United States Patent [19J
`DeLorme et al.
`
`[54] TRAVEL RESERVATION INFORMATION
`AND PLANNING SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: David M. DeLorme, Yarmouth; Keith
`A. Gray, Dresden; T. Angus Ferguson,
`Portland, all of Me.
`
`[73] Assignee: DeLorme Publishing Co., Yarmouth,
`Me.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/797,471
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Feb. 6, 1997
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[ 63] Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/661,600, Jun. 11,
`1996, Pat. No. 5,802,492, which is a continuation-in-part of
`application No. 08/381,214, Jan. 31, 1995, Pat. No. 5,559,
`707, which is a continuation-in-part of application No.
`08/265,327, Jun. 24, 1994, and a continuation-in-part of
`application No. 08/521,828, Aug. 31, 1995.
`Int. Cl.6
`............................ G06F 19/00; GOlC 21/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 701/201; 701!208; 701!211;
`340/990; 705/5
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 701/201, 202,
`701!207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213; 705/5,
`6; 340/988, 989, 990, 995
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,359,631
`4,862,357
`4,926,336
`5,021,953
`5,172,321
`5,191,523
`5,208,756
`
`11/1982 Lockwood et a!. ....................... 360/12
`8/1989 Ahlstrom et a!. ........................... 705/6
`5/1990 Yamada ................................... 364/444
`6/1991 Webber et a!.
`............................. 705/6
`12/1992 Ghaem eta!. .......................... 701!202
`3/1993 Whitesage ................................... 705/6
`5/1993 Song ....................................... 364/449
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`01HER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Makulowich, John, "Traveling by Virtual Reservation,"
`Washington Technology, Jan. 23, 1997, p. 42.
`in
`Knecht, Bruce, G., "Microsoft Puts Newspapers
`Highanxiety.com," The Wall Street Journal, Jul. 15, 1996,
`pp. Bl, BlO.
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005948040A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,948,040
`Sep.7,1999
`
`"InforTravel Expands Service," Business Geographies, vol.
`4, No. 6, Jun., 1996, p. 13.
`DelRosso, Laura, "Firm Customizes Internet Res Link,"
`Travel Weekly, vol. 55, No. 26, Apr. 1, 1996, pp. 43-44, 47.
`"Casto Travel's Resource Library," www.casto.com.
`"Sunnyside Computing, Inc.," www.itn.net.
`
`Primary Examiner-Tan Nguyen
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pierce Atwood; Chris A Caseiro
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Computerized travel reservation information and planning
`system that generates "map ticket" output in various media,
`for guidance and transactions en route. Such print or elec(cid:173)
`tronic documents can include bar or alphanumeric codes for
`automated recognition and/or access. WHERE?, WHO/
`WHAT?, WHEN? and HOW? menus enable flexible user
`inquiries accessing selectable geographic, topical, temporal
`and transactional data records and relational processing.
`Sub-menus provide further capabilities: e.g. routing, topical
`searching; searches of events calendars, almanacs, appoint(cid:173)
`ment books, related itinerary scheduling; trip budgeting
`issues, plus travel arrangement availabilities or other goods/
`services offers. Online communications links access updated
`or supplemental information on places, times, topics and
`other provider goods/service offers. Online computer-aided
`routing system enables input of selectable travel origin,
`destination, and waypoints to compute travel routes, avail(cid:173)
`able transportation services, costs, options, and schedules. A
`point-of-interest database lets users pick types of attractions
`or accommodations within a user-selected region around
`routes of travel. Users engage in an iterative planning
`process, revising or editing travel plans, previewing travel(cid:173)
`ogs of alternate routes, selecting point of interest parameters,
`comparing times and costs of transportation options, in order
`to achieve a satisfactory travel plan. The system provides
`printed or electronic output that may include any one or
`more of text itinerary, ordered set of travel maps, customized
`collection of information on points of interest information
`and a selected array of valid reservation confirmations,
`tickets and/or discount coupons coded with elements for
`automated recognition and processing. Mobile users, includ(cid:173)
`ing GPS-linked users, can access the system via wireless
`communication units.
`
`80 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`r
`II
`ONSUMER
`PUT~
`
`~TAILUSER
`
`I
`
`203
`
`I
`
`~
`PROV-ID_E_R ~
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`231
`
`209
`
`II
`'
`r-1f
`-
`___j
`II
`
` 1
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`5,948,040
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,231,584
`5,237,499
`5,243,528
`5,253,166
`5,272,638
`5,331,546
`5,353,034
`
`7/1993 Nimura eta!. .......................... 364/444
`8/1993 Garback ...................................... 705!5
`9/1993 Lefebvre ................................. 701!211
`10/1993 Dettebach et a!. .......................... 705!5
`12/1993 Martinet a!. ........................... 701!202
`7/1994 Webber eta!. ............................. 705/6
`10/1994 Sa to et a!. .. .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... 340/988
`
`5,359,527
`5,369,588
`5,422,809
`5,444,618
`5,519,619
`5,537,324
`5,587,911
`5,724,520
`
`...................... 364/449
`10/1994 Takanabe et a!.
`11/1994 Hayami eta!. ......................... 701!209
`6/1995 Griffin et a!. ............................... 705!5
`8/1995 Seki et a!. ............................... 364/420
`5/1996 Seda ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .. 701!201
`7/1996 Nimura eta!. .......................... 364/449
`12/1996 Asano et a!. ......................... 364/444.2
`3/1998 Goheen ....................................... 705!5
`
` 2
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`Sheet1,0f14
`
`5,948,040
`5,948,040
`
`~I
`
`1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`50E
`
`7
`0 ..-
`
`1.()
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page 3
`
` 3
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`FIG 1 B-1
`
`DIRECTIONS
`
`137
`
`139]
`
`Dir
`
`Near
`
`Exit# Time Dist Mi
`
`F\G lB 2 -
`~~
`
`1
`2
`3
`
`~
`
`0
`
`4
`5
`6
`7
`
`Road
`START- Knox, IN
`US 35 (SR 8, CR 4po E, Heat
`US 35 (SR 8, CR 400 E)
`US30
`STOP- Jolly Ginger's, IN
`US 30 (Lincoln Hwy)
`~ Merrillville, IN
`I-65
`I-90 (East-West Toll Rd)
`w
`I-190
`FINISH - Chicago O'Hare lntl (( RD). Il
`TOTAL DISTANCE: 103MI, TOTAL TIME: 2:03
`F'IG 18-3
`
`~
`w
`
`E
`
`Knox, IN
`Knox, IN
`
`Merrillville, IN
`
`0:00
`0:00
`0:08
`
`0:59
`1:00
`1:09
`2:00
`
`0.0
`0.1
`6.4
`
`44.5
`44.9
`54.1
`99.6
`
`0.2
`6
`38
`
`0.4
`9
`45
`3
`
`253
`171261
`78
`
`!Jolly Ginger's! Merrillville. IN
`US Route 30 (Lincoln Highway)
`0.4 miles west of Route 65 on
`left~ park rear or west side
`
`TRIPS m@5-IN-b21Q-5!96-*
`RESERVATION CONFIRMATION
`John Jones- parly of 2
`5:15PM 5124196
`nonsmoking
`
`147_;
`
`E G9th
`
` 4
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`152
`
`157
`
`WHAT/WHO?
`
`Names/Topics
`
`AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~
`
`Zoom
`
`Pan
`
`(POis)
`OF INTEREST
`Placenames
`Street Address
`Zip
`Phone
`Offers
`
`Start
`ROUTES
`Attachments
`
`Stops
`Finish
`Along the Way
`
`~ II.
`
`iff
`
`-1-153
`
`~\ ;/ t-155
`
`•AAAAAA,AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
`
`- ----~---~
`
`enter words, #' s, and connectors
`
`Organizations,
`:NDEX & LlSTS
`People, Prod~cts, Th~nqs To Jo
`
`RE~Ar:o~sH:Ps
`
`Offers
`
`RELt:VliNCE ENGINE
`
`WHEN?
`
`AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
`
`CALENDAR Year Date Day Time
`
`EVENTS OF INTEREST (EOis)
`Activities Groups
`
`SCHEDULER Start Finish Breaks
`Appointments
`Attachments
`SameTime Before/After
`
`FIG lC
`
`jlea>ant Hill
`
`How to Go/How Much Cost)
`
`AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
`
`GO Car Foot Air Rail
`Bus Water Public Transport
`
`HOW MUCH Price Range (Max/Min)
`Travel Budget Manager
`
`Tickets Reservations
`ARRANGE
`Price Discount Extra Service
`
`Registration
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`
`~ = ......
`
`'JJ.
`~ '?
`~-..J
`'"""'
`'0
`'0
`'0
`
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`~ .....
`
`~
`0 ......,
`'"""' ~
`
`Ul
`....
`\C
`""-00
`
`.... = ""-=
`
` 5
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 7,1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`RETAIL USER
`CONSUMER
`INPUT
`205
`
`I
`
`"
`--v
`
`203
`
`.A
`
`]'., TOPICAL
`~ SUBSYSTEM
`
`TRIPS
`GEOGRAPHIC ~
`SUBS'YSTEM
`INTERFACE
`221
`-"- ACCOUNTING
`AND
`INTERACTION ~ SUBSYSTEM
`217
`BUS
`
`A
`
`213
`
`TEMPORAL ~
`SUBSYSTEM
`223
`
`209
`
`RETAIL USER ~ I
`CONSUMER
`OUTPUT
`
`....
`
`227 I~
`
`FIG 2
`
`OBJECT I. D.
`
`lD PlCAL DATA
`
`..... PROVIDER
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`231
`
`II
`
`e. g. unique random number
`
`GEOGRAPHIC DATA
`
`TEMPORAL DATA
`
`ACCOUNTING DATA
`
`FIG3
`
`e.g. Names/ Activities
`
`e. g. Places/Routes
`
`e. g. Date/Times
`
`e. g. Transactions
`
` 6
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`START
`401
`
`GREETING
`403
`
`"SEE TERMS ?11
`404
`
`1-------7+' TERMS+ CONDIT! ONS
`405
`
`NO
`
`"REGISTER NOW II
`407
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`450
`
`TOPICS
`
`PLACES
`
`TIMES
`
`ACCTS
`
`415
`
`417
`
`419
`
`411
`
`ACCT NO
`SETUP
`?
`
`439
`
`YES
`
`VALUABLE
`OUTPUT
`
`447
`
`435
`
`~
`FREE
`OUTPUT 445
`
`FIG 4
`
` 7
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`{526
`
`II
`
`{501
`l li m
`
`I
`
`A
`
`8
`
`nZ'
`CZtr. '21
`
`48°25 1
`
`241
`
`231
`
`(POLICE!
`
`I
`
`I
`A <e9
`
`B
`
`~...;;;_;;;_..;;._,;.~:;,;,.._;;-=+--~f--=~-+-48021 1
`65°341
`08
`
`FIG 5
`
`~6
`(E:!)
`
`\
`I
`I
`I
`
`/
`
`541
`
`FIG5A
`
`.... -....
`/' I ',,
`I C[D
`',A
`
`\
`
`8
`
`'
`' '
`
`' I
`I
`
`..[576
`) m --
`n m
`<§>-..
`'
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`~
`580)
`-.... ---'-- .......
`
`588
`
`'
`
`/
`
`~78
`
`--
`t ~
`/ v <8>/ ',,
`c I
`~I
`,58~ I
`I
`
`B
`
`,
`'.p
`'
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`T
`,_
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`/
`
`D
`
`'
`
`C0 ' I
`____ ,
`',
`~
`
`FIG 58
`
`FIG 5C
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page 8
`
`

`

`2601 W. Marina Pi
`MeliculoudJI prepared u afood entrees draw
`mouth·wl!llcrin g slares <u they come out ol the
`kitc hen. At Elfjot Bay Mar ina. with a g reat view of
`-l ithe hay. Cat-ual; mode ra te -to -high pric es •
`594
`.....j RRC:RRUZI.'T'Till\lC: I
`
`;::;:
`
`.,
`m.
`c:r :J
`(1)
`ii!_
`~ ;;;r
`5'
`;::;:
`.....
`0
`N
`
`.!:>. .,
`
`f»
`10
`(1)
`
`(!)
`
`FIG 50
`
`aiTIII~IIl
`1= 'e="al
`
`- -
`
`--, .
`l iP
`
`·-- -·
`
`~4 ~~~~ouriii 1A I I
`
`1 ,:fi q 1 1
`
`I "H HI !J d ) '
`
`-
`
`1 Jill r MPd¥1£::::::!:11--595
`
`0 •
`00
`• -= ~ ......
`~ = ......
`
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`
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`....
`
`~
`~
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`
`=" ~
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`~ ....
`
`.......
`~
`
`~
`
`01
`-..
`
`~ ... QC
`-.. = ... =
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 8 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`605
`
`"ADDITIONAL
`INFORMATION
`ON NEXT EOI? 11
`609
`
`NO
`
`"ADD NEXT
`EOI TO YOUR IE----~
`INVENTORY?"
`611
`
`BEFORE
`START
`
`')
`
`BEFORE
`
`615
`
`SAME
`TIME
`?
`
`AFTER
`
`613
`
`AFTER 619
`FINISH
`?
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`ADD NEXTEOI
`~-"' TO ITINERARY
`631
`
`632
`
`NO
`
`"ATTACH MORE
`INFORMATION
`ON NEXT EOI?"
`633
`
`RETURN TO
`MAIN MENU+
`INTERACTION BUS
`641
`
`NO
`
`FIG 6
`
`!"CHANGE START
`----'7/ OR FINISH
`j
`TIMES? 11
`643
`
` 10
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`701
`
`TOP I CAL RELATION
`I SUB-TYPE-- I NAME
`I SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
`I TYPE
`BIG CHAIN
`S. PLACE HILTON
`ROOM PRICES, STREET ADDRESS, E-MAIL
`STATE PARK WETLAND PARK
`PHONE NUMBER, STILL PHOTOS
`MAIN ST. DOMIN01S MENU, USER COMMENTS
`PIZZA
`LOCAL 911
`911 BUTTON, PHONE NUMBER
`N. PLACE POLICE
`BOB1S DIVE BOAT
`VIDEO+ VOICE OVER, PHONE NUMBER
`SCUBA
`CORAL REEF BLUE WATER CAY
`PHOTOS, VOICE, TEXT
`
`I. D.
`
`013 HOTEL
`492 CAMP
`005 EAT
`079 POLICE
`286 FUN
`891 THING/
`NATURAL
`FEATURE
`
`703
`GEOGRAPHIC RELATION
`PLACENAME MAP SYMBOL
`LAT.#1
`LONG*1
`I. D.
`005 48°24.6' 65°30.31 NORTH PLACE PlE WEDGE
`492 48°24.81 65°32.41 NORTH PLACE BLUE TRIANGLE
`286 48°22.2 1 65°30.31 SOUTH PLACE BOAT+ FLIPPER
`48°22.4 1 65°31.4 1 SOUTH PLACE RED TRIANGLE
`013
`079 48°22.7 1 65°33.6 1 NORTH PLACE BLACK BADGE
`1891 48°21.2 1 65°33.51 SOUTH PLACE GREEN CIRCLE
`
`DATA SOURCE
`
`GEOCODED
`DATABASE
`GPS
`GEOCODED
`DATABASE
`GPS
`
`FIG7A
`
`I
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`'JJ.
`~ '?
`~-..J
`'"""
`'0
`'0
`'0
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ ......
`'0
`0 ......,
`'""" ~
`
`Ul
`....
`\C
`""-00
`
`.... = ""-=
`
` 11
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`TEMPORAL RELATION
`705
`- ,~
`TIMEi1 SPEC~1 DATE#2 TIME#2
`I. D. DATE *1=1
`
`SPEC#2 EVENT
`
`ITINERARY DATA
`
`005 MON-SUN 10AM OPEN MON-SUN 10PM
`-
`10AM
`10PM
`005 MON
`THU
`-
`-
`492 MAY1
`START
`OCT. 1
`286 WED-SAT 11AM DEPART
`WED-SAT 4PM
`079 ALL
`ALL
`OPEN
`ALL
`ALL
`-
`-
`START
`013 MAY 7
`JUNE 8
`013 MAY 12
`START MAY 15
`3 PM
`SAM
`
`1
`
`CLOSE HOURS/OP. ETA 5PM 6/1/97
`-
`10°/oOFF COUPON
`-
`END
`SEASON
`RETURN TRIPS
`JUNE 1,1997 RES. X2
`-
`OPEN
`HOURS/OP.
`-
`VACANCY
`END
`CAR CLUB MEETING
`END
`MEETING
`
`----
`
`ACCOUNTING/TRANSACTIONAL RELATION
`I. D. GOODS/SERVICES PROVIDER
`RES
`-
`MAIN ST. DOMINO'S
`005 ' EAT f?IZZA]
`+
`BOB'S BOAT IN C.
`286 FUN LWATE~
`492 LODGING [CAM~ STATE PARK SERV. +
`LODGING [HOTEt.J HILTON RES. SER\1. +
`013
`-
`n.a.
`891 NATURAL FEATURE
`-
`079 PUB. SAF. [POLIC~ N. PLACE POLl CE
`
`707
`TERMS/CONDITIONS
`
`COUPONS
`
`Takeout/Available seats 10o/o OFF MON -THU
`$50 per diver per trip
`$15 R V./$10 Tents/day
`$75-$100 per day
`n.a.
`PUBLIC SERVICE
`
`15°/o OFF CAR CLUB
`
`FIG 78
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`~ = ......
`
`'JJ.
`~ '?
`
`~-..J
`'"""'
`'0
`'0
`'0
`
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`~ .....
`'"""' c
`0 ......,
`'"""' ~
`
`Ul
`....
`\C
`""-00
`
`.... = ""-=
`
` 12
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`~· USERC~~MBER
`l
`&-:sp2t
`
`i
`!
`
`I
`
`1\
`
`1--
`1
`J
`
`806
`
`I
`
`GOODS/SERVICES
`+PROVIDERS
`LIST
`
`I
`
`8091
`
`TRANSACTION BUS
`I I\
`
`803
`
`(801
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`TRAVEL BUDGET
`MANAGER
`
`I a,, I
`
`I I\
`
`\V
`TRIPS SITE
`RATINGS
`SERVICE
`
`I
`
`\
`
`818
`
`d •
`\Jl
`•
`~
`~ ......
`
`~ = ......
`
`I
`
`'JJ.
`~ '?
`~-..J
`'"""'
`'0
`'0
`'0
`
`'JJ. =-~
`~ .....
`'"""'
`'"""' 0 ......,
`'"""' ~
`
`Ul
`....
`\C
`""-00
`
`.... = ""-=
`
`ACCESS/OUTPUT
`Dl FFERENTIAL
`CONTROLLER
`
`8141
`
`I
`
`FIG SA
`
`\l!
`TRANSACTION
`COMMUNICATIONS
`ACCOUNTING
`MANAGER
`
`8161
`
` 13
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`TOPICAL
`SUBSYSTEM
`
`825
`
`GOODS/SERVICES
`827
`
`00
`
`, - - NATURAL FEATURES
`829
`
`830
`
`II MAP TICKET 11
`
`847
`
`848
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`843
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`SUBSYSTEM
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`850
`TRANSACTIONS
`BILLING/INVOICES
`851
`USER/MEMBER
`REGISTRATION
`852
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`PRICE/OFFERS ~
`853
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`PROVIDERS
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` 14
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 13 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`FIG. 9 9A 9B
`
`,------
`
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` 15
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.7,1999
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
`
`5,948,040
`
`~
`
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`I
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
` 16
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`1
`TRAVEL RESERVATION INFORMATION
`AND PLANNING SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This patent application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of
`the David M. DeLorme et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`08/661,600 filed Jun. 11, 1996, for COMPUTER AIDED
`ROUTING AND POSITIONING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,802,492 which is a CIP of the David M. DeLorme et
`al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/381,214 filed Jan. 31,
`1995 for COMPUTER AIDED ROUTING SYSTEM, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,707, issued Sep. 24, 1996, which is a
`CIP of the David M. DeLorme et al. U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/265,327 filed Jun. 24, 1994 for COMPUTER
`AIDED MAP LOCATION SYSTEM now abandoned. This
`patent application is also a CIP of the Keith A Gray U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 08/521,828 filed on Aug. 31,
`1995, for COMPUTERIZED ADDRESS LOCATION AND
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM now abandoned. All of the 20
`cross-referenced applications have a common assignee who
`is the assignee of the present application. The contents of
`these related patent applications are incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to systems that permit
`individuals to make travel arrangements and to plan travel
`activities, including such systems that are accessible via
`interconnected computer networks. More particularly, the
`present invention relates to Travel Reservation and Infor(cid:173)
`mation Planning Systems (TRIPS) that provide travel infor(cid:173)
`mation and special offers for goods and services such as
`accommodations and reservations associated with such
`areas of interest. Still more particularly, the present inven(cid:173)
`tion relates to a completely integrated system enabling an
`individual to plan, review, locate, schedule and select or
`execute customized or personalized travel arrangements and 40
`activities in association with map displays or other output of
`travel routes, chronological events, diverse travel topics and
`geographic points of interest along such routes. In the
`present invention, all of these capabilities are integrated with
`a broad range of transactionable offers for goods/services 45
`such as transportation or performance tickets and diverse
`accommodations reservations.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Prior systems for the general purpose of planning and
`arranging travel from one location to another have been 50
`developed by, among others, the assignee of the present
`application. The assignee's systems are described in the
`cross-referenced patent and patent applications noted above.
`In particular, those systems have involved the use of
`computer-based databases combined with software to create 55
`map displays of selectable and variable levels of detail. They
`also include the capability to selectively plan a trip from one
`location to another, with intermediate "waypoints" any(cid:173)
`where along the way. As part of that planning, the user of the
`prior associated systems has the capability to define the 60
`route of interest, to observe the location of points of interest
`and events of interest along the way and within a defined
`range of the route selected. Those points and events of
`interest may be observed in a multimedia display arrange(cid:173)
`able by the user. Alternatively, points of interest and events 65
`of interest, which may be observed on the display at varying
`levels of detail, may be used to arrange a travel route as a
`
`5,948,040
`
`2
`function of interest in visiting those points rather than as a
`specific function of the route alone. Other features of the
`assignee's prior related systems include, but are not limited
`to: 1) the capability to retrieve detailed address locations; 2)
`5 coordinate between digital maps-observable on displays at
`selectable levels of detail-and corresponding paper maps,
`each having associated grid arrangements for referencing
`between the two maps; and 3) the capability to communicate
`map information between remote devices, which remote
`10 devices may include Global Positioning System (GPS) sen(cid:173)
`sors and/or transmitters. These and other features are
`described more completely in the referenced patent and
`patent applications. While the assignee's noted prior sys(cid:173)
`tems provide extensive advantages in the planning of travel,
`15 in the observation of points of interest and events of interest
`along the way, and in the communication of such related
`information between two or more remote devices, they do
`not include a completely integrated capability to execute
`travel arrangements.
`There are many systems designed to aid, in a limited way,
`in the planning and execution of travel arrangements. For
`many years, travel arrangements have been made for indi(cid:173)
`viduals by travel agencies having stand-alone systems with
`electronic or simple telephonic links to travel providers such
`25 as airlines, passenger trains, buses, car rental agencies and
`the like, and links to travel-related service providers, such as
`hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities, etc. People inter(cid:173)
`ested in making travel arrangements, and in discovering the
`availability of activities located relatively proximate to one
`30 or more travel destinations, have been required to contact
`such travel agencies. Under this travel-arrangement method,
`an individual interested in traveling presented a travel origin
`and a travel destination and was advised by the agency of the
`availability and scheduling of travel means for that particu-
`35 lar route. Requests for information regarding travel-related
`services and activities at the destination were handled in a
`similar fashion. Reservations for the travel and related
`services and activities were made by the travel agency and
`the individual was provided with an itinerary and paper
`materials necessary to conduct the travel, to issue the
`services, and to conduct the activities. In effect then, the
`individual was required to rely upon the travel agency for
`travel-related information and services. Any modifications
`in travel plans made in this way involved a considerable
`expenditure of time and effort on the part of the individual
`as well as the travel agency. Further, it was and is often the
`case that a particular travel agency may have information for
`only a fraction of the travel service and activity providers in
`existence. Under this method it is not unusual for the
`individual to be unable to completely custom plan a trip, to
`miss areas and points of interest, or to miss an activity of
`interest. Moreover, once the traveler is at a particular
`destination, or at an intermediary point along the way, the
`travel agent is of limited usefulness, particularly when
`specific information about, for example, emergency services
`or particular goods or services, is required on an immediate
`basis.
`Another problem associated with travel arrangements
`made by parties other than the individual taking the trip is
`the paperwork involved. It is not unusual for there to be
`errors in the materials provided, for the materials to be
`delivered in an untimely manner, or for the individual to be
`required to travel to a service provider location-such as an
`airport-in order to obtain the materials, such as the airline
`tickets. This can be a significant inconvenience. These
`paperwork problems tend to be restricted to airline tickets
`and hotel reservation confirmations. However, a less devel-
`
` 17
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`5,948,040
`
`3
`oped but perhaps more important type of paperwork may be
`vouchers and various types of coupons associated with
`entertainment and activity sites located proximate to a travel
`destination. Such materials are even more inaccessible to the
`traveler who has yet to reach the destination. Moreover,
`activities coupons, for example, are distributed through a
`wide array of sources, such as direct mail, magazines,
`newspapers, and the like, that are not particularly easy for
`the user to obtain. It is apparent then that as the number of
`materials providers increases in association with travel
`plans, the number of errors associated with such materials
`will also increase. In addition, it is often difficult to keep
`track of a disparate set of papers, each with its own level of
`importance. While barcoding has become more widely used
`in many areas in recent years in order to reduce paperwork, 15
`its usage has been less than widespread in the travel field.
`"Ticketless travel" eliminates paper ticket documents but
`provides the consumer with a number or an alphanumeric
`code for confirmation and access.
`In recent years, individuals have gained greater direct
`access to information related to travel service providers via
`interconnected computer networks defined broadly as "the
`Internet." Such information includes airline schedules, flight
`availability, and limited ticketing, hotel locations and tele(cid:173)
`phone numbers, and entertainment location information. 25
`However, in order to reserve a seat on a plane, or a room in
`a hotel, the individual must still make separate contact with
`the particular provider and make the reservation based upon
`that provider's distinct reservation system. For example, if
`an individual wishes to travel from New York to Los 30
`Angeles via plane, he or she can get "online" and discover
`flight schedules and seating availability through an airline(cid:173)
`schedule service provider, much as a travel agency does.
`However, in order to reserve a seat on a flight of interest, the
`individual commonly must make either direct contact with
`the airline service or some agent of the airline service and
`arrange payment, typically resulting in receipt of a paper
`output-the flight ticket-that must either be picked up by
`the traveler, or that is delivered to the traveler. Any attempt
`to integrate different aspects of a travel plan-a flight, a
`rental car, a hotel, entertainment activities, for example(cid:173)
`must either be completed through a diligent search of a
`plurality of online service providers, or a trip to the afore(cid:173)
`mentioned travel agent. Given the continually expanding
`scope of online services, the former approach is becoming
`increasingly difficult. Moreover, it fails to resolve the prob(cid:173)
`lem of creating an array of transactions that are conducted
`through a plurality of service providers and that must be
`coordinated in an organized manner. The present online
`travel planning capability also fails to eliminate the need to 50
`obtain documents such as itineraries, hotel bookings, flight
`tickets, activity reservations, etc., from multiple sources.
`Examples of online systems apparently designed to give
`users greater flexibility in discovering travel possibilities
`include a reservation access system named Internet Travel 55
`Network located at http://www.itn.net, which includes
`access to an online booking system provided by Casto
`Travel located at http://www.casto.com. Both providers give
`browsers the capability to link up with many travel service
`providers who may or may not choose to make their services 60
`available to the browser. The booking system also permits
`"ticketless" travel, but ticketing must still come through a
`third party provider with separate fees. Microsoft™ at
`http:\\www.expedia.msn.com offers a similar Internet Web
`Site "travel agency" to book flights, hotel rooms, and rental 65
`cars; to participate in travel forums; and to browse assorted
`news, weather, currency, multimedia guidebooks, and pho-
`
`4
`tographs. These types of online systems have some capa(cid:173)
`bility in permitting the user to gain access to a wide array of
`services, including travel and activities; however, as earlier
`noted, this capability is not easily enacted in that the user
`5 must go through a considerable search process in order to
`gather information regarding topics, events, available goods
`or services, and/or points of interest at the travel destination
`or along the travel route, or related to the user's selected
`travel time frame. Other Internet sites concentrate on local
`10 directory listing information but do not provide readily
`useable travel planning, itinerary, routing and/or booking
`capabilities-e.g., CitySearch™ and MetroBeat™ at
`http:\\www.citysearch.com and Bigbook's Internet Yellow
`Pages at http:\\www.bigbook.com.
`In addition to the problems associated with an individu-
`al's attempt to carry out his or her own travel planning
`through existing separate online systems, there is the diffi(cid:173)
`culty in appreciating the travel route and the activities, and
`points of interest along the way. That is, when an individual
`20 makes arrangements to travel to a destination, it is not
`unusual for that to be that individual's first visit to that
`location. As a result, there are any number of unknowns he
`or she must deal with, including, but not limited to, the hotel
`accommodations, the activities available, and-perhaps
`most importantly-how to get from the airport, train station,
`or bus terminal to an ultimate destination. For the first
`problem noted it is therefore desirable to have a visual
`display or other travel information output of the area to be
`visited, as well as previews of the accommodations and/or
`any points of interest in the area, scheduled events in the
`area, topical information, and the availability of
`accommodations, goods and/or services available in the
`area. There is no presently existing completely integrated
`system using such individualized multimedia presentations
`35 in a travel planning system. For the second problem, a
`"customizable" map or other travel plan output to which the
`user can attach selected travel information from such pre(cid:173)
`views would be particularly useful. In that regard, it is to be
`noted that there are several digital map systems that may be
`40 accessed via storage means, including, but not limited to,
`compact disk-read only memory (CDROM) or PCMCIA
`cards.
`As specifically noted in the cross-referenced
`COMPUTER-AIDED ROUTING SYSTEM application, a
`45 variety of computer hardware and software travel planning
`aids are currently available on the market primarily for
`vacation and recreational travel planning. A number of the
`travel guide software packages focus on National Parks of
`the United States or recreational tours and activities with
`prepared travelogs or prepared assemblages of multimedia
`travel information on the different recreational geographical
`locations or recreational activities. Such travel software
`programs are exemplified for example by the America
`NavigaTour™ MediAlive™ multimedia travel guide pro-
`duced by CD Technology, Inc.; the Great Vacations™ Fam(cid:173)
`ily Travel Guide by Positive Software Solutions; the Adven-
`tures™ CDROM Program for worldwide adventure travel
`by Deep River Publishing, Inc.; and National Parks of
`America, a CDROM product of Multicom Publishing, Inc.
`which contains a directory of all National Parks in the
`United States.
`Rand McNally produces a software travel planning prod(cid:173)
`uct under the trademark TRIPMAKER TM for planning a trip
`by car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Rand
`McNally Tripmaker™ software also calculates quickest,
`shortest, and preferred scenic routes for the trip planner.
`While the Rand McNally product incorporates a database of
`
` 18
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1024, Page
`
`

`

`5,948,040
`
`5
`
`5
`many points of interest, the multimedia travelog information
`appears limited to preplanned scenic tours.
`Similarly the American Automobile Association in coop(cid:173)
`eration with Compton's NewMedia also provides travel
`planning from starting point to destination point with stop(cid:173)
`ping points in between. The CDROM product contains a
`database of travel information. However the multimedia
`information available from the database appears limited to
`"suggested routes of travel," again limiting user choice.
`In each case it appears that travel information from
`multimedia sources is preassembled by editors so that the
`user or trip planner is limited to "canned" or prepared
`multimedia travelogs of prescribed, suggested, or pre(cid:173)
`planned tours. In addition, the user is limited to information
`fragments about this or that particular object of interest or
`this or that particular place. There is no opportunity or user
`capability of selectivity in constructing a user customized
`travelog of assembled multimedia information for preview(cid:173)
`ing a particular user determined route of travel. The user is
`relegated to travelogs and multimedia assemblages prepared
`for routes and tours proposed by other editors. Moreover,
`there is no provision for the capability to permit an indi(cid:173)
`vidual or group to execute the travel plans once developed.
`That is, a user may observe a travel sequence of interest on
`a computer display, but is then required to one or more travel
`service providers to enact the plan. Further, travel arrange(cid:173)
`ment materials must be obtained from those providers, or
`even from an intermediary.
`Some attempts