Systems and methods for managing airport lounges

• US 10,248,928 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LoungeBuddy, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: LoungeBuddy, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Dikman, Matthew Tyler, Altman, Zachary Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Ariel J
• Application Number:
  US14/678,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20150286984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems and methods allow flyers to determine which airport lounges they may access. A flyer specifies an airport and access rules for lounges at the airport are applied to user data of the flyer to identify accessible lounges. A listing of the identified lounges is then displayed to the flyer. Systems and methods further allow management of airport lounge inventory. Inventory can be managed to increase occupancy, as well as to evenly distribute flyers within and across airport lounges.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically managing airport lounge inventory, comprising:

an application server comprising;

a processor;

a database, the database comprising;

a plurality of access rules corresponding to access to a corresponding plurality of associated airport lounges, and

an inventory corresponding to an available capacity in each of the plurality of associated airport lounges; and

memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing instructions which are executed by the processor for;

receiving an access request from an associated airport lounge application resident on an associated client device;

receiving at least one access item associated with the access request;

retrieving the plurality of access rules from the database;

determining whether at least one of the plurality of airport lounges is accessible for a user of the associated client device in accordance with the received access request and the at least one access item, and the retrieved access rules;

communicating a response to the access request based upon the accessibility determination;

tracking a location of each of a plurality of associated client devices within at least one of the plurality of airport lounges using local positioning data of the associated client device collected by the application server;

updating the inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge responsive to the tracked locations; and

dynamically updating the at least one set of access rules corresponding to the at least one airport lounge responsive to the updated inventory of the corresponding at least one associated airport lounge;

wherein the memory further stores instructions which are executed by the processor for;

determining, in accordance with the access rules and the at least one access item, a guest access status associated with the user of the associated client device;

receiving, from the associated client device, instructions to transfer the quest access status to a second client device;

determining relative positions of the associated client device and the second client device;

generating routing information specific to each client device, the routing information corresponding to a route to a single physical location;

tracking each client device on route the single physical location; and

updating the route specific to each client device during travel to the single physical location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions which are executed by the processor for:

calculating a price associated with access to the at least one airport lounge;

modifying the calculated price in accordance with the updated inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions which are executed by the processor for:

tracking a position of the associated client device relative to the location of the at least one airport lounge;

querying an external database for mapping information;

generating a route from the tracked position of the associated client device to the at least one airport lounge; and

communicating the generated route to the associated client device for display thereon.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the associated client device transfers the guest access status to the second client device via at least one of the application server or a peer-to-peer communication link.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the access item includes a flight number, the memory further storing instructions which are executed by the processor for:

retrieving, from a database associated with a flight provider, information relating to the flight number comprising at least one of an arrival time, a departure time, a gate location, or a boarding time;

identifying at least one of the plurality of associated airport lounges in accordance with a proximity thereof relative to the departure gate;

receiving, from the associated client device, location information corresponding to the physical location of the associated client device;

generating guidance directing the user of the associated client device to the at least one identified airport lounge from the received associated client device location information; and

communicating the generated guidance to the associated client device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions which are executed by the processor for:

comparing inventories of a plurality of accessible associated airport lounges,

determining an approximate time of entry into each of the plurality of accessible airport lounges;

identifying at least one of the plurality of accessible associated airport lounges with available inventory to client device responsive to the determined time of entry;

responsive to a request for access, determining position of client device; and

generating guidance from determined position to lounge requested.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the response to the access request comprises a list of accessible lounges and at least one additional detail selected from the group consisting of a price for access, terminal location, gate proximity, name, available amenities, guest access, benefits, time allowed in lounge, guest cost, ease of entry, or airline association.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one access item is selected from the group consisting of elite status, lounge memberships, credit cards, frequent flyer program information, military status, day pass, bank accounts, flight segments, class of service, and flight number.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a management device associated with the at least one airport lounge, the management device comprising:

a processor,

memory in communication with the processor storing instructions, which are executable by the processor for;

establishing a first bidirectional communication link with each of a plurality of associated client devices of users present in the at least one airport lounge;

communicating an access request from the associated client device to the application server;

determining, in accordance with the bidirectional communication an inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge; and

communicating the determined inventory to the application server via a second bidirectional communication link separate from the first bidirectional communication link.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one access item is selected from the group consisting of elite status, lounge memberships, credit cards, frequent flyer program information, military status, day pass, bank accounts, flight segments, class of service, and flight number.

11. A method for dynamically managing airport lounge inventory, comprising:

receiving, at an application server having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor, an access request from an associated airport lounge application resident on an associated client device, the access request including at least one access item;

retrieving, from a database in communication with the application server, a plurality of access rules corresponding to access to a corresponding plurality of associated airport lounges;

retrieving, from the database, an inventory corresponding to an available capacity in each of the plurality of associated airport lounges;

determining whether at least one of the plurality of airport lounges is accessible for a user of the associated client device in accordance with the retrieved access rules, the received access request, the corresponding inventory, and the at least one access item;

communicating a response to the access request based upon the accessibility determination;

tracking a location of each of a plurality of associated client devices within at least one of the plurality of airport lounges using local positioning data of the associated client device collected by the application server;

updating inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge responsive to the tracked location;

dynamically updating the at least one set of access rules corresponding to the at least one airport lounge responsive to the updated inventory of the corresponding at least one associated airport lounge;

wherein the method further comprises;

determining, in accordance with the access rules and the at least one access item, a guest access status associated with the user of the associated client device;

receiving, from the associated client device, instructions to transfer the guest access status to a second client device;

determining relative positions of the associated client device and the second client device;

generating routing information specific to each client device, the routing information corresponding to a route to a single physical location;

tracking each client device on route the single physical location; and

updating the route specific to each client device during travel to the single physical location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating a price associated with access to the at least one airport lounge;

modifying the calculated price in accordance with the updated inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the access item includes a flight number, the method further comprising:

retrieving, from a database associated with a flight provider, information relating to the flight number comprising at least one of an arrival time, a departure time, a gate location, or a boarding time;

identifying at least one of the plurality of associated airport lounges in accordance with a proximity thereof relative to the departure gate;

receiving, from the associated client device, location information corresponding to the physical location of the associated client device;

generating guidance directing the user of the associated client device to the at least one identified airport lounge from the received associated client device location information; and

communicating the generated guidance to the associated client device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing inventories of a plurality of accessible associated airport lounges,

determining an approximate time of entry into each of the plurality of accessible airport lounges;

identifying at least one of the plurality of accessible associated airport lounges with available inventory to client device responsive to the determined time of entry;

responsive to a request for access, determining position of client device; and

generating guidance from determined position to lounge requested.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

tracking a position of the associated client device relative to the location of the at least one airport lounge;

querying an external database for mapping information;

generating a route from the tracked position of the associated client device to the at least one airport lounge; and

communicating the generated route to the associated client device for display thereon.

16. A computer-implemented method for requesting access to inventory of an airport lounge inventory, comprising:

requesting, via an airport lounge application resident on a client device having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor, an available airport lounge, the request including at least one access item and a current location of the client device;

establishing a first communication link with an associated application server having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor;

receiving, from the associated application server, a response to the access request, the response comprising access details corresponding to access to the at least one airport lounge;

retrieving a plurality of access rules for the at least one airport lounge from a database of the associated application server;

receiving from the associated application server confirmation information relating to access to the at least one airport lounge based on the at least one access item, the current location of the client device, and the retrieved access rules;

establishing a second communication link with an associated client management device located in association with the at least one airport lounge, the second communication link distinct from the first communication link;

communicating, via the second communication link, the confirmation information associated with access to the at least one airport lounge;

tracking a location of each of a plurality of associated client devices within at least one of the plurality of airport lounges;

updating inventory associated with the at least one airport lounge responsive to the tracked location;

dynamically updating the at least one set of access rules corresponding to the at least one airport lounge responsive to the updated inventory of the corresponding at least one associated airport lounge;

determining, in accordance with the access rules and the at least one access item, a guest access status associated with the user of the associated client device;

receiving, from the associated client device, instructions to transfer the guest access status to a second client device;

determining relative positions of the associated client device and the second client device;

generating routing information specific to each client device, the routing information corresponding to a route to a single physical location;

tracking each client device on route the single physical location; and

updating the route specific to each client device during travel to the single physical location.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising:

communicating a location of the client device to the associated application server in association with the access request; and

receiving guidance information from the associated application server from the location of the client device to the at least one airport lounge.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the received access details include a location associated with the at least one airport lounge, access rules associated with access to the at least one airport lounge, and a price associated with access thereto, further comprising:

communicating payment information to the associated application server responsive to the associated price; and

receiving the confirmation information relating to access to the at least one airport lounge in response to the payment communication.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining a communication link between the associated management device and the associated application server is non-functional;

communicating, via the second communication link, the confirmation information to the associated management device;

receiving check-in information from the associated management device responsive to the communication of the confirmation information via the second communication link; and

communicating the check-in information to the associated application server via the first communication link on behalf of the associated management device.