Radio frequency check-in

• US 20030093305A1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Airlines, Inc. (United Airlines Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Air Lines Incorporated (United Airlines Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Couper, William G., Davis, Garry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an automatic check-in using radio-frequency (RF) identification cards are disclosed. Passengers who fly frequently are issued RF identification cards, which may be detected by detectors stationed in the lobby of an airport or at a boarding gate. When a card is detected, a computer checks the identification of the passenger against a passenger list for the flight that is presently boarding. If there is a match, the passenger is automatically checked in, a signal is given, and the passenger proceeds to board the flight. The method, and the RF check-in system, may also be used for other conveyances, such as cruise ships, railroad journeys, bus trips, or other modes of mass transit.

Claims

1. A method of conducting check-in for transportation a passenger having a radio-frequency identification card, the method comprising:

making a reservation for the passenger;

recording information concerning the reservation;

retrieving information concerning the reservation for passenger check-in;

automatically detecting arrival of the passenger at the location via the RF identification card;

comparing the passenger with reservation information; and

automatically checking in the passenger, wherein the radio-frequency identification card uniquely identifies the passenger and a detector detects arrival of the passenger.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking baggage and linking information relating to said baggage with said information concerning the reservation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing a confirmation of the check in, wherein information printed is selected from the group consisting of passenger name, trip origin, destination, ticket number, one or more identification numbers, trip number, gate, seat assignment, and class of service.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising walking through or near a radio-frequency detector.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising signaling that the passenger has automatically checked in.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reservation is selected from the group consisting of an aircraft flight, a ship cruise, a railway journey, and a locomotive trip.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the trip number is selected from the group consisting of a flight number, a train number, a cruise number, and a locomotive trip.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a radio frequency detector detects an RF identification card by emitting an RF signal and detecting a return signal in accordance with an identity of the owner of the identification card.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising matching the passenger with baggage of the passenger and detecting whether a passenger with baggage has checked in.

10. A method for checking in a passenger having an RF identification card, the method comprising:

making a reservation for an airplane flight for the passenger;

recording information concerning the reservation onto a passenger list;

retrieving information concerning the passenger list at an airline gate;

walking through or near an RF identification card detector;

comparing an identifier of the RF identification card with the passenger list;

automatically checking in the passenger; and

signaling that the passenger has automatically checked in.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of signaling is selected from the group consisting of emitting a sound, opening a gate, flashing a light, printing a pass, and displaying a message.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising checking baggage of the passenger, and linking information relating to said baggage with said information concerning the reservation.

13. A radio frequency check-in system, comprising:

a radio-frequency-enabled identification card for a passenger;

a detector for the radio-frequency identification card;

processing means in communication with the detector;

a passenger list, stored in a memory accessible to the processing means; and

a first passage controlled by the processing means, wherein the processing means allows passage of the passenger holding the radio-frequency identification card when the detector detects the card and the processing means matches the passenger with a person on the passenger list.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the detector detects the radio-frequency identification card and communicates an identifier of the passenger to the processing means, the processing means compares the identifier to the passenger list, and allows passage if the passenger is on the passenger list.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the detector is a long-range reader of radio frequency identification cards.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the detector detects an RF identification card by emitting an RF signal and detecting a return signal in accordance with an identity of the owner of the identification card.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first passage is selected from the group consisting of a manned checkpoint, a gate, a door, and a barrier.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a second passage controlled by the computer, wherein a passenger automatically checking in may proceed through the first passage or the second passage.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for signaling whether the passenger has automatically checked in.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for signaling is selected from the group consisting of a sound, a light, a message board, a printer, and a gate.

21. A radio frequency check-in system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification card for an airline passenger;

a long-range reader capable of detecting said identification card;

processing means linked to the reader;

a passenger list, stored in a memory accessible to the processing means;

a passage controlled by the computer means; and

means for signaling that the passenger has checked in, wherein the reader detects the identification card and communicates an identifier of the passenger to the computer means, the processing means compares the identifier to the passenger list, and allows passage if the passenger is on the passenger list and the means for signaling signals that the passenger has checked in.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the passage is selected from the group consisting of a manned checkpoint, a gate, a door, and a barrier.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for signaling is selected from the group consisting of a sound, a light, a message board, a printer, and a gate.