Method and apparatus for an on-board call
First Claim
1. A method for providing telephone service to a passenger on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) establishing an identity for the passenger, including the step of;
receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
b) obtaining information about the passenger'"'"'s flight, including the step of;
receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, at least a portion of the flight information from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller; and
c) selecting an on-board telephone for an incoming call to the passenger, the selecting being responsive to i) the flight information provided by the flight information provider and ii) the passenger identity.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a first form, a method for providing telephone service to a passenger on-board an aircraft includes establishing an identity for the passenger. In establishing the passenger identity, an on-board telephone service provider receives communication by an off-board communications means. In another step, information about the passenger'"'"'s flight is obtained, according to which the on-board telephone service provider receives at least a portion of the flight information from a flight information provider. An on-board telephone is selected for an incoming call responsive to i) the flight information provided by the flight information provider and ii) the passenger identity. In this manner the passenger does not have to activate the on-board telephone nor even contact the telephone service provider prior to receiving an on-board call.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for providing telephone service to a passenger on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing an identity for the passenger, including the step of;
receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
b) obtaining information about the passenger'"'"'s flight, including the step of;
receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, at least a portion of the flight information from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller; and
c) selecting an on-board telephone for an incoming call to the passenger, the selecting being responsive to i) the flight information provided by the flight information provider and ii) the passenger identity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14)
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12. A method for providing telephone service on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a passenger identity, including the step of;
receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
b) obtaining information about the passenger'"'"'s flight, including a seat assignment for the passenger, wherein step b) comprises the step of;
receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, information about the flight from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller, the flight information including a flight identification or location of the aircraft; and
c) directing an incoming call for the passenger to a selected telephone on-board the aircraft, including the steps of;
selecting a passage responsive to the passenger identity for the incoming call;
selecting a receiver for a group of telephones on-board the aircraft responsive to the flight identification or the aircraft location; and
selecting the on-board telephone responsive to the seat assignment and the information about the craft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for providing telephone service on-board an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
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a number of telephones on-board a number of aircraft, including telephones associated with respective rows of seats on each respective aircraft;
a network for receiving a call for a passenger and transmitting the call to a selected one of the telephones on a selected one of the aircraft;
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory has a computer program operable with the processor for performing the steps of;
a) establishing a passenger identity;
b) receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, information about the flight from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller, the flight information including a flight identification or location of the aircraft; and
c) directing an incoming call for the passenger to a selected on-board telephone, including the steps of;
selecting the aircraft responsive to the flight identification or aircraft location for the incoming call; and
selecting the on-board telephone responsive to the seat assignment. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer program product for providing telephone service to a passenger on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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first instructions for establishing an identity for the passenger, including instructions for receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
second instructions for obtaining information about the passenger'"'"'s flight, including instructions for receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, at least a portion of the flight information from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller; and
third instructions for selecting an on-board telephone for an incoming call to the passenger, the selecting being responsive to i) the flight information provided by the flight information provider and ii) the passenger identity. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification