Method and apparatus for correlating and tracking passengers and baggage for a trackable passenger trip

• US 20040111279A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schoen, Marc L., Hockaday, Stephen L.M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments

Abstract

A system and method track both passenger and baggage during passenger trips, improving trip security, reducing lost baggage, allowing remote baggage check-in and retrieval, and allowing billing and financial transactions among system users. A passenger identification code (PIC) identifies a passenger, a trip starting location, and both a carrier and a final destination. A baggage identification code (BIC) is assigned to each piece of a trackable baggage set. At the trip starting location the PIC and BIC are wirelessly transmitted to an integrated travel information system (ITIS) using a wireless electronic device (WED). At a trip segment end the ITIS locates the baggage set and directs it to a transportation vehicle located by the ITIS. The ITIS directs the passenger to the transportation vehicle via a WED message. The WED transmits an end-of-trip signal to the ITIS at the final destination.

Claims

1. A method to electronically track elements of a passenger trip comprising the steps of:

initializing a travel information system to track one of a plurality of passengers;

accessing said travel information system with a communication device to initiate the passenger trip for said one passenger;

entering a passenger identification code for said one passenger into said travel information system via said communication device; and

tracking said one passenger during said passenger trip using said travel information system and said passenger identification code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a baggage identification code to each of a plurality of trackable baggage pieces;

loading said baggage identification code into said travel information system via said communication device; and

tracking said plurality of trackable baggage pieces during said passenger trip using said travel information system and said baggage identification code.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising selecting a baggage pickup location for said plurality of trackable baggage pieces using said travel information system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising notifying said one passenger of said baggage pickup location by communication along a path between said travel information system to said communication device and from said communication device to said one passenger.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising confirming both an arrival of said one passenger and an arrival of said plurality of trackable baggage pieces at a transfer terminal by communication with said one passenger using said communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising automatically generating a signal when said one passenger and said trackable baggage pieces collectively leave said transfer terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising signaling said travel information system when said one passenger and said trackable baggage pieces together arrive at a final destination by a final destination code transmittable to said travel information system from said communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing step further comprises wirelessly communicating with said travel information system with a wireless electronic device.

9. A method to electronically track baggage elements of a passenger trip comprising the steps of:

initializing an integrated travel information system capable of passenger baggage tracking;

accessing said integrated travel information system through a wireless electronic device to initiate said passenger trip;

assigning a baggage identification code to each of a plurality of trackable baggage pieces;

transmitting said baggage identification code into said integrated travel information system via said wireless electronic device; and

tracking said plurality of trackable baggage pieces during said passenger trip with said integrated travel information system and said baggage identification code.

10. A method to track both passengers and passenger baggage during trip segments comprising the steps of:

generating a passenger identification code, said passenger identification code identifiable with at least a passenger, a trip starting location, a transfer terminal, a carrier destination, and a passenger final destination;

assigning a baggage identification code to each piece of baggage of a trackable baggage set;

remotely transmitting said passenger identification code and said baggage identification code to an integrated travel information system at said trip starting location;

designating a ground transportation vehicle at said transfer terminal for delivery of said trackable baggage set using said integrated travel information system;

directing said passenger to said ground transportation vehicle by said integrated travel information system; and

transmitting an end-of-trip signal to said integrated travel information system when both said passenger and said trackable baggage set arrive at said passenger final destination.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising programming both a billing capability and a financial transactions capability into said integrated travel information system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

remotely transmitting said passenger identification code to said integrated travel information system using a wireless electronic device; and

tracking both said passenger and said trackable baggage set using said integrated travel information system, said passenger identification code, and said baggage identification code.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising assigning a unique identification number to said ground transportation vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing said passenger identification code, said unique identification number, and said baggage identification code in a computer;

correlating said trackable baggage set to said carrier destination using said computer; and

assigning said trackable baggage set to said ground transportation vehicle using said unique identification number.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying a passenger arrival at said transfer terminal to said integrated travel information system with said wireless electronic device; and

signaling a baggage arrival at said transfer terminal from said integrated travel information system to said wireless electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

routing said ground transportation vehicle to a predetermined passenger pickup location; and

signaling said predetermined passenger pickup location to said passenger from said integrated travel information system to said wireless electronic device.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a passenger arrival at said transfer terminal to said integrated travel information system with said wireless electronic device; and

signaling a baggage arrival status at said transfer terminal from said integrated travel information system to said wireless electronic device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

programming said integrated travel information system with a data processing/interchange subsystem; and

connecting said data processing/interchange subsystem with both said billing capability and said financial transaction capability for communication between said integrated travel information system and each of a plurality of businesses, vehicle agencies, vehicle operators, travel providers, transfer terminal operators, goods/services providers, and security agencies.

19. A system to track a passenger and a baggage set during travel on a mobile platform, said system comprising:

a passenger identification code identifying a passenger, a trip starting location, a carrier destination and a final destination;

an electronic device for transmitting said passenger identification code;

an integrated travel information system in communication with said electronic device;

said passenger being directable to a transportation vehicle by said integrated travel information system at said carrier destination; and

said electronic device being in communication with said integrated travel information system for receiving an end-of-trip signal when said passenger arrives at said final destination.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

said electronic device is operable as a wireless electronic device; and

said passenger is directable to said transportation vehicle at said transfer terminal by an electronic signal transmittable from said wireless electronic device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said passenger identification code is combinable with a baggage identification code for wireless transmission using said wireless electronic device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said baggage identification code is assignable to a trackable baggage set having at least one baggage piece.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said trackable baggage set at said transfer terminal is directable by said integrated travel information system to said transportation vehicle using a baggage set directing signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said integrated travel information system is in wireless communication with a vehicle locator device of said transportation vehicle.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said vehicle locator device is wirelessly linkable to said integrated travel information system by a vehicle locator signal.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a plurality of designated baggage pickup areas each having an area locator device; and

each said area locator device being usable to identify a location of said at least one transportation vehicle using said vehicle locator signal.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

said integrated travel information system being in wireless communication with both said passenger and said trackable baggage set before said transportation vehicle departs from said carrier destination by a code enterable into said wireless electronic device to confirm said trackable baggage is in said transportation vehicle with said passenger; and

said integrated travel information system including a final destination code wirelessly transmittable to said integrated travel information system from said wireless electronic device upon said transportation vehicle reaching said final destination.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein said wireless electronic device is in wireless communication with said integrated travel information system through a transportation vehicle mounted transponder.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein said electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a computer, and a passenger information containing card.