Method for recommending a vacation option

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017345108-A1
Application number	US-201715603706-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 24, 2017
Priority date	May 27, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for recommending a vacation option for an account holder is provided, including: retrieving historical vacation transaction data relating to a plurality of historical vacation transactions settled for the account holder; processing the historical vacation transaction data to identify vacation characteristics relating to the account holder and a vacation budget representing an amount that the account holder is likely to spend on vacation travel, the vacation characteristics indicating a preferred weather under which the account holder has visited vacation venues identified by the historical vacation transaction data and a preferred time period during which the account holder has visited the vacation venues; retrieving a list of vacation options each associated with a budget that is within the identified vacation budget of the account holder; and recommending a vacation option from the retrieved list of vacation options based on the identified vacation characteristics.

First claim

1 . A computer-implemented method for recommending a vacation option for an account holder, comprising:
retrieving historical vacation transaction data relating to a plurality of historical vacation transactions settled for the account holder; processing the historical vacation transaction data to identify vacation characteristics relating to the account holder and a vacation budget representing an amount that the account holder is likely to spend on vacation travel, the vacation characteristics indicating a preferred weather under which the account holder has visited vacation venues identified by the historical vacation transaction data and a preferred time period during which the account holder has visited the vacation venues; retrieving a list of vacation options each associated with a budget that is within the identified vacation budget of the account holder; and recommending a vacation option from the retrieved list of vacation options based on the identified vacation characteristics.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of processing the historical transaction data further comprises:
determining one merchant category in which the account holder has initiated at least a historical vacation transaction; and determining a vacation type representing a category of vacation travel in which the account holder is interested based on the determined merchant category.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of recommending the vacation option further comprises selecting the vacation option that satisfies the determined vacation type.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the vacation budget is identified by determining an average expenditure that the account holder has spent on vacation based on the merchant category.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vacation option is recommended based on a relevance score which indicates a relevance of the vacation option based on the identified vacation characteristics of the account holder.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
recommending a second vacation option from the retrieved list of vacation options based on the identified vacation characteristics of the account holder; and
assigning a relevance score to the second vacation option.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
ranking the vacation options based on the relevance scores.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a popularity score for the time period during which the account holder has done the activities.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of recommending the vacation option is done based on the determined popularity score.

10 . An apparatus recommending a vacation option for an account holder, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: retrieve historical vacation transaction data relating to a plurality of historical vacation transactions settled for the account holder; process the historical vacation transaction data to identify vacation characteristics relating to the account holder and a vacation budget representing an amount that the account holder is likely to spend on vacation travel, the vacation characteristics indicating a preferred weather under which the account holder has visited vacation venues identified by the historical vacation transaction data and a preferred time period during which the account holder has visited the vacation venues; retrieve a list of vacation options each associated with a budget that is within the identified vacation budget of the account holder; and recommend a vacation option from the retrieved list of vacation options based on the identified vacation characteristics.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
determine one merchant category in which the account holder has initiated at least a historical vacation transaction; and determine a vacation type representing a category of vacation travel in which the account holder is interested based on the determined merchant category.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
select the vacation option that satisfies the determined vacation type.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the vacation budget is identified by determining an average expenditure that the account holder has spent on vacation based on the merchant category.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the vacation option is recommended based on a relevance score which indicates a relevance of the vacation option based on the identified vacation characteristics of the account holder.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
recommend a second vacation option from the retrieved list of vacation options based on the identified vacation characteristics of the account holder; and
assign a relevance score to the second vacation option.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
rank the vacation options based on the relevance scores.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
determine a popularity score for the time period during which the account holder has visited the vacation venues.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code is further configured with the at least one processor to:
recommend the vacation option is done based on the determined popularity score.

Assignees

• Mastercard International Inc

Inventors

• Bakshiram Sharan
• Tiwary Avyaktanand
• Dubey Shashank

Classifications

• G06Q20/389

  Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction · CPC title

• G06Q20/405

  Establishing or using transaction specific rules · CPC title

• G06Q20/12

  specially adapted for electronic shopping systems · CPC title

• G06Q50/14 Primary

  Travel agencies · CPC title

• G06Q20/10

  specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems · CPC title