Air travel information and computer data compilation, retrieval and display method and system

• US 6,754,581 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Routing International LP (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AR Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Feng, Legh-Page, John, Brasfield, Larry, Helms, David, Howard, Dennis, Davis, Barry, Dossett, Rose, Cormack, Roberto, Robertson, Randy, Paynter, Craig, Blachowicz, Scott, Rouse, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US10/004,671
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 701/202, 701/201, 701/200, 701/206, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 340/990, 340/995, 340/991, 340/993, 455/456, 342/36
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0095 Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program is disclosed for managing integrated real-time information about air flight trips, providing that information to multiple users, and receiving feedback from multiple users. A plurality of user interfaces are provided for displaying a plurality of types of information about a real time progress air trips as planned by an operational center. A communication channel is provided for receiving feedback information from the users and associating that feedback with a particular aspect of the trip.

Claims

1. A method for planning and tracking at least one air travel trip, comprising:

providing a plurality of user interfaces for entering and displaying a plurality of types of information about at least one air travel trip from an operational center, and for entering and submitting feedback information to the operational center from a remote location;

providing at least one communication channel between the remote location and the operational center to enable a user at the remote location to provide the feedback information to the operational center; and

associating the feedback information received on the communication channel by the operational center with the at least one air travel trip.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one communication channel further includes providing a message option on at least one of the plurality of user interfaces wherein the message option enables a user viewing the one user interface to enter the feedback information and to send the information to the operational center.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing further includes associating the message option with the type of information displayed by the one user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one communication channel further includes:

invoking a user interface operable with the communication channel for the user to enter the feedback information;

inserting automatically a predetermined context index for the user interface; and

delivering the feedback information entered by the user through the communication channel to a predetermined database controlled by the operational center,

wherein the delivered feedback information is processed based on the context index associated therewith.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

identifying recipients for the processed feedback information based on the predetermined context index; and

distributing the feedback information to the identified recipients.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

assigning access rights based on a user'"'"'s need to know; and

filtering information available based on the access rights assigned to the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a trip setup screen having information necessary for planning an air travel trip comprising aircraft information, ground support task information, departure and arrival information, crew information, and client information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a communication information screen having contact information for completing at least one service task for the air travel trip.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a status screen reflecting real time status of at least one service task for the air travel trip.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes one or more weather information screens.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes one or more flight route screens.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a message center screen for listing messages entered by the users relevant to the at least one air travel trip.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating one or more reports containing information about the at least one air travel trip.

14. A method for integrating air travel information relevant to planning and tracking one or more trips involving at least one flight, comprising:

receiving basic information necessary to schedule the at least one flight;

adding information relating to services to be performed in connection with the at least one flight; and

communicating the added information associated with the at least one flight to authorized users by way of user interfaces available for viewing by selected remote users thereby making available, in real time, to the authorized users, through computer networks, the current status of the at least one flight from planning through execution of the flight.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of receiving basic information further includes providing at least one communication channel between a remote location and an operational center to enable a user at the remote location to provide the feedback information to the operational center.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing further includes providing a message option on at least one of the plurality of user interfaces wherein the message option enables a user viewing the at least one of the user interfaces to enter the feedback information and to send the information to the operational center.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing further includes associating the message option with the type of information displayed by the at least one of the user interfaces.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing at least one communication channel further includes:

invoking a user interface operable with the communication channel for the user to enter the feedback information;

inserting automatically a predetermined context index for the user interface; and

delivering the feedback information entered by the user through the communication channel to a predetermined database controlled by the operational center,

wherein the delivered feedback information is processed based on the context index associated therewith.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of communicating further includes:

identifying recipients for the processed feedback information based on the context index; and

distributing the feedback information to the identified recipients.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the basic information and the information relating to the services to be performed includes:

trip identification information;

tasks being performed during the trip; and

environmental factors affecting the trip.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the trip identification information includes:

a predefined trip identifier;

a predetermined aircraft identifier;

a predetermined pilot identifier;

a predetermined client identifier;

a set of predetermined service identifiers; and

beginning and ending location identifiers.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the environmental factors include:

weather information;

a satellite image of the earth; and

radar shots of the earth.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the tasks include:

catering service;

customs setup;

flight plan;

fuel service;

ground service;

landing permits;

overflight permits;

security guard service;

landing slot reservation service;

hotel accommodation;

weather briefings; and

visa information.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of communicating further includes:

providing a communication channel for the selected remote users to enter and send feedback messages; and

associating the feedback messages with related information about the at least one flight.

25. A system for planning and tracking at least one air travel trip and for providing, to multiple users, access to information related to the air travel trip, comprising:

an access grant interface for connecting a user to a database containing information related to the at least one air travel trip wherein the interface includes a filter based on user information maintained in the database whereby the user is granted access rights only to information needed by that user;

a plurality of user interfaces for displaying a plurality of types of information about a real time progress of the planning and execution of the at least one trip; and

at least one communication channel for receiving feedback information from the user,

wherein the received feedback information further assists the planning and tracking of the at least one air travel trip.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for associating the feedback information received on the communication channel with related information about the at least one trip.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the communication channel includes a message option on at least one of the plurality of user interfaces that enables a user viewing a screen to enter the feedback information and to send the information directly to an operational center.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the communication channel further includes:

means for invoking a user interface operable with the communication channel for the user to enter the feedback information;

means for inserting automatically a predetermined context index information for the user interface; and

means for delivering the feedback information entered by the user through the communication channel to a predetermined database controlled by the operational center,

wherein the delivered feedback information is processed based on the context index associated therewith.

29. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

means for identifying recipients for the processed feedback information based on the context index; and

means for distributing the feedback information to the identified recipients.

30. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

means for assigning access rights based on a user'"'"'s need to know; and

means for filtering information available based on the access rights assigned to the user.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a trip setup screen having information necessary for planning an air travel trip comprising aircraft information, ground support task information, departure and arrival information, crew information, and client information.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a communication information screen having contact information necessary for completing a plurality of service tasks for the air travel trip.

33. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a status screen reflecting real time status of a plurality of service tasks for the air travel trip.

34. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes one or more weather information screens.

35. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes one or more flight route screens.

36. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes a message center screen for listing notes posted by the users relating to the at least one air travel trip.

37. The system of claim 25 further comprising a report generator for generating one or more reports relating to the at least one air travel trip.

38. A computer program for integrating information relating to the planning and tracking of one or more trips involving at least one flight comprising instructions for:

collecting flight schedule-related information for creating a trip plan having a plurality of tasks associated with the plan;

updating the trip plan based on feedback messages sent by one or more remote authorized users; and

making available real time updates of the trip plan to the remote authorized users through one or more computer networks.

39. The computer program of claim 38 wherein the instructions for updating further include instructions for:

creating a communication channel for the users to enter the feedback messages; and

associating the feedback messages with related tasks of the trip plan.

40. The computer program of claim 39 further including instructions for processing the feedback messages based on the context in which the message was created.