Patent ID: 7363319

Claim:
A computer implemented process for the search and retrieval of transportation-related capabilities comprising the steps of: a) providing first means for data processing b) providing second means for data storage compatible with said first means c) providing third means for management and detection of locations comprising a location system d) providing fourth means for the definition of one or more paths, said one or more paths comprising flexible paths with predefined degrees of flexibility, said one or more paths having attributes identifiable in said location system and said one or more paths representing one or more available transportation-related capabilities in modes of one or more trajectory-related sections or legs e) providing fifth means for entering structured data representing one or more paths defined by said fourth means f) storing via said second means, said structured data to a structured data set g) providing sixth means for the definition of a required transportation-related capability between a first location and at least a second location, said required transportation capability of a type of transportation compatible with at least one of the types of transportation represented in said structured data set, said required transportation capability comprising at least said first location having a position identifiable directly or by simple cross-reference in said location system h) providing seventh means for retrieving from a service user structured data representing at least a request for a required transportation-related capability between a first location and at least a second location, said request defined by said sixth means i) providing eighth means for detecting among said structured data set, a structured data subset regarding paths representing available transportation-related capabilities that can provide one or more possible solutions for fulfilling said request, said one or more possible solutions comprising at least a possible solution constructed with a plurality of paths or path sections, said plurality of path or path sections, representing a logically-linked sequence of a plurality of available transportation-related capabilities or independent trajectory-related sections of available transportation-related capabilities and which in combination are capable of performing the required transportation-related task j) providing ninth means for conveying information on said one or more possible solutions.