SEARCH ENGINE FOR IDENTIFYING BUSINESS TRAVEL PROPOSALS

摘要

Systems, methods, and computer program products for ranking and selecting travel-related search results for display to a traveler. The system may receive data identifying a preferred travel proposal from each of a plurality of travelers, and analyze the data to determine a value utility function. The value utility function may then be used to assign a relative utility to travel proposals identified in response to a search query from a traveler. Additional data relating to a pricing sensitivity of a payer may be received from an entity paying for travel, such as a corporation or other business entity. The system may analyze the pricing sensitivity data to define a price utility function that quantifies the price of each travel proposal. A composite utility function that is a weighted sum of the value and price utility functions may be used to select search results for display to the traveler.

主权项

1. A method of characterizing a plurality of travel proposals that satisfies a first travel request, the method comprising:
receiving, at a computer, first data identifying a preferred travel proposal for each of a plurality of first travelers, each preferred travel proposal being selected from the plurality of travel proposals; analyzing the first data with the computer to define a first utility function that quantifies a value of each travel proposal; receiving second data relating to a price sensitivity from a payer; analyzing the second data with the computer to define a second utility function that quantifies a price of each travel proposal; and defining a third utility function as a weighted sum of the first and second utility functions, the third utility function having an output that quantifies a composite utility for each travel proposal.