Travel Information Method And Associated System

Abstract

A method and system for providing travel information to a consumer are disclosed. The method and system may include identifying one or more potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS). Further, the method and system may include acquiring information from at least one information source, which may be a variety of sources such as external or consumer-driven sources; characterizing the acquired information by its pertinence to travel; transforming the characterized travel information into a useable format; applying rules to this transformed travel information in connection with the consumer-specific travel profile; and, delivering a report to the consumer of the results of this application. Finally, an information system segment may be provided that may include a collection subsystem, and analysis subsystem, and a distribution subsystem. The associated system may perform these functions, among others, to provide information for a traveler planning a trip to a particular destination or destinations.

1 . A method for providing travel-related information to a user, comprising: 
 identifying one or more potential information sources using a content identification segment (CIS).    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more potential information sources is manually identified by subject matter experts.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by domain experts.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by an automated process.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more potential information sources is identified by a combination of ( 1 ) manually identified by subject matter experts or domain experts and ( 2 ) identified by an automated process.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising acquiring information from at least one information source.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising transforming said acquired information into information pertinent to travel related activities.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing a user profile.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering a product to the user indicative of said transformed travel data.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising creating a product for said user indicative of the results of said application of said transformed travel information to said profile.  
     
     
         11 . A system for providing travel related information to a user having a profile, comprising: 
 a content identification segment (CIS) including a content opportunities list containing a listing of identified one or more potential content sources so as to maintain them in the list.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said one or more potential content sources is manually identified by subject matter experts.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said one or more potential content sources is identified by domain experts.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein content identification segment (CIS) further includes a content robot engine that automatically identifies at least some of the one or more potential content sources and includes them in the content opportunities list.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more potential content sources are identified by a combination of ( 1 ) manually identified by subject matter experts or domain experts and ( 2 ) identified by the content robot engine with an automated process.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a content acquisition/aggregation segment that acquires and classifies the content of acquired content with regard to a specific domain.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a transformation layer that transforms the acquired content into information pertinent to travel related activities.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an information application layer that applies the travel related information to a user profile.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a product creation layer that creates a product for a user indicative of applying the transformed travel information to the user profile.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further including a rules engine for applying rules to the profile.  
     
     
         21 . An information system segment implemented, at least in part, in a computer system, and structured for use in a system for providing travel related information to a consumer having a consumer-specific profile, comprising: 
 a collection subsystem obtaining information from at least one data source;    an analysis subsystem filtering said obtained information to identify characteristics of said obtained information that will impact travel or the consumer; and    a distribution-subsystem directing said filtered data to at least one portion of said system for providing travel related information, said distribution subsystem having a component for classifying said filtered data as supplemental content or as an alert.    
     
     
         22 . The segment of  claim 21 , wherein said collection subsystem includes means for applying queries to obtain said information.  
     
     
         23 . The segment of  claim 21 , wherein said analysis subsystem includes a filter pipe and an index pipe.