Method and system for providing dynamic and real-time air travel information

• US 7,502,746 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delta Air Lines Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Air Lines Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertram, Jeffrey Mark, Houck, Albert Edward III
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/516,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• 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: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

Providing passengers and other interested parties with dynamic and real-time air travel information. This dynamic and real-time air travel information is shown in various screens on a computer monitor, and includes flight information, passenger information, other general air information, and advertising. The information is presented to passengers in a manner which reduces passenger wait time and allows gate agents to focus on other responsibilities. Information on seat standby status, upgrade standby status, and cleared standby status is provided on the computer monitor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific boarding information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously transmitting and updating the passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system to a processing system, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises passenger standby data;

displaying the passenger-specific boarding information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate;

displaying passenger-specific advertising on the gate information display system;

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status to board; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processing system upon the passenger attempting to board.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the step of using the passenger'"'"'s identity to confirm that the passenger is permitted to board.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying the passenger'"'"'s seating information at the scanning device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passenger.

6. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific boarding information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously transmitting and updating the passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system to a processing system, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises passenger standby data;

displaying the passenger-specific boarding information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event, the departure mode screen comprising passenger-specific boarding information;

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status to board; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising the step of projecting an idle mode screen, comprising general flight information, on the gate information display system prior to transmission of the passenger-specific boarding information.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the cleared passenger'"'"'s seating information for the cleared passenger.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying passenger upgrade information on the gate information display system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the upgrade status for the passenger on the electronic display;

determining that the passenger'"'"'s upgrade is approved;

displaying the passenger'"'"'s upgraded seating information on the gate information display system; and

upon attempting to board, confirming the upgraded passenger'"'"'s identity and upgraded seating information by scanning a unique identifier for the upgraded passenger with a scanning device coupled to the computing system.

12. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific boarding information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously transmitting and updating the passenger-specific boarding information from a carrier data system to a processing system, wherein the passenger-specific boarding information comprises passenger standby data;

displaying the passenger-specific boarding information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific boarding information comprises a transition from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event, the boarding mode screen comprising one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising;

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status to board; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

14. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific upgrade information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously receiving and updating the passenger-specific upgrade information from a carrier data system at a processing system;

displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate;

displaying passenger-specific advertising on the gate information display system;

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers; and

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the gate information display system.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the passenger-specific advertising is selected based on information about the passenger.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising the step of printing a copy of the upgrade passenger'"'"'s seating information for the upgrade passenger.

17. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific upgrade information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously receiving and updating the passenger-specific upgrade information from a carrier data system at a processing system;

displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information comprises a transition from an idle mode screen to a departure mode screen in response to a first trigger event, the departure mode screen comprising passenger-specific upgrade information;

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers; and

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the gate information display system.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising the step of projecting an idle mode screen, comprising general flight information, on the gate information display system prior to transmission of the passenger-specific upgrade information.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the first trigger event is a designated time before departure.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

receiving seating information for one of the passengers from the carrier data system; and

displaying the passenger'"'"'s seating information on the gate information display system.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the passenger'"'"'s seating information comprises a readily recognizable identifier for the passenger and a corresponding seat assignment.

22. A computer-implemented method for displaying passenger-specific upgrade information to passengers waiting to board for a departure comprising the steps of:

continuously receiving and updating the passenger-specific upgrade information from a carrier data system at a processing system;

displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information on a gate information display system coupled to the processing system, and proximate to the departure gate, wherein the step of displaying the passenger-specific upgrade information comprises a transition from a departure mode screen to a boarding mode screen in response to a second trigger event, the boarding mode screen comprising one of passenger seating information, passenger standby status, passenger upgrade status, passenger connection information, and passenger-specific advertising;

approving an upgrade of one of the passengers; and

prompting the upgrade passenger to board by displaying the upgrade approval on the gate information display system.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the second trigger event is a designated time before departure.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

clearing one of the passengers assigned a standby status; and

prompting the cleared passenger to board by displaying a prompt on the gate information display system.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising the step of confirming the cleared passenger'"'"'s identity by scanning a unique identifier for the passenger with a scanning device coupled to the processor upon the cleared passenger attempting to board.