method enable the web-based virtual travel agent to automatically build a 3-Dimensional matrix for travel scheduling and reservation for sequential multiple destination route trip. The business and leisure travelers who want to visit several destination places for a trip need to make a sequential multiple destination route planner and reservation. Since there are many destinations and factors, the travelers consider making a scheduler as an itinerary form as well. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, there is a system and method of 3-Dimensional matrix consisting of three travel axes including multiple departure cities, multiple arrival cities, and travel services as factors. When a traveler chooses multiple travel cities as destination routes, the 3-D matrix agent arranges these destinations on each one of the axes and virtually shows the available travel services for the each arriving city. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent figures out a number of cases for the multiple destination route. If there are n cities as destination routes, the number of cases for the routes is (n−1)! choices. For instance, if there are 5 destination routes, A, B, C, D, E, the city A has 4 choices to consider going, city B has 3 choices, and so forth. Therefore, in this example, (5−1)!=24 numbers of cases are available as sequential multi-destination travel route. The 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent arranges a sequential multi-destination travel route for each of the number of cases of the destination cities. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent makes schedule and reservation match the selected sequential multi-destination travel route with several travel services, such as flights, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and activities. The agent uses a relational database consisting destination, travel services, scheduling, reservation, and traveler information. The result of the scheduling and reservation made in the relational database become a customized itinerary for the multi-destination travel route for business and leisure travelers. 
         [0011]    Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed descriptions, and claims provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. As should be understood, however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a layout of the 3-Dimensional matrix of the virtual travel agent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sequential multi-destination travel route with the customized matrix of the virtual travel agent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a logical diagram that depicts the number of cases of multi-destination route as an example. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a tour detailed 3-Dimensional sequential matrix generated with practical example of flight information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a tour detailed 3-Dimensional sequential matrix generated with practical example of travel service axis in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a logical flow diagram that depicts the operations which are performed by a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, example of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0021]    The present application describes a comprehensive system and method for enabling business and leisure travelers to schedule and reserve sequential multiple destination route trips using a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent. An example of multiple destination route travelers may be people who desire to drop by multiple cities in a trip for a business and leisure purpose. The 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent may utilize the system to develop a customized sequential multiple destination route trip framework and a resulting number of cases for possible route. The framework of the customized sequential multiple destination route trip may include 3-Dimensional axes which are departure cities, arrival cities, and travel reservation services such as flights, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and activities. To use the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent, the travelers may access a user interface of a travel Website. Using the virtual travel agent, the travelers may enter personal information, travel duration, and number of travelers for the expected travel in the user interface. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system  100  for building a 3-Dimensional matrix that includes departure city axis  101 , arrival city axis  102 , and travel service axis  103 . Departure cities  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108  and arrival cities  109 ,  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  request customized input from a traveler into a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent. The departure cities  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and  108  and arrival cities  109 ,  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  are identical and same order according to traveler&#39;s multiple destination input. The far left city  104  on the departure axis  101  is indicated starting point of the multi-destination route trip even though the rest of the multiple cities  105 ,  106 ,  107  and  108  may be ordered by the traveler. At the same time, the city  109  of the lowest part on the arrival axis  102  is indicated ending point of the multi-destination route trip. The third axis  103  of the 3-Dimensional matrix  100  represents available travel services for the traveler to choose and link to each destination of multiple route. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a layout  200  illustrating exemplary of a sequential multi-destination travel route  212  for the customized matrix of the virtual travel agent. In this example, a business or leisure traveler chooses Washington D.C.  201  as an initial departure city, and arranges four more cities  202 ,  203 ,  204 , and  205  as desired cities to visit. In other words, the traveler once chooses the multi-destination travel route like following in this case: Washington D.C. → London → Paris → Frankfurt → Madrid → Washington D.C. When the traveler makes order of the travel plan, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent customizes and displays the initial sequential multi-destination route  212  on a user interface of the traveler. With the sequential multi-destination route  212 , a traveler makes a schedule to depart from Washington D.C.  201  and arrive to London  207 . After that, the traveler makes a sequential travel schedule of a series set R like (r WL , r LP , r PF , r FM , r MW ) when r AB  means route from A departure city to B arrival city. Also W, L, P, and Fin this example mean wahington D.C  201  and  206 , London  202  and  207 , Madrid  203  and  208 , Paris  204  and  209 , and Frankfurt  205  and  211  in order. The sequential travel schedule of the series set indicates that the traveler travels from one departure city to one arrival city. The sequential multi-destination travel route  212  presents multiple routes at once, so it is easy for the traveler to make travel schedule. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a logical diagram  300  that depicts the number of cases of multi-destination route as an example. The number of cases for a multi-destination travel route can be figured by (n−1)!=(n−1)×(n−2) . . . 2×1 when the n is number of travel destination including the initial starting city. In the example of the  FIG. 3 , the number of cases is 24 sequential routes which are (5−1)!=4×3×2×1. Washington D.C.  301  on the left side indicates the initial starting point for the multi-destination travel route while the Washington D.C.  306  on the right side indicates final returning point for the travel route. The second column  302  on the logical diagram  300  illustrates the possible number of cases that the traveler chooses a city as an arrival city from Washington D.C.  301 . 
         [0025]    Since the first departure city  306 , Washington D.C. in this case, is a fixed factor, the traveler has 4 choices (n−1) for the next destination city  302 . The set of the first route R 1  consists of (r WL , r WM , r WP , r WF ) in a sequential order. For the third column  303  on the logical diagram  300 , there are 3 choices (n−2) for each departure cities  302 . Therefore, the number of cases of the third column  303  is 12 multi-destination route travels of the series set. The series set of the second route R 2  consists of {(r WL , r LM ), (r WL , r LP ), (r WL , r LF ), . . . , (r WF , r FL ), (r WF , r FM ), (r WF , r FP )}. At the same method, the fourth column  304  on the logical diagram  300  has 2 choices (n−3) for each departure city  303 , and 24 total multi-destination route travel of series sets for the traveler to choose. The series set of the third route R 3  consists of {(r WL , r LM , r MP ), (r WL , r LM , r MF ), (r WL , r LP , r PM ), . . . , (r WF , r FM , r MP ), (r WF , r FP , r PL ), (r WF , r FP , r PL )}. For the last column  305  of the logical diagram  300  has just one choice (1) for each departure city  304 , and the same 24 total multi-destination route travel of series sets since the destination cities of the last column have only one choice left. The series set of the fourth route R 4  consists of {(r WL , r LM , r MP , r PF ), (r WL , r LM , r MF , r FP ), (r WL , r LP , r PM , r MF ), . . . , (r WF , r FM , r MP , r PL ), (r WF , r FP , r PL , r LM ), (r WF , r FP , r PM , r ML )}. Also, Washington D.C.  306  is a final returning city of the multi-destination route travel, so it doesn&#39;t affect total number of cases of the travel. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a tour detailed 3-Dimensional sequential matrix  400  generated with practical example of flight information  409  as the first main factor of the travel service axis  408  matched with the departure axis  406  and the arrival axis  407 . In this stage, a traveler may get detailed air flight information  409  according to the sequential multi-destination routes  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404 , and  405 . Each air flight information including availability of airline, departure time and arrival time of each route, air flight fare, and distance between two routes. The traveler may modify the sequential multi-destination routes  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404 , and  405  anytime for getting optimal solution for the travel purpose. For instance, the route  1   401  provides detailed air flight information about the travel series set such as (Washington D.C., London). Whenever the traveler changes the sequential route order to another way, the 3-Dimensional sequential matrix  400  dynamically changes the dedicated route information for the traveler. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a tour detailed 3-Dimensional sequential matrix  500  generated with practical example of the travel service axis  503  matched with the departure axis  501  and the arrival axis  502 . When the sequential multi-destination route  504  and flight information  505  are defined, the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent customizes the travel more detail with travel service axis  503 . The travel service provides available reservation information about hotels  506 , rental cars  507 , restaurants  508 , and activities  509  for the traveler. The traveler can easily add or drop the option of travel service for making optimal travel schedule. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram  600  of an exemplary 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent  601  communicating with a user interface  602  through Internet. A business or leisure traveler may use the 3-Dimensional matrix  604  of the virtual travel agent  601  on a user interface  602  through Internet. For the initial stage, the 3-Dimensional matrix  604  requests the traveler general information, and stores it to a traveler account database  605 . The 3-Dimensional matrix  604  consists of departure axis  606 , arrival axis  607 , and travel service axis  608  as default factor. 
         [0029]    For the efficient process, a multi-destination route database  614  is linked with both of the departure axis  606  and the arrival axis  607 . The multi-destination route database  614  either collects traveler&#39;s expected multi-destination route information from the axes  606  and  607  or provides a customized sequential multi-destination route to the 3-Dimensional matrix  604 . The travel service axis  608  consists of flights  609 , hotels  610 , rental cars  611 , restaurants  612 , and activities  613  as factors, and links with a sequential scheduling database  615 . At the same time, the sequential scheduling database  615  collects travel routing information from the multi-destination route database  614 . Finally, after deciding all customizing and optimizing travel information with multi-destination travel route, the sequential scheduling database  615  transfers the information to a reservation database  616 . The reservation database  616  reserves the all travel services for the traveler, and displays the result on the traveler&#39;s user interface  603 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a logical flow diagram  700  that depicts the operations which are performed by a 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent. When the process of the 3-Dimensional matrix virtual travel agent is started, the agent received traveler&#39;s expected multi-destinations  701  as a multiple travel route through user interface on the agent&#39;s Internet Website. The virtual travel agent checks whether the multiple destinations are duplicated or not 702. If the destination cities are duplicated each other, the virtual travel agent displays error message  703  on the user interface and goes back to the initial starting point of the process. Otherwise, the virtual travel agent indicates possible 3-Dimension matrix  704  as an initial stage. 
         [0031]    To bring a customized optimal multiple travel destination, the virtual travel agent provides available number of cases  705  for multi-routes on the 3-Dimensional travel matrix. When the traveler selects a customized sequential route  706 , the 3-Dimensional travel matrix presents the multi-destination route as visual simulation. If the traveler decides a customized sequential multiple route  707 , the 3-Dimensional travel matrix requests travel service option  708  for the traveler to choose. The virtual travel agency presents a scheduled itinerary  709  after the traveler finally decides the sequential multi-destination route and the matched travel service. The virtual travel agency checks traveler&#39;s satisfaction  710  about the scheduled itinerary. If the traveler wants to modify the travel schedule, the virtual travel agency always provides another travel schedule simulation, so goes back to the previous process. Otherwise, the virtual travel agency makes reservation  711  all of the travel service including flights, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and activities. For the end of the process, the virtual travel agency reports the result of the reservation to the traveler on the user interface. 
         [0032]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.