US 5948040

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 5948040:

Title: Travel reservation information and planning system

Assignee: DeLorme Publishing Co Inc

Inventors: David M. DeLorme, Keith A. Gray, T. Angus Ferguson

Filing Date: 1997-02-06

Issue Date: 1999-09-07

Abstract:
A travel reservation information and planning system (TRIPS) provides users with a comprehensive, interactive tool for planning and executing travel arrangements. It integrates electronic maps with a database of geographically locatable objects (loc/objects), points of interest (POIs), and scheduled events of interest (EOIs). The system allows users to define a travel origin, destination, and waypoints, then calculates and displays a customized travel route based on user preferences (e.g., shortest, quickest, scenic, or factoring seat availability and pricing). A key feature is the ability to compare and shop for ticket/reservation prices and to generate a user-customized travelog with multimedia information. The system also supports direct reservation, purchase, and printing of integrated map/ticket documents, which can include machine-readable codes for automated processing. Furthermore, TRIPS can communicate with remote devices like PDAs and GPS receivers for in-travel guidance and updates, and facilitates online communication with travel service providers for real-time transactions and data exchange.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a Travel Reservation and Information System (TRIPS). It specifies a digital computer, a computer link, and electronic maps. The core of the system is a TRIPS database containing geographically locatable objects (loc/objects), points of interest (POIs), and events of interest (EOIs), organized into types that act as electronic overlays on the maps. TRIPS software allows a user to select an origin, destination, and waypoints, calculate and display a travel route (considering factors like shortest, quickest, availability, pricing, and times). A transaction subsystem within the software permits users to compare and purchase tickets/reservations for various services (travel, lodging, events). The system generates a customized itinerary document, including maps and machine-readable tickets, which can be printed. It also features a multimedia travelog preview of the user-defined route and selected POIs/EOIs, enabling iterative trip planning and revision.
• Independent Claim 25: This claim defines a method of travel reservation information and planning. It involves providing user access to a database of mappable geographic information to create a user-determined digital map. The method links travel information to the geographic data, making it accessible to the user, and also makes reservation information and materials from travel service providers accessible. A critical step is providing the user with a customized output based on their travel plan, which can include a map/ticket combination with machine-readable encoding. The method further involves remote accessibility via a modem link and electronic data transfer to other digital computers, PDAs, or GPS receivers.
• Independent Claim 26: This claim outlines a method for providing travel reservation and information services. It entails providing a digital computer with a display and a computer link, along with electronic maps. A TRIPS database is provided, containing geographically locatable objects (loc/objects), supplemental points of interest (POIs), and scheduled events of interest (EOIs), organized into types. The method includes providing TRIPS software that enables users to select an origin, destination, and waypoints, then calculate, delineate, and display a travel route based on user choices (shortest, quickest, preferred, considering availability, pricing, and times). The software also permits users to compare and shop for ticket/reservation prices and generates a TRIPS-generated itinerary document that includes maps and tickets with machine-readable encoding. This document can be printed. The method further provides a customized travelog preview with multimedia information and reservation data for the user-defined route, allowing for iterative refinement.
• Independent Claim 40: This claim describes a Travel Reservation Information System (TRIPS). It comprises a digital computer with a display and a link to a remote server. The system provides a digital map display of a geographic region and allows a user to define a travel route with an origin, destination, and intermediate waypoints on the map. It includes a database of geographically locatable objects (loc/objects) and associated multimedia information. The system is configured to calculate and display the travel route, identify loc/objects along the route, and display their multimedia information in a customized travelog. It also includes means for comparing and purchasing reservations/tickets for services related to the travel route and loc/objects, and for transmitting such purchases to service providers. Finally, it provides for printing a hard-copy map/ticket with machine-readable reservation information.
• Independent Claim 47: This claim focuses on a Travel Reservation Information System (TRIPS) with enhanced communication capabilities. It includes a digital computer with a display and a link to one or more travel service providers. A TRIPS database stores geographically locatable objects (loc/objects), points of interest (POIs), and events of interest (EOIs). The TRIPS software allows users to select a travel route and related POIs/EOIs, calculate and display the route, and preview multimedia information. A transaction subsystem facilitates comparing and purchasing tickets/reservations. Crucially, the system includes communication links for online transfer of reservation data, ticketing data, spatially related data, and map reading software tools between computers and users. It also enables communication with external databases, service bureaus, and online mapping services for updated information, and can be coupled to a radio location receiver (like GPS) to display the user's location, direction, and speed on the map display.
• Independent Claim 53: This claim describes a system for providing travel reservation information with a focus on portable device integration. It includes a digital computer with a display and a computer link, along with electronic maps. A TRIPS database contains geographically locatable objects (loc/objects) and multimedia information. TRIPS software calculates and displays a user-defined travel route, identifying loc/objects along it and displaying their multimedia information in a customized travelog preview. The system further includes a transaction subsystem for comparing and purchasing tickets/reservations. It provides for electronically transferring the travel route, loc/object data, and reservation information to a portable digital device (such as a PDA or GPS receiver) for use during travel.

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