CHECK-IN METHOD

• US 20150178641A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Yepez, Rafael
• Application Number:
  US14/134,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20150178641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A check-in method which streamlines the customer experience by automating many check-in steps. An example method involving passenger check-in for a flight includes wirelessly transmitting signals by a mobile communication device, receiving within a check-in area a response message from an airline system by the mobile communication device, sending check-in information to the airline system by the mobile communication device in response to the message, and receiving a mobile boarding pass from the airline system by the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A check-in method comprising:

sending signals by a mobile communication device;

receiving a message within a check-in area from a host system through a wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device in response to the signals;

sending check-in information to the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device in response to the message; and

receiving a token from the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard beacons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication infrastructure comprises a plurality of wireless network access points.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises information for authenticating the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the check-in information comprises an Internet Protocol address of the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the check-in information comprises a serial number of the mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises luggage amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises a seating preference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises an early boarding preference.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises payment information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises passenger authenticating information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the check-in information comprises passenger authenticating information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving another message by the mobile communication device from the host system requesting information authenticating the user of the mobile communication device prior to receiving a token.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the token comprises a mobile boarding pass.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving promotions by the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving directions by the mobile communication device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving by the mobile communication device a departure alert message based upon a location of the mobile communication device.

18. A check-in method comprising:

saving by a mobile communication device check-in information in a storage area of the mobile communication device, wherein the check-in information includes information identifying the mobile communication device;

sending signals by a mobile communication device;

receiving within a check-in area a message from a host system in response to the signals through a wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device;

obtaining the check-in information from the storage area by the mobile communication device;

sending the check-in information to the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device; and

receiving a token from the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure by the mobile communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the check-in information is saved during registration with the host system.

20. A mobile communication device comprising:

wireless communication circuitry;

a storage area for storing check-in information;

a memory containing software; and

a processor configured with the software to cause the mobile communication device to

send signals;

receive within a check-in area a message from a host system through a wireless communication infrastructure in response to the signals;

send check-in information to the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure in response to the message; and

receive a token from the host system through the wireless communication infrastructure.