A booking management system for secure authentication of payment information and delayed transaction processing is provided. Third-party services partner with booking management systems to aggregate and list offerings of the third-party services in a digestible display on a one-stop platform. A booking management system can manage the authentication of payment card information on behalf of any number of such third-party services. The booking management system may receive a delayed transaction request from one or more such third-party service. The booking management system may provide virtual payment information to the third-party services for delayed transactions. The third-party services may later initiate the delayed transactions using the virtual payment information, without being required to perform authentication processing on the payment card information maintained by the booking management system.
G06Q 10/02 - Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
G06Q 20/40 - Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check of credit lines or negative lists
G06Q 20/34 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
2.
ARCHITECTURE FOR LARGE PAYLOAD HANDLING IN EVENT PIPELINE
Systems and methods are provided for automatically orchestrating the handling of events through a processing pipeline without limitation (or without a substantial limitation) as to the size of the event payload associated with the event. The event pipeline system stores event payloads in data stores and generates notifications regarding the events. The notifications may be placed into event streams for handling by various processing components of the event pipeline system. The processing components may receive notifications or events that they are to process, and may separately access event payloads from the data stores. The processing components may generate and save processed event payloads to the data stores in a streaming fashion such that the computing resources of the processing components do not limit (or substantially limit) the size of the event payloads that the processing components may handle.
An image classification system is provided for determining a likely classification of an image using multiple machine learning models that share a base machine learning model. The image classification system may be a browser-based system on a user computing device that obtains multiple machine learning models over a network from a remote system once, stores the models locally in the image classification system, and uses the models multiple times without needing to subsequently request the machine learning models again from the remote system. The image classification system may therefore determine likely a classification associated with an image by running the machine learning models on a user computing device.
A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.
Systems and methods are provided for automatically orchestrating the handling of events through a processing pipeline without limitation (or without a substantial limitation) as to the size of the event payload associated with the event. The event pipeline system stores event payloads in data stores and generates notifications regarding the events. The notifications may be placed into event streams for handling by various processing components of the event pipeline system. The processing components may receive notifications or events that they are to process, and may separately access event payloads from the data stores. The processing components may generate and save processed event payloads to the data stores in a streaming fashion such that the computing resources of the processing components do not limit (or substantially limit) the size of the event payloads that the processing components may handle.
Secure authentication and delayed transaction processing for booking management systems is provided. Third-party services partner with booking management systems to aggregate and list offerings of the third-party services in a digestible display on a one-stop platform. A booking management system can manage the authentication of payment card information on behalf of any number of such third-party services. The booking management system can maintain and process authentication information associated with traveler payment cards, and provide virtual payment information to the third-party services for delayed transactions. The third-party services may later initiate the delayed transactions using the virtual payment information, without being required to perform authentication processing on the traveler payment card information maintained by the booking management system.
G06Q 10/02 - Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
G06Q 20/40 - Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check of credit lines or negative lists
G06Q 20/34 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
G06Q 20/42 - Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
Secure authentication and delayed transaction processing for booking management systems is provided. Third-party services partner with booking management systems to aggregate and list offerings of the third-party services in a digestible display on a one-stop platform. A booking management system can manage the authentication of payment card information on behalf of any number of such third-party services. The booking management system can maintain and process authentication information associated with traveler payment cards, and provide virtual payment information to the third-party services for delayed transactions. The third-party services may later initiate the delayed transactions using the virtual payment information, without being required to perform authentication processing on the traveler payment card information maintained by the booking management system.
G06Q 10/02 - Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
G06Q 20/40 - Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check of credit lines or negative lists
G06Q 20/34 - Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
G06Q 20/42 - Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
A user of a personal computing device may interact with a network-based travel service with respect to one or more travel items. The network-based travel service may monitor the users' interactions, determine user's travel interests, and provide relevant travel item provider devices information for generating user-specific offers. For example, anonymized user statistics, suggested terms for a user-specific offer, or estimated likelihood of acceptance may be provided to the travel item provider. The network-based travel service may receive and evaluate user-specific offers submitted by the travel item provider, cause presentation to corresponding users, and enable the users to accept, decline or propose modifications to the offers.
An image classification system is provided for determining a likely classification of an image using multiple machine learning models that share a base machine learning model. The image classification system may be a browser-based system on a user computing device that obtains multiple machine learning models over a network from a remote system once, stores the models locally in the image classification system, and uses the models multiple times without needing to subsequently request the machine learning models again from the remote system. The image classification system may therefore determine likely a classification associated with an image by running the machine learning models on a user computing device.
A travel advisory generation system is provided that enables generation of travel advisories based upon one or more selected parameters (e.g., location, origin, destination, date, date range, travel provider, class of service, etc.). These travel advisories may be further incorporated into travel search results, providing relevant advisory information in conjunction, e.g., concurrently or in-line, with travel options. The advisories may be further customized in order to display desired notifications and not display undesired notifications to selected users of the travel advisory generation system (e.g., system operators, travel service providers (including, but not limited to, travel agents and travel managers of an organization), and travelers).
A network-based service is disclosed for disambiguating search queries based on a location-based clustering of search results corresponding to the query. In one embodiment, a user may submit a query for travel items, such as hotel accommodations. The service can determine, based on the query, an initial set of hotels providing such accommodations. The service can then cluster the hotels according to their geographic positions. If the service identifies multiple clusters, the user can be prompted to select a specific cluster to receive additional information regarding the cluster. Illustratively, if a user submits a query for a hotel in “Springfield,” the service may ask the user to select among multiple clusters of results, each corresponding to a different city named “Springfield” in which results have been located.
G06F 16/9035 - Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
G06F 16/909 - Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining relevant items. The network-based service may be configured to generate opaque search results in response to queries, revealing sufficient detail to allow the user to confirm the relevance of the travel item, but insufficient detail to disclose the identity of the supplier. Based on the submitted query or other information, the network-based service may associate a persona with the user, such as the persona of a business or leisure traveler. The network-based service may use the persona to determine a travel item or items best suited to the user, by identifying the travel item attributes that correlate positively with preferences of the persona. The network-based service may then generate an opaque search result that reveals travel item attributes desired by the persona.
A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining one or more relevant items. Based on the submitted query, the network-based service may present the user with information regarding the actions of other similar users of the network-based service, such as searches performed by the other users. Based on this information, the user may elect to supplement the current query to conform to the actions for other users. In some embodiments, actions by other users may be based at least in part on a category of the querying user. By presenting actions of similar users, a current user may be enabled to select the most relevant query terms for identifying a desired item.
A network-based service is disclosed for disambiguating search queries based on a location-based clustering of search results corresponding to the query. In one embodiment, a user may submit a query for travel items, such as hotel accommodations. The service can determine, based on the query, an initial set of hotels providing such accommodations. The service can then cluster the hotels according to their geographic positions. If the service identifies multiple clusters, the user can be prompted to select a specific cluster to receive additional information regarding the cluster. Illustratively, if a user submits a query for a hotel in “Springfield,” the service may ask the user to select among multiple clusters of results, each corresponding to a different city named “Springfield” in which results have been located.
A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining relevant items. The network-based service may be configured to generate opaque search results in response to queries, revealing sufficient detail to allow the user to confirm the relevance of the travel item, but insufficient detail to disclose the identity of the supplier. Based on the submitted query or other information, the network-based service may associate a persona with the user, such as the persona of a business or leisure traveler. The network-based service may use the persona to determine a travel item or items best suited to the user, by identifying the travel item attributes that correlate positively with preferences of the persona. The network-based service may then generate an opaque search result that reveals travel item attributes desired by the persona.
A method and system are provided for presenting rates for travel services using dynamic pricing bands. The dynamic pricing bands represent approximate rates for travel services relative to available rates during or close to the proposed dates of travel, or at or near the proposed travel destination. Each dynamic pricing band is keyed to a particular color, intensity, pattern, sound, or other graphical and/or audio characteristic, thereby providing the consumer a sense of the seasonal, regional, day of week, or other variability of rates for travel services without having to compare actual numbers. The dynamic pricing bands are applied to an interactive presentation of rates for travel services to allow the consumer to explore possible rate variations for particular travel services in a manner that provides a birds-eye view, is intuitive and user-friendly.
A service for pricing items of inventory contained in a searchable database is available for access via the Internet. Where multiple items can satisfy a consumer's request, it is typical for a service to perform an inventory search for items that match a consumer's request. When the inventory is stored in an inventory database, the inventory database is queried for the purpose of retrieving a result set which matches the consumer's request. A separate fare server database containing inventory recently known to be available, located local to the Internet server for fast and efficient access, can also be provided for performing searches related to the consumer's request. Some inventory, even though recently known to have been available, is filtered out before being stored in the fare server database and inventory is removed when outdated, no longer available or purchased. Searches that are less specific than the search performed in the inventory database based on the consumer request can be performed in the fare server database to retrieve information about similar inventory. In addition to displaying the result set from the inventory database to the consumer, a market summary can be presented to the consumer that reflects information concerning similar inventory. Information from the searches in the fare server database forms the basis for providing the market summary. A consumer is also given the option to purchase the similar inventory returned from the fare server database. As a result, a consumer is not only more informed about the market for which a purchase is being considered, but also has the additional option to purchase similar inventory. A consumer can also directly query the fare server database for flexible searching and for fast and efficient access to market information. The fare server database can be used for multiple client services.
A network-based service may be provided for facilitating queries for a number of items, such as travel services. A user may submit a query including criteria for determining one or more relevant items. Based on the submitted query, the network-based service may present the user with information regarding the actions of other similar users of the network-based service, such as searches performed by the other users. Based on this information, the user may elect to supplement the current query to conform to the actions for other users. In some embodiments, actions by other users may be based at least in part on a category of the querying user. By presenting actions of similar users, a current user may be enabled to select the most relevant query terms for identifying a desired item.
A content generation service is described that generates content for electronic documents in different languages based upon templates. The templates may include paragraph templates composed of sentence types including sentence templates. The sentence templates may further include variables having corresponding attributes. Each of the paragraph templates, sentence templates, and attributes may be hierarchically organized. The content generation service may obtain data describing an item of interest, such as a travel item. The obtained data may further specify a document language, section and paragraph for which content is to be generated. Content is generated for variables in hierarchical order, with higher ranked paragraphs considered first. Within the highest ranked paragraph, a sentence type is selected and the variables within the highest ranked sentence template of the sentence type are considered. Sentence templates which contain attributes matched by the data obtained for the item of interest are added to the generated document.
A travel advisory generation system is provided that enables generation of travel advisories based upon one or more selected parameters (e.g., location, origin, destination, date, date range, travel provider, class of service, etc.). These travel advisories may be further incorporated into travel search results, providing relevant advisory information in conjunction, e.g., concurrently or in-line, with travel options. The advisories may be further customized in order to display desired notifications and not display undesired notifications to selected users of the travel advisory generation system (e.g., system operators, travel service providers (including, but not limited to, travel agents and travel managers of an organization), and travelers).
A cache manager monitors storage capacity levels of a cache node storing data as cache entries. Upon determining a storage capacity threshold is reached, the cache manager begins evicting cache entries. In evicting the cache entries, the cache manager identifies a reduction level, and configures one or more time steps. The cache manager evicts cache entries within the one or more time steps until the reduction level is achieved.
G06F 12/00 - Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures
G06F 13/00 - Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
G06F 13/28 - Handling requests for interconnection or transfer for access to input/output bus using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access, cycle steal
23.
Systems and methods for generating travel packages including separately purchased travel items
A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.
Techniques for creating and searching a database that stores information about a plurality of individual habitable units (IHUs) are provided. An example of an IHU is a hotel room. Image data that depicts where a plurality of IHUs reside relative to each other is placed on a base image, such as a satellite/map image. The base image is associated with a mapping that maps points on the base image to spatial (e.g., geographical) coordinates. The coordinates of the IHU may be used to generate a computer-rendered view from a window of an IHU. Also, label input is received that labels each IHU reflected in the image data with certain information. Each label indicates a value of an attribute of an IHU, such as its size, price, distance from elevators, etc. A query that targets information about each IHU may be processed and results returned that are ranked based on criteria associated with the query.
Techniques for creating and searching a database that stores information about a plurality of individual habitable units (IHUs) are provided. An example of an IHU is a hotel room. Image data that depicts where a plurality of IHUs reside relative to each other is placed on a base image, such as a satellite/map image. The base image is associated with a mapping that maps points on the base image to spatial (e.g., geographical) coordinates. The coordinates of the IHU may be used to generate a computer-rendered view from a window of an IHU. Also, label input is received that labels each IHU reflected in the image data with certain information. Each label indicates a value of an attribute of an IHU, such as its size, price, distance from elevators, etc. A query that targets information about each IHU may be processed and results returned that are ranked based on criteria associated with the query.
A content generation service is described that generates content for electronic documents in different languages based upon templates. The templates may include paragraph templates composed of sentence types including sentence templates. The sentence templates may further include variables having corresponding attributes. Each of the paragraph templates, sentence templates, and attributes may be hierarchically organized. The content generation service may obtain data describing an item of interest, such as a travel item. The obtained data may further specify a document language, section and paragraph for which content is to be generated. Content is generated for variables in hierarchical order, with higher ranked paragraphs considered first. Within the highest ranked paragraph, a sentence type is selected and the variables within the highest ranked sentence template of the sentence type are considered. Sentence templates which contain attributes matched by the data obtained for the item of interest are added to the generated document.
A method and system are provided for presenting rates for travel services using dynamic pricing bands. The dynamic pricing bands represent approximate rates for travel services relative to available rates during or close to the proposed dates of travel, or at or near the proposed travel destination. Each dynamic pricing band is keyed to a particular color, intensity, pattern, sound, or other graphical and/or audio characteristic, thereby providing the consumer a sense of the seasonal, regional, day of week, or other variability of rates for travel services without having to compare actual numbers. The dynamic pricing bands are applied to an interactive presentation of rates for travel services to allow the consumer to explore possible rate variations for particular travel services in a manner that provides a birds-eye view, is intuitive and user-friendly.
Described is a system and method for matching a customer's offer for travel services with quotes from providers of those travel services in a way that allows the providers to negotiate preferential treatment. An online travel service exchanger receives an offer from a customer for travel services, such as airfare. The online travel service exchanger attempts to satisfy the customer's offer by retrieving from a global distribution system one or more quotes for the identified travel services. Rather than merely requesting quotes from randomly selected airlines, the online travel service exchanger first requests quotes from one preferred airline at a time in descending order of preference until the offer is satisfied. If no preferred airline satisfies the offer, the online travel service exchanger may request quotes from a group of non-preferred airlines. The online travel service exchanger then satisfies, if possible, the offer with one of the quotes from the non-preferred airlines.
patents
