Abstract:
A method of presenting offers of travel services is disclosed. The method may include providing a client computer having a human interface, inputting requests for details of travel services, sending requests to a GDS and to a server computer, translating the request into web requests, sending web requests to websites and receiving responses therefrom, and displaying responses from the websites and from the GDS on a single display screen. Software and hardware such as may be used for embodying the method are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to services and accounting within the retail and wholesale travel services industries. This invention further relates to a system and a method for gathering, offers of travel services from each of multiple travel service suppliers and their agents.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The commercial sector of the Web has been extensively used for direct sales of travel services At the consumer or end-user level, systems and methods for conducting e-commerce typically involve a Computer running a Web browser for accessing Web pages from remote servers via the one and only, well known, Internet.  
           [0003]    Computerized travel booking services, especially for air travel have become more complex with the rise in popularity of the Internet. Not only are there many more sources of services but terms and conditions are increasingly complex. A need to manage the various complexities on a single client computer exists. Sales and ancillary sales support activity (such as ticketing) within the travel industry is typified or dominated by an airline component. Thus the airline component services of the travel industry is paradigmatically used and envisioned in accompanying diagrams. A small number of online services provide a large proportion of air travel fares quotation and ordering for air travel booked by travel agents for clients. There are four such online services, they are known by their trade names, Sabre®, Worldspan®, Galileo® and Amadeus®. These are collectively and individually known, in the art, as GDS (global distribution system(s)).  
           [0004]    An important reason that travel agents use GDS is that they provide familiar bookkeeping arrangements, credit, ticketing, refunds and other terms and conditions. Especially, GDS generate accounting records for computerized billing systems and reports including statistics for clients. Such report keeping is of great importance to business and corporate clients.  
           [0005]    However the Internet and the World Wide Web (the Web) have become everyday utilities for many businesses and individuals and often provide cheaper tickets than are available through GDS&#39;s. Under price performance pressure travel agents scan the world wide web for better prices and then purchase tickets over the Internet. The travel agent must then typically enter the purchase into a GDS in order to generate the required accounting records. Often too a service charge (profit margin) must be charged separately rather than a preferred method of bundling or commissions from supplier. Another problem is that Internet sales can often have complex and unfamiliar terms and conditions with the risk that the agent may purchase a non-refundable fares only to later notice a restriction that makes the fare useless to the client. Since the terms are not presented in a standard way they are open to misinterpretation, also the agent may need authorization to advance credit (usually credit card credit) for the purchase. This can result in a dilemma for the business owner as to how much authority to spend money should be given to the agent since each situation is unique. Thus the Internet is not as travel agent friendly as the GDS, however sometimes travel agents must use the Internet to access websites or lose business. Websites are well known in the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of presenting offers of travel services is disclosed. The method may include providing a client computer having a human interface, inputting requests for details of travel services, sending requests to a GDS and to a server computer, translating the request into web requests, sending web requests to websites and receiving responses therefrom, and displaying responses from the websites and from the GDS on a single display screen.  
           [0007]    According to a further aspect of the invention, software is provided to implement the method of the first aspect.  
           [0008]    According to a still further aspect of the invention, computers are provided to implement the method of the first aspect.  
           [0009]    These and other features and advantages of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The embodiments described should be viewed as exemplary and enabling and disclosing best known mode rather than limiting as to the bounds of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 shows a high level depiction of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 shows a high level depiction of a travel agency client computer network according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 schematically represents a client computer used in an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 schematically represents a server computer such as may be used to implement embodiments of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 shows a client computer display screen  500  layout such as may be used in one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of reservation functions according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of accounting functions according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Consumer computer systems and methods are well known in the relevant arts.  
         [0018]    A high level depiction of one embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 1. Box  101 , relates to one or more distributed processing servers which are well understood in the art. One particular such server that has been used to embody the invention is the Excambria(TM) Web Server  101  which is used as an example herein. The figure depicts a travel Agency client computer network  102  which may contain computer workstations (not shown in FIG. 1) that may connect through a router  130  and the Internet  104  to Excambria web server  101 . The well known Internet Protocol (IP) is used to communicate over the Internet which is also well known in the art. Excambria server  101  in turn connects via Internet  104  to multiple supplier server computers  110  (two shown but typically many available). Supplier computers may typically operate as e-commerce websites, exchanging requests and responses by means of Internet oriented protocols such as FTP, HTTP, HTML, XML and/or many others.  
         [0019]    Travel Agency client computer network  102  also connects through a Gateway  120  through a proprietary GDS telecommunication networks  131  to one of the several GDS  141  that may be available and which are typically based on mainframe computers. Presently there are four GDS in total and they are well known in the art.  
         [0020]    Again referring to FIG. 1, examples of entities that may constitute server machines (box  101 ) are remote servers, auction servers, transaction servers, inventory systems, supplier managed systems, etc . . .  
         [0021]    Parts of the invention may incorporate (have parts that are implemented on) one or more of these example entities. The invention may also incorporate entities that are not listed herein. These entities cooperate with each other in gathering, transmitting, requesting, manipulating, etc . . . travel related service information. The Internet Protocol (IP) is used for communication over the Internet (box  104 ) as is well understood in the art.  
         [0022]    These and other features and advantages may be accomplished by the provision of alternative topologies of computer systems incorporating client computer(s), Internet server computers and GDS.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows a high level depiction of a travel agency client computer network  102  according to an embodiment of the invention. The exemplary travel agency client computer network  102  may function as depicted in FIG. 1. Still referring to FIG. 2, the travel agency client computer network  102  connects to Internet  104  and GDS proprietary network  131 . Gateway  130  connects GDS network  131  and Router  120  connects Internet  104 . GDS Net  131  provides communication to and from a GDS (not shown in FIG. 2) and Internet  104  provides communication to and from an Excambria server (also not shown in FIG. 2).  
         [0024]    Various intelligent devices within the travel agency client computer network  102  interconnect, for example, by means of a LAN (local area network)  199  which may be Ethernet, Token Ring or other LAN technology. Optional GDS terminal  191  may be a retained or “legacy” device that may be used by travel agents to access GDS, for example, outside the context of the invention. GDS Gateway  132  operates on behalf of GDS terminal  191  to forward requests and responses to GDS network  131  via modem  130 .  
         [0025]    One or more Agent workstations  151  are provided for individual use by travel agents, typically such workstations may be implemented as software and hardware based upon the ubiquitous PC (Personal Computer). Agent workstations  151  communicate via Excambria gateway  150 , LAN  199 , Router  120  and Internet  104  with Excambria web server computer (not shown in FIG. 2). Excambria gateway  150  operates on behalf of agent workstations  151  to forward requests and responses to GDS network  131  via modem  130 . The accounting system computer  160  may receive messages from many sources and maintains accounting records on an accounting database (not shown). The agent workstations  151  are typically client computers (PC) that implement Excambria client programs. Agent workstations  151  may be referred to, for convenience, as communicating with a GDS, but the Excambria gateway  150  receives requests and responses and forwards them to GDS from agent workstation or vice versa.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary client computer display screen  500  layout such as may be used in one embodiment of the invention. The display screen  500  is divided into area or windows  501 ,  502 ,  503 ,  504  and perhaps others. In one embodiment the large area GDS Display window  501  provides a character-oriented scrolling window as may be required by GDS for the traditional human/computer interface thereto. Thus, a terminal emulation of a real GDS terminal optionally including features such as synchronous protocol may be performed using display window  501  and a client computer keyboard. The itinerary may be captured by filtering and interpreting a GDS formatted inquiry using command line  503  in the client computer or in an Excambria gateway or alternatively the itinerary may be entered directly using the human interface (e.g. keyboard) into command line  503 . Various command “buttons”  505  for functions may be provided in accordance with the well known computer windows human interface. Window  502  may be used to display information such as inventory and pricing for itineraries located by an Excambria web server (and other web based content) as is discussed below.  
         [0027]    Reference is made to FIG. 3 illustrating a block diagram of a typical client computer system  300  which maybe implemented or practiced by using the present invention. Such a client computer system may serve as the client computer system  102  of FIG. 1. Referring again to FIG. 3, client computer system  300  is connected to the Internet (not shown expressly but typically via data communications port  308  sometimes known as an I/O interface). It is to be appreciated that client computer system  300  is exemplary only and that the present invention can operate within a number of different computer systems including general purpose computer systems, embedded computer systems, and others. In the following discussions of the present invention, certain processes and steps that are realized as a series of instructs (e.g., software program) that reside within computer readable memory units of system  300  and executed by processors of system  300 .  
         [0028]    In general, client computer system  300  used by the present invention comprises address/data bus  312  for conveying information and instructions, central processor (CPU)  301  coupled with bus  312  for processing information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM)  302  for storing digital information and instructions, a read only memory (ROM)  303  for storing information and instructions of a more permanent nature. In addition, client computer system  300  may also include a data storage device  304  (e.g., a magnetic, optical, floppy, tape drive, etc . . . ) For storing vast amounts of data, and an I/O interface  308  for interfacing with peripheral devices (e.g., computer network, modem, etc . . . ). More particularly, the memories (e.g., RAM  302 , ROM  303 , and data storage device  304 ) of client computer  300  store the instruction codes in accordance with the present invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the memories may also contain additional information such as applications programs, network communication programs (e.g., TCP/IP protocol), operating system software, data, etc . . .  
         [0029]    Moreover, computer system  300  may include a display device  305  for displaying information to a computer user, an alphanumeric input device  306  (e.g., keyboard), and a cursor control device  307  (e.g., mouse, track-ball, light-pen, etc . . . ) for communicating user input information and command selections. This human oriented input and output features may be collectively used as the human interface.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 4, server computer  400  comprises central processing unit CPU  420 , memory  430 , and communications adapter  408  which are connected together by system bus  440 . Such a server computer system may serve as the Excambria server computer system  101  of FIG. 1. Memory  430  stores software. It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that server computer  400  can also include other elements not shown in FIG. 4 such as disk drives  450 , keyboard  460 , etc . . . A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that memory  430  may also contain additional information such as applications programs, network communication programs (e.g., TCP/IP protocol stack), operating system software, data, etc . . . Client computer  300  and server computer  400  are linked together by a network, typically the Internet. Furthermore, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the computer systems  300  and  400  may contain more or less than what is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0031]    Reference is now made to FIG. 6 illustrating a flow diagram of a reservation method according to an embodiment of the invention. The figure effectively shows the computer implemented acts to carry out part of the embodiment of the present invention. In general, the acts in FIG. 6 are designed to implement travel agent service mechanisms. The acts in FIG. 6 are carried out when processors  301 , and  420  (FIGS. 3 and 4) execute the instruction codes stored in the memory of computer systems  300  and  400  (FIGS. 3 and 4). Websites and GDS, as are well known in the art, may also perform some of the necessary functions. It is to be appreciated that the acts described herein are illustrative only and other sequences of steps could be used within the general scope of the invention.  
         [0032]    Still referring to FIG. 6, In box  202 , the method is stated. In box  204 , the travel agent enters an inquiry, such as for flight availability and/or pricing. The travel agent enters the inquiry into Excambria client program in client computer command line window using a command line format. A traditional concise GDS format is used, for example command such as “ALAXSFO22NOV” might be used to inquire as to the availability of airline ticket for travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco on 22 nd  November next. The client computer software may express the inquiry as a command upon the screen. Then in box  206 , the client computer software forwards the GDS format command to Excambria gateway. The gateway may be a separate computer (as shown in FIG. 2) or it could be a physical or logical subsystem of the client computer itself. In box  208  the Gateway forwards command to GDS on mainframe via modem and GDS Net. In box  210  the GDS responds to client computer (typically via the Gateway) with inventory available which displayed in the GDS display window. In box  212  the travel agent requests pricing information using GDS command line format. In box  214 , the request is sent to GDS, GDS responds with inventory pricing information which is displayed in GDS display window of Excambria client program in client computer. In box  216  the travel agent decides whether to select a GDS offered itinerary. If not the GDS based part of the method ends in box  218 . Otherwise, in box  230 , the GDS itinerary is selected and a confirmation message received and displayed by old GDS based procedures. In box  232  paperwork printed and account records entered as for old GDS systems.  
         [0033]    Meanwhile, in box  240 , the router forwards command to Excambria web server via router and Internet. In box  242 , the Excambria Web server runs filters and sends translated requests to suppliers&#39; web sites via the Internet. In box  244 , the suppliers&#39; web sites respond to the Excambria Web server. The, in box  246 , the Excambria Web server formats responses of inventory and pricing information and sends them to client computer via Internet. In box  248 , the Excambria client program in client computer displays inventory and pricing information obtained via Internet. Then in box  250 , the travel agents decides whether to select an Internet offered itinerary. If not then the web based part of the method ends in box  218 . Otherwise, in box  252 , a reservation request is sent to Excambria Web server and in box  254 , accounting and ticketing may take place as described below in connection with FIG. 7.  
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that, as may be required, the Excambria web server may translate commands into various forms as may be responded to by the web site of travel services suppliers such as airlines, consolidators, tours operators or the like. Thus, the Excambria server maintains a dialog with various travel sites sending web formatted commands according to the temporal needs of the many client computers at various locations. In the example given, a request for travel information between Los Angeles and San Francisco would not generate a web site inquiry to the website of British Airways since they do not offer US domestic travel. On the other hand inquiries may be sent to the web sites of the dozen or so airlines that do offer LAX-SFO ticketing. If the agent is dissatisfied with all the itineraries offered—or if indeed there are no offers for reason of no availability the agent may terminate the procedure and start again with, for example, a revised travel date after possible consultation with the prospective traveler. In addition to the functions described in connection with FIG. 6, embodiments of the invention may provide for capturing accounting data for travel services booked via the Excambria web server. One expanded example of the functions of box  254  according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of accounting functions according to an embodiment of the invention. In box  702  the method starts. In box  704 , the Excambria Web server sends a reservation confirmation to a supplier web server via the Internet. In box  706 , the supplier confirms the reservation. In box  708 , the Excambria Web server sends reservation confirmation web page to Excambria client program in client computer. In box  710 , the Excambria client application program stores the confirmation page as a reservation record into an Excambria database via the Excambria gateway. In box  712  a decision is made as to whether GDS based accounting is to be used.  
         [0035]    If so, in box  714 , the Excambria Gateway picks up reservation record from Excambria client database and reformats it according to specific GDS. Then in box  716 , the Excambria Gateway sends a command to GDS to issue ticket, invoice and/or itinerary to travel agency accounting system. In box  718 , the travel agency accounting application receives the reservation record from the GDS and processes it and the method ends in box  720 .  
         [0036]    If GDS based accounting is not to be used, then in box  730  the Excambria Gateway picks up the reservation record from the Excambria client database and reformats it according to travel agency&#39;s accounting application. In box  732 , the Excambria Gateway sends the re-formatted reservation record to the travel agency&#39;s accounting system to issue ticket, invoice and/or itinerary. In box  734 , the travel agency accounting application receives the reservation record from Excambria gateway and processes it and the method ends.  
         [0037]    Many other embodiments of accounting functions are feasible within the general scope of the invention. The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.