Patent Application
20110161121
1. Technical Field
This relates to management of travel and travel related itineraries. More specifically, this relates to assessing and mitigating exposure to one or more identified illnesses based upon proximity evaluation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior to modern forms of travel that enable people to cross international borders on a daily basis, travelers were frequently evaluated for illness and exposure to illness upon arrival at a port of entry. Travelers who exhibited signs of an illness were not always allowed entry from the port and at times were sent back to their point of origin. Sometimes the travelers who exhibited signs of illness or who were known to have been exposed to an illness were placed in quarantine for a period of time.
With the advent of modern forms of travel and communication, and the open borders that exist in many countries, localizing an illness and people who have been exposed to an illness can be difficult and challenging. In a strictly controlled environment, there is the ability to evaluate the health and wellness of all travelers. However, this can be a difficult task to implement. If a gap is present in the evaluation process, then the evaluation is incomplete. At the same time, there is the possibility that some travelers may have been exposed to an illness without exhibiting any symptoms. Perhaps such travelers are merely carriers of the illness. Accordingly, known methods for isolating travelers is both difficult and cumbersome.
There are two aspects to address exposure to an illness. One aspect is to confine the illness and mitigate its effect. Another aspect is to manage travel arrangements to avoid and/or mitigate exposure to the illness. Accordingly, there is a need to employ a tool to morph information pertaining to one or more illnesses with technology employed for management of travel, in order to reduce exposure of a traveler to the illness(es).
A method, system, and article are provided for management of travel and travel related plans in view of health care concerns.
In one aspect, a computer implemented method is provided for travel management. Both a source and a destination are selected for the travel, with the source and destination including departure and arrival dates, and a mode of transportation that supports the selected source and destination. Following the selection processes, a geographic region that has been affected by a health related event is identified. Based upon the health related event, the selected mode of transportation is evaluated to determine if at least one craft that supports the selected transportation mode matches the geographic region affected by the health related event. To mitigate exposure to the identified health related event, the selected transportation mode may be changed. Accordingly, a reservation is created that supports the selected travel based upon an evaluation of both the mode of transportation and the identified health related event.
In another aspect, a system is provided to facilitate management of travel. A processor is provided in communication with a data storage medium, and a management tool is provided in communication with the data storage medium. The management tool includes a selection module, to select a source and destination for travel, and a mode of transportation to support the selected source and destination. In addition, both an identification module and an evaluation module are provided. The identification module identifies a geographic region affected by a health related event, and the evaluation mode, which is in communication with both the selection and identification modules, determines if at least one method of transportation within the selected transportation mode(s) matches the identified geographic region. A manager in communication with the evaluation modules mitigates exposure to the health related event by supporting a change to the selected mode of transportation. Accordingly, a reservation is created that supports the selected travel based upon both the evaluation of the mode of transportation together with the identified health related event.
In yet another aspect, an article is configured to manage travel. The article is provided with a computer readable storage medium in communication with computer program instructions to collect and evaluate travel related data. The instructions support selection of both source and destinations for travel, including departure and arrival dates, and selection of a mode of transportation to support the selection. In addition, instructions are provided to support identification of a geographic area affected by a health related event. Instructions are also provided to support evaluation of the selected transportation mode and to mitigate exposure to the health related event. Based upon the instructions, a reservation is provided to support the selected travel based upon both the evaluation of the mode of transportation and with the identified health related event.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specification. Features shown in the drawing are meant as illustrative of only some embodiments, and not of all embodiments unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Implications to the contrary are otherwise not to be made.
It will be readily understood that the components, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, as presented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments.
The functional units described in this specification have been labeled as tools, modules, and/or managers. The functional units may be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like. The functional units may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified functional unit of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, function, or other construct. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified functional unit need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the functional unit and achieve the stated purpose of the functional unit.
Indeed, a functional unit of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different applications, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within the functional unit, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, as electronic signals on a system or network.
Reference throughout this specification to “a select embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “a select embodiment,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of modules, managers, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the described features, structure, or characteristics can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects.
The illustrated embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the claims presented herein.
A method and system are provided to address safety concerns for travelers, and more specifically safety focused on mitigated exposure of travelers to illnesses. When travelers book travel plans they are provided with information on current identified illnesses. This information is incorporated into their travel booking so that they may amend and/or cancel their travel plans in order to mitigate or avoid exposure to the identified illness(es). A smart system is incorporated into a plurality of aspects of the travel booking process to identify crafts, locations, and other travelers that may have been exposed to the identified illness(s). Accordingly, based upon the smart system identification, the person(s) booking the travel may amend and/or cancel one or more aspects of their travel plans in order to avoid exposure to the identified illness(es).
In the following description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which shows by way of illustration the specific embodiment in which the method, apparatus, system, and/or article of manufacture may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized because structural changes may be made without departing from the scope.
The level of detail in booking travel plans vary among different travel planning systems. More specifically, travel arrangements may be implemented on a level that merely includes a place of origin, a destination, and a mode of travel. It is common for the travel arrangements to include the specifics of the carrier to support the travel. Most carriers today identify a specific craft and enable seat selection. The specificity of details for the travel provides a window for tools to leverage the associated information to support safer travel to mitigate the spread of or exposure to contagious illnesses.
Following step (106), the traveler selects or otherwise communicates a threshold level (108) to apply from the health related event to their travel plans (110). In one embodiment, information pertaining to the health related event may contain a scale pertaining to the level of an associated illness, and the traveler may set a threshold value to apply to the scale to determine whether or not the presence of the associated illness will affect their travel. Once the threshold is applied to the travel itinerary, it is determined if the threshold level of the associated illness is active at the initial travel destination (112). A positive response to the determination at step (112) is followed by determining whether or not the traveler wants to change their initial travel destination (114). A positive response to the determination at step (114) is followed by the traveler providing a new initial travel destination (116) and a return to step (110). Conversely a negative response to the determinations at either step (112) or (114) is followed by determining if there are any intervening destinations in the travel plans (118). A positive response to the determination at step (118) is followed by setting an intervening destination as the new travel destination (122) and a return to step (110). Conversely, a negative response to the determination at step (118) is followed by a return to step (120). Accordingly, each destination in the travel plans may be evaluated with the threshold level set and applied to the travel itinerary.
All travelers employ some form of transportation to travel from a place of origin to a destination. Examples of forms of transportation include, but are not limited to, aircraft, watercraft, train, bus, automobile, etc. Hereinafter, the term craft will be employed as a generic term for the form of transportation selected to support a travel itinerary.
In addition to, or independent of the craft review, the traveler may select a seat assignment on the selected craft based upon other travelers who have travel booked on the same craft. More specifically, the traveler may evaluate the travel health history of other travelers to determine seat selection and next to whom they are willing to be seated for their time on the selected craft. In one embodiment, the travel health history of travelers is an assessment of locations where other passengers have traveled and a likelihood of these other travelers having been exposed to an identified illness based upon the geographic regions where the traveler(s) has been.
As shown in
The exposure to a health related event or infectious illness is not limited to the craft or the passengers, it may also be in the food and drink supply. Geographic regions that have been exposed to a health related event may have traces of the illness in their supply of food and drink. Although not all forms of travel include food service, many do include drink service.
In one embodiment, the travel management tool(s) is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. This implementation can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. It is also understood, that the computer program may be accessible across a distributed network of computers. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The intelligent travel planning involves more than identifying the location of an identified contagious illness. In fact, the intelligent travel planning enables the traveler to parse information and determine their risk factors associated with the travel. An evaluation module (544) is provided in communication with both the selection and identification modules (540) and (542), respectively. The evaluation module (544) functions to determine if there is a match between at least one of the crafts selected for the intended travel and at least one region identified as exposed to a health related event. If the evaluation module (544) determines there is no match, then the traveler may proceed with completion of their travel itinerary in view of health care concerns. However, in the event there is a match, a manager (550) is provided in communication with the evaluation module (544), wherein the manager enables and otherwise supports a change of the travel itinerary to mitigate exposure to the identified health related event. There are different forms of travel evaluation, including but not limited to, modifying the destination(s), evaluation of the craft(s), seat selection for the craft(s), and food service. Once the travel arrangements are completed, one or more reservations are generated. In one embodiment, reservations are in the form of an electronic communication and or receipt (522) retained in data storage (520). Similarly, in another embodiment, a hardcopy of the reservation (not shown) is created. Accordingly, an intelligent travel planning tool is provided that enables the travel to make smart decisions to mitigate exposure to an identified health related event.
As shown herein, the travel management tools in the formations of a selection module (540), an identification module (542), an evaluation module (544), and a manager (546) each reside in memory (506) local to the system (502). In one embodiment, the system (502) may be accessed locally from a terminal in direct communication with the processor and the supported tools, or it may be accessed from a remote location from a machine in communication with the processor and the supported tools. Similarly, in one embodiment, the selection module (540), the identification module (542), the evaluation module (544), and the manager (546) may each reside as hardware tools external to memory (506), or they may be implemented as a combination of hardware and software. Similarly, in one embodiment, the modules (540), (542), (544), and the manager (546) may be combined into a single functional item that incorporates the functionality of the separate items. Furthermore, as shown herein, each of the modules (540), (542), (544), and the manager (546) are local to one system (502). However, in one embodiment, they may be collectively or individually distributed across a network and function as a unit to embody the functionality of individual units. Accordingly, the modules (540), (542), and (544), and manager (546) may be implemented as software tools, hardware tools, or a combination of software and hardware tools for managing the functionality of the planner in a distributed manner.
Embodiments within the scope also include articles of manufacture comprising program storage means having encoded therein program code. Such program storage means can be any available media which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such program storage means can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired program code means and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above should also be included in the scope of the program storage means.
The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk B read only (CD-ROM), compact disk B read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks.
The software implementation can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-useable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system.
The tools provided for management of travel and travel related plans support an intelligent travel management system to mitigate the spread of an identified health related event. Travel arrangements may be modified on a micro or macro scale based upon the presence of the identified health related event(s). More specifically, it is the level of awareness and spread of the health related event(s) that supports greater control over travel arrangements. Adaptation of travel arrangement modifications leads to optimal travel accommodations and more accurate control of the spread of an illness caused by modern travel. More specifically, craft, seat selection, and food service are each individual selected and/or modified based upon recent travel history of the craft, other passenger, and food supply for the food service. Accordingly, a manner of finely tuning travel plans to mitigate exposure to a health related event is taught herein.
It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope. In particular, the specific application disclosed herein is for controlling travel arrangements, and more specifically mitigating exposure to an identified illness during travel. In one embodiment, the travel arrangements may be modified subsequent to booking the travel and prior to departure, based upon an awareness of the health related event that was previously unknown. More specifically, if the health related event is identified at any time prior to actual travel, the traveler may be notified and provided the option to modify and/or cancel the destination, craft, seat assignment, and food service. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the health related event may be any form of a sickness, including but not limited to a virus, a bacterial infection, or combinations thereof. Accordingly, the scope of protection is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.
