TRAVELING SHOPPER ORDERING AND FULFILLMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A plurality of inventory sets at various travel locations have their inventory contents communicated to a remote server computer. Travelers interact with the server computer, such as utilizing smart phones or other mobile computing devices through the Internet. Travelers can view inventory available at travel locations of interest, such as a traveler's destination, which could be a hotel or other temporary residence, or an intermediate destination for the traveler such as a rental car facility or a seat or cabin on an airplane, bus, train, vessel or other common carrier. Travelers can select item(s) for purchase (or rental) and make payment through interaction with the server computer. The server computer sends instructions to a delivery agent with access to the inventory at the travel location, and at least one ordered item is delivered to the traveler's destination.

Claims

1: A method for dynamic delivery of ordered goods to a traveler's location, the method including the steps of: staging inventory at a plurality of travel locations; communicating inventory contents at the plurality of travel locations to a server computer; accessing the inventory contents information from the server computer by a traveler having one or more traveler destinations, at least one of which traveler destinations being within a delivery distance from the travel location associated with the inventory contents being accessed; ordering at least one available item in the inventory located at the travel location, by the traveler; and delivering at least one ordered item from said ordering step from the inventory at the travel location to the traveler destination.

2: The method of claim 1 wherein said ordering step includes purchasing at least one item from the inventory at the travel location.

3: The method of claim 1 wherein said ordering step includes renting at least one item from the inventory at the travel location.

4: The method of claim 1 wherein said delivering step includes sharing traveler order information with an agent having access to the inventory at the travel location, the agent gathering at least one ordered item from the inventory, and the agent traveling to the traveler destination and dropping off the at least one ordered item for the traveler to collect the at least one ordered item.

5: The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of travel locations include locations taken from the group of locations including hotels, temporary residences, rental car providers, rental car hubs, airports, transport hubs, airplanes, trains, cruise ships, mobile inventory locations near travel locations and non-mobile inventory locations near travel locations.

6: The method of claim 1 wherein said staging step includes the inventory kept in a secure environment with access limited to at least one authorized agent.

7: The method of claim 1 wherein said accessing step and said ordering step occur at least partially through a mobile computing device carried by a traveler, and having a screen for display of inventory contents and inputs for the traveler to make selections of inventory.

8: The method of claim 7 wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone having a touchscreen display and a wireless connection to the server computer through a wide area network.

9: The method of claim 1 wherein the traveler destination is taken from the group of destinations including a hotel room, a front desk of a hotel, a location of a smart phone of the traveler, a rental car, a rental car hub, a locker at a transport hub, and a seat or cabin on a common carrier transport vehicle or vessel.

10: The method of claim 1 wherein said delivering step occurs from an inventory at a travel location which is a delivery distance away from the traveler destination, said delivery step including an agent traveling with the at least one ordered item from the inventory at the travel location to the traveler destination.

11: A system for ordering and delivery of items, including forgotten travel items to a traveler destination, comprising in combination: a remote server maintaining a database of inventory located at or near multiple different locations; an app running on mobile computing devices of travelers and communicating with the server wirelessly, the app configured to allow a traveler to input a particular traveler destination where the traveler is traveling to or through; the app configured to list available inventory associated with the traveler destination, after the traveler destination is added; and the server configured to send inventory delivery instructions from an inventory location at or near the traveler destination to the traveler destination when the traveler selects an item from inventory on the traveler's mobile computing device for delivery to the traveler.

12: The system of claim 11 wherein said traveler destination is associated with a temporary residence for the traveler.

13: The system of claim 12 wherein said traveler destination is a room of a hotel.

14: The system of claim 12 wherein said traveler destination is a front desk of a hotel.

15: The system of claim 11 wherein said traveler destination is associated with a rental car facility being utilized by the traveler.

16: The system of claim 15 wherein said traveler destination is an interior of a car at a rental car facility which has been rented by the traveler, but not yet picked up by the traveler.

17: The system of claim 15 wherein said traveler destination is a control point at a rental car facility at which the traveler has rented a car.

18: The system of claim 15 wherein said travel destination is a counter at a rental car facility which the traveler can visit to pick up ordered items while the traveler is picking up the rental car.

19: The system of claim 11 wherein said travel destination is a particular location on a common carrier vehicle or vessel which has been reserved by the traveler for transportation of the traveler.

20: The system of claim 19 wherein said travel destination is an assigned seat on an aircraft which has been assigned to the traveler.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of portions of a system for dynamic delivery of ordered goods to a traveler destination, when the traveler destination is associated with a hotel, according to one example embodiment of this invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mobile computing device, generally in the form of a smart phone, illustrating how an app running on the smart phone can allow inventory at a traveler destination to be accessed for purchase and to initiate delivery of ordered items to a traveler destination.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a series of steps associated with a traveler utilizing the system and method of this invention to place an order for desired items and to have such desired items efficiently delivered to the traveler at a traveler destination.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of portions of the system for dynamic delivery, such as those associated with FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, and illustrating how various optional subparts of the system interact together to implement the system and method of this invention.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the system and method of this invention where inventory is carried on a mobile inventory van which services multiple different properties, such as hotels, for delivery of ordered items according to one example embodiment of this invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of the system and method of this invention where inventory is carried at a rental car hub or other transport hub for delivery of ordered items to a traveler at a traveler destination which is an intermediate destination of the traveler as the traveler is traveling to a final destination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4-6) is directed to a system for dynamic delivery of ordered items 2 out of one or more inventories 36, 66, 70, 94 at travel locations to traveler destinations (such as properties 30, 60, 90, 100) under the control of a server computer 80 with which a traveler T is interacting to place an order.

[0044] In essence, and with particular reference to FIG. 4, a server computer 80 maintains updated inventory information for inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 (FIGS. 1 and 4-6) at various different travel locations at or near traveler destinations. The server 80 can also facilitate purchase transactions or purchase transactions can be facilitated through other computers. The server 80 is a computer 88 coupled to a wide area network 20 such as the Internet. A traveler smart phone 40 or other mobile (or non-mobile) computing device accesses the server 80 through the wide area network 20. The smart phone 40 displays inventory available at a traveler destination, such as through an app running on the smart phone 40 and an order (purchase or rental) of desired items is placed by the traveler T. The server computer 80 communicates through the wide area network 20 with an agent A with access to an inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 near the traveler destination with instructions to deliver items 2 ordered by the traveler T to the travel destination. The inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 is located at or at least within a delivery distance from the travel destinations such as a traveler temporary residence property 30, rental car hub 60, transport hub 90 or other location such as a seat on an airplane 100 or other common carrier the traveler T will be traveling upon. Goods needed by the traveler T are thus made available for order by the traveler T from inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 which is at or near a traveler destination, to facilitate effectively matching of the ordered item with the traveler T in a rapid and efficient manner.

[0045] More specifically, and with particular reference to FIG. 4, basic elements associated with the system and method of this invention are described, according to an example embodiment. Elements which facilitate practicing of the method of this invention can be concentrated to a greater extent in one location or can be distributed to a greater extent at multiple locations. Basic elements of the system of this invention include a server computer 80 which maintains inventory information and optionally facilitates other steps in the practicing of the method and implementation of the system of this invention, such as completing payment transactions and sending of delivery instructions. In other embodiments, separate systems either under control of the operator of the server computer 80, are not controlled by but coordinated with the operator of the computer/server 80, can be utilized in various embodiments of this invention.

[0046] In addition to one or more such server computers 80, at least one smart phone 40 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) or other traveler computing device is utilized as part of the system and method of this invention. The smart phone 40 or other computing device is typically a mobile computing device (such as a tablet computer or laptop computer), but could be a stationary computing device such as a personal computer or terminal (e.g. a kiosk, airplane seat back display or other input device, generally including a display and input controllable by a traveler).

[0047] The system and method 10 of this invention also includes one or more properties 30 which can be hotels or other temporary accommodations facilities. Such properties 30 are one form of travel location where an inventory can be kept. Other travel locations where an inventory can be kept include rental car hubs 60, mobile inventory vans 70 or other vehicles which are located within delivery distance of one or more properties, and which can contain inventory within the vehicle itself or an agent A operating the vehicle 70 can have access to an inventory location at one or more properties 30 or other locations within a delivery distance of the properties 30. Furthermore, the travel location could be an airport 90 or other transport hub through which the traveler T will be traveling in the future, or where the traveler T is currently located. Another travel location could be some form of common carrier vehicle/vessel where the traveler T is currently located or the traveler T is scheduled to be located in the future.

[0048] The server computer 80, smart phone 40 or other computing device controlled by the traveler T and one or more travel locations include telecommunications equipment to facilitate communication therebetween. This telecommunications equipment can be in the form of antennas and appropriate electronics on a smart phone 40 or other mobile computing device, or can be in the form of a wired or wireless modem 82, such as in the case of the server computer 80 and various different computers or other computation devices at the various different properties 30 or at the rental car hub 60, within the delivery van 70, or at the airport 90 or upon an airplane 100 or other common carrier.

[0049] Communications according to the method and system of this invention can be according to various different protocols to facilitate reliable and efficient communication between the various different elements associated with the system of this invention. In one example embodiment, these communications protocols are Internet communications protocols and a wide area network 20 in the form of the Internet is utilized to facilitate such communications between these various different computation devices to implement the method and system of this invention. As an alternative, other wide area networks 20 could be utilized, and such networks would typically be wireless, at least partially, but could be a mix of wired and wireless networks or could conceivably be an entirely wired network in certain embodiments.

[0050] Functions performed by the server computer 80 could be divided up into multiple separate computers. For instance, memory with which the server computer 80 stores inventory information could be at the same location as the server computer 80, or could be distributed at some separate location or locations. In this respect, it can be convenient to think of the wide area network 20 utilizing the appropriate communications protocol to be like a “cloud” with the various devices interacting with the “cloud” to facilitate ordering and fulfillment of dynamic delivery transactions according to the system and method of this invention.

[0051] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate details of the smart device 40, and the app running thereon which interface with the traveler T and facilitate the placement of orders, and associated functionality of the system and method of this invention, according to an example embodiment. While the smart phone 40 is shown as one mobile computing device, it could be replaced with various other computing devices as described above. The smart phone 40 or other computing device would typically be mobile computing device including an antenna 44 for communications with other portions of the system 10 of this invention. Such antenna 44 is typically configured to facilitate radio frequency communication through a cellular network, but could utilize satellite radio frequency telecommunications, or other bandwidths of photonic radiation, or sound waves or other wireless propagation, or could utilize at least partially wired communication by plugging the smart phone 40 or other device into a wired (including fiber optics and other data transport) telecommunication networks.

[0052] Typically a customized app is running on the smart phone 40, but the system and method of this invention could operate through a website with which the server computer 80 is also connected (or which the server computer 80 is hosting). Other forms of software interaction between the smart phone 40 and server computer 80 could also conceivably be utilized. The app can be selected by the traveler T or can be automatically launched by the smart device 40 responsive to prompts from the traveler or automatic launching instructions which caused the app to be active on the smart phone 40.

[0053] In many example embodiments, a first action of the traveler T is to select a desired traveler destination at which the traveler T is either already located or which the traveler T will be traveling to as a final destination or traveling through as an intermediate destination. In various environments, the traveler T could select more than one such traveler destinations, which might increase a variety of inventory items which are available at the one or more traveler destinations. In other embodiments, the traveler T does not need to select a traveler destination because such information may already be at least partially known by the app (and the server computer 80 at least partially controlling operation of the app). For instance, a hotel to which the traveler is traveling might already have been communicated to the server computer 80. and passed along to the app running on the smart phone40, so that the traveler T does not need to select the traveler destination before utilizing the app.

[0054] Another preliminary step which can be implemented by the app running on the smart phone 40 is communication to confirm that the traveler T wishes to interact with the app. This information would typically relate to communication confirming that the traveler T is in need of some item of goods. This item might be an item which the traveler T forgot to pack when beginning a traveler's journey, or an item which was lost, stolen or broken after the traveler T began the journey. Such communication would be a notification on the smart phone 40 or an email or a simple messaging service (SMS) “text.”

[0055] After the app has had one or more traveler destinations identified, the app communicates with the server computer 80 to receive a catalog of inventory available at the inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 within a delivery distance of the traveler's destination(s). This catalog of inventory can be displayed in various ways for browsing by the user. As another option, a search panel can appear on the smart phone 40, and a user can interact with a search function associated with the app to search for items desired by the traveler T. Most preferably, subcategories of items are provided, and each item includes both text and at least one photograph, and pricing information displayed to the user, so that the user can rapidly find desired items, evaluate pricing and make final purchasing decisions.

[0056] Typically the app will have a form of checkout procedure, such as including a “shopping cart” which can be “filled” with items tentatively desired to be purchased, and a means to edit the shopping cart before final check out. The app running on the smart phone 40 can be pre-loaded with financial information, or the app can coordinate with other payment processing apps to complete the payment portion of the overall purchasing (or rental) transaction. As another option, financial transaction systems can be facilitated by the smart phone 40, such as through software running natively on the smart phone 40, such as in the case of Apple Pay running natively on an iPhone provided by Apple Inc. of Cupertino California, or equivalent systems running on other smart phone platforms.

[0057] Once purchasing decisions have been finalized and the financial transaction has been completed (or at least initiated), the system of this invention takes over to fulfill the order having the selected item(s) pulled from inventory and transported to the traveler destinations. The app running on the smart phone 40 can, in at least one embodiment, include order tracking functionality. This functionality can include details as to orders which have been placed and provide updates, such as when items are pulled from inventory and this information is uploaded to the server computer 80, the server computer communicates with a smart phone 40 through the operating on the smart phone 40 to update delivery status as being “in transit.” Finally, when the delivery has been completed to the traveler destination, status of the item having arrived at the traveler destination for pick up can be communicated back through the system 10 to the smart phone 40 for communication to the traveler T.

[0058] Furthermore, final pick up instructions can also be provided to the traveler T, as necessary, through the smart from 40, such as whether items 2 are to be picked up at a hotel front desk 32 or whether they were slid under the door at the traveler room 34 within the hotel 30, or whether other pick up instructions are involved. If problems are encountered when attempting to implement the delivery step, such problems can be communicated to the traveler T, such as in the form of a delay notification (and perhaps identification of the length of such delay) and/or lack of inventory, or other problems fatal to the delivery process. Such communication can allow the traveler T to select between options such as canceling the order and obtaining a refund, and re-initiating operation of the system 10 and associated method, perhaps with other travel destinations and/or other inventories to achieve success in acquiring desired items 2 from a different inventory location or for delivery to a different travel destination.

[0059] With a particular reference to FIG. 3, steps in the implementation of the method of ordering and delivery according to this invention are illustrated in the form of a flow chart 50. Initially, the traveler selects a property following step 510. This property can be a hotel property 30, rental car hub 60, airport 90, or other traveler destination. As noted above, this step 510 can be automated in some example embodiments of this invention, rather than involving traveler T property selection.

[0060] Step 520 involves an app running on the smart phone 40 (or other mobile computing device or other computing device) with the app displaying information about the property which is the traveler destination selected. Such information can be used to verify with the traveler T that the property involved is one the traveler T is traveling to. Also, maps can be provided, and item pick up locations can be clearly identified on such maps. Other information can also be provided about the property selected, which information might be useful to the traveler T.

[0061] Step 530 involves the app displaying inventory available for purchase, rental or other acquisition. This inventory that is displayed is the inventory which is available at the property selected in step 510. In step 540, the traveler makes choices as to what items to purchase.

[0062] A series of steps then are initiated. Step 550 is initiated which provides a series of status updates to the traveler so that the traveler T can monitor progress of the delivery. Step 560 involves inventory management functions occurring, such as with the server computer 80 decreasing by an appropriate number from inventory the number of items 2 which have been purchased or otherwise acquired by the traveler T. Such inventory management functions can also include initiating automatic re-order if inventory of a particular item is getting too low. Step 570 is also initiated which involves taking payment from the traveler T and providing payment to the provider of the system 10 of this invention.

[0063] The system 10 also, according to step 580, provides delivery instructions to an agent A, such as property 30 personnel or a van 70 driver. These instructions can include a notification on a smart phone carried by an agent A who has authorized access to the inventory 36, 66, 70, 94 at or within delivery distance from the traveler destination which is specified for delivery of particular items 2. This notification can identify which items should be pulled from inventory, or instruct the agent A to launch an app which lists the items 2 to be pulled from inventory. The agent A can then travel to the inventory 36, 66, 70, 94, pull the selected items, and transport them to the traveler destination. Such travel destination can, for instance, be a front desk 32 of a hotel 30 or similar property, or a locker 62 at a rental car hub 60, or a car 64 at a rental car hub 60, or a locker 92 at an airport or other transport hub, or a seat or cabin on a common carrier such as an airplane 100, bus, train, or vessel. Step 590 involves final delivery of items 2 order by the traveler T at the traveler destinations.

[0064] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, details of different types of properties 30, 60, 90, 100 are described, illustrating various different traveler destinations where delivery can be consummated according to the method and system 10 of this invention, according to various example embodiments. In FIG. 1, the traveler destination is a property 30 such as a hotel, resort, temporary traveler T residence, campground, motel, inn, or other place of residence for the traveler T. A typical property 30 includes a front desk 32 and various different rooms, at least one of which is a traveler room 34. A secure inventory 36 location is also typically located within the hotel or other property 30. The property 30 may have other locations therein which could be identified as locations which could qualify as the traveler destination, such as a poolside table or chair, a conference room, a restaurant, golf course, tennis courts, beach area, etc. A traveler destination could also conceivably be the location of a smart phone 40 or other mobile computing device carried by or associated with the traveler T, which smart phone 40 can include a GPS or other location identification system which identifies coordinates which coordinates would be the traveler destination where a delivery according to the system 10 and method of this invention can occur.

[0065] Typically some location within the property 30 communicates with the server computer 80 through the wide area network 20 such as the Internet. This communication location could be for instance the front desk 32. The communication location could be a fixed computer. As an alternative, it could be a mobile device, such as a smart phone 40 of an agent A. This agent A might be an employee of the hotel or other property 30, or some person who has authority from the property 30 to be present upon the property 30. This agent A would also have privileges to access an inventory 36 location, which might be a secure room, closet etc. The agent A receives the list of items to be delivered and the specific traveler destinations associated with the property 30. The agent A travels to the inventory 30, pulls the items 2 to be delivered, and then travels to the final traveler destination to drop off the items 2 or to hand them directly to the traveler T if the traveler T is present.

[0066] Agent A also can communicate, such as through a smart device 40, back to the server computer 80 through the wide area network 20 what is the particular status of the delivery process. As one option, the inventory 36 can know when it is accessed, and prompt the agent A to identify items which have been grabbed. The agent A could utilize some sort of tool, such as a handheld barcode scanner, to scan items as they are pulled from inventory, which scanner could communicate with the smart phone 40 of the agent A or communicate directly through the wide area network 20 to the server computer 80. Automated updates can be fed to the traveler T such as to the smart phone 40 of the traveler T.

[0067] Finally, further status can be uploaded into the system 10 when the agent A completes the delivery, such as by the agent A utilizing a smart phone 40, selecting the delivery which has been completed, and providing final status, and any final notes associated with delivery. Such notes could include time of delivery, precise location where delivery occurred, access codes to gain access into secure lockers at the traveler destination delivery location, or other pertinent information to help facilitate the traveler T to gain access to the delivered items 2.

[0068] With particular reference to FIG. 5, an embodiment of this invention is disclosed which involves multiple properties 30 served by a single (or multiple) inventory van 70 and an associated driver which acts as an agent A for delivery in at least one embodiment. Such a van 70 could have inventory located within the van 70 itself. As another option, inventory could be kept at one (or more) of the properties 30, or some other location in the vicinity. The system 10 of this invention involves the server computer 80 sending instructions to the agent A (typically the driver) with the van 70. The final delivery process will be similar to that described above with respect to the properties 30 (FIG. 1), except that a new step would be involved, associated with the driver/agent A driving the van 70 to the property 30 which is designated as the traveler destination, before the agent A finally either drops off the item 2 at the front desk 32 of the property 30 or within a secure locker at the property 30, or dropping off the ordered items at the traveler room 34, or other location associated with the property 30.

[0069] With particular reference to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the system 10 of this invention is disclosed where the traveler destination is an intermediate destination, such as a rental car hub 60, an airport 90 or an airplane 100 or other common carrier mobile platform. In the case of a rental car hub 60, a computer (or smart phone of an agent A) at the rental car hub 60 would receive delivery instructions from the server computer 80 through the wide area network 20 such as the Internet. The agent A would then have a series of options for providing the ordered items to the traveler T. One option would be to gather the items 2 from the inventory 66 at the rental car hub 60 and then place them within the car 64 which has been reserved by the traveler T. Another option would be to hold the ordered items 2 at a counter at the rental car hub 60 for pick up by the traveler T. Another option would be to provide the ordered items 2 within a locker 62 at a locker area within the rental car hub 60.

[0070] As another option, the ordered items 2 could be delivered to a control gate operator at a control gate of a rental car hub 60, and ordered items 2 would be passed directly to the traveler T when the traveler T is checking out the reserved rental car 64 from the rental car hub 60. Particular details as to where the traveler T will find the ordered items can be fed back to the smart phone 40 of the traveler T, so that the traveler T knows whether to pick up ordered items at a counter, within the car, within a locker, or at the exit control gate of the rental car hub 60.

[0071] In the case of an airport or other transport hub 90, some agent A at this facility would have access to an inventory 94. A pick up counter could be provided at such a transport hub 90 which is staffed by the agent A. As an alternative, pick up lockers 92 could be loaded with the ordered items 2, and final pick up instructions sent to the traveler T can include codes to access the locker where the ordered items 2 have been placed. The agent A could be some agent with other responsibilities at the transport hub 90, so that only one of the tasks of the agent A would be fulfilling orders according to the system and method of this invention.

[0072] In the case of an airplane 100 or a cruise ship or other vessel, or other common carrier such as a bus, train or private car, some agent A with access to the vehicle/vessel would receive delivery instructions, such as to a mobile device carried by the agent A, such as a smart phone 40. An inventory location could be located upon the vehicle/vessel itself or could be at a port/station accessed by the vehicle/vessel. The agent A could access the inventory, pull the items from the inventory which were ordered, and then deliver them to the vessel/vehicle. Typically the vessel/vehicle would be one which the traveler T has booked transportation upon, ahead of the traveler T arriving at the port/station to ride on the vehicle/vessel. The agent A could place the ordered items in the seat or cabin reserved by the traveler T. Other delivery locations could be jetways, and other entrance locations for vessels or other vehicles which can be identified in pick up instructions sent to the smart phone 40 of the traveler T. Then, when the traveler T arrives at the vehicle/vessel in the designated cabin or seat thereof, the traveler T can pick up the ordered items.

[0073] While the traveler T could order items from home before commencing travel, typically the traveler T is already involved in travel away from home when it is discovered that an item needs to be ordered. The traveler T could be in a car or in some location whether cellular service is available, and the user would access the server computer 80, via the app running on the smart phone 40 and through the wide area network 20 such as the Internet, to place the order. The traveler T might be at an airport 90 when discovering that an item has been lost and need to be ordered. For instance, a traveler T might have lost an item during security screening or left an item in the traveler T car at the airport 90, and retrieval of the item 2 is not practical or possible. Items 2 can be ordered through the app running on the smart phone 40 for utilizing the system 10 of this invention for delivery at the property 30 which is a final traveler destination or some intermediate destination, such as the rental car hub 60 or a destination airport 90, or some other depot, or the vehicle/vessel itself which the traveler T will be riding upon. The traveler T might already be on an airplane 100 or other vehicle/vessel which vehicle/vessel has Internet access or otherwise access to a wide area network 20 to which the server computer 80 is also connected. Such access might be through the traveler T smart phone 40 or other mobile computing device, or might be through some interface such as a seat back touchscreen display on an airplane 100. Items 2 can be ordered through the app from inventories 36, 66, 70, 94 which are available at either a final or intermediate destination for the traveler T

[0074] This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When embodiments are referred to as “exemplary” or “preferred” this term is meant to indicate one example of the invention, and does not exclude other possible embodiments. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.