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Goheen |
July 25, 2000 |
Electronic ticketing and reservation system and method
Abstract
A method and system of issuing an electronic authorization and validation for pre-scheduled activities such as airline reservations to eliminate paper tickets. The passenger makes the reservation and allows a reservation operation center to charge the passengers credit card company. A reservation number is issued in the computer. The passenger utilizes a plastic I.D. card that accesses computer for validation purposes. An automatic teller machine, at the airport, allows the passenger to receive specific flight information, departure gate information and the like by the insertion of the I.D. card. A mobile airline communications system at the departure gate includes a cellular telephone network connected to a lap top computer and a magnetic card reader that provides validation of the reservation and payment to an airline employee at the departure which allows the passenger to board the aircraft. The system may be utilized for hotel reservations, car rentals and other types of pre-scheduled, pre-payable activities that require authorization and validation at each scheduled activity.
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Inventors: |
Goheen; Joel R. ( |
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Assignee: |
The Pugliese Company ( |
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Appl. No.: |
08/948,479 |
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Filed: |
October 10, 1997 |
Related
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Application Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date<TD< TD> |
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342658 |
Nov., 1994 |
5724520 |
Mar., 1998<TD< TD> |
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074072 |
Jun., 1993 |
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<TD< TD> |
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Current |
705/5 ; 235/380; 235/382 |
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Current International Class: |
G07B 15/00 (20060101); G06F 017/60 () |
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Field of Search: |
705/5,43 235/379,380,382 707/3,6,10 |
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Poylo |
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Kelly et al. |
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Greenberg |
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Yukiura et al. |
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Hara |
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Sheldon |
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Foreign Patent Documents
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60-146360 |
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Aug., 1985 |
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JP |
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Other References
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Primary Examiner: Voeltz; Emanuel Todd
Assistant Examiner: Kalinowski; Alexander
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Antonelli, Terry,
Stout & Kraus, LLP
Parent Case Text
This application a Continuation of application Ser. No.
08/342,658, filed Nov. 21, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,520, issued
Mar. 3, 1998, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/074,072, filed
Jun. 8, 1993, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for validating a reservation for a prescheduled activity, in order
to eliminate the need for paper tickets, said method comprising the steps of:
making a reservation for a particular prescheduled activity and a particular
individual without issuing a paper admission ticket to the individual;
storing reservation data, which identifies the individual and the particular
prescheduled activity for which the reservation has been made, in a reservation
data storage area of a central data bank; and
transmitting personal identification information, which is obtained from the
individual at a selected location at which the activity is available, to verify
the reservation for the particular prescheduled activity, by accessing the
reservation data stored in the central data bank, and effect automatic
validation at the selected location to permit the individual to participate in
the particular activity without requiring a paper ticket, whereby access to
prescheduled activities can be effected without the need for issuing a paper
ticket to the participating individual;
wherein said prescheduled activity is an airline flight, and further including
the step of:
updating the reservation data of an individual for a particular flight
reservation from the reservation data storage area of the central data bank,
after personal identification information for the individual is communicated to
the central data bank and the reservation has been verified, to include in the
reservation data an indication that the individual has boarded the airplane for
the particular flight.
2. A method for validating a reservation as defined in claim 1, wherein said
central data bank also stores flight mileage information for a flight bonus
program for individual passengers, the method further including the step of:
updating the flight mileage information in said central data bank for an
individual who has boarded an airplane to reflect the flight mileage for the
particular flight.
3. A method for validating a reservation as defined in claim 1, wherein said
selected location is an airline terminal, and further including the steps of:
providing data communication at a location of said airline terminal, serving as
a baggage check facility, to communicate an individual's personal information
to said central data bank to verify the individual's flight reservation and
obtain flight information for the flight on which baggage is to be checked; and
checking baggage in response to a flight reservation verification received from
said central data bank without requiring the individual to present an airline
ticket.
4. A method for validating a reservation for a prescheduled activity, in order
to eliminate the need for paper tickets, said method comprising the steps of:
making a reservation for a particular prescheduled activity and a particular
individual without issuing a paper admission ticket to the individual;
storing reservation data, which identifies the individual and the particular
prescheduled activity for which the reservation has been made, in a reservation
data storage area of a central data bank; and
transmitting personal identification information, which is obtained from the
individual at a selected location at which the activity is available, to verify
the reservation for the particular prescheduled activity, by accessing the
reservation data stored in the central data bank, and effect automatic
validation at the selected location to permit the individual to participate in
the particular activity without requiring a paper ticket,
whereby access to prescheduled activities can be effected without the need for
issuing a paper ticket to the participating individual;
wherein said prescheduled activity is an automobile rental, and further
including the step of providing a printout of information relating to said
automobile rental at said selected location at which an automobile is available
in response to verification of the automobile rental reservation.
5. A ticket-less airline reservation method, comprising the steps of:
operating a flight reservation center to make a particular flight reservation
for a passenger utilizing a telephone call-in system;
storing flight reservation information in a reservation data area of a central
data bank for a passenger who has made a particular flight reservation via said
flight reservation center and who has an identification card on which there is
stored the passenger's identification information but no flight information or
flight reservation information; and
establishing remote locations at which said passenger may use said personal
identification card to access the passenger reservation information from the
central data bank, including the step of providing data communication at a
remote location, serving as a boarding gate of a flight, to communicate the
passenger's personal information from the card to said central data bank for
verifying the passenger reservation for that flight prior to allowing the
passenger to board, thereby eliminating the need for paper airline tickets;
further including the step of:
updating the reservation data of the passenger for the particular flight
reservation from the reservation data storage area of the central data bank,
after the identification information on the card is communicated to the central
data bank and the reservation has been verified, to include in the reservation
data an indication that the passenger has boarded the airplane for the
particular flight.
6. A ticket-less airline reservation method as defined in claim 5, wherein the
step of establishing remote locations further includes the steps of:
providing data communication at a further remote location, serving as a baggage
check facility, to communicate the passenger's personal information from the
card to said central data bank to verify the passenger reservation and obtain
flight information for the flight on which baggage is to be checked; and
checking baggage in response to a flight reservation verification received from
said central data bank without requiring the passenger to present an airline
ticket.
7. A ticket-less airline reservation method, comprising the steps of:
operating a flight reservation center to make a particular flight reservation
for a passenger utilizing a telephone call-in system;
storing flight reservation information in a reservation data area of a central
data bank for a passenger who has made a particular flight reservation via said
flight reservation center and who has an identification card on which there is
stored the passenger's identification information but no flight information or
flight reservation information; and
establishing remote locations at which said passenger may use said personal
identification card to access the passenger reservation information from the
central data bank, including the step of providing data communication at a
remote location, serving as a boarding gate of a flight, to communicate the
passenger's personal information from the card to said central data bank for
verifying the passenger reservation for that flight prior to allowing the
passenger to board, thereby eliminating the need for paper airline tickets;
wherein said central data bank also stores flight mileage information for a
flight bonus program for individual passengers, the method further including
the step of:
updating the flight mileage information in said central data bank for a
passenger who has boarded an airplane to reflect the flight mileage for the
particular flight.
8. A ticket-less airline reservation method, comprising the steps of:
operating a flight reservation center to make a particular flight reservation
for a passenger utilizing a telephone call-in system;
storing flight reservation information in a reservation data area of a central
data bank for a passenger who has made a particular flight reservation via said
flight reservation center, without issuing a paper airline ticket to the
individual for the reserved flight; and
establishing remote locations at which said passenger may access the passenger
reservation information from the central data bank, including the step of
providing data communication at a remote location, serving as a boarding gate
of a flight, to communicate personal identification information received from
the passenger to said flight reservation center for verifying the passenger
reservation for that flight prior to allowing the passenger to board, thereby
eliminating the need for paper airline tickets;
further including the step of:
updating the reservation data of the passenger for the particular flight
reservation from the reservation data storage area of the central data bank,
after the personal identification information of the passenger is communicated
to the central data bank and the reservation has been verified, to include in
the reservation data an indication that the passenger has boarded the airplane
for the particular flight.
9. A ticket-less airline reservation method as defined in claim 8, wherein the
step of establishing remote locations further includes the steps of:
providing data communication at a further remote location, serving as a baggage
check facility, to communicate a passenger's personal information to said
central data bank to verify the passenger reservation and obtain flight
information for the flight on which baggage is to be checked; and
checking baggage in response to a flight reservation verification received from
said central data bank without requiring the passenger to present an airline
ticket.
10. A ticket-less airline reservation method, comprising the steps of:
operating a flight reservation center to make a particular flight reservation
for a passenger utilizing a telephone call-in system;
storing flight reservation information in a reservation data area of a central
data bank for a passenger who has made a particular flight reservation via said
flight reservation center, without issuing a paper airline ticket to the
individual for the reserved flight; and
establishing remote locations at which said passenger may access the passenger
reservation information from the central data bank, including the step of
providing data communication at a remote location, serving as a boarding gate
of a flight, to communicate personal identification information received from
the passenger to said flight reservation center for verifying the passenger
reservation for that flight prior to allowing the passenger to board, thereby
eliminating the need for paper airline tickets;
wherein said central data bank also stores flight mileage information for a
flight bonus program for individual passengers, the method further including
the step of:
updating the flight mileage information in said central data bank for a
passenger who has boarded an airplane to reflect the flight mileage for the
particular flight.
11. An electronic communication system for providing reservations and
authorization for a particular individual to access a prescheduled activity
using only personal identification information, said system comprising:
a central storage for storing reservation data concerning a prescheduled
activity and information which relates a particular individual, who has made a
reservation for the prescheduled activity, to the stored reservation data;
an identification card for accessing reservation data from said central
storage, said card comprising storage means for storing information personal to
an individual to identify that individual and not information concerning a
prescheduled activity for which the individual may make a reservation;
sites remote from said central storage at which reservation information may be
accessed from said central storage, said information sites each comprising a
computer and a telecommunication connection between said computer and said central
storage to verify reservation information on site at the location of said
prescheduled activity, said computer comprising an identification card reader
for reading the magnetic means on the identification card to identify an
individual to the central storage, which central storage includes means
responsive to personal information received from a remote site via said
telecommunication means for verifying a reservation and authorizing the
identified individual to participate in the prescheduled activity without
requiring the individual to present a paper ticket which identifies the
activity;
an automatic teller machine at the remote information sites for providing
information relating to the prescheduled activity for which an individual has a
reservation, said automatic teller machine comprising a card reader, a printer
and a display terminal;
wherein the same identification card may be used over and over again for
admission to additional activities without the need for either issuing a new
card or a ticket or for updating the card prior to each activity; and
wherein said prescheduled activity is an automobile rental, and said computer
at each remote site includes means for printing out and displaying directions
to the location of the automobile to be rented and other information relating
to said rental.
12. A method of validating a reservation for and obtaining access to
accommodations in a place of lodging, comprising the steps of:
making a reservation for a particular accommodation in a place of lodging for a
particular individual and for a particular time period;
issuing to the particular individual a personal identification card having
stored thereon identification information corresponding to the individual, but
no specific reservation information, in response to the making of said
reservation for the particular individual;
storing reservation data, which identifies the particular individual, the
particular accommodation and the particular time period for which the
reservation has been made, along with credit account information of said
particular individual, in a reservation data storage area of a data bank;
reading the personal identification card issued to the particular individual at
said place of lodging to verify the reservation for the particular individual,
by accessing the reservation data stored in the data bank;
providing to said particular individual information identifying the
accommodation reserved for said particular individual at said place of lodging
in response to verification of the reservation;
controlling access to said accommodation to permit access by said particular
individual only during said particular time period, as specified by said
reservation information, using said personal identification card; and
allowing said particular individual to charge goods and services at said place
of lodging using said personal identification card during said particular time
period once said reservation has been verified;
whereby the same personal identification card may be used over and over to
obtain repeated access to said accommodation during said particular time period
without the need for issuing a new identification card or updating the
information stored on the identification card prior to each use thereof.
13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said accommodation has a locked
entrance, and said step of controlling access to said
accommodation includes opening said locked entrance using said personal
identification card as a key.
14. A method as defined in claim 12, further including the steps of reading the
personal identification card of an individual at the time the individual checks
out of the place of lodging, and storing in the data bank the time and date on
which the personal identification card was read at check-out for purposes of
billing the individual for the time during which accommodations were used by
the individual.
15. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said personal identification card
is issued to said particular individual before the
individual arrives at said place of lodging.
16. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said personal identification card
is read at said place of lodging without the assistance of an employee of said
place of lodging.
17. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said accommodation has a
restricted entrance, and said step of controlling access to said
accommodation includes permitting access through said restricted entrance by
use of said personal identification card.
18. A method as defined in claim 12, further including the step of allowing
said particular individual access to goods and services of said place of
lodging by use of said personal identification card during said particular time
period once said reservation has been verified.
19. A method of validating a reservation for and obtaining access to
accommodations in a place of lodging, comprising the steps of:
making a reservation for a particular accommodation in a place of lodging for a
particular individual and for a particular time period;
issuing to the particular individual a personal identification card having
stored thereon identification information corresponding to the individual, but
no specific reservation information, in response to the making of said
reservation for the particular individual;
storing reservation data, which identifies the particular individual, the
particular accommodation and the particular time period for which the
reservation has been made, along with credit account information of said
particularly individual, in a reservation data storage area of a data bank;
reading the personal identification card issued to the particular individual at
said place of lodging to verify the reservation for the particular individual,
by accessing the reservation data stored in the data bank;
providing to said particular individual information identifying the
accommodation reserved for said particular individual at said place of lodging
in response to verification of the reservation;
controlling access to said accommodation to permit access by said particular
individual only during said particular time period, as specified by said
reservation information, using said personal identification card; and
allowing said particular individual to charge goods and services at said place
of lodging using said personal identification card during said particular time
period once said reservation has been verified;
whereby the same personal identification card may be used over and over to
obtain repeated access to said accommodation during said particular time
period without the need for issuing a new identification card or updating the
information stored on the identification card prior to each use thereof;
further including the steps of reading the personal identification card of an
individual at the time the individual checks out of the place of lodging, and
storing in the data bank the time and date on which the personal identification
card was read at check-out for purposes of billing the individual for the time
during which accommodations were used by the individual.
20. A method of validating a reservation for and obtaining access to a rental
vehicle, comprising the steps of:
making a reservation for a rental vehicle to be picked up at a particular
location by a particular individual;
issuing to the particular individual a reusable personal identification card
having stored thereon identification information corresponding to the
individual, but no specific reservation or vehicle rental information, in
response to the making of a reservation for the particular individual;
storing reservation data, which identifies the particular individual, credit
account information for the particular individual to be used in the charge for
a vehicle rental and the rental vehicle pickup location for which the
reservation has been made, in a reservation data storage area of a data bank;
reading the personal identification card of the individual at the vehicle
pickup location to verify the reservation for the particular vehicle rental, by
accessing the reservation data stored in the data bank;
providing a printout of information relating to said vehicle rental at said
vehicle pickup location in response to the verification of said reservation;
and
providing the individual access to the keys of a rental vehicle after the
personal identification card is read and the reservation has been verified;
whereby the same personal identification card may be used over and over to
validate a reservation for a rental vehicle without the need for issuing either
a new identification card or updating the information stored on the
identification card prior to each reservation.
21. A method as defined in claim 20, said personal identification card is read
at said vehicle pickup location without the assistance of an employee of an
entity providing the vehicle rental.
22. A method of renting a vehicle and obtaining access to a rental vehicle,
comprising the steps of:
issuing to the particular individual a reusable personal identification card having
stored thereon identification information corresponding to the individual, but
no specific reservation or vehicle rental information;
storing personal data, which identifies the particular individual and credit
account information for the particular individual to be used in the charge for
a vehicle rental, in a reservation data storage area of a data bank;
reading the personal identification card of the individual at a vehicle pickup
location to initiate a rental of a vehicle, by accessing the personal data
stored in the data bank to verify the identity of said particular individual;
providing a printout of information relating to said vehicle rental, including
directions to the location of the vehicle to be rented and other information
relating to said rental, at said vehicle pickup location in response to the
verification of the identity of said particular individual; and
providing the individual access to the keys of the rental vehicle after the
personal identification card is read;
whereby the same personal identification card may be used over and over to
effect rental of a vehicle without the need for issuing either a new
identification card or updating the information stored on the identification
card prior to each reservation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method of providing an electronic
reservation and individual validation for various activities, including
boarding a common carrier, and more particularly, relates to a method and
system to provide an electronic individual activities reservation and
validation, eliminating tickets and other paper receipts. A plastic card may
also be employed with an encoded magnetic strip to identify the card holder in
lieu of a paper carbon ticket for fast and efficient check-in, boarding and
access to common carriers, hotels, and other activities.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Since the first days of common carriers such as commercial airlines flight, the
airlines have been burdened with the job of making reservations and writing or
printing out passenger tickets on paper. Although the airline ticket of today
is printed on a special paper with a style difficult to counterfeit, the
reservation and ticketing process has essentially remained the same. A
passenger, either through the airline or ticket agent, pays for passage and a
corresponding paper ticket is issued. This paper ticket is then surrendered to
persons at the departure gate upon entry onto the aircraft. Likewise, in other
industries, such as the hotel industry, the reservations system also includes
check-in processing, paperwork, and the issuance of keys to particular
individuals traveling.
The fundamental problem is validating that a particular individual has reserved
and prepaid for particular activities or services, and that the particular
individual continues to be valid throughout an activity process, whether making
a reservation for an airline trip, boarding the aircraft, or checking into a
hotel and going to a particular room. There are inherent problems in this
process. Using the airlines as an example, these include the burdens of making
individual reservations and payment, always having to have the correct type and
style paper ticket on hand for ticket printing, and the inability for these
tickets to be reused if mistakes occur or flight changes are necessary which
happen often. Further, if a ticket is lost or a passenger misses a flight, an added
dilemma occurs in that new tickets must be drawn up. Although a written record
is usually available for the airline and passenger, this process creates an
added burden since the airline ticket agent must perform the task of checking
and determining the new and previous flight information for each new ticket.
Moreover, the flight attendant at the departure gate must gather and hold each
ticket upon passenger boarding. Often, tickets get lost or are mixed with other
flights, which requires tedious work and wasted time
in locating, interpreting, and arranging the misplaced tickets. Even after
tickets are collected at the gate, manual sorting is often necessary to
determine which passengers have boarded the correct flight and which flights
were at capacity and, therefore, profitable. The key problem is validating the
reservation and payment of the individual throughout the process without
slowing the process at particular check points such as aircraft boarding.
Similar problems exist in the hotel industry and the car rental industry.
Ticketing systems are known in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a communication system and method to
electronically, continuously validate an individual as to reservations and
payment with respect to various preplanned
activities, such as airline travel, hotel stays, and car rental. The system
connects a main computer system storing basic information to mobile lap top
individual computers at remote sites in order to exchange personal database
validation information for an individual and preplanned activities. Reservations and payment
information includes both sales control and holder validity at the critical
sites. Each mobile computer includes a card reader to expedite pass through of
the individual at each process check point.
Using the airlines as an example, the present invention method and system is
now described. Typically, the common carrier reservation process starts with a would be passenger contacting the airline via a travel
agent or contacting the airline directly through a toll free 800 telephone
number. The airline reservation operator, who answers the call, provides flight
availability information. Once the passenger elects to reserve passage,
reservation information is obtained. This reservation information is basically
the passenger's personal identification (name and telephone number) and the
form of payment used. If a passenger elects to pay by credit card, the airline
main computer is designed and includes software to automatically seek and
determine authorization from the credit card company. If the passenger desires
to make payment using the credit card method, the airline main computer will
transfer the funds and store the passenger reservation information and assign
an authorized reservation number. A cash or check payment at a travel agency,
once verified, will also result in a reservation number in the main computer.
Upon the first, initial reservation, the passenger is issued an identification
plastic card and with a card number. The plastic card is used for passenger
identification and validation. The card number only is encoded onto a magnetic
strip at the back of the plastic identification card. The card is mailed to the
passenger with an itinerary and instruction pamphlet attached. The instruction
pamphlet informs the passenger of the proper use of the identification card
upon arrival at the airport. The identification card can be used again and
again for different flights.
At the airport, the passenger proceeds to a special identification card
automatic teller machine (ATM). One or more of these ATM are preferably placed
throughout a designated airline terminal. After identifying the machine, a
passenger passes or swipes the identification card through a magnetic card
reader attached to the special ATM. The card number is identified by ATM which
is electrically connected to the main or central computer holding the payment
and reservation validation information. The remotely located central computer
communicates with the ATM and processes the card number derived from the
magnetic strip. A greeting, welcome information, and passenger directions are
displayed on a CRT screen, which directs the passenger to an appropriate
counter for baggage check. The passenger is also instructed as to the proper
concourse and gate of aircraft departure. A written printout may be also
included with all the information which has been displayed on the CRT screen.
The printout is supplied through an attached printer, within the ATM, directly
to the passenger. The printout is only to provide relevant information and is
not a ticket.
After the passenger's baggage has been checked and the passenger arrives at the
departure gate, a flight attendant awaits each passenger before boarding. The
flight attendant uses a lap top or notebook type portable computer with a built
in cellular telephone and magnetic card reader, hereinafter referred to as a
mobile airline communication unit. The passenger identification card is swiped
through the magnetic card reader, where the main or central computer
communicates to the mobile computer by cellular telephone, validates the
specific card identification number and reservation number and passenger
authorization entry to the aircraft. The mobile airline communication unit
including the lap top computer is both uploaded and downloaded frequently to
the main computer in order to provide a current record in the main computer of
updated passenger validation information, such as flight reservations and
payment, passenger boarding and flight information.
The plastic card forms the basis for identification only of the particular
individual. The card has a card number encoded magnetically that is utilized
with the appropriate card reader technology to activate the main computer and
provide a subsequent validation or authorization with respect to particular
reservations, be it for airlines, hotels or rental cars or the like. The
specific reservation information is not put on the card. Once payment has been
authorized, for example for an airline ticket, the main computer has a
reservation number that is associated with a particular card number once the
card is read and the computer is questioned as to authorization of a particular
reservation. Therefore, once the particular individual who is also identified
by a particular card number has paid for the particular reservation, at each
step in the process, such as the boarding gate or hotel check-in, inserting the
I.D. card into a card reader provides authorization and verification of the
reservation and payment allowing the person to pass through the system
continuously without requiring paper at each step of the way. In fact, the
person can pass through the system even if the person loses the card by using
the person's name which again will be transmitted to the main computer that
shows that there is an existing reservation number that has been paid for and
is authorized. The I.D. card makes it quicker and faster so that the airline
personnel at each check point do not have to enter any information to pulse the
main computer but can merely allow the individual to swipe the card or put the
card in a card-reader and pass on through.
In the event a passenger misses a flight or requires a flight change, the main
computer itself or the airline reservation center office can transfer the
specific passenger reservation and payment validation to a revised flight
reservation. Until the card is swiped during boarding at the mobile airline
communication unit, the card number will indicate in the main computer a valid
reservation that can be used on a particular flight. Once the card is
magnetically swiped upon boarding, however, the mobile unit uploads the
authorization to the main computer, thereby cancelling the validation number
for that particular flight reservation. The identification card and its number
continue to identify a particular person but no particular reservation
authorization is listed in the main computer preventing intentional or
unintentional misuse in the future.
The main computer may be large main frame holding passenger and airline flight
reservation and payment information under the passenger's name, phone number,
reservation number and passenger's card identification number and reservation
#. The main frame computer is also capable of retaining passenger flight
records for flight bonus programs and frequent flyer mileage totals. If a
passenger were to lose his identification card immediately prior to boarding,
the flight attendant can access a special validity bank within the main
computer with the card number. This is accomplished by entering a passenger's
name or card number manually into the mobile unit on the attached keyboard.
Proof of identity will then be the only requirement before boarding is
permitted. The card is therefore not a requirement for boarding the aircraft.
Therefore, it is the principal object of the invention to provide a method and
system of issuing an electronic validation to an individual for reservations
and payment, for preplanned activities such as flight
reservations, hotel reservations or rental car reservations.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of electronic
validation to eliminate paper ticketing.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method of providing a personal and accurate up-to-the-minute information with
common carrier passengers through the use of a automated teller machine used
with an electronic validation system.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method for supplying
a passenger with baggage check and gate information using an automated teller
system with associated screen and printer.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method of supplying
a flight attendant at a departing gate with a mobile communication unit for
reading magnetically encoded information from an electronic card to validate an
individual passenger's payment for input into a mobile remote computer system.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter,
the instant invention will now become described with particular reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B illustrate a flow chart depicting the method of the present
invention.
FIG. 2A illustrates the front side of an identification card of the present
invention.
FIG. 2B illustrates the rear side of an identification card shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the system utilized in the present
invention including the general configuration of the main computer, the mobile
computer communication unit and card reader and an automated teller machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A flow chart of the method describing a system using
the instant invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B. An airline reservation
is selected as an example. A would be passenger or travel agent 1 contacts the
airline flight information and reservation center generally via a toll free
telephone number.
The flight information reservation center is the central calling point where
the airline or private company who handles all the reservations and authorizations
operates with a regular telephone network and with call-in access from cellular
telephones. A main computer is maintained at the reservation center. Once a
passenger or the travel agency calls in, flight information is given for a
specific flight. If an individual calls in, payment is made by a credit card
which is automatically accessed while the passenger is on the telephone line,
which transfers the payment at that moment to the airline. Credit card payment
is verified while the passenger is on line. If the travel agent 3 handles the
transaction, then payment must be made by cash or money order or credit card to
the travel agent. The travel agency will then have a relationship with the
airline or the reservation center as far as transfer of money once payment has
made by cash by the passenger. In any event, after authorized payment has been
made, a reservation number for a particular flight is then issued in the
computer and identified with a particular passenger name and I.D. card number.
Obviously if the credit card authorization is not approved, then the
transaction would end at block 5 and no further reservation would be made. The
reservation number issued at block 8 that identifies the passenger would cause
either the issue of a specific plastic I.D. card at 9 which is mailed to the
passenger and includes only a card I.D. number
only, or if the passenger already has in his possession a plastic card with a
card number, the reservation number is then identified along with the card
number.
At this point then, the passenger will have in his possession an I.D. plastic
card with a number on it. The reservation for a particular flight is stored in
the computer and the payment has already been authorized and made to the
airline. The passenger then arrives at 7 at the terminal with the I.D. card.
Referring now to FIG. 1B the passenger will arrive at the terminal at an ATM 12
in the airport. The I.D. card is put into a card reader in the ATM which can
provide on a CRT or other type of screen directions and information concerning
the flight where to go for baggage check-in, what gate to go to for the flight
itself. This information can be displayed on a screen only or can be provided
also as a print out. If the passenger loses card at 13 then another card can be
mailed with the same I.D. number.
Once the passenger has received directions from the ATM at 12, the passenger
proceeds to the departure gate area where the baggage is checked. At the
departure gate the mobile airline communications system 15 is employed by the
airline. Typically, airline personnel such as stewards and stewardesses can man
the mobile airline communications system which is comprised of a cellular
telephone connected to a lap top computer and includes a magnetic card reader.
The passenger hands the card to the airline personnel that uses
the card and the card reader where the lap top or portable computer and the
cellular telephone network instantly verifies and validate that the passenger
has a reservation on that particular flight and that the payment has been made
for the, flight. This is individual personal validation at the departure gate
which then allows the passenger to enter the plane. The mobile airline
communication system will be communicated by cellular telephone with the main
computer memory and records to provide proper validation. Thus, the passenger
is validated with the card at 16 and enters the airplane 19. At this time the
authorization number and reservation number once the passenger has entered the
airplane is removed. Should the passenger lose the card at the mobile airline
communication system the passenger can still be validated just by providing the
passenger's name and/or the I.D. card number and proper identification.
The card I.D. number is the access number that gets into the main computer
records that provides for all reservation and validation information.
Obviously, if the passenger loses the I.D. card then the passenger must provide
personal identification such as a driver's license or the like.
Going back to the terminal in the airport and the ATM 12, should the passenger
miss the flight or decide to change the flight this can be accomplished by
calling the reservation center and making flight reservations providing for a
revised reservation number that includes the new flight number and payment
authorization. The use of the present system eliminates all paper ticketing at
each step of the way whether it's arriving at the airport or arriving at the
departure gate where the person can using the plastic I.D. card have it entered
into the card reader and ensure validation with the airline personnel at the
boarding gate. This can be done even without the I.D. card but of course it
will slow things down if the passenger has to provide name and identification at
the boarding gate.
The system can be employed not only for common carriers such as airlines or
other similar type reservations but can be used for hotel reservations with
prepayment established for a fixed check-in and check-out times with the
check-in at the hotel being with an ATM automatic teller machine that provides
the room number where a card could also be used to activate the room door
by-passing the desk completely for check-in and check-out purposes. This would
also include credit card authorization in a network where expenses incurred at
the hotel be automatically charged to the credit card network. Check-out of the
hotel could be accomplished by merely inserted the card in the card reader and
noting that the time and date that the hotel participant left. One of the key
elements in the system is the mobile or land airline communication system which
allows for a card reader computer activation through a cellular or land
telephone network with the main computer to provide mobile pre-site locations for
identifying and authorizing the reservation and the fact that it was prepaid
and that the person is therefore validated. Such mobile sites can be set-up
anywhere where it be in the airport, a train station,
hotels or at car rental places.
Referring now to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B the typical plastic I.D. card is shown
which is conventional in nature that only contains on the magnetic bar strip 37
the particular I.D. number of the card itself but does not include any
reservation authorization information perse. The
front of the card in FIG. 2A is shown 31 displaying the I.D. number only, while
the back of the card shows in FIG. 2B a magnetic strip 37. The card is useful
for expediting entrance and egress in various particular environments for
instant authorization and validation of the particular person by permitting use
at the automatic teller machine for providing information, and an I.D. for
boarding the aircraft or accessing a hotel room or renting a car by merely
inserting the I.D. card in a card reader for verification and validation of the
person.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the invention is shown comprised of a central computer
10 which is a main frame computer that holds all the basic flight information,
the reservation name of the passenger, the telephone number of the passenger,
the reservation number assigned to the passenger once payment and the
identification card number of the passenger along with information concerning
authorization and payment validation and access to the passenger's credit card
company records. Central computer has an input at flight reservations 60 that
allows for flight reservations to input and access the central computer at all
times. A telephone conventional network 62 allows for call-in on a 800 number to personnel at flight reservations 60 for
making a particular reservation on a aircraft. The central computer also gets
access through a transmitter and receiver system 64 that is explained in
greater detail below. The central computer is also connected to an automatic
teller machine 12 typically located at the airport terminal, as described
below. The system also utilizes a mobile airline communication device 15 which
includes a cellular telephone 49 having an antenna 49A and a lap top computer
51 that includes a visual display 53 and a magnetic card reader 55. Therefore,
the system is operated as follows. A passenger or travel agency utilizes the
conventional telephone network 62 and calls the airline flight information and
reservation service center 60. A flight reservation is then determined in
central computer 10 to be available and if available passenger name, address,
phone number is entered while the credit card records 66 at the passenger's
credit card company are questioned by the central computer for payment authorization
and verification. If a passenger has an I.D. card already, then the I.D. number
will pull up that file. If the passenger does not have an I.D. card, then an
I.D. card number is assigned when the reservation number is assigned. If
sufficient funds are available, then the central computer transfers funds to
the airline through the credit card records. At this point a reservation number
is created in the central computer and validated for a particular passenger and
the passenger I.D. card number. Reservation operations center would then mail
out the I.D. plastic card with the I.D. number to the passenger. If the
passenger already has a pre-issued plastic I.D. card number, then the itinerary
is mailed. The passenger would then go to the airport terminal on the day of
the flight and upon walking into the terminal will see an automatic teller
machine 12. The automatic teller machines includes a
card reader slot 41 which is attached to a magnetic card reader connected to
the automatic teller machine. A CRT or other visual display 43 provided at the
automatic teller machine, along with a printer 45 that includes a printout tape
47 to provide same information printed out, as provided on the display screen
43. Once the passenger puts the card in the card reader 41 the visual display
will tell information such as departure gate, baggage check-in area, time of
flight, flight number and other relevant information directions how to get to
the gate for the passenger. The information may be printed out also on tape 47.
The passenger would then proceed to baggage check-in and then on to the
departure gate.
At the departure gate the mobile airline communications system 15 is employed
by one or more employees of the airline such as stewards and stewardesses who
will also be departing on the flight. Each airline person can use a lap top
computer 51 that has also a magnetic card reader slot 55 and a magnetic card
reader device electrically connected therein and a visual display screen 53 to
provide verification and validation information to the airline employee. The
lap top computer includes a cellular telephone 49 having an antenna 49A
connected electrically thereto which allows for transmission of information
from the lap top computer back to the central computer through the transmitter
receiver 64 for instant validation of the particular passenger once the plastic
identification card is inserted into the magnetic card reader slot 55. The
mobile airline communications system 15 is therefore portable and is carried on
and off the flight by the airline personnel. Thus the passenger to board the
aircraft need only hand the plastic I.D. card to the airline personnel who places it in the lap top computer and looks at the screen
receiving an authorization or validation that person has paid for a particular
flight and that this is the proper flight. Using the mobile airline
communications system 15 mobile sites can be selected anywhere and still allow
access to the central computer whether it is at different boarding gates if
changes have to be made and which can be carried with the airline personnel
alleviating the necessity for excessive number of permanent gate operating
employees. The flight personnel can also use the mobile airline communications
system at all subsequent stops and route for each boarding passenger at the
boarding site. Should the passenger lose the I.D. card or not have the I.D.
card available at the boarding gate, then the airline personnel can enter the
information manually into the lap top computer 51 as to the person's name and
still obtain a validation and authorization on the visual screen. At this point
the passenger would have to produce personal identification proof so that the
person could be allowed on board the aircraft.
Thus, the present system allows for a particular individual to be personally
validated at various check points along with a preplanned
activity without the necessity of using paper ticketing for check-in and
boarding purposes.
The overall system could also be employed for hotel reservations wherein the
reservations are made and the payment is made. Once the party checks into the
hotel with the plastic I.D. card at a mobile check-in station, the person could
proceed to the room designated where the card could also be used to access the
room for certain periods of time that are authorized by the central computer.
Check-in and check-out could be eliminated. Additional information could be
provided in an automatic teller machine provided in the hotel or in the mobile
communications system, as desired.
Finally, the system could be used in other environments such as requiring
prepaid, prepaid planned activities such as renting an automobile. Again, the
I.D. card would be used to access a mobile station at the check-out car center
which provides authorization and automatically provides the keys after
authorization to allow the party to use the car.
The use of the I.D. card allows for expeditious handling and transfer and
validation at each point along the way. Card I.D. number which is coded on the
card provides the particular access to the central computer containing
information on schedules, prepayment, flight
information.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered
to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however,
that departures may be made therefrom within the
scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person
skilled in the art.
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