Method for tracking and processing passengers and their transported articles

• US 6,970,088 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compex Inc (Medical Technology Solutions LLC)
• Original Assignee: Compex Inc (Medical Technology Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Kovach, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUGG, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US10/687,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/505, 235/375, 235/384, 235/385, 705/5, 707/3
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A method for tracking and handling people and articles at an airport using Radio-Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tags. The RFID tag contains an electronic microchip with a memory portion, permanently attached to a substrate having a planar antenna. Each RFID tag is tuned to operate at a specific frequency and includes a unique identifier number stored in the memory portion. Passenger-specific information, such as passenger name, address and flight itinerary may be sent to the microchip for storage in the memory portion by means of an RF field provided by an external “scanner” device. The scanner also provides a means for reading data stored in the memory portion of the microchip. The RFID tag is small, rugged, and unobtrusive, allowing it to be applied to passenger articles and documents, allowing for more efficient check-in, automated tracking of articles, theft prevention, and increased security.

Claims

1. A method for tracking personnel and articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding an RFID tag with a unique identifier, the identifier being stored in a memory portion of the RFID tag;

b) affixing the RFID tag to a means for identifying one of a select member of the personnel and a select article;

c) providing the identifying means to the select member or affixing the identifying means to the select article;

d) associating the identifier of the RFID tag with the select member or select article, and associating the identifier with a list of wanted personnel and articles;

e) electrically scanning the RFID tag when the select member or article is proximate a scanner to retrieve the identifier number of the RFID tag;

f) comparing the identifier number of the scanned RFID tag with the list;

g) notifying security personnel of the location of the select member or article if the identifier of the scanned RFID tag appears on the list; and

h) wherein the select member or article is located.

2. A method for tracking and processing passengers and their transported articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding each of a plurality of RFID tags with a unique identifier, the identifier being stored in a memory portion of each RFID tag;

b) coding a first RFID tag with information relating to a select passenger, the information being stored in the memory portion of the first RFID tag;

c) affixing the first RFID tag to a means for identifying the select passenger;

d) providing the identifying means to the select passenger;

e) electrically scanning the first RFID tag to retrieve passenger-specific information when the identifying means is transported to an airport by the select passenger;

f) generating a passenger record for the select passenger using the passenger-specific information;

g) authenticating the identity of the select passenger with respect to the identifying means;

h) associating a second RFID tag with the passenger record, the second RFID tag being affixed to a boarding pass for an airline flight;

i) storing passenger-specific flight data in at least one of the passenger record and the second RFID tag;

j) issuing the boarding pass to the select passenger;

k) associating a third RFID tag with the passenger record, the third RFID tag being affixed to a first baggage label;

l) affixing the first baggage label to the passenger'"'"'s baggage, wherein at least one of the passenger-identifying means, boarding pass, and first baggage label are used in cooperation with the passenger record and at least one electrical scanner to retrieve information relating to the passenger and/or baggage;

m) inspecting the baggage for any contents that do not meet predetermined security regulations;

n) storing data relating to the inspection of the baggage comprising at least one of textual data and imaging information corresponding to the inspection of the baggage and its contents; and

o) associating the baggage inspection data to the passenger record.

3. A method for tracking and processing passengers and their transported articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding each of a plurality of RFID tags with a unique identifier, the identifier being stored in a memory portion of each RFID tag;

b) coding a first RFID tag with information relating to a select passenger, the information being stored in the memory portion of the first RFID tag;

c) affixing the first RFID tag to a means for identifying the select passenger;

d) providing the identifying means to the select passenger;

e) electrically scanning the first RFID tag to retrieve passenger-specific information when the identifying means is transported to an airport by the select passenger;

f) generating a passenger record for the select passenger using the passenger-specific information;

g) authenticating the identity of the select passenger with respect to the identifying means;

h) associating a second RFID tag with the passenger record, the second RFID tag being affixed to a boarding pass for an airline flight;

i) storing passenger-specific flight data in at least one of the passenger record and the second RFID tag;

j) issuing the boarding pass to the select passenger;

k) associating a third RFID tag with the passenger record, the third RFID tag being affixed to a first baggage label; and

l) affixing the first baggage label to the passenger'"'"'s baggage, wherein at least one of the passenger-identifying means, boarding pass, and first baggage label are used in cooperation with the passenger record and at least one electrical scanner to retrieve information relating to the passenger and/or baggage, and wherein the display electrically scans at least one RFID tag carried by a select passenger, retrieves at least a portion of at least one of the passenger-specific information, flight data and passenger record, and displays advertising directed to the select passenger.

4. A method for tracking and processing passengers and their transported articles, comprising the steps of:

a) coding each of a plurality of RFID tags with a unique identifier, the identifier being stored in a memory portion of each RFID tag;

b) coding a first RFID tag with information relating to a select passenger, the information being stored in the memory portion of the first RFID tag;

c) affixing the first RFID tag to a means for identifying the select passenger;

d) providing the identifying means to the select passenger;

e) electrically scanning the first RFID tag to retrieve passenger-specific information when the identifying means is transported to an airport by the select passenger;

f) generating a passenger record for the select passenger using the passenger-specific information;

g) authenticating the identity of the select passenger with respect to the identifying means;

h) associating a second RFID tag with the passenger record, the second RFID tag being affixed to a boarding pass for an airline flight;

i) storing passenger-specific flight data in at least one of the passenger record and the second RFID tag;

j) issuing the boarding pass to the select passenger;

k) associating a third RFID tag with the passenger record, the third RFID tag being affixed to a first baggage label; and

l) affixing the first baggage label to the passenger'"'"'s baggage, wherein at least one of the passenger-identifying means, boarding pass, and first baggage label are used in cooperation with the passenger record and at least one electrical scanner to retrieve information relating to the passenger and/or baggage, and wherein the second RFID tag is electrically scanned to permit or deny the select passenger access to a select aircraft.