Flight information sending system and method

• US 8,407,307 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OAG Aviation Worldwide LLC
• Original Assignee: Flightview Incorporated
• Inventors: Flynn, Lorraine, Flynn, Mary, Steinberg, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Dung B
• Application Number:
  US11/937,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A method of providing flight information to a receiving node in data communication with a server. A server receives from a sending node data (1) permitting identification of a flight of interest and (2) permitting identification of the receiving node. The data received at the server causes delivery to the receiving node of a message that includes a logon key that grants access by the receiving node to a data source that provides real-time dynamic information as to position of the flight of interest.

Claims

1. A method of providing flight information for a flight of interest to a receiving node in data communication with a flight information system, the method comprising:

generating and periodically updating in the flight information system, real-time dynamic flight information for a plurality of flights;

receiving at the flight information system, from a sending node, flight identification identifying the flight of interest and third party user node identification data identifying the receiving node;

based on the flight identification and third party user node identification data received at the flight information system, causing delivery to the receiving node of an e-mail message including a logon key which when utilized by the receiving node causes delivery to the receiving node of flight information for the flight of interest updated as of when the logon key is utilized; and

wherein, if the flight of interest has not departed at the time of first utilization by the receiving node of the logon key, then in response thereto the delivered flight information indicates the flight of interest has not departed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein causing delivery to the receiving node of the message is conditioned on receipt of financial consideration on behalf of a person utilizing the sending node.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon delivery of updated flight information for the flight of interest a repetitive polling application causes repeated downloading of updated real-time dynamic flight information to the receiving node.

4. A system for providing flight information for a flight of interest to a receiving node comprising:

a communication server, coupled to a data communication network, having an input for receiving flight identification and third party user node identification data from a sending node coupled to the network, such data (1) permitting identification of the flight of interest and (2) permitting identification of the receiving node, such server also having an output for causing delivery of an e-mail message to a receiving node coupled to the network, such e-mail message including a logon key; and

a flight data server generating and periodically updating real-time dynamic flight information for a plurality of flights, the flight data server coupled to the network such that when accessed via utilization of the logon key by the receiving node, the flight data server delivers to the receiving node flight information for the flight of interest updated as of when the logon key is utilized and wherein, if the flight of interest has not departed at the time of first utilization of the logon key by the receiving node, then in response thereto the flight data server delivers flight information that indicates the flight of interest has not departed.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the output of the communication server conditions delivery of the message to the receiving node on receipt of financial consideration on behalf of a person utilizing the sending node.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein the flight data server delivers to the receiving node real-time dynamic flight information for the flight of interest.