System and method for locating individuals and equipment, airline reservation system, communication system
First Claim
1. An airline reservation system comprising:
- a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, information about the scheduled departure for the flight, and information identifying passengers who have checked in for the flight; and
a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer modifying the database to indicate that one of the passengers who purchased a ticket has checked in in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices within a predetermined time period before a scheduled departure for the flight, which response includes identifying data for a passenger for whom the database indicates that a ticket for the flight has been purchased.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for locating an individual in a facility, the system including a portable wireless transponder device borne by the individual; an interrogator; and a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility, the antennas being selectively separately connected to the interrogator, the interrogator when connected to any of the antennas having a communications range covering less than the area of the entire facility, the interrogator being configured to repeatedly transmit a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using alternating antennas, the portable wireless transponder device being configured to transmit data identifying the portable wireless transponder device in response to a command if the portable wireless transponder device is within communications range of the antenna sending the command, the individual being locatable by determining with which antenna the interrogator was able to establish communications with the portable wireless transponder device.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An airline reservation system comprising:
-
a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, information about the scheduled departure for the flight, and information identifying passengers who have checked in for the flight; and a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer modifying the database to indicate that one of the passengers who purchased a ticket has checked in in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices within a predetermined time period before a scheduled departure for the flight, which response includes identifying data for a passenger for whom the database indicates that a ticket for the flight has been purchased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A system for communicating custom flight information to a passenger, the system comprising:
-
a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, and information about scheduled departures for flights; a monitor coupled to the computer; and a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the wireless transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit wireless identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder, when connected to the antenna, having a predetermined range for communicating with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the antenna, the antenna being located proximate the monitor, the computer causing flight information about a passenger'"'"'s flight to be displayed on the monitor in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices using the antenna, the flight information including departure time information for the passenger'"'"'s flight. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A system for communicating custom flight information to a passenger, the system comprising:
-
a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, and information about scheduled departures for flights; a monitor coupled to the computer; and a wireless transponder in communication with the computer and configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined range for communicating with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the monitor, the computer being programmed to cause flight information about a passenger'"'"'s flight to be displayed on the monitor in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices within the predetermined range.
-
-
11. A system for communicating custom flight information to a passenger, the system comprising:
-
a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, and information about scheduled departures for flights; a speaker coupled to the computer; and a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the wireless transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices transmitting wireless identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder, when connected to the antenna, having a desired range for communicating with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the antenna, the antenna being located proximate the speaker, the computer causing flight information about a passenger'"'"'s flight to be announced on the speaker in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices using the antenna proximate the speaker.
-
-
12. A system for communicating custom flight information to a passenger, the system comprising:
-
a computer including a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a flight, and information about scheduled departures for flights; an interrogator in communication with the computer; a plurality of distributed antennas configured to be alternately in communication with the interrogator, the interrogator when in communication with one of the antennas sending wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices; and portable identification devices adapted to be carried by a passenger and configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command from an interrogator, and receive flight information from the interrogator for a passenger identified by the identifying data, the portable identification devices respectively further including a display on which the flight information is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
Specification