System and method for coordinating travel itineraries

Abstract

The methods and systems for coordinating the travel itineraries of multiple travelers, who are leaving from more than one origin location, but are arriving at the same destination location, provide automated techniques for determining which itineraries for each traveler best meets the specified criteria for the trip. For example, a travel organizer may specify certain travel criteria for a trip, such as the relative importance of the travel schedules versus the price. A set of suggested travel itineraries that most closely meet the specified criteria are then provided, in addition to the amount of time between when any two travelers arrive at and/or leave from the destination location, and the price. Furthermore, the travel coordination techniques provide flexibility by allowing replacement of one or more of the suggested itineraries with other possible itineraries and recalculation of the time amounts and the price(s).

1 . Method for determining suggested travel itineraries based upon an amount of time between traveling times of any two travelers of a plurality of travelers, wherein the two travelers are associated with different origin locations, comprising: 
 receiving a destination location, at least two origin locations and other travel information, wherein each origin location is associated with at least one traveler;    accessing a travel database comprising at least outbound and inbound itineraries between the destination location and the origin locations;    identifying at least one outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location from the travel database based upon the travel information;    determining at least one of: (i) the amount of time between the arrival times for the at least one outbound itinerary associated with any two travelers, and (ii) the amount of time between the departing times for the at least one inbound itinerary associated with any two travelers; and    identifying at least one of: (i) at least one suggested outbound itinerary for each traveler having based upon the amount of time between the arrival times of the respective traveler and at least one other traveler, and (ii) at least one suggested inbound itinerary for each traveler based upon the amount of time between the departing times of the respective traveler and at least one other traveler.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 presenting the at least one suggested outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location and at least one of: (i) the amount of time between the arrival times, and (ii) the amount of time between the departing times for at least one traveler to at least one of a travel organizer and the plurality of travelers;    receiving an indication that alternative itineraries are desired for at least one of the suggested outbound and inbound itineraries associated with a respective traveler;    presenting other identified outbound and inbound itineraries between the destination location and an origin location and the respective amounts of time between at least one of: (i) the arrival times, and (ii) the departing times for the respective traveler and at least one other traveler for review if an indication is received that alternative itineraries are desired; and    receiving an indication of a selection of at least one of the other identified outbound and inbound itineraries.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one of a total price for all of the suggested itineraries for all of the travelers and a price for each suggested itinerary for each traveler.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising storing the at least one identified outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving payment information regarding how the travel costs for each traveler are to be paid; and    transmitting billing information based upon the payment information.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing electronic communication among at least two of a travel organizer and the travelers.  
     
     
         7 . System for determining suggested travel itineraries based upon an amount of time between traveling times of any two travelers of a plurality of travelers, wherein the two travelers are associated with different origin locations, comprising: 
 at least one client element capable of receiving a destination location, at least two origin locations and other travel information, wherein each origin location is associated with at least one traveler;    at least one processing element capable of accessing a travel database comprising at least outbound and inbound itineraries between the destination location and the origin locations, wherein said at least one processing element is also capable of identifying at least one outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location from the travel database based upon the travel information, wherein said at least one processing element is further capable of determining at least one of: (i) the amount of time between the arrival times for the at least one outbound itinerary associated with any two travelers, and (ii) the amount of time between the departing times for the at least one inbound itinerary associated with any two travelers, and wherein said at least one processing element is also capable of identifying at least one of: (i) at least one suggested outbound itinerary for each traveler based upon the amount of time between the arrival times of the respective traveler and at least one other traveler, and (ii) at least one suggested inbound itinerary for each traveler based upon the amount of time between the departing times of the respective traveler and at least one other traveler.    
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one display element capable of presenting the at least one suggested outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location and at least one of: (i) the amount of time between the arrival times, and (ii) the amount of time between the departing times for at least one traveler to at least one of a travel organizer and the plurality of travelers, and wherein said at least one display element is also capable of presenting other identified outbound and inbound itineraries between the destination location and an origin location and at least one of: (i) the respective amounts of time between the arrival times, and (ii) the departing times for the respective traveler and at least one other traveler for review if an indication is received that alternative itineraries are desired; and    wherein said at least one client element is also capable of receiving an indication that alternative itineraries are desired for at least one of the suggested outbound and inbound itineraries associated with a respective traveler, and wherein said at least one client element is also capable of receiving an indication of a selection of at least one of the other identified outbound and inbound itineraries.    
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one processing element is also capable of determining at least one of a total price for all of the suggested itineraries for all of the travelers and a price for each suggested itinerary for each traveler.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one storage element capable of storing the at least one identified outbound and inbound itinerary between the destination location and each origin location.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one client element is also capable of receiving payment information regarding how the travel costs for each traveler are to be paid, and wherein said at least one processing element is also capable of transmitting billing information based upon the payment information.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one processing element is also capable of providing electronic communication among at least two of a travel organizer and the travelers.