System and method for integrated trip planning based on fixed and flexible itinerary components

Abstract

The techniques introduced here include a method for estimating a travel time between an origin and a destination. The method comprises determining a plurality of travel options from the origin to the destination. Further, each travel option is divided into a plurality of serial travel segments such that the travel segments serially connect the origin to the destination. For each of the travel options, the method further comprises estimating a time of travel in each of the travel segments. The estimated time of travel in a given travel segment is a function of both the nature of travel service associated with the segment and the one or more second user preferences associated with a travel service used in the segment. The method further comprises calculating, for each of the travel options, the total estimated travel time as a function of estimated travel times associated with each of the travel segments.

1 .- 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A system for generating and identifying a travel itinerary for travel from a starting location to a final location, the system comprising:
 a travel plan server for
 obtaining a series of potential travel segments from a database of travel segments between the starting location and the final location; 
 sorting each of the potential travel segments into one of a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, wherein fixed-travel segments include travel services associated with predetermined departure schedules and flexible-travel segments include travel services with user-determined departure schedules; 
 generating a series of potential travel itineraries, each of the series of potential travel itineraries a series of serially-connected travel segments between the starting location and the final location and including at least one fixed-travel segment and at least one flexible-travel segment; 
   a web server for presenting to a user the series of potential travel itineraries for user selection including each of the fixed-travel segments and the flexible travel segments along with a travel time for each associated serially-connected travel segment; and   receiving user selection identifying the travel itinerary from the series of potential travel itineraries.   
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 84  wherein the travel itinerary includes at least one travel segment that is not an airport-to-airport travel segment. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 84  wherein each of the flexible-travel segments in each of the potential travel itineraries is selected from the following:
 a ride in a taxi; 
 a drive in a car; 
 a walk; 
 a chartered bus; 
 a ride in a chartered boat; 
 bicycling from by an individual; and 
 travel by limousine. 
 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 84  wherein each of the fixed-travel segments in each of the potential travel itineraries is selected from the following:
 a ride on a scheduled bus route; 
 a ride on a train; 
 a ride on a subway; 
 a flight on a commercial airline; and 
 a ride on a scheduled ferry. 
 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 84  further comprising filtering the series of potential travel itineraries so as to exclude from the series of potential travel itineraries, potential travel itineraries that violate user preferences including a user intention indicator to adjust estimated travel-related metrics, the user intention indicator including at least two of an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure; 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 84  wherein at least one of the potential travel segments is made up of a different travel type than at least one other of the potential travel segments. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 84  wherein in generating each of the potential travel itineraries, an estimated travel delay time is calculated for and applied for each of the potential travel segments, the estimated travel-delay time a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:
 a travel service reliability; 
 a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times; 
 a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment; or 
 a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment. 
 
     
     
         91 . A method for generating and identifying a travel itinerary for travel from a starting location to a final location, the method comprising:
 obtaining a series of potential travel segments from a database of travel segments between the starting location and the final location;   sorting each of the potential travel segments into one of a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, wherein fixed-travel segments include travel services associated with predetermined departure schedules and flexible-travel segments include travel services with user-determined departure schedules;   generating a series of potential travel itineraries, each of the series of potential travel itineraries a series of serially-connected travel segments between the starting location and the final location and including at least one fixed-travel segment and at least one flexible-travel segment;   presenting to a user the series of potential travel itineraries for user selection including each of the fixed-travel segments and the flexible travel segments along with a travel time for each associated serially-connected travel segment; and   identifying as the travel itinerary, a user-selection from the series of potential travel itineraries.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein the travel itinerary includes at least one travel segment that is not an airport-to-airport travel segment. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91  wherein each of the flexible-travel segments in each of the potential travel itineraries is selected from the following:
 a ride in a taxi; 
 a drive in a car; 
 a walk; 
 a chartered bus; 
 a ride in a chartered boat; 
 bicycling from by an individual; and 
 travel by limousine. 
 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91  wherein each of the fixed-travel segments in each of the potential travel itineraries is selected from the following:
 a ride on a scheduled bus route; 
 a ride on a train; 
 a ride on a subway; 
 a flight on a commercial airline; and 
 a ride on a scheduled ferry. 
 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91  further comprising filtering the series of potential travel itineraries so as to exclude from the series of potential travel itineraries, potential travel itineraries that violate user preferences including a user intention indicator to adjust estimated travel-related metrics, the user intention indicator including at least two of an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure; 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 91  wherein at least one of the potential travel segments is made up of a different travel type than at least one other of the potential travel segments. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 91  wherein in generating each of the potential travel itineraries, an estimated travel delay time is calculated for and applied for each of the potential travel segments, the estimated travel-delay time a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:
 a travel service reliability; 
 a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times; 
 a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment; or 
 a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment. 
 
     
     
         98 . Apparatus comprising a machine readable storage medium storing a program having instructions which when executed by a processor will cause the processor to:
 obtaining a series of potential travel segments from a database of travel segments between the starting location and the final location;   sorting each of the potential travel segments into one of a fixed-travel segment and a flexible-travel segment, wherein fixed-travel segments include travel services associated with predetermined departure schedules and flexible-travel segments include travel services with user-determined departure schedules;   generating a series of potential travel itineraries, each of the series of potential travel itineraries a series of serially-connected travel segments between the starting location and the final location and including at least one fixed-travel segment and at least one flexible-travel segment;   presenting to a user the series of potential travel itineraries for user selection including each of the fixed-travel segments and the flexible travel segments along with a travel time for each associated serially-connected travel segment; and   identifying as the travel itinerary, a user-selection from the series of potential travel itineraries.   
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 98  wherein the travel itinerary includes at least one travel segment that is not an airport-to-airport travel segment. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 98  wherein each of the flexible-travel segments in each of the potential travel itineraries is selected from the following:
 a ride in a taxi; 
 a drive in a car; 
 a walk; 
 a chartered bus; 
 a ride in a chartered boat; 
 bicycling from by an individual; and 
 travel by limousine. 
 
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 98  further comprising filtering the series of potential travel itineraries so as to exclude from the series of potential travel itineraries, potential travel itineraries that violate user preferences including a user intention indicator to adjust estimated travel-related metrics, the user intention indicator including at least two of an intention to check-in baggage during travel, a time allowance to check-in baggage, a time allowance to clear security at a transit terminal associated with a travel service, and a time allowance for using a travel related facility at the transit terminal before departure; 
     
     
         102 . The apparatus of  claim 98  wherein in generating each of the potential travel itineraries, an estimated travel delay time is calculated for and applied for each of the potential travel segments, the estimated travel-delay time a function of a result of a statistical analysis of one or more of:
 a travel service reliability; 
 a survey of prior traveler itinerary and associated travel times; 
 a delay related to a congestion of infrastructure used by the travel service associated with the given travel segment; or 
 a weather condition affecting the travel service associated with the given travel segment. 
 
     
     
         103 . The apparatus of  claim 98  further comprising:
 a network interface; 
 the processor; 
 a memory; and 
 wherein the processor and memory comprise circuits and software for performing the instructions on the storage medium.