Priceline.com Incorporated

John Caine

Michael Diliberto

Jonathan Taylor

Jim Chen

Amit Poddar

Will Homes

Ronald Henderson

Christine Wong

Nasreen Ali

Scott B Lake

Murali Gadde

Ian Merritt

Michael P Gonzalez

A system and method for translating and matching attributes in data records that describe travel items is provided. In an embodiment, a plurality of records is received from a plurality of data sources. Record parsing logic is used divide strings in the records into individual words and match single words in the plurality of records to attributes. Using the matched attributes, record comparison logic creates a confidence score that describes the likelihood that two records describe the same listing or inventory item. If the confidence score exceeds a given threshold, the records are determined to match. A consolidated record is then created from the two matched records.

Attribute translation and matching from a plurality of data records to create consolidated data records

A system and method for actively updating a data cache is provided. In an embodiment, a plurality of travel listings is received from a plurality of data sources and stored in a data cache. Invalidity prediction instructions are used to determine that a travel listing in the data cache contains inaccurate information. Listing relationship instructions are used to identify listings that are related to the travel listing that contains inaccurate information. Data update requests are then sent to the plurality of data sources for the related listings.

Caching and updating data records based on relationships between the data records

Methods, computer systems, and stored instructions are provided for improving opaque transactions where the identity of the seller is not revealed to the user until after the user purchases an item from the seller. In response to a conditional purchase offer received from the user, a subset of travel items are selected. An eligibility of the user for enhanced information such as a discounted price and/or an identity of at least one of the sellers of the subset of travel items is determined. Based on the eligibility of the user, the user is matched to one or more pieces of enhanced information. A user interface including an enhanced description of a travel item and a limited description of remaining travel items is provided. In response to a user selection of a travel item, a purchase transaction is completed between the user and the seller of the selected travel item.

Selectively unlocking an opaque transaction for specified user groups

In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving, from a client computer, a first request comprising a partial search term for an item, wherein the partial search term comprises one or more characters; selecting a first plurality of predicted completions of the partial search term based, at least in part, on the partial search term, wherein each predicted completion in the first plurality of predicted completions is associated with a category of a set of categories; determining an order of each category in the set of categories; ordering the first plurality of predicted completions based, at least in part, on a position, in the order, of each category that is associated with each predicted completion in the first plurality of predicted completions; sending the first plurality of predicted completions to the client computer.

Predicting categorized completions of a partial search term

In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises generating and displaying, on a computing device, a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of item summary tiles and a set of favorites buckets, wherein each of the item summary tiles graphically displays a plurality of attributes of a different items, wherein the set of favorites buckets is displayed in a fixed position adjacent to the item summary tiles; receiving first input specifying adding a particular item among the different items to the set of favorites buckets and, in response thereto, storing data identifying the particular item in storage associated with the set of favorites buckets and displaying a graphical representation of the particular item in an available one of the favorites buckets; receiving second input specifying sharing the set of favorites buckets and, in response thereto, automatically creating an electronic mail message having a message body that comprises a plurality of hyperlinks, wherein each of the hyperlinks identifies an online description of a different one of the items of one of the favorites buckets.

Shareable favorites sets

In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises receiving and storing one or more original graphic image files; for each particular original graphic image file among the graphic image files: determining a first aspect ratio of the particular original graphic image file; determining whether the first aspect ratio is wider, taller, or identical to a specified second aspect ratio associated with one or more target image files; creating and storing the one or more target image files each having the second aspect ratio, by re-sampling the particular original graphic image file to match a first dimension of the one or more target image files, and selectively cropping one or more portions of the particular original graphic image file to form the one or more target image files having the second aspect ratio; wherein the method is performed using one or more computing devices.

Generating multiple digital images with changed aspect ratio

Techniques for the dynamic assignment of a target website resource based on request context are described. In an embodiment, a request for a website resource of a requested website is received. One or more context values associated with the request are determined, including a particular context value identifying information associated with a referral website that is different from the requested website. A particular website resource from a plurality of website resources is selected based on the one or more context values associated with the request. The particular website resource is caused to be delivered.

Dynamic assignment of a target web page based on request context

Techniques for locating places of lodging along a route and for displaying information relating to the places of lodging are described. A plurality of search points on a route are selected according to various selection techniques. Performance of a plurality of point searches is caused, where each point search of the plurality of point searches is associated with a respective search point of the plurality of search points and is a search for places of lodging near the respective search point. Search result information relating to at least some point searches of the plurality of point searches is displayed in association with route information relating to the route.

Growing community of inventors

Bridgeport, CT, United States of America

John Caine