System and method for locating individuals and equipment, airline reservation system, communication system

• US 7,570,151 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan; Omer S
• Application Number:
  US11/271,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber

Abstract

A reservation system includes a database configured to store information identifying customers who have purchased tickets for an event, information about the scheduled time for the event, and information identifying customers who have arrived; a controller configured to operate on the database; and an interrogator in communication with the controller, and an antenna coupled to the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to 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 interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the controller being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the customers who purchased a ticket has arrived, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that customer, which response includes identifying data for that customer.

Claims

1. A reservation system comprising:

a database configured to store information identifying customers who have purchased tickets for an event, information about the scheduled time for the event, and information identifying customers who have arrived;

a controller configured to operate on the database; and

an interrogator in communication with the controller, and an antenna coupled to the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to 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 interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the controller being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the customers who purchased a ticket has arrived, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that customer, which response includes identifying data for that customer.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices, including a housing, a battery, a transponder, and a microprocessor in the housing.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices, including an integrated circuit having a transponder, a microprocessor, and a memory, and being configured to communicate with the interrogator at a microwave frequency.

4. A travel reservation system comprising:

a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying passengers who have made travel reservations, information about the scheduled departure, and information identifying passengers who have checked in;

an interrogator in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to 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 interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the passengers who made travel reservations has checked in, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that passenger, which response includes identifying data for that passenger; and

a second antenna selectively alternately connected to the interrogator and configured to communicate with portable identification devices that have passed to a predetermined area indicating that a passenger has boarded a vessel, the computer being configured to modify the database to indicate that a passenger has boarded the vessel, in response to a portable identification device identifying a passenger communicating with the interrogator from the predetermined area.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices, including a housing, a battery, a transponder, and a microprocessor in the housing.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices, including an integrated circuit having a transponder, a microprocessor, and a memory, and being configured to communicate with the interrogator at a microwave frequency.

7. A system for communicating scheduling information to a customer,

the system comprising:

a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying customers who have purchased tickets, information identifying customers who have arrived, and information about scheduled event times;

a monitor coupled to the computer; and

an interrogator in communication with the computer and configured to 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 interrogator having a range selected for communicating with portable identification devices proximate the monitor, the computer being programmed to cause information about a customer'"'"'s event to be automatically displayed on the monitor in response to the portable identification device coming within the selected range and communicating wirelessly with the interrogator, the information including an indication of whether or not the customer'"'"'s arrival has been noted.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the information displayed on the monitor includes the customer'"'"'s name.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the information displayed on the monitor includes a code identifying the customer.

10. A system for communicating travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets, information identifying passengers who are checked in, and information about scheduled departures;

a monitor coupled to the computer; and

an interrogator in communication with the computer and configured to 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 interrogator having a predetermined range for communicating only with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the monitor, the computer being programmed to cause information about a passenger'"'"'s departure to be automatically displayed on the monitor in response to any of the portable identification devices coming within the range;

wherein if multiple passengers having portable identification devices are within the range, the computer causes the monitor to show information for all of the passengers who are within the range.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information for a passenger is shown adjacent the passenger'"'"'s name.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein, if multiple passengers having portable identification devices are within the range, the information is sorted by passenger name.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the information for a passenger is shown adjacent a code identifying the passenger.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices, wherein the portable identification device includes an actuator, and wherein the travel information is shown on the display in response to the actuator being actuated.

15. A system, comprising:

a computer system configured to access a database storing information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for an airline flight, schedule information for the airline flight, and arrival information of the passengers of the airline flight;

wherein the computer system is configured to operate on the database and to communicate with an interrogator coupled with an antenna, the interrogator to send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices affixed to baggage of passengers checking in for the airline flight, each of the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a wireless command, the interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer system configured to modify the database to indicate that a passenger of the airline flight who purchased a ticket has arrived, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from a portable identification device associated with the passenger, the response including identifying data for the passenger.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the response from the portable identification device includes a frequent flyer number of the passenger.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the database stores check in information for passengers and their baggage.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer system modifies the database to indicate check in of the passenger after receipt of the response from the portable identification device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein arrival of the passenger includes check in of the passenger for the airline flight.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range includes a housing, a transponder, a microprocessor and a memory.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless commands are sent at a microwave frequency.

22. A method comprising:

providing a computer system configured to access a database storing customer information for an event, schedule information for the event, and customer arrival information for the event;

an interrogator, coupled with an antenna, communicating with the computer system, the interrogator to send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, each of the portable identification devices to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a wireless command, the interrogator having a predetermined communications range and to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range; and

modifying, via the computer system, the database to indicate that a customer of the event has arrived, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from a portable identification device associated with the customer, which response includes identifying data for the customer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the customer information for the event comprises information identifying customers who have purchased tickets for the event.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein arrival of the customer includes check in of the customer for a flight.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range includes a housing, a transponder, a microprocessor and a memory;

and the wireless commands are sent at a microwave frequency.

26. A system comprising:

a computer system configured to access a database storing passenger information for an airline flight and passenger check in information for the airline flight, the computer system configured to operate on the database; and

an interrogator in communication with the computer system, and an antenna coupled to the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to send a wireless command requesting a wireless response from a portable identification device secured to baggage of a passenger, the portable identification device being configured to transmit identifying data of the passenger in response to receiving the command, the interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer system being configured to modify the database to indicate check in of the passenger, responsive to the interrogator receiving the response from the portable identification device, the response including the identifying data of the passenger.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices including a housing, a battery, a transponder, and a microprocessor in the housing.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising at least one of the portable identification devices including an integrated circuit having a transponder, a microprocessor, and a memory, and being configured to communicate with the interrogator at a microwave frequency.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the response includes a frequent flyer number.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein check in of the passenger occurs after receipt of the response from the portable identification device.

31. The system of with claim 26, wherein the portable identification device transmits the response after the baggage enters a predetermined location of an airport for check in.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer system modifies the database to indicate check in of the passenger after receipt by the interrogator of the response from the portable identification device.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer system causes display of an indication of check in of the passenger.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the portable identification device communicates during check in of the passenger.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the database stores information concerning location of the baggage.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the database stores information indicating that the baggage is located on an airplane associated with the airline flight.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the computer system identifies a risk when the passenger is separated from the baggage.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the computer system identifies a risk when the passenger is separated from the baggage for a predetermined time.

39. The system of claim 26, wherein the baggage is checked baggage.

40. The system of claim 26, further comprising a second antenna, coupled to the interrogator, wherein the computer system determines the location of the baggage of the passenger based upon which antenna receives the response.

41. A method comprising:

providing access to a computer system configured to access a database storing passenger information for an airline flight and passenger check in information for the airline flight;

communicating, via an interrogator, with the computer system, the interrogator, coupled to an antenna, to send a wireless command requesting a wireless response from a portable identification device secured to baggage of a passenger, the portable identification device to transmit identifying information of the passenger in response to receiving the wireless command, the interrogator having a predetermined communications range and to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range; and

modifying, via the computer system, the database to indicate that the passenger has checked in, responsive to the interrogator receiving the response from the portable identification device, wherein the response includes the identifying information of the passenger.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the identifying information of the passenger includes a confirmation number.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the identifying information of the passenger includes a frequent flyer number.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein each of the portable identification devices includes a housing, a transponder, a microprocessor, and a memory;

and the wireless commands are sent at a microwave frequency.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the communicating, via an interrogator, comprises receiving the response from the portable identification device after the baggage enters a predetermined location of an airport.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the predetermined location of the airport is in an airport terminal.

47. The method of claim 41, further comprising checking in the passenger after receiving the response from the portable identification device.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the communicating, via an interrogator, comprises the interrogator sending the wireless command requesting the wireless response from the portable identification device after the baggage has entered a predetermined location of an airport.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein receipt of the response by the interrogator from the portable identification device relates to check in of the passenger.

50. The method of claim 41, further comprising causing display of an indication that the passenger has checked in.

51. The method of claim 41, wherein the database stores information concerning location of the baggage.

52. The method of claim 41, wherein the database stores information indicating that the baggage is located on an airplane associated with the airline flight.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the computer system identifying a risk when the passenger is separated from the baggage.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising the computer system identifying a risk when the passenger is separated from the baggage for a predetermined time.

55. The method of claim 41, wherein the baggage is checked baggage.

56. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing a second antenna coupled to the interrogator, and the computer system determining the location of the baggage of the passenger based upon which antenna receives the response.