Patent ID: 8997159
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for providing service items to an aircraft passenger, the method comprising: receiving, by at least one computer aboard an aircraft, passenger manifest data for a flight; receiving, by the computer aboard the aircraft, passenger preference data received from passengers on the flight prior to embarkation aboard the aircraft; receiving, by the computer aboard the aircraft, inventory information describing available food and beverage items aboard the aircraft, the inventory information including an available quantity of each item; identifying, by the computer from the received passenger preference data, passenger preference data for a first passenger, the passenger preference data indicating a special meal type for the first passenger; displaying to the first passenger aboard the aircraft on a first entertainment device a plurality of menu options, the menu options including an entertainment option and a food ordering option; receiving from the first passenger at the first entertainment device a selection of the food ordering option; responsive to the selection of the food ordering option, displaying on the first entertainment device a description of the available food and beverage items associated with the special meal type indicated for the first passenger, at least some of the items having a displayed associated cost; receiving, at the first entertainment device, a request from the first passenger for one of the displayed food or beverage items; receiving, at the first entertainment device, payment from the first passenger of the cost associated with the requested food or beverage item; responsive to receiving the payment from the first passenger, displaying on an amenities module a description of the requested item and a seat location of the first passenger; receiving, at the amenities module, an indication that the requested item has been delivered to the first passenger in response to the displaying on the amenities module of the description of the requested item; responsive to receiving the indication that the requested item has been delivered, decrementing the available inventory of the requested food or beverage item; and displaying on a second entertainment device accessible to a second passenger a description of the available food and beverage items, wherein responsive to a determination that the available inventory of the item requested by the first passenger is zero, the description of the available food and beverage items displayed to the second passenger does not include the item requested by the first passenger.