Payment method for in-flight entertainment device rentals having self-contained audio-visual presentations

• US 20050055278A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aircraft Protective Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aircraft Protective Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Boyer, William J. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/657,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21

Abstract

A payment method of in-flight entertainment device (IFED) rentals having self-contained audiovisual presentations is disclosed. A self-contained IFED has internal storage configured to contain current releases of movies and other audiovisual presentations. The method addresses aspects related to in-flight collection of payment and credential information and tracing related to lost self-contained IFEDs.

Claims

1. A method to be performed on-board a commercial aircraft, the method comprising:

electronically swiping an identification card indicating attendant and commercial airline flight;

electronically swiping a financial card to collection identification information for payment of rental of a self-contained in-flight entertainment device;

distributing the self-contained in-flight entertainment device to a passenger;

noting an identification of the self-contained in-flight entertainment device; and

recording an association between the identification of the self-contained in-flight entertainment device and information associated with the passenger.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording is done by writing an identification number of the self-contained in-flight entertainment device on a clear plastic map of seating of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording is done by placing a paper copy of a finance transaction related to the swiping of the financial card into a slot of a carrying case previously holding the self-contained in-flight entertainment device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording of the association has information associated with the passenger consisting of at least one of the following:

the identification information from the financial card, identification of seating for the passenger, and identification information of the passenger.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the financial card being electronically swiped is a credit card of the passenger.

6. A method to be performed on-board a commercial aircraft comprising:

distributing self-contained in-flight entertainment devices to passengers for their use on-board the commercial aircraft in exchange for payment with a financial card;

recording an association between the self-contained in-flight entertainment devices and the passengers using them;

collecting the self-contained in-flight entertainment devices from passengers;

determining if any one of the self-contained in-flight entertainment devices was not collected and if so, determining from the association, which one of the passengers was non-compliant for such non-collection; and

charging the financial card for the uncollected self-contained in-flight entertainment device.