Computerized Travel Itinerary Recommendation Tool and Method

Abstract

A computerized travel itinerary recommendation tool includes an itinerary set selector, a user preference modeler, and a recommendation engine. The itinerary set selector obtains one or more trip conditions from a user and causes the display of a first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions. The itinerary set selector further prompts the user to select a subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries. The user preference modeler adjusts a user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection. The recommendation engine applies the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria. and causes the display of a recommended travel itinerary. The recommended travel itinerary is a travel product from the set of travel products that most closely matches the user preferences based on the user preference model.

1 . A computerized travel booking system, comprising:
 one or more first servers configured to store one or more travel products available for booking through the travel booking system; and   a travel itinerary recommendation tool, comprising:
 an itinerary set selector configured to:
 obtain one or more trip conditions from the user via a client device; 
 cause the display on the client device of a first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions, wherein the two or more selected travel itineraries are selected from a plurality of travel products obtained from the one or more first servers; and 
 prompt the user to select a subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries; 
 
 a user preference modeler configured to adjust a user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection of the subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries; and 
 a recommendation engine configured to:
 apply the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria; and 
 cause the display of a recommended travel itinerary on the client device, wherein the recommended travel itinerary is a travel product from the set of travel products that most closely matches the user preferences based on the user preference model. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The travel booking system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second server configured to store information associated with travelers previously using the travel booking system;   wherein the user preference model is initialized based on information associated with the user obtained from the second server.   
     
     
         3 . The travel booking system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the itinerary set selector is further configured to:
 cause the display of a second set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria, wherein the second set is different from the first set; and 
 prompting the user to select a subset of the second set of displayed travel itineraries; and 
   the user preference modeler is further configured to adjust the user preference model based on the user's selection of the subset of the second set of displayed travel itineraries.   
     
     
         4 . The travel booking system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first servers are configured to store travel products comprising one or more of airline flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals, and bookable attractions. 
     
     
         5 . A computerized method, comprising:
 obtaining, by a computer, one or more trip conditions from a user;   causing, by a computer, the display of a first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions;   prompting, by a computer, the user to select a subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries;   adjusting, by a computer, a user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection of the subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries;   applying, by a computer, the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria; and   causing, by a computer, the display of a recommended travel itinerary, wherein the recommended travel itinerary is a travel product from the set of travel products that most closely matches the user preferences based on the user preference model.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein causing the display of the first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria comprises selecting, by a computer, two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria randomly from all of travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising, before applying the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria, for each of one or more additional sets of two or more selected travel itineraries:
 causing, by a computer, the display of a respective additional set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions;   prompting, by a computer, the user to select a subset of the respective additional set of displayed travel itineraries; and   adjusting, by a computer, the user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection of the subset of the respective additional set of displayed travel itineraries.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the one or more additional sets of two or more selected travel itineraries is selected based on the first set of displayed travel itineraries and any sets of the one or more additional sets previously displayed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a number of the one or more additional sets is a predetermined number. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 for each adjustment to the user preference model, determining, by a computer, a certainty value of the user preference model;   wherein additional sets are displayed until the certainty value is determined to exceed or equal a threshold certainty value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein applying the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria comprises:
 calculating the recommended travel itinerary by applying a function based on the user preference model to the set of travel products; and   selecting a respective travel product of the set of travel products that represents a local extreme of the function as the recommended travel itinerary.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user preference model comprises one or more preference dimensions, wherein the one or more preference dimensions comprise a price sensitivity dimension, a connection sensitivity, and a comfort sensitivity;
 wherein the first set of two or more selected travel itineraries comprise two or more travel itineraries that differ across one or more of the preference dimensions of the user model; and   wherein adjusting the user preference model is further based on differences between the selected subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries and unselected ones of the first set of displayed travel itineraries.   
     
     
         13 . A computerized travel itinerary recommendation tool, comprising:
 an itinerary set selector configured to:
 obtain one or more trip conditions from a user; 
 cause the display of a first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions; and 
 prompt the user to select a subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries; 
   a user preference modeler configured to adjust a user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection of the subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries; and   a recommendation engine configured to:
 apply the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria; and 
 cause the display of a recommended travel itinerary, wherein the recommended travel itinerary is a travel product from the set of travel products that most closely matches the user preferences based on the user preference model. 
   
     
     
         14 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 13 , wherein causing the display of the first set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria comprises selecting two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria randomly from all of travel itineraries conforming to the trip criteria. 
     
     
         15 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 13 , wherein, before applying the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria, for each of one or more additional sets of two or more selected travel itineraries:
 the itinerary set selector is further configured to:
 cause the display of a respective additional set of two or more selected travel itineraries conforming to the trip conditions; and 
 prompt the user to select a subset of the respective additional set of displayed travel itineraries; and 
   the user preference modeler is further configured to adjust the user preference model based at least in part on the user's selection of the subset of the respective additional set of displayed travel itineraries.   
     
     
         16 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more additional sets of two or more selected travel itineraries is selected based on the first set of displayed travel itineraries and any sets of the one or more additional sets previously displayed. 
     
     
         17 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 15 , wherein a number of the one or more additional sets is a predetermined number. 
     
     
         18 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 15 , wherein the user preference modeler is further configured to, for each adjustment to the user preference model, determine a certainty value of the user preference model;
 wherein additional sets are displayed until the certainty value is determined to exceed or equal a threshold certainty value.   
     
     
         19 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 13 , wherein applying the user preference model to a set of travel products conforming to the trip criteria comprises:
 calculating the recommended travel itinerary by applying a function based on the user preference model to the set of travel products; and   selecting a respective travel product of the set of travel products that represents a local extreme of the function as the recommended travel itinerary.   
     
     
         20 . The travel itinerary recommendation tool of  claim 13 , wherein the user preference model comprises one or more preference dimensions, wherein the one or more preference dimensions comprise a price sensitivity dimension, a connection sensitivity, and a comfort sensitivity;
 wherein the first set of two or more selected travel itineraries comprise two or more travel itineraries that differ across one or more of the preference dimensions of the user model; and   wherein adjusting the user preference model is further based on differences between the selected subset of the first set of displayed travel itineraries and unselected ones of the first set of displayed travel itineraries.