Travel reservation information and planning system

Claims

We claim:

1. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) comprising:

a. a computer;

b. a TRIPS database of topical data and geographic data;

c. means for a TRIPS user to relay via said computer one or more inputs related to travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof;

d. one or more subsystems couplable to said TRIPS database and constructed to process said one or more inputs from said TRIPS user and to calculate one or more outputs responsive to said one or more inputs, wherein said one or more outputs include information on options or a range of options corresponding to said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof; and

e. a controller for regulating correspondence between said one or more inputs from said TRIPS user and said one or more outputs from said one or more subsystems,

wherein one of said one or more subsystems is a temporal subsystem including means to enable said TRIPS user to preview, manipulate, and manage a chronological dimension associated with said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel or any combination thereof.

2. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said one or more subsystems is a geographic subsystem comprising:

a. means for gathering from said TRIPS database geographic information related to points of interest;

b. TRIPS geographic software constructed to retrieve specific information related to one or more points of interest identified based upon said one or more inputs from said TRIPS user; and

c. means to output to said TRIPS user said specific information related to said one or more points of interest.

3. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 2 wherein said geographic subsystem further includes means for calculating and identifying one or more travel routes associated with said specific points of interest and means for presenting to said TRIPS user output related to topics of interest proximate to said one or more points of interest.

4. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of said one or more subsystems is a topical subsystem comprising:

a. means for gathering from said TRIPS database topical information related to people, places, events, things, or any combination thereof;

b. TRIPS topical software constructed to correlate one or more topic-related inputs from said TRIPS user and to integrate said topical information based on said one or more topic-related inputs into one or more topical subsystem outputs; and

c. means to output to said TRIPS user said one or more topical subsystem outputs.

5. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 4 with said temporal subsystem comprising:

a. temporal information containing representational gauges of time;

b. an updatable temporal database including time-related information associated with said topical information;

c. TRIPS temporal software constructed to correlate one or more time-based TRIPS user inputs with said one or more inputs related to said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof; and

d. means to output to said TRIPS user one or more temporal subsystem outputs related to said one or more time-based TRIPS user inputs and said one or more inputs related to said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof.

6. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for linking said temporal database to one or more remote topic-information providers.

7. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 6 wherein said temporal database includes multimedia information related to said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof.

8. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a transactional subsystem including a modifiable database of cost information associated with said travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel, or any combination thereof, and a comparator for relational evaluation of the cost associated with alternative travel arrangements, travel activities, or any combination thereof.

9. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 8 with said transactional subsystem further comprising an accounting subsystem constructed to identify said TRIPS user by an access code, and to regulate and account for usage of output from said controller to said TRIPS user.

10. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller includes an interactive bus.

11. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 1 further comprising linking means for remote communication between said controller and said TRIPS user.

12. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 11 wherein said linking means is a wireless communicator.

13. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 12 wherein said wireless communicator includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor.

14. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 11 wherein said linking means is an Internet link.

15. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) to enable an individual or a group to customize travel plans, to select activities to be conducted, and to self-process arrangements associated with such plans and activities, said system comprising:

a. computer means including display means capable of displaying geographical, textual, and multimedia presentations;

b. a TRIPS database comprising geographical information, textual or multimedia information, and temporal information, wherein any of said information is accessible by said computer means;

c. means for a user to transmit to said computer means data, including temporal data, directed to travel plans or activities desired to be carried out;

d. means for said computer means to receive from one or more suppliers of travel capabilities or one or more goods or services providers information associated with said travel or said activities and compatible with said temporal data;

e. linking means for coupling said data from said user with said information from said one or more providers; and

f. an output from said computer means to said user, wherein said output provides said user with information and supplies necessary to complete said travel plans or said activities desired to be carried out.

16. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 15 wherein said output from said computer means is a travel voucher.

17. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 15 wherein said output from said computer means is a coupon for goods or services.

18. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 15 wherein said output is an electronic output.

19. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 18 wherein said electronic output is a set of position coordinates deliverable to a Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

20. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 15 wherein said output is a voice output.

21. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 15 wherein said computer means is selected from the group consisting of personal computers, notebook computers, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants.

22. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) to enable a user to select one or more travel destinations and to make travel arrangements based upon a destination or destinations selected, said system comprising:

a. a first computer means;

b. means for linking said first computer means to a second computer means accessible by a user desiring to make travel arrangements, wherein said first computer means includes a map database having mappable geographic information;

c. a topical information database couplable to said first computer means;

d. a temporal subsystem including means to enable said user to preview, manipulate, and manage a chronological dimension associated with said travel arrangements; and

e. an output couplable to said second computer means, wherein said output provides said user with information and supplies necessary to complete said travel plans.

23. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 further comprising reservation linking means coupling said first computer means to one or more goods or services service providers.

24. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 23 wherein said output is a paper map including a geographic display of said one or more destinations, information related to one or more points of interest obtained from said topical information database, and one or more reservation tickets for carrying out said travel plans.

25. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 24 wherein said reservation ticket is a voucher for goods or services.

26. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 wherein said output is an electronic output.

27. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 wherein said output is a voice output.

28. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 further comprising activities linking means coupling said first computer means to one or more activities service providers.

29. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 28 wherein said output is a paper map including a geographic display of said one or more destinations, information related to one or more points of interest obtained from said topical information database, and one or more reservation coupons for carrying out activities provided by said one or more activities service providers.

30. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 wherein said means for linking said first computer means to said second computer means is a direct cable link.

31. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 wherein said means for linking said first computer means to said second computer means is a wireless link.

32. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 22 with said temporal subsystem comprising:

a. temporal information containing representational gauges of time;

b. an updatable temporal database including time-related information associated with said topical information;

c. TRIPS temporal software constructed to correlate one or more time-based user inputs with said one or more inputs related to said travel arrangements; and

d. a temporal output designed to display a range of time-limited options associated with said travel arrangements.

33. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 32 further comprising a transactional subsystem including a modifiable database of cost information associated with said travel arrangements, and a comparator for relational evaluation of the cost associated with alternative travel arrangements.

34. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 33 with said transactional subsystem further comprising an accounting subsystem constructed to identify said user by an access code, and to regulate and account for usage of output from said first computer means to said user.

35. A travel reservation information and planning process permitting a user to custom plan travel and activities associated with travel, the process comprising the steps of:

a. providing access for an individual or group to a database having geographic information and temporal information retrievable based upon one or more inputs from a user interested in developing a travel plan;

b. linking travel information associated with said geographic information and said temporal information and making said travel information accessible to said user;

c. making accessible to said user reservation information and materials associated with services or goods available from one or more providers; and

d. providing to said user an output associated with said travel plan and compatible with chronological information input by said user.

36. The process as claimed in claim 35 wherein said output is selected from the group consisting of: building layouts, itineraries, reservation confirmation coupons, rental or lease reservations, discount or extra-service coupons, point-of-interest displays, airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, ferry tickets, coupons or tickets for goods or services, a visual display of information associated with said travel plan, and an audio output of information associated with said travel plan.

37. A product created by the process as described in claim 35.

38. The process as claimed in claim 35 further comprising the step of providing to said user a summary of travel options and expenses associated with said input travel plan.

39. The process as claimed in claim 35 wherein the step of providing access to said database includes linking a first computer means containing said database with a second computer means accessible by said user.

40. The process as claimed in claim 39 wherein the step of linking said first computer means to said second computer means is via a wireless link.

41. The process as claimed in claim 40 wherein the step of linking said first computer means to said second computer means is via a cable link.

42. The process as claimed in claim 35 wherein said second computer means is a personal digital assistant.

43. The process as claimed in claim 35 wherein the step of providing to said user an output associated with said travel plan includes the step of outputting an electronic display associated with a location of said user.

44. The process as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of outputting to said user an electronic display associated with a location of said one or more providers.

45. The process as claimed in claim 35 wherein the step of providing to said user an output associated with said travel plan includes the step of outputting a voice indicator of a location associated with said one or more providers.

46. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) to enable a TRIPS user to customize travel plans, to select activities to be conducted, and to self-process arrangements associated with such plans and activities, said TRIPS comprising:

a. a geographic subsystem including textual or multimedia geographical information, wherein said geographical information is accessible by said TRIPS user;

b. a topic subsystem including textual or multimedia topical information, wherein said topical information is accessible by said TRIPS user;

c. a temporal subsystem including means to enable said TRIPS user to preview, manipulate, and manage a chronological dimension associated with travel, travel planning, activities associated with travel or any combination thereof;

d. computer means for scheduling travel or desired activities compatible with said chronological dimension, wherein said geographic and topical information is accessible by said computer means; and

e. an output from said computer means to said TRIPS user, wherein said output provides said TRIPS user with customized travel and activity plans that include information and supplies necessary to complete said travel or said desired activities.

47. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 46 wherein said information and said supplies necessary to complete said travel plans or said desired activities include display of geographical, textual, and multimedia presentations by said computer means.

48. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 46 wherein said output from said computer means includes a ticket selected from the group consisting of airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, and ferry tickets.

49. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 46 wherein said output is a customized map including travel materials selected from the group consisting of: building layouts, itineraries, reservation confirmation coupons, discount or extra-service coupons, rental or lease reservations, airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, ferry tickets, coupons for goods or services, a visual display of information associated with said customized travel plans and activities, and an audio output of information associated with said customized travel plans and activities.

50. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 47 wherein said information and said supplies necessary to complete said travel plans or said desired activities further includes a ticket means for providing a hard copy of said scheduling information, said ticket means selected from the group consisting of maps, airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, ferry tickets, point-of-interest displays, hotel vouchers, restaurant coupons, entertainment center coupons, event tickets, confirmation coupons, and coupons for goods.

51. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 50 wherein said computer means is selected from the group consisting of personal computers, notebook computers, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants.

52. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 46 with said temporal subsystem comprising:

a. temporal information containing representational gauges of time;

b. an updatable temporal database including time-related information associated with said topical information;

c. TRIPS temporal software constructed to correlate one or more time-based user inputs with said one or more inputs related to said travel arrangements; and

d. a temporal output designed to display a range of time-limited options associated with said travel arrangements.

53. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 46 further comprising a transactional subsystem including a modifiable database of cost information associated with said travel arrangements, and a comparator for relational evaluation of the cost associated with alternative travel arrangements.

54. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 52 with said transactional subsystem further comprising an accounting subsystem constructed to identify said user by an access code, and to regulate and account for usage of output from said first computer means to said user.

55. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) to enable a TRIPS user to customize travel plans, to select activities to be conducted, and to self-process arrangements associated with such plans and activities, said TRIPS comprising:

a. a geographic subsystem including textual geographical information, multimedia geographical information, or a combination of the two, wherein said geographical information is accessible by said TRIPS user;

b. a topic subsystem including textual topical information, multimedia topical information, or a combination of the two, wherein said topical information is accessible by said TRIPS user;

c. a temporal subsystem including textual temporal information accessible by said TRIPS user and including means to enable said TRIPS user to preview, manipulate, and manage a chronological dimension associated with customized travel plans, activities to be conducted, and self-processing of arrangements associated therewith; and

d. computer means responsive to one or more inputs from said TRIPS user related to said geographical, topical, or temporal information, wherein said computer means includes TRIPS software constructed to output to said TRIPS user information associated travel arrangements, topical events, or a combination of the two as a function of said one or more TRIPS user inputs.

56. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 55 further comprising a transaction subsystem including textual transactional information, multimedia transactional information, or a combination of the two, wherein said transaction subsystem is accessible by said TRIPS user and wherein said TRIPS user may transmit one or more inputs to said computer means related to said transactional information.

57. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 56 further comprising an Internet linking means for remote coupling of said TRIPS user and said computer means.

58. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 57 wherein said transaction subsystem includes transaction software constructed to create a hierarchy of access to said output of said computer means.

59. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 56 wherein said TRIPS software is constructed to calculate, delineate, and present one or more travel routes as a function of said one or more inputs from said TRIPS user.

60. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 59 wherein said geographic subsystem is constructed to display on a computer display accessible by said TRIPS user a multimedia travelog of one or more events and/or points of interest along said one or more travel routes.

61. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 56 wherein said TRIPS software is constructed to automatically transmit to said TRIPS user one or more geographic and/or topic outputs upon iteratively processing a single TRIPS user input.

62. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 56 wherein said TRIPS software is constructed to permit said TRIPS user to manually conduct an iterative examination of said geographic and topic subsystems based upon a plurality of TRIPS user inputs so as to produce a single geographic and/or topic output.

63. A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) to enable a TRIPS user to conduct travel arrangements, said TRIPS comprising:

at least one printed map corresponding to a selected geographical area, said printed map depicting surface features at a particular level of detail, said printed map comprising grid lines substantially parallel with coordinate lines of a selected geographical coordinate system, said grid lines defining boundary lines of printed map grid quadrangles identified by printed map grid quadrangle names;

a first computer means having a display, said first computer means being programmed to display on said display selected display grid quadrangles identified by first display grid quadrangle names corresponding to said printed map grid quadrangle names;

at least one database of selected geographical-coordinate-locatable objects (loc/objects) storable on a memory device and readable by said first computer means, said selected loc/objects identified by geographical coordinate location in said selected geographical coordinate system, said first computer means being programmed to display on said display locations of one or more of said selected loc/objects in said display grid quadrangles corresponding to map locations of said selected loc/objects in said printed map grid quadrangles of said printed map;

a second computer means having an output programmed to indicate second grid quadrangles names for user correlation with corresponding printed map grid quadrangles;

a temporal subsystem including means to enable said TRIPS user to preview, manipulate, and manage a chronological dimension associated with said travel arrangements; and

a topic subsystem including textual topical information, multimedia topical information, or a combination of the two, wherein said topical information is accessible by said TRIPS user.

64. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 63 wherein said second computer means includes a second display, said second computer means being programmed to display on said second display selected grid quadrangles identified by said second display grid quadrangle names for user correlation with corresponding printed map grid quadrangles;

and a data communications link between said first computer means and said second computer means.

65. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 63 wherein said second computer means is located at a location remote from said first computer means, said second computer means having at least one database of loc/objects, and said CAMLS includes a data communications link between said first computer means and said second computer means.

66. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 63 further comprising locating means couplable to said first computer means, to said second computer means, or to both.

67. The TRIPS as claimed in claim 66 wherein said locating means is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

68. A travel planning information and reservation system (TRIPS) for use with a device that includes geocoding capability, comprising:

a computer having a computer display;

a map database providing a set of electronic maps for presentation on said computer display, wherein said electronic maps have the capability of depicting transportation routes having identifiable waypoints including route intersections at geographical locations along said transportation routes, said identifiable waypoints on said electronic maps being identifiable in said computer by coordinate locations of a selected geographical coordinate system;

a TRIPS database of geographically locatable points of interest (POIs) identifiable by coordinate locations in said geographical coordinate system, said POIs being organized into a plurality of types for user selection of POIs by type, said POI types including overlays of said TRIPS database for display over said electronic maps on said computer display;

TRIPS software permitting user travel planning using said electronic maps presented on said computer display by providing user selection of selected waypoints that include at least a travel origin and a travel destination and can include intermediate waypoints, wherein said TRIPS software is capable of determining an additional group of said intermediate waypoints between said travel origin and said travel destination, and of calculating, delineating, and displaying a travel route between said travel origin and said travel destination via said intermediate waypoints according to user choice of a shortest travel route, quickest travel route, or user-selected preferred travel route;

said TRIPS software also permits user selection of a region of interest along said user-defined travel route, said region of interest having user-specified dimensions and permitting user selection of specified POI types within said region of interest