Ticket tracking and refunding system and method

US7228313B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Richard Scott Hand · Holland, US
• Wendy Levitt · Guttenberg, US
• David Pereira · Gif-sur-Yvette, FR
• Anna Austin · Houston, US
• Gregory Coles · Houston, US
• Duane Jacobsen · Roseland, US
• Vinny Khosla · Katy, US
• Thomas Lunsford · Houston, US
• Renee Richards · Glendale, US
• Leigh Tomaski · Missouri City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 1, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2007
• Expiry date: Jul 1, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99948
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An automated method and system for refunding the unused portion of an electronic ticket are provided. In accordance with the method, an aging period is set and is added to the scheduled departure date of the issued ticket. If the schedules 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 ticket has not been used, the residual value of the ticket is calculated and a refund is issued.