Mobile Cross-Service Broker for Privacy-Aware Travel App Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing travel and transportation applications require users to interact with multiple service providers individually, lacking a unified interface to manage collective travel services efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A cross-service broker application on a mobile device integrates multiple travel service provider apps through a single interface, allowing data sharing and task management across these apps based on event detection, while maintaining user privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single travel service provider application is used, then user privacy is protected and data security is maintained, but users cannot efficiently manage multiple travel services across different providers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to manage multiple travel servicesVSAvoiduser data sharing across providers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a broker application as an intermediary that sits between multiple travel service provider applications and the user. This broker selectively shares user data with specific providers based on contextual events (e.g., sharing hotel data with a ride-sharing provider when the user needs transportation from the hotel). This resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-service management through the broker while maintaining privacy control, as data is only shared when necessary and with authorized providers only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If multiple travel service provider applications are integrated through a broker, then user convenience and efficiency are enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of managing travel servicesVSAvoidnumber of applications and data sharing mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple travel service provider applications through a single broker interface that unifies data access and event handling. Instead of requiring users to manually interact with each provider's separate application, the broker combines their functionalities into a coordinated system where one event can trigger actions across multiple providers automatically. This reduces operational complexity for users while maintaining the underlying multi-provider architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The broker application serves as a universal interface that can interact with multiple different travel service provider applications through standardized mechanisms. It provides multi-functional capabilities including data aggregation, event detection, selective sharing, and coordinated task execution across providers. This universal approach allows the system to handle diverse travel services through a single application, reducing the number of separate tools users need to manage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If data is shared across travel service provider applications, then automated task management and service coordination are enabled, but user privacy control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of travel service tasksVSAvoiduser control over data sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic data sharing where the broker adjusts data access permissions based on contextual events and user needs. Rather than static all-or-nothing data sharing, the system dynamically grants access to specific data elements with specific providers only when relevant events occur (e.g., flight status changes, hotel check-in events). This enables automated task coordination while maintaining user privacy control, as data sharing is adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The broker implements feedback mechanisms where user actions and event detections trigger selective data sharing decisions. When users interact with the broker or when specific events are detected (such as needing transportation from a hotel), the broker receives feedback about the context and automatically determines which data to share with which providers. This feedback loop enables automated productivity enhancements while keeping users informed and in control of data sharing decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12469092B2Mobile device cross-service broker

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A processing system may determine a plurality of aspects of a trip of a user, each of the plurality of aspects associated with a travel service provider of a plurality of travel service providers, identify a plurality of travel service provider applications that are available on the mobile computing device and that are associated with the plurality of travel service providers, and obtain an authorization of the user of the mobile computing device to interact with the plurality of travel service provider applications in connection with the trip. The processing system may then detect an event associated with the trip and perform, in response to detecting the event, at least one task via a second travel service provider application using a first set of data from at least a first of the plurality of travel service provider applications, where the second travel service provider application is available on the mobile computing device.