A method includes: maintaining, at an integration computing device, a scheduling parameter corresponding to a source computing device maintaining a plurality of source data records with record identifiers; receiving, from the source computing device, a plurality of modification indicators, each modification indicator generated at the source computing device in response to modification of a source data record, and containing the record identifier of the source data record; storing the modification indicators in a repository; according to the scheduling parameter, periodically obtaining a subset of the source data records from the source computing device, by: retrieving the modification indicators from the repository; generating a bulk record request containing the plurality of record identifiers from the retrieved modification indicators; transmitting the bulk record request to the source computing device; and responsive to transmitting the bulk record request, receiving the subset of source data records from the source computing device.
G06F 16/27 - Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
Disclosed is a method for controlling access for at least one tracked object, including: acquiring or receiving a series of two-dimensional images assumed to be taken of the at least one tracked object, and also position data in respect of the at least one tracked object; assigning a unique tracking identifier to the at least one tracked object; determining a trajectory of the at least one tracked object from the position data; determining if there is a discontinuity in the trajectory or data computed from the trajectory, and if a discontinuity is detected, acquiring or receiving one or more new images of the at least tracked object, and assigning a new unique tracking identifier to said at least one tracked object; and determining whether access should be allowed, on the basis of at least one of the one or more new images if discontinuity is detected, or on the basis of the at least one image from the series of two-dimensional images if discontinuity is not detected.
The present invention relates the detection of moire patterns in digital images, which is performed by processing a plurality of digital images of the captured subject and/or scene, each taken at a different image exposure and/or resolution. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method and system for assessing liveness of captured biometric features based on the detection of moire patterns from the plurality of digital images.
G06V 10/46 - Descriptors for shape, contour or point-related descriptors, e.g. scale invariant feature transform [SIFT] or bags of words [BoW]; Salient regional features
G06V 40/40 - Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection
Search requests are processed in a distributed database environment comprising a frontend-module, one or more clients, a cache, a live data source and multiple data records comprising at least one stable and at least one volatile data piece changing at a first and a second change rate, respectively, whereas the second is higher than the first change rate. The cache stores the stable data pieces. The frontend module receives a search request from a client and retrieves from the cache a data records set. The stable data pieces of the set correspond to search criteria indicated in the request. The frontend-module retrieves, from the live data source, current volatile data pieces corresponding to the stable data pieces of the retrieved set. The frontend-module generates and returns to the requesting client a combination of the stable and the current volatile data pieces of the data records.
A method and system for selecting routing paths are provided. The routing path comprises a route and at least one characteristic from a set of characteristics. The method logs data of selected routing paths in response to requests from client devices to collect historical data of selecting routing paths and stores the data of selected routing paths in a data storage. Thereafter, a machine learning model is trained on the historical data of selecting routing paths received from the data storage. The output of the machine learning model is a selection prediction for the routing path. In response to a new request from a client device, a set of routes fulfilling the request is determined in order to determine a set of routing paths by combining the set of routes with characteristics from the set of characteristics. The trained machine learning model is applied on the set of routing paths to determine a subset of routing paths for which the selection prediction is higher than a threshold. Details of the subset of routing paths are then queried and valid routing paths determined. Finally, the details of at least a subset of the valid routing paths are returned to the client device.
Methods, servers and computer programs for processing multiple data records in response to a database request with search indications are provided. The server retrieves multiple data records with parameter values in the fields which correspond to the search indications indicated by the database request, determines weight values for at least two of the fields based on the corresponding parameter values of the at least two fields, calculates an aggregated score for at least a number of the retrieved data records based on the determined weight values, and returns at least a subset of the retrieved data records to the client based on the calculated aggregated scores.
A computation engine dynamically computes results in response to a database request indicating at least one search parameter. The engine determines, based on an initial result database, an initial incomplete result set with a number of results which include static data pieces that correspond to the at least one search parameter; computes at least one dynamic data piece for each result in the initial incomplete result set based on a number of dynamic computation rules, thereby obtaining an intermediate completed result set. Each result of the intermediate completed result set includes the static data piece and the dynamic data piece. The engine computes an adjustment of the at least one dynamic data piece for at least a sub-set of the intermediate completed result set per a number of adjustment computation rules, thereby obtaining a finalized completed result set; and returns at least a subset of the finalized completed result set.
The present invention relates a system and method for monitoring and managing user identity data based on notification received at a client application from ID processing touchpoints and/or an ID sever. The client notification is configured to process the status notification and accordingly display user alerts to the user via a graphic user interface.
19 Abstract A method for legacy-based access to non-legacy data includes: receiving, at an interme- diation server, a non-legacy data object containing non-legacy content; generating a leg- acy data object containing the non-legacy content, for storage in a repository; storing, in association with the legacy data object, a non-legacy distribution channel indicator; ad- justing a legacy processing mechanism at the repository according to the non- legacy distribution channel indicator; receiving from a client subsystem, via a legacy interface, a request for the non-legacy content; and in response to the request, retrieving and send- ing the legacy data object containing the non-legacy content, via the legacy interface. Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-26
20 Abstract A method of data access control in an intermediation server includes: storing a record containing: a record identifier; a plurality of sections each containing data; and in association with each section, an owner identifier selected from a set of requester identifiers corresponding to respective requester subsystems; storing access control data corresponding to each requester identifier; wherein the access control data for a given requester identifier indicates which other requester identifiers are permitted to access a section of the record having the given requester identifier associated therewith as the owner identifier; responsive to receiving, from one of the requester subsystems, a request containing the record identifier and an active one of the requester identifiers corresponding to the active requester subsystem: granting access to a subset of the sections according to the active requester identifier, the owner identifiers and the access control data. Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-20
G06F 21/62 - Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
H04L 9/06 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols the encryption apparatus using shift registers or memories for blockwise coding, e.g. D.E.S. systems
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
H04L 12/16 - Arrangements for providing special services to substations
17 Abstract A method of providing access to auxiliary data for a provider subsystem includes: storing offer data corresponding to an item, the offer data including (i) primary data, and (ii) auxiliary data defining an adjustment between the primary data and corresponding published data stored at an external repository; storing the offer data in an auxiliary repository; in response to an order request from a client subsystem: obtaining an order identifier corresponding to the offer data; and updating the auxiliary repository to store the order identifier in association with the offer data; in response to obtaining the order identifier, generating a reporting message for transmission to a provider subsystem, the reporting message containing the primary data and omitting the auxiliary data; and subsequent to generating the reporting message, retrieving the offer data from the auxiliary repository, and sending at least the auxiliary data to the provider subsystem. Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-19
19 Abstract A method includes: receiving, at an intermediation server from a client subsystem, a data request including a set of request parameters; transmitting the set of request param- eters from the intermediation server to a plurality of provider subsystems; receiving, at the intermediation server, respective initial responses each containing sets of initial re- sponse data corresponding to the request parameters; sending, from the intermediation server to at least one of the provider subsystems, a secondary request for updated re- sponse data, the secondary request including an indication of at least one set of initial response data; receiving, in response to the secondary request, the updated response data; and transmitting the updated response data to the client subsystem. Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-18
H04L 67/10 - Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
H04L 67/567 - Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
H04L 67/60 - Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
13.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME THREE-PARTY TRANSACTION PROCESSING
A method of intermediating transactions includes, at an intermediation server: receiving invoice data defining a price payable to a vendor for supplying a product to a customer; extracting, from the invoice data, a vendor identifier corresponding to the vendor; determining, in association with the invoice data, a customer identifier corresponding to the customer; retrieving a payer identifier corresponding to a payer associated with the customer; retrieving, based on at least the payer identifier, a transaction policy; according to the retrieved transaction policy, allocating an eligible portion of the price to the payer identifier, and allocating a remaining portion of the price to the customer identifier; and generating and transmitting payment data for initiating a payment of the eligible portion from the payer to the vendor.
G06Q 20/10 - Payment architectures specially adapted for home banking systems
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
Multiple database queries forming a complex database request are processed. A first query and second query are answered by a first response and a second response based on a cache storing cached data. A third query which is related to the second query is answered based on a database storing current corresponding to the cached data. A selected subset of the cached data returned with the second response is validated by corresponding current data stored in the database.
A method in an aggregator server of synchronizing data records responsive to variable update notifications includes: receiving, from a provider system, an update notification corresponding to a master data object at the provider system; retrieving a record containing a local data object corresponding to the master data object; determining whether the update notification contains update definitions identifying changes to the master data object; selecting between a delta synchronization mode, when the determination is affirmative, and an object comparison synchronization mode, when the determination is negative; for the delta synchronization mode, updating the local data object according to the update definitions; for the object comparison synchronization mode, obtaining a copy of the master data object, and updating the local data object based on a comparison between the local data object and the copy of the master data object; and storing the updated local data object in the record at the aggregator.
The method of reinforcement learning for a resource management agent in a system for managing an inventory to optimize revenue comprises using a randomised batch of observations that is periodically sampled from a replay memory store according to a prioritised replay sampling algorithm wherein, throughout a training epoch, a probability distribution for selection of observations within the randomised batch is progressively adapted. Each randomised batch of observations is used to update weight parameters of a neural network that comprises an action-value function approximator of the resource management agent, such that when provided with an input inventory state and an input action, an output of the neural network approximates a true value of generating the input action while in the input inventory state. The neural network may thereby be used to select each of the plurality of actions generated depending upon a corresponding state associated with the inventory.
An augmented reality computing device, hereinafter referred to as the AR device, comprising one or more processors configured to receive information relating to a moveable object, check whether a virtual representation of the object forms part of a virtual representation of the environment occupied by the AR device and display, in a user observable display portion of the AR device information relating to the object.
Authentication method and system using biometric data of a person. The method is flexibly usable on a plurality of distinct verification and authentication devices and comprises a verification process and an authentication process. First biometric data is captured by the verification device and compared to official biometric data. Captured and inputted data is certified and stored. At time of a required authentication of the person, live biometric data of the person is captured and compared to first biometric data. If the data is similar, the person is automatically authenticated.
Cached data is updated by a computing machine coupled to a primary database maintaining original data and to a cache maintaining data corresponding to the data in the primary database. In response to receiving a first database query relating to a first data, the computing machine determines whether to process the first database query by utilizing the cache or based on the primary database. In response to concluding processing the first database query, the computing machine determines whether to update the first data in the cache, and based on the result of the determining, updates the first data in the cache based on original first data in the primary database.
G06F 12/0802 - Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches
G06F 12/0866 - Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
G06F 12/0891 - Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches using clearing, invalidating or resetting means
A database system comprises an original data source storing original data and a cache source storing cache data. A method of processing queries in the database system comprises: randomly selecting queries from among a plurality of queries; for each of the queries randomly selected, retrieving a first piece of the cached data matching the query, and retrieving a first piece of the original data matching the query; for queries not being randomly selected, retrieving a second piece of the cached data matching the query; evaluating the accuracy value of said second piece; retrieving a second piece of the original data matching the query; updating the second piece of the cached data by the second piece of the original data; adapting a probabilistic model based on the first piece of the cached data and the first piece of the original data using a machine learning algorithm.
Virtualization methods and systems for optimizing the availability of items in an inventory of items in a reservation system, wherein the items are classified into item types and an item type is defined by a requestable set of at least one characteristic. Reservations may be received for a set of at least one characteristic that is a subset of an item type. After a reservation has been accepted, all the availabilities of the requestable sets of at least one characteristic in the inventory are updated. The reservation system may be a hotel reservation system and item types may be hotel room types or other bookable products. The reservation system may be a flight reservation system and item types may be bookable places on flights.
Methods, systems, and computer programs for providing available rental vehicle options to a user. The system includes a network interface with at least one rental provider computer system. The system receives a rental request for an available rental vehicle. The rental request includes a pick-up location and a drop-off location. In response to receiving the rental request, the system queries a rental store database for a plurality of available rental stores in both the pick-up location and the drop-off location. The system arranges the available rental stores into at least one cluster in the pick-up location and the drop-off location based on a geographical position of the available rental stores. The system selects a particular number of available rental stores within each cluster in both the pick-up location and the drop-off location.
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for processing search results. Search results are retrieved from a database of travel itineraries based on search criteria provided by a traveler, and a set of recommended travel itineraries selected from the search results based on a probabilistic profile comprising a plurality of value profiles. A set of near-optimal travel itineraries is defined for each of the value profiles. A probability is determined for each travel itinerary of the search results based on a sum of weights of each value profile including the travel itinerary in the corresponding set of near-optimal travel itineraries, and travel itineraries added to the set of recommended travel itineraries based on the probabilities. An online search may be performed to enrich the set of recommended travel itineraries depending on a distance between the probabilistic profile of the traveler and a probabilistic profile used to populate the cache.
Methods, systems, and computer program products for auditing of transactions involving the sale of travel services by an indirect seller. An auditing module receives data defining a transaction proposed by the indirect seller. The module compares a quoted price for the transaction to a correct price for the transaction to determine if there is a pricing discrepancy. If a discrepancy exists, the module classifies the transaction and searches a business rules database maintained by a travel service provider for business rules relevant to the classification. The audit module further queries a historical sales deviation database to retrieve seller history data, and selects the relevant business rule having the best match to the seller history data. The audit module then determines whether to allow or block the transaction, issue a warning, or suggest an Agency Debit Memo based on an action defined by the business rule having the best match.
Methods, systems, and computer program products for screening transactions. Transactions stored in a transaction database may provide a statistical basis for determining a probability of fraud for a pending transaction. The cost of fraud may be determined for each of a plurality of possible actions based on the probability of fraud, and the action that provides the lowest cost of fraud chosen. A cumulative cost of fraud may be determined for a set of transactions in the database. If taking the action with the lowest cost of fraud for the transaction would result in a higher cumulative cost of fraud, an action having the higher cost of fraud for the transaction may be chosen. The transaction may be added to the database, and the probability of fraud adjusted based on an amount of time since acceptance of the transaction. The statistical basis may be optimized based on a cost error.
Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing an Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD). In response to receiving a request for an ancillary service, an aggregation module generates an aggregation record. The aggregation module may obtain passenger and segment data from a plurality of Passenger Name Records (PNRs), and add this data to the aggregation record. The aggregation record may thereby provide a database object including passenger and segment data from multiple PNRs associated with an itinerary. The aggregation record may be associated with an EMD, and may be configured so that a single EMD can be issued to a traveler for an ancillary service provided across an itinerary comprising multiple PNRs. A mapping record may also be generated that links the EMD, aggregation record, and PNRs. The mapping record may thereby provide an index that enables a database to quickly identify relationships between EMDs, aggregation records, and PNRs.
Methods, systems, and computer program products for associating a traveler with an electronic ticket reserving a travel related service. During a booking process, the traveler may be asked to provide an identification image. The identification image provided by the traveler may be associated with the electronic ticket in an electronic ticket database. At a point-of-service, the traveler may present an image that is captured by a control system. The control system may compare the captured image to the identification image and determine if the images match. In response to the images matching, the control system may provide an indication that the traveler should receive the travel service reserved by the electronic ticket.
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing functionality of an online self-booking tool to a user who is booking travel offerings through a website of a third party provider. A travel-related search query by the user generates parallel searches in each of a website of a third party provider and a database including travel offerings having negotiated rates. The results of the parallel searches may be captured and combined in a data siphon tool. The data siphon tool may reconcile the combined search results by eliminating duplicate search results and identifying search results that are in conflict with corporate travel policies. The reconciled search results may then be formatted based on display data obtained from the third party website and displayed to the user. Search results conflicting with corporate travel policies may be deleted, or displayed with an indication of the conflict.
A method and a computer program for producing a representation of a ground-transportation network from timetable information of transportation services. By means of a computer routing locations are determined from the timetable information, said routing locations include end points of the transportation services. Tuples of directly-connected routing locations are formed. Network paths are generated by linking the directly-connected routing locations, the entirety of these paths forming the representation of the ground-transportation network.
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented fraud method and system for managing fraud screening in response to a requested transaction. The fraud management system checks the efficiency of the fraud screening strategy and predicts the efficiency of new fraud screening strategies based on the total cost of fraud. This calculation is facilitated, because transactions are divided into groups, and the total cost of fraud may be calculated for a representative element of the group, and not for each transaction in the group. Furthermore, if the fraud screening is based on rules that apply an acceptance flow to predetermined conditions, the fraud management can choose the best acceptance flow for these predetermined conditions by minimizing the total cost of fraud. Finally, the fraud management can also flag inefficient rules thanks to an indicator related to the total cost of fraud to highlight rules whose predetermined conditions should be changed.
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
A community travel booking operation includes a collaborative or common portion or phase (108) during which multiple travelers (16, 18) in a community are permitted to collaboratively search for travel recommendations and select a travel recommendation for the community, as well as an individual portion or phase (118) during which travelers in the community individually purchase, book or otherwise complete individual reservations for the community's selected travel recommendation. By separating the booking operation into collaborative (108) and individual (118) portions or phases, travelers are permitted to collaborate on the selection of a travel recommendation, yet each traveler is then able to complete the booking of their own respective reservation without necessarily having to share personal or payment information with the other travelers in the community.
The present invention relates to a system (300) and method for managing communication between a server (100') and peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) associated with at least one client (200) deployed with an airport environment so that a virtualised application (130') running on the server (100') can be connected with at least one of the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280). A communications link (310) is established between the server (100') and the client (200) associated with the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) and the application (130') is directed to one of the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) via a virtual channel (320) established between a server peripheral manager simulator component (160) and a client peripheral manager simulator component (245) and passing through the communications link (310). The client peripheral manager simulator (245) is associated with a peripheral manager (240) in the client (200) which controls the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280).
The present invention relates to a system (300) and method for managing communication between a server (100') and peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) associated with at least one client (200) deployed with an airport environment so that a virtualised application (130') running on the server (100') can be connected with at least one of the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280). A communications link (310) is established between the server (100') and the client (200) associated with the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) and the application (130') is directed to one of the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280) via a virtual channel (320) established between a server peripheral manager simulator component (160) and a client peripheral manager simulator component (245) and passing through the communications link (310). The client peripheral manager simulator (245) is associated with a peripheral manager (240) in the client (200) which controls the peripheral devices (250, 260, 270, 280).
Systems, methods, and computer program products for interacting with an interactive form. One or more values of a first control of the interactive form may be received at a server. Each value may represent a portion of a travel-related search query entered at the client device. At least one recommended value for a second control of the interactive form, which is different from the first control of the interactive form, may be determined and communicated from the server to the client device.
35.
DETERMINING REAL-TIME DELAY OF TRANSPORTATION MEANS
A delay of a scheduled transportation means which runs along a route according to a timetable is determined. The route comprises at least one leg. Determining the delay is based on a detailed reference schedule indicating arbitrary time-stamped reference positions of the transportation means being on time. A request is received for the transportation means' delay by a user device located on the transportation means. The request indicates at least the current position of the transportation means. The transportation means' delay is calculated on the basis of the current position indicated in the request, a time-stamp and the corresponding time-stamped reference position of the detailed reference schedule. The calculated delay is returned to the user device. The calculated delay is stored into a logbook. In response to a request not indicating the current position of the transportation means, the delay is returned on the basis of the logbook.
A fixed communication infrastructure comprises at least one device server and a plurality of fixed IT devices which are coupled to the at least one device server. A mobile communication device is coupled by a wireless communication link to the fixed communication infrastructure. The respective locations of the fixed IT devices are recorded by the device server. The mobile communication device requests identification information of at least one fixed IT device which is located within its vicinity from the device server via the wireless communication link. The mobile communication device receives the requested identification information from the device server. The mobile communication device transmits a request to a fixed IT device identified by the device server and the fixed IT device serves the request.
A method and a system of storing data by a software application are described. In a data storage system comprising one or more database systems and at least one cache node the software application interfaces independently the one or more database systems on a first dedicated interface, and the at least one cache node on a second dedicated interface. The method and system are characterized in that: each read query of the data storage system by the software application is first solely issued to the plurality of cache nodes which returns the queried data if available. If not available, the software application receives a miss that triggers a fetch of the queried data from the one or more database systems. Upon having retrieved the queried data, the software application adds the queried data to at least one cache node. The method and system are further characterized in that each writing of the one or more database systems by the software application is also concurrently performed in the at least one cache node. Hence, population of the at least one cache node is quickly done at each missed read query of the at least one cache node and at each write query of the data storage system.
G06F 16/27 - Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
38.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN A NETWORK
A computer-implemented reservation method and a corresponding system are utilized for controlling execution of a decision process to maintain data access efficiency upon receipt of a computation inquiry. The method comprises associating to a computer backend machine a configuration file containing at least a decision rule that drives the decision process and that is computed at least from a current value of a statistical indicator and a target value of the statistical indicator; periodically obtaining an updated value of the statistical indicator; upon detection that the updated value is differing from the target value, dynamically updating the configuration file and storing in real-time a recomputed decision rule in the configuration file.
A data cache platform maintains pre-computed database query results computed by a computation platform based on data maintained in the computation platform and is configured to determine probabilities of the pre-computed database query results being outdated, to automatically issue re-computation orders to the computation platform for updating pre- computed database query results on the basis of the determined probabilities of the pre- computed database query results being outdated and to receive the updated pre-computed database query results as results of the re-computation orders. The probability determination depends on a probabilistic model and on the occurrence of asynchronous real-time events. The real-time events are indeterministic with regard to the expiration of the cached database query results and only have a probabilistic influence on the discrepancies between the database query results maintained in the data cache platform and presumed actual database query results.
A database system comprises a computation platform and a search platform. The computation platform receives batch re-computation orders from the search platform. Each batch re-computation order instructs the computation platform to compute a plurality of database query results. The computation platform processes a batch re- computation order by computing the plurality of database query results according to a batch processing schedule within a given time frame. It returns the computed database query results resulting from the batch re-computation order to the search platform. The search platform maintains the computed database query results in a memory and makes the computed database query results available to clients which are connected to the search platform. The search platform transmits the batch re- computation orders to the computation platform.
41.
A METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PRODUCING AN INTERACTIVE VERSION OF A PLAN OR THE LIKE
A method of producing an interactive plan of a location from an optical image of a plan of the same location, wherein the location includes a plurality of features of different types such as cabins and corridors, the method comprising the steps of applying a complex geometry and character recognition (COGCR) process to the optical image to determine a plurality of functional data representative of the plurality of features of different types; converting the plurality of functional data into a plurality of object models; combining the object models to construct the interactive plan for display to an end user.
This invention relates to a method, apparatus (10), and program product (32, 44) that communicates a hurry status indication (202, 204) to a traveler (16) to enable that traveler (16) to determine when he or she should commence a trip.
A method for maintaining data in a second data system, the method comprising: stonng a first version of standard data that comprises a first sequence associated with a key; updating the standard data to a second version in a first data system by associating a second sequence with the key in response to receiving a first update request in the second data system; comparing updated data associated with a second request received from a user to modify the standard data, with the second sequence to determine a change; producing and storing an operating function representative of the change and associated with the key; retrieving the second version of the standard data associated with the key; retrieving the operating function; applying the operating function to produce a resulting data; and sending the resulting data to a pncmg engine for use in generating a travel fare.
An invalidation tracker system for tracking messages in a caching architecture of a pricing and shopping platform, wherein the caching architecture includes a number of levels, in which each level comprises one or more servers, in which invalidation messages are communicated from one level to another in order to send invalidation messages to all servers in the caching architecture, and wherein the invalidation tracker system receives data from provider databases to be communicated to the servers in the caching architecture; wherein the invalidation tracker system includes: a recording module for recording all invalidation messages communicated to the servers in the caching architecture to form a set of sent invalidation messages; an analysing module for determining the invalidation messages received at each server in the caching architecture and comparing this with the set of sent invalidation messages to identify one or more undelivered invalidation messages; a replay module for resending the one or more identified undelivered invalidation messages to an appropriate server in the caching architecture.
A method to allow automatic access by a user to a pre-reserved place, the method comprising receiving at a system a request from a portable electronic device to effect entry into the pre-reserved place, wherein the request includes user data, a reservation number, and location data associated with the pre-reserved place, and the location data is determined from a code on a label associated with the pre-reserved place; identifying a user identification based on the user data; comparing, with the system, the user identification, the reservation number, and the location data with a list of reservations to verify that they match a reservation associated. with the pre-reserved place; and if they match the reservation associated with the pre-reserved place, automatically sending a signal to cause the pre-reserved place to be opened to allow access by the user.
A method and a system for maintaining consistency of replicated files distributed over a plurality of independent processing slave nodes part of an application tier of a multi-tier client/server data processing system are described. The replicated files are distributed from a master node of a master tier. Upon reception of an update request to update a master database a new version of a replicated file is first generated and stored in a shared file system. A notification of availability of the new version is forwarded to a synchronizing slave node and broadcasted to all slave nodes. Each slave node preloads the new version of the replicated file from the shared file system and acknowledges successful completion. Upon reception of all acknowledgments in the synchronization slave node a notification of preloading achievement is forwarded to the master server which updates the master database.
The invention relates to a method and system for processing data for database modification, comprising receiving a set of data, performing a processing chain comprising a plurality of consecutive jobs to transform the set of data into transformed data, modifying a production database with respect to the transformed data and further comprising the steps of setting a target processing time for the performance of the consecutive jobs, before a launch of a first job, applying an original configuration as current configuration defining a parallelization level for each of the consecutive jobs, before a launch of at least one further job after the first job, upon an actual remaining processing time being out of a range of acceptable remaining processing times, applying an adapted configuration as new current configuration defining an adapted parallelization level for each of the jobs remaining in the processing chain, said adapted configuration differing from the current configuration. Application to integration of large volumes of data into databases.
The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a pre-shopping reservation tool which allows storing entire catalogues of air travels from many providers, while ensuring a high cache accuracy at limited operational costs. The system makes use of the fares knowledge to merge identical travel recommendations coming from different travel providers (airline, travel agencies) when possible, i.e. when fares are public and not negotiated for a specific travel provider. This prevents redundant prices to be stored in the system and improves its cost effectiveness. The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention relies on several dedicated data analysis engines to optimize the cost of data pre-computations while at the same time maintaining good data accuracy.
The invention relates to a method and system for processing a search request. A search request comprising a sequence of data strings and representing a plurality of search parameters is received. The strings are parsed and the search request is interpreted so as to define search parameters by recognizing items reflecting search criteria within the sequence of data strings. A query is built based on the result of the preceding process and at least one travel data service can be interrogated. This improves the search for information based on free-text input from the user. Application to methods for travel data service interrogation and to search engines.
The invention relates to a cache memory and method for controlling access to data. According to the invention, a control area which is advantageously formed separate from a data area (410) is provided for controlling the access to data stored in the cache and to be read by applicative processes. The control area comprises at least one release area (430) with offsets (442) and data version definition sections (452, 454, 456). Application to shared memories for client server architectures.
The invention relates to a method and system for processing complex queries each corresponding to a plurality of components to be combined. Elements corresponding to these components are searched. The elements are of different element types and are originally described by definition data having heterogeneous data structures. A conversion step transforms the heterogeneous definition data into converted definition data of one single format. An engine then retrieves elements and builds associations of elements matching the query parameters based on the converted definition data, thereby providing with a reply to the query in an optimized manner.
52.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SESSION INVOLVING A PLURALITY OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
A computer-implemented method is disclosed for providing a user with a consistent view of user session in a distributed environment. The method includes providing application servers (A1, A2,... ) with data storage means for storing part of the user context for that user session, defining thereby for each user session a set of application servers (A3, B8, C4) having each an affinity with the user session. Each application server is configured to process a software application that is required for that user session. At a routing means (10, 11, 12), performing the following steps with at least one data processor: o receiving request from the user and routing transactions of the user session toward the application servers (A1, A2,... ) having an affinity with the user session in order to fulfill the request, o assigning to the user session a correlation record (DCX) arranged to comprise Affinity Keys, each Affinity Key indicating an application server that has an affinity with the user session for a given software application, o propagating the correlation record with transactions, allowing thereby the routing means (10, 11, 12) to target the application servers (A3, B8, C4) that are linked to the user context of that user session and that process the software application relevant to process the transaction.
A computer-implemented method and system are disclosed for providing a user with a consistent view of user session in a distributed environment, wherein the session requires establishing conversations between the external device (200, 300, 300') and application servers (A1,.., C4) of a system (100). The system (100) is provided with at least a routing means (10, 15) configured to establish, for a given session, a conversation between the external device (200, 300, 300') and one of the application servers. Establishing the conversation comprises the following steps performed at the routing means (10, 15) with at least one data processor: receiving a call from one among the application server and the external device to reach the other among the application server and the external device; determining if the call comprises a session identifier (ID), - If the call does not comprise a session ID, then opening a session for said conversation, creating a session ID that uniquely identifies said session, adding the session ID to the call, storing the session ID and routing the call to the other among the application server and the external device (200, 300, 300'), establishing thereby the conversation; - If the call already comprises a session ID, then routing the call to the other among the application server and the external device (200, 300, 300') and allowing said conversation to join an already opened session that is uniquely identified by said session ID, thereby establishing the conversation and enabling the conversation to share the context of said already opened session.
The method and system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows ensuring consistency of the PNR record when it is handled within the subsystem controlled by the reservation interceptor module and including a plurality of OBEs. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the PNR context on open systems is centralized to avoid its fragmentation in the distributed environment, as gathering of all the context parts implies performance issues. In addition, instead of implementing a transaction session protocol to handle a start of transaction, intermediate updates and a final commit or rollback on the PNR context, the principle of the service interceptor architecture is to delegate the functional queries with the current user PNR context which will be modified in the central repository of PNR context only at response time when the whole functional use-case is finished.
55.
METHOD OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE END-USER OF A SOFTWARE APPLICATION
A method of providing assistance to a remote end-user of an end-user software application (120, 200) from an agent of an assistance center is described. All the transactions initiated by the end-user of the end-user software application (120, 200) are recorded in a contextual database locally, for applications running exclusively on customer PC, or remotely, for Web applications). Instrumented pages are delivered to the end-user. They include each a help request means. A server of a desktop sharing application is installed in the PC of the agent. When the end-user is requesting assistance all the entries already made by the end-user on a current instrumented page are uploaded. A waiting page and a client side of the desktop sharing application are also downloaded to the PC of the end-user. The end-user to be assisted is assigned to the agent when available. Then, PC of the agent gets a clone of the current instrumented page from the contextual database and a secure communication tunnel between the agent and the end-user is established. The client side of the desktop sharing application is finally activated on the customer PC which lets end-user view desktop of the PC of the agent and allows starting an assistance session between the agent and the end-user. All that being done without any software pre-installation on the client PC.
A faring system (10) includes a production facility (12) including at least one fare shopping server (14), a staging facility (16) including at least one fare shopping server (18), and an entry point (20) for conducting bi-directional communications with customers. The staging facility further includes a database (26) storing transformation rules and a traffic generation subsystem (24) configured to receive a transaction via the entry point from a customer, to determine if the received request is one suitable for use in generating simulation data for the fare shopping server of the staging system and, if so, to modify the received transaction in accordance with at least one rule retrieved from the database to create at least one modified transaction, and to send the at least one modified transaction to the fare shopping server of the staging facility for processing. The fare shopping server of the staging facility processes the modified transaction for evaluating a potential new or modified functionality of the faring system.
The method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a single computerized Inventory system to access multiple sources of Inventory data for different airlines in real-time; without a performance hit on the inventory system; without needing specific interfaces to be put in place; and without needing duplication of data. A customer request requiring inventory data from some other airlines is detected on the airline Inventory system. For each other airline involved in the action that has been detected, a component holding access rules is queried to check whether the airline has the permission to access the other airline inventory data, and the precise data to which it has access. For each other airline involved in the action that has been detected and for which the airline has the permission to access inventory data, the airline Inventory system connects to the other airline partition, retrieve the required current other airline inventory data, and disconnects from the other airline partition. The action that has previously been detected is finally processed, taking into account all the other airline inventory data.
The invention relates to a system for data synchronization between two or more computer terminals comprising, at least one client terminal, a server terminal, a communication network connecting said client and server terminals, a data string being created on said client terminal, said client terminal being configured to send the data string to the server terminal for synchronization between the two terminals, characterized in that upon synchronization failure, reconciliation data with the latest synchronization information including said data string, is configured to be stored in a database on the client terminal and resent later according to a retry counter.
G06F 11/14 - Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operation, e.g. by using different operation sequences leading to the same result
59.
A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE ORDER OF MESSAGES
A method of ordering a plurality of messages received from a sender to be sent to a receiver in a sequence based on the dependency of one message on one or more other messages, the method comprising the steps of: receiving one or more mes-sages from a stream of messages and storing them in a database; identifying a characteristic (P-Key-Order) of each message which is common to a group of messages; identifying a message dependency for the messages in the group of messages from a parameter of the message; reviewing a particular stored message in the database to determine if the stored message can be sent by; determin-ing whether the stored message is dependent on a previous message and determining a status of the previous message; updating the status of the stored message based on the status of the previous message; sending the stored message after acknowledgement that the previous message has been sent.
A system for generating and printing travel documents for a customer associated with a journey having one or more parts, the system comprising: a travel documentation distribution module capable of generating travel documentation for the customer and capable of passing the documents for storage on a customer device at the request of the customer; and a printer located in the vicinity of a starting point of one of the parts of the journey which is capable of responding to a short range communication from the customer device to print the travel documents for said part of the journey for the customer.
61.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMAL LOW FARE FOR A TRIP
A method for determining an optimal fare for a trip comprising a departure location, an arrival location, the method comprises the following steps: sending a request for the trip wherein the request comprises a departure location, an arrival location and a corresponding fare for the trip; automatically modifying the request by searching in a predetermined database to de-termine a set of additional requests wherein each comprises at least one of the departure location, the arrival location or one or more additional locations which may form at least a part of the requested route wherein the predetermined database comprises said additional requests and a corresponding fare for each additional request; selecting one or more additional requests to form one or more alternative requests which include at least on of the departure location or the arrival location as the request; calculating the up to date fares for each alternative request in order to determine a resulting fare for each alternative request; comparing the fare and the resulting fares in order to determine the lowest resulting fare for the trip.
62.
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR SEARCH REQUEST MANAGEMENT
The invention relates to a computer apparatus for generating a graphical user interface on a display screen, the graphical user interface having: - a first command interface area for inputting and displaying cryptic commands for the definition of a search request, - a form-based second command interface area having fields for displaying parameters of the search request, - the computer apparatus further comprising area for coupling the first and the second command interface areas such that the input of cryptic commands with the first command interface area generates a pseudo- simultaneous display of parameters reflecting at least some of the cryptic commands, the means for coupling comprising: .cndot.means for parsing the cryptic commands, .cndot.program instructions for extracting structured data from the cryptic commands, .cndot.means for storing the structured data within JavaScript objects, .cndot.program instructions for filling fields of the second command interface area by mapping the structured data.
A method of insuring the integrity of a plurality of updates brought in real-time to a large production database concurrently used by one or more software applications is described. The large production database includes a plurality of products participating to the definition of objects. The method first comprises the step of requesting the issuance of a unique filing number associated to a draft state version of the plurality of updates while keeping them invisible to the end-users of the large production database. Then, a set of product items identified as a whole by the unique filing number and on which the updates applies is created or copied in the large production database and gathered under the form of a meta-product on which the plurality of updates is applied. When updating is complete, the meta-product is successively set into a customizable flow of one or more validation states in order to perform a cross- validation of the plurality of updates. Finally, when validation is complete, the meta- product is set into a production state where the uniquely identified meta-product becomes immediately visible and useable by the end-users of the one or more software applications.
A method of integrating large volumes of updates in a database system. Each individual update includes of a coherent set of data records supplied by a data provider. The database system includes a master file repository and an active image repository. The method includes first obtaining for each individual update a unique modification identifier from a logistic table of the database system. The master file repository is then updated with the coherent set of data records of each uniquely identified individual update. A unique commit identifier is further obtained from the logistic table for each individual update that has been committed by the master file. The active image repository is synchronized by successively loading into the active image each individual update. Completion of the propagation of each individual update into the active image repository is achieved when the loading of each corresponding set of data records is committed by the active image.
65.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING INFORMATION
A method of storing and retrieving a utilization data associated to a sensitive information which requires to be secured in an environment including a plurality of application systems that can use the information, includes: at a given application system of the plurality of application systems: receiving the information, generating from the information an extracted data and a complementary data, generating an encoded information from the information, sending the extracted data and the encoded information to a server system, at the server system: generating an index and assigning it to the encoded information and the extracted data, storing the encoded information, the extracted data, and the index in a database associated to the server system, forwarding the index to the given application system of the plurality of application systems, at the given application system: assigning the index to an application stored data related to the information, storing the index and the application stored data in a database associated to said given application server.
A method and a system for managing the introduction of a new non-backward compatible version of an application server into a client/server networking environment are described. The method consists in first distributing to a client system to be served by the new non-backward compatible version of the application server a client application operable in a mode compatible with the current version of the application server and in a mode compatible with the new non-backward compatible version. Upon installation in the client system the client application is set into a downgraded mode compatible with the current version of the application server. While the current version of the application server is still in production, the client application is kept operated in the downgraded mode. Upon introduction of the new non-backward compatible version of the application server, the client application is set into a valid mode compatible with the new version of the application server. From that point on, the client application is operated in the valid mode. Setting of the modes is automatically triggered at each re-launch of the client system which queries a version server operating in the client/server networking environment. Query includes an identification of the client system and a client application version number in order to obtain from the queried version server a status value to operate the client system into a mode including the downgraded mode and the valid mode.
A system for identifying a parameter in a version of a data entity created at a specific time, wherein at a first time the version is an active version and at a second time the version is a previous version, the system comprising: a database for storing the plurality of versions of the data entity as they are created; a cache for storing the first active version of the data entity; wherein when a new version of the data entity is created by updating at least one parameter of the data entity, a new active version replaces the first active version stored in a cache and the first active version becomes a previous version stored in the cache; and wherein the new active version includes a list of the or each previous version of the data entity with an associated time at which the version was an active version, such that by identifying the version of the data entity which was active at the specific time the parameter is determined.
An enhanced travel search tool aimed at providing travel opportunities is described. The travel search tool includes a ticket splitter operating from a list of flight connections provided by a front-end flight search engine. The ticket splitter comprises a means for valuating all ticket partitions generated from the provided list of connection flights and a tree of split criteria updated in a cache for determining the partitions and attributing to each partition a probability value of obtaining a split-ticket solution. The ticket splitter also includes a means for selecting those of the valuated partitions that have a probability value higher than a defined threshold and provides a sorted list of recommended partitions to a back-end fare search engine to price all the selected partitions including a reference single-ticket solution. Travel search tool offering of travel opportunities is enhanced by automatically including multi-ticket travel solutions.
An enhanced agreement method and system to consent to a prorated value of a coupon of an E-ticket corresponding to a multi-segment transport involving at least two carriers for the transportation. The invention is based on a new system architecture, which comprises on each carrierside synchronous connections between various modules amongst which an E-ticket Server,a proration module arranged for calculating coupon prorated value, the system enabling to exchange coupon prorated values between both carriersfrom E-ticket issuance and before coupon usage. Further, based on E-ticket information and said exchangeof coupon prorated values, the invention is arranged to launch an agreement process before or at a time of providing the transportationservice. Another aspect of the invention is that information on coupon prorated value is embodied within industry standard messages that are already exchanged in current processes.
A method and a system for generating personal promotion codes from the computing resources of a provider of services are described. Internal promotion codes including a family ID field and a serial ID field comprised of alphanumeric characters are first generated. The internal promotion codes are then encoded into a corresponding series of external promotion codes also comprised of alphanumeric characters, which render the internal promotion codes unintelligible. After which the series of external promotion codes is packed into an encrypted file which is forwarded to a client application of the provider of services to have the external promotion codes distributed to its customers. The external promotion codes later submitted to the client application by the customers are further validated by the provider of services. Validation of the external promotion codes submitted by the customers does not require that all generated external promotion codes need to be stored in a database of the provider of services.
71.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING AND DISPLAYING TRAVEL ADVICES GATHERED FROM A PLURALITY OF RELIABLE SOURCES
A computerized travel system and a method for providing advices and warnings per travel destination to end-users of the travel system are described. System of the invention has a client service module aimed at receiving queries from the end-users, and at delivering to them merged reports of travel advices and warnings for the queried travel destinations. A download and parsing module is used to parse travel raw documents, downloaded from a plurality of online reliable travel sources, into cleaned raw documents sharing a common formatting structure including sections, sections headers and paragraphs. An algorithmic module integrates the cleaned raw documents into the merged reports of travel advices and warnings per travel destination. The integration of the cleaned raw documents into merged reports is performed from a base document chosen among all the relevant clean raw documents for each queried travel destination. Comparable sections are determined on the basis of contents of their section headers and semantically close paragraphs are placed next to each other in the corresponding sections of the merged reports.
A method and a system are described that keep travel data consistent between a database of airline reservations storing passenger name records (PNR's) comprised of travel segments, and a database of electronic tickets (E-tickets) comprised of travel coupons, this latter database being independently controlled from a ticketing server. Whenever a travel segment is updated or added in one of the PNR's an electronic reconciliation service (ERS) receives images of updated PNR's. Corresponding E-ticket images are requested by ERS and received from the database of E-tickets. Then, ERS establishes a matrix of links between orphan PNR travel segments and orphan E-ticket travel coupons so that E-ticket orphan travel coupons are re-associated with matching PNR orphan travel segments. After E-ticket is updated it is revalidated or reissued. Optionally, if applicable, a penalty generator is requested to calculate penalty fees on the basis of changes brought to the revalidated or reissued E-tickets. The penalty fees are then attached to the updated PNR's.
73.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PRINTING DEVICES IN A LOCAL AREA NETWORK
A method of managing printing in an environment with a plurality of workstations and a plurality of printers in one or more networks and wherein the network also includes a document server and an identification generator, the method comprising: - polling a workstation when it connects to the network to determine what printers are connected thereto; - determining a unique ID of the workstation; - determining the type of printer; - determining the configuration of the printer from the type of printer and workstation location; - determining an ID code for each printer connected to the connected workstation using the identification generator; - developing a look up table with the unique ID of the workstation; type, configuration and ID code of each printer; - receiving a print request from a workstation at the document server; - identifying the configuration of a printer from the look up table in response to the print request; - sending the print request to the identified printer with the appropriate ID code, as identified by the look up table.
A remote customisation module for a logic engine, running upon a server remote from said logic engine, comprises a communication interface arranged to communicate with the logic engine and with an application running upon said server. The module also comprises a logic element arranged to receive an incoming request for data from the logic engine via the communication interface. The logic element is arranged to interrogate the application in order to extract data required to fulfil said request. The logic element is also arranged to process said extracted data to generate response data and to pass said response data to the logic engine.
A system and method of managing computer sessions are provided. The preferred method opens a session (such as for access to a database) and creates a token that includes a session opening time and a measure of the session duration. If the token is used within a predefined time wifidow before the end of the session, the session is extended by updating the token to reflect a new session duration. The time window and duration of a session extension may be adjusted according to usage patterns of the system. The session maybe extended recursively. The token expires when the last of the session extensions expires.
A ticket change constrainer which allows reissuing or revalidating an already issued airline ticket is described. It includes a ticket change domain reducer operable to reduce an input search domain of change opportunities on the basis of change conditions set in the already issued ticket. It also includes a ticket change valuer operable to weigh the change opportunities of the reduced search domain and to return a reduced valued search domain of change opportunities. The weighing of the change opportunities is done on the basis of pricing method popularity scores updated in a ticket change memory by a ticket change watcher agent from actual change transactions handled by the system. The change conditions include standard pricing methods of the airline industry. The input search domain of change opportunities is produced by a conventional fare-driven search engine on the basis of a ticket change request issued by an end-user of the system. The reduced valued search domain of change opportunities returned by the ticket change constrainer always includes a lowest fare opportunity compatible with the change conditions set in the already issued ticket.
A method for handling large amounts of standard data contained in one or more databases conforming to a standard data model is described. When large amounts of standard data are needed to answer requests of end-users of a software application the method of the invention assumes that a significantly reduced amount of metadata useable by the software application are first built out of the large amounts of standard data. The metadata are stored in an intermediate database of metadata and delivered to the software application through a metadata engine in lieu of the large amounts of standard data. The invention allows software application to consider much larger amounts of standard data to better answer end-user requests in an acceptable elapsed time.
A method of evaluating outbound and inbound fare amounts out of a plurality of roundtrip fare recommendations is disclosed. Intended to be displayed in a one-way like display, roundtrip fares are first obtained from a fare-driven availability engine receiving inputs from an online user of a travel website. Further recommendations are deduced by combining the above roundtrip fare recommendations in order to obtain a first improved list of recommendations which comprises more outbound and inbound fare combinations. Then, one-way fare amounts are determined for each combination from the improved list of recommendations. A second improved list of recommendations, comprising outbound and inbound fare amounts evaluated on the basis of the initial roundtrip fare recommendations, is generated. Outbound and inbound fare amounts can thus be shown in a one-way like display of roundtrip fares to the online user of travel website. A user interface including a first and second panel to respectively display outbound and inbound parts of roundtrip fares is also described. Contents displayed in first and second panel are made dependent of each other. A different user selection done in first panel or in second panel modifies what is respectively displayed in second panel or in first panel. Method and user interface of the invention also include the possibility of upselling roundtrip fares on a one-way basis.
A method for assisting a person in viewing results of a database query uses query parameters to obtain query results from a database. A user interface displays a table having a selector column. The selector column includes a plurality of rows, with each row representing a set of values for a parameter selectable by a user from a set of selectable parameters. The table also has a selector row that includes a plurality of columns. Each column represents a set of values for a parameter selectable by a user from a set of selectable parameters. Parameters relate to data of the database, and some are computed or derived from database fields. A parameter may be a measure of a degree to which a travel itinerary satisfies a company or managed travel bias. The table further includes selector cells, with each cell corresponding to a row and column. A user can select subsets of query results for display in an answer table by selecting a column, row, or cell of the selection table.
A method and a system for maintaining coherence of cache contents in a multi- tiered architecture of servers are described. This includes a front tier of satellite servers, each operating a local cache, and a middle tier of central servers each operating a central cache. Central servers interface with databases through database servers to retrieve the data elements used to construct objects and store them in central caches. Once constructed, objects are attributed a time-to-live (TTL) and stored in central caches then, forwarded to the satellite servers where they are stored in local caches before being delivered to the software applications that have requested them. They are invalidated when outdated and reconstructed from a central server from where they are forwarded to all central caches and to the local caches where they are needed.
The network-based travel reservation system comprises an end-user device that receives an end-user air travel itinerary in response to a round trip request and asynchronous parallel processing devices programmed to provide a One Way Combinable fare converter, the One Way Combinable fare converter including an interactive system wherein airfare providers create One Way Combinable fares in roundtrip flights requests ticketed in a country of trip origin, a One Way Fare database comprising the One Way Combinable fares, a first low fare search pricing engine in bilateral communication with the One Way Fare database, a second low fare search pricing engine in bilateral communication with the One Way Fare database, and a One Way Combinable fare pricer comprising an internet input receiving the end-user air travel itinerary request and a one way extractor. Each outbound segment determined by the One Way Combinable fare is combinable together only with any other inbound segment determined One Way Combinable fare, free of a combinability restriction between each combined outbound segment determined One Way Combinable fare and inbound segment determined One Way Combinable fare, forming a guaranteed pricing round trip solution complying with the roundtrip rules both in domestic and international contexts including complex inbound and outbound segments of the end-user air travel itinerary request. The One Way Combinable fares are created by a plurality of airlines or airfare providers and the One Way Combinable fares of each airline are combinable with the One Way Combinable fares of other airlines without fare restriction.
The invention concerns a method and a system for maintaining consistency of a cache memory, accessible by multiple independent processes. The processes can share common data. The processes perform simultaneous data searching operations optionally followed by providing the data to the processes, a removal of same or an insertion of new data. The searching, removal and insertion operations, are comprehensively executed once they have been initiated by the independent processes. They are executed excluding one another when they must operate on common data. The removal or insertion operations are each completely reversible. In that context, the invention provides that the operations for providing, removing or inserting the data have a finite or bound duration of execution so as to prevent any locking. In particular, the insertion operation, which includes a step of releasing an input when a partition of the cache memory is full, if it requires browsing through the entire partition to make a selection, is however possibly interrupted if the maximum browsing time is reached. In that case, the most appropriate input, among the already browsed inputs, is released. The inputs of said partition are browsed exhaustively, which results from storing the last consulted address of the partition after each release.