Method and system for providing dynamic and real-time air travel information

• US 20070043598A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Air Lines Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Albert Houck, Jeffrey Bertram
• Inventors: Bertram, Jeffrey, Houck, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,746 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: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Providing passengers and other interested parties with dynamic and real-time air travel information. This dynamic and real-time air travel information is shown in various screens on a computer monitor, and includes flight information, passenger information, other general air information, and advertising. The information is presented to passengers in a manner which reduces passenger wait time and allows gate agents to focus on other responsibilities. Information on seat standby status, upgrade standby status, and cleared standby status is provided on the computer monitor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific boarding information to passengers preparing to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

transmitting the passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system to a processing system, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising; and

displaying, without the processing system receiving identification information from the passenger, the passenger-specific boarding information on an electronic display coupled to the processing system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passenger.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is proximate to a departure gate.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of projecting an idle mode screen, comprising general flight information, on the electronic display prior to transmission of the passenger-specific boarding information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event, the departure mode screen comprising one of passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event, the boarding mode screen comprising one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a departure mode screen and a boarding mode screen are displayed in association with the passenger-specific boarding information.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status to board;

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the electronic display; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processing system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers;

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the electronic display; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the upgrade passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processing system.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

13. A computer-implemented method for providing current air travel information to passengers, comprising the steps of:

displaying a boarding screen on an electronic display coupled to a processor;

receiving passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system at the processor, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising; and

displaying, without the processor receiving identification information from the passenger, the passenger-specific boarding information for the passengers in association with the boarding screen shown on the electronic display.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the electronic display is proximate to a departure gate.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an idle screen; and

transitioning from displaying the idle screen to displaying the departure screen in response to a first trigger event.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a departure screen; and

transitioning from displaying the departure screen to displaying the boarding screen in response to a second trigger event.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passengers.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status;

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the electronic display; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processor.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers;

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the electronic display; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the upgrade passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processor.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 13.

23. A computer-implemented method for providing passenger seating information to passengers preparing to board comprising the steps of:

receiving the seating information for one of the passengers from a carrier data system at a computing system; and

in response to a signal indicating a designated time prior to departure from a terminal, displaying, without the computing system receiving identification information from the passenger, the passenger'"'"'s seating information on an electronic display coupled to the computing system, the passenger'"'"'s seating information comprising a readily recognizable identifier for the passenger and a corresponding seat assignment.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

upon attempting to board, reading the passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the computing system; and

using the passenger'"'"'s identity to confirm that the passenger is permitted to board.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising the step of displaying the passenger'"'"'s seating information at the scanning device.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the passenger'"'"'s seating information for the passenger.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, further comprising the step of displaying passenger upgrade information on the electronic display.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the upgrade status for the passenger on the electronic display;

determining that the passenger'"'"'s upgrade is approved;

displaying the passenger'"'"'s upgraded seating information on the electronic display; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the passenger'"'"'s identity and upgraded seating information by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the computing system.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 23.

30. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific standby information to passengers in a terminal comprising the steps of:

receiving the passenger-specific standby information for one of the passengers from a carrier data system at a computing device; and

displaying, without the computing device receiving identification information from the passenger, the passenger-specific standby information on an electronic display coupled to the computing device.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the standby passenger is approved for boarding;

based on the approval for boarding, displaying the standby passenger'"'"'s seating information on the electronic display coupled to the computing device; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the standby passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the computing device.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising the step of displaying the standby passenger'"'"'s seating information at the scanning device.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 31, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the standby passenger'"'"'s information at the scanning device.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, further comprising the step of displaying standby availability information on the electronic display.

35. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 30.

36. A system for providing passenger-specific information to passengers in preparation for boarding comprising:

a remote computing system operable for receiving from a carrier data system passenger-specific information, wherein the passenger-specific information comprises one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising; and

an electronic display coupled to the remote computing system, the electronic display operable for displaying passenger-specific information, without the remote computing system receiving identification information from the passenger, in preparation for boarding.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the remote computing system and the electronic display are proximate to a departure gate.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the remote computing system is coupled to a plurality of electronic displays.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic display is further operable for rendering one of an idle mode screen, a departure mode screen, and a boarding mode screen.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic display is further operable for transitioning from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic display is further operable for transitioning from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

44. The system of claim 36, further comprising a scanning device coupled to the remote computing system, the scanning device operable for collecting identifying data from a passenger.

45. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific boarding information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously transmitting and updating the passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system to a processing system, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises passenger standby data;

displaying the passenger-specific boarding information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate;

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status to board; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, further comprising the step of confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processing system upon the passenger attempting to board.

47. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, further comprising the step of using the passenger'"'"'s identity to confirm that the passenger is permitted to board.

48. The computer-implemented method of claim 46, further comprising the step of displaying the passenger'"'"'s seating information at the scanning device.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, further comprising the step of displaying passenger-specific advertising on the gate information display system.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 49, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passenger.

51. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, further comprising the step of projecting an idle mode screen, comprising general flight information, on the gate information display system prior to transmission of the passenger-specific boarding information.

52. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event, the departure mode screen comprising passenger-specific boarding information.

53. The computer-implemented method of claim 52, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

54. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event, the boarding mode screen comprising one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising.

55. The computer-implemented method of claim 54, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

56. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the cleared passenger'"'"'s seating information for the cleared passenger.

57. The computer-implemented method of claim 45, further comprising the step of displaying passenger upgrade information on the gate information display system.

58. The computer-implemented method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the upgrade status for the passenger on the electronic display;

determining that the passenger'"'"'s upgrade is approved;

displaying the passenger'"'"'s upgraded seating information on the gate information display system; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the upgraded passenger'"'"'s identity and upgraded seating information by scanning a unique identifier for the upgraded passenger with a scanning device coupled to the computing system.

59. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific upgrade information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously receiving and updating the passenger-specific upgrade information from a carrier data system at a processing system;

displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate;

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers; and

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the gate information display system.

60. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, further comprising the step of displaying passenger-specific advertising on the gate information display system.

61. The computer-implemented method of claim 60, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passenger.

62. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, further comprising the step of projecting an idle mode screen, comprising general flight information, on the gate information display system prior to transmission of the passenger-specific upgrade information.

63. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information comprises a transition from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event, the departure mode screen comprising passenger-specific upgrade information.

64. The computer-implemented method of claim 63, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

65. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information comprises a transition from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event, the boarding mode screen comprising one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising.

66. The computer-implemented method of claim 65, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

67. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the upgrade passenger'"'"'s seating information for the upgrade passenger.

68. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

69. The computer-implemented method of claim 68, further comprising the step of confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processor upon the cleared passenger attempting to board.

70. The computer-implemented method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

receiving seating information for one of the passengers from the carrier data system; and

displaying the passenger'"'"'s seating information on the gate information display system.

71. The computer-implemented method of claim 70, wherein the passenger'"'"'s seating information comprises a readily recognizable identifier for the passenger and a corresponding seat assignment.