IN-FLIGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM

• US 20090187640A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, Edward E., Motika, Franco, Delia, Wayne M.
• Application Number:
  US12/018,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A system for implementing an in-flight passenger information system includes one or more ground-based servers in network communication with an airplane-based server, the one or more ground-based servers configured to execute a computer application for accessing a database containing airport infrastructure information and passenger transactional information; and the airplane-base server in communication with one or more passenger accessible input/output devices; wherein the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices are configured to communicate to a passenger, while onboard an airplane, passenger-selected portions of the airport infrastructure information and passenger transactional information specific to the passenger.

Claims

1. A system for implementing an in-flight passenger information system, comprising:

one or more ground-based servers in network communication with an airplane-based server, the one or more ground-based servers configured to execute a computer application for accessing a database containing airport infrastructure information and passenger transactional information; and

the airplane-base server in communication with one or more passenger accessible input/output devices;

wherein the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices are configured to communicate to a passenger, while onboard an airplane, passenger-selected portions of the airport infrastructure information and passenger transactional information specific to the passenger.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the airport infrastructure information includes one or more of:

airport terminal layouts and default flight schedules.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger transactional information includes one or more of:

passenger identification, trip continuation flight legs, gate information for connecting flights, baggage claim information, local weather information, flight schedule changes, cancellations and delays, security warnings, and overbooking premium opportunities.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ground-based servers communicates updates of the passenger transactional information to the airplane-based server on a periodic basis.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the airplane-based server communicates passenger generated queries to the one or more ground-based servers on a real-time basis.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the airplane-based server communicates passenger generated queries to the one or more ground-based servers in batches of transactions generated on a periodic basis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices comprise one or more of:

personal communication devices, overhead displays of the airplane, and personal airplane seat displays.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger transactional information specific to the passenger is accessed through the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices by entry of a boarding pass ID specific to the passenger.

9. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable computer program code for implementing a method of accessing and operating an in-flight passenger information system; and

instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, the method further comprising;

receiving a request for one or more of airport infrastructure information and passenger transactional information specific to a passenger onboard an airplane, the request being input by the passenger via one or more passenger accessible input/output devices;

accessing, through one or more ground-based servers in network communication with an airplane-based server, a database containing the airport infrastructure information and the passenger transactional information; and

communicating the requested information to the onboard passenger, received by the airplane-based server, through the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the airport infrastructure information includes one or more of:

airport terminal layouts and default flight schedules.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the passenger transactional information includes one or more of:

passenger identification, trip continuation flight legs, gate information for connecting flights, baggage claim information, local weather information, flight schedule changes, cancellations and delays, security warnings, and overbooking premium opportunities.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the one or more ground-based servers communicates updates of the passenger transactional information to the airplane-based server on a periodic basis.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the airplane-based server communicates passenger generated queries to the one or more ground-based servers on a real-time basis.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the airplane-based server communicates passenger generated queries to the one or more ground-based servers in batches of transactions generated on a periodic basis.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices comprise one or more of:

personal communication devices, overhead displays of the airplane, and personal airplane seat displays.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the passenger transactional information specific to the passenger is accessed through the one or more passenger accessible input/output devices by entry of a boarding pass ID specific to the passenger.