The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2004
Robert G. Barnes, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Diego Espinosa, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Meg Rediess, Boston, MA (US);
Lisa Steury, Hoboken, NJ (US);
Robert G. Barnes, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Diego Espinosa, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Meg Rediess, Boston, MA (US);
Lisa Steury, Hoboken, NJ (US);
American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
An automated method and system for facilitating timely use and/or redemption of the unused portion of an electronic ticket are provided. In accordance with the method, ticket data (e.g., from an electronic ticket) is collected from a financial transaction account, then a search engine uses said ticket data to find open tickets. Finding open tickets includes setting an aging period and adding it to the scheduled departure date of the issued ticket, and a reminder period is set and subtracted from the scheduled date of a ticket. If the scheduled departure date plus the aging date is earlier than the current date, a determination is made as to whether the ticket has been used. If the scheduled date minus the reminder period is earlier than the current date, then a message is communicated to the traveler reminding him to use or redeem the ticket. A residual value of the ticket is calculated and list of open tickets with a value related to each ticket is transmitted to the issuing agency to facilitate the issuing agency issuing a refund of the open ticket.