Abstract:
A system for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales on commercial airline flights includes a point-of-sale (POS) computer for receiving currency and merchandise inventory information preflight and for recording transactions in-flight. Data is exchanged between the POS computer and a cash/currency processing computer (CPC) for reconciling preflight and post-flight inventories and for generating reports for use by the airlines, merchandise vendors and currency exchange service providers. A control method includes the steps of determining currency and merchandise inventories preflight, recording transactions in-flight and reconciling and reporting transactions post-flight.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of transactions, and in particular to a system and method for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales on commercial airliners. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Passengers on commercial aircraft and other vehicles represent commercial opportunities for merchandise sales. For example, on international flights merchandise sales can often be made “duty-free”. Duties assessed on various consumer goods can be substantial in a number of countries. Therefore, duty-free sales tend to be relatively popular among international travelers, particularly with relatively expensive, luxury-type items. 
   Duty-free merchandise inventories can be stowed in the service carts commonly used by airlines for in-flight food and beverage service. The service carts are stocked with merchandise, food and beverages by vendors and caterers at airports for loading on outbound flights. The flight attendants sell duty-free merchandise to passengers in much the same way as beverage sales are handled. Empty carts are offloaded for restocking. Service carts tend to be relatively uniform in size to facilitate stowing in standard-size airliner galleys and to facilitate passing through the aisles. They are subject to applicable regulations and certifications for airline use. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifies equipment for use on airliners in the United States. Therefore, an important objective in utilizing service carts for currency exchange and merchandise sales is to avoid modifying the carts. Such modifications, even if allowed, could require FAA recertification. 
   Service carts on international flights have previously been utilized for currency exchange. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,008 and Des. 406,270, which are assigned to a common assignee herewith, disclose point-of-sale devices for mounting on top of airline service carts. Such devices receive currency and process transactions, including currency exchange and merchandise sales. However, more compact equipment is desirable to comply with airliner weight restrictions and size limitations. 
   Currency conversion represents another type of commercial opportunity among airline passengers. Relativity high percentages of international travelers convert currency. Although currency conversion transactions can be conducted in both the originating and destination countries, in-flight conversion tends to be considerably more convenient than the alternative of locating a financial institution before or after traveling. Moreover, in-flight currency exchange can accommodate passengers&#39; needs for local currency for ground transportation and other needs on arrival. 
   Duty-free sales and foreign currency exchange provide revenue for airlines and other entities which receive portions of the profits generated by merchandise sales and foreign currency exchange. Although such transactions have a number of advantages for passengers, airlines and vendors, several difficulties are typically encountered in providing merchandise sales and currency exchange. For example, space limitations significantly restrict the types of merchandise which can be loaded into service carts. Therefore, the merchandise stocked in the service carts tends to be relativity small and high-value. Examples include watches, perfumes, liquor, cigarettes, electronics and other luxury-type items which are typically associated with relativity high duties. 
   Security and accountability for currency and merchandise are also concerns. They assume even greater significance when foreign currency exchange services are offered because the inventory must include additional cash of various denominations. 
   Other problems arise from multiple flight crews handling the service carts and the merchandise and currency stocked thereon. Since different flight crews are often involved in outbound, intermediate and return flights, responsibility for goods and currency must be transferred at different stations in route. Still further, currency inventory utilized for conversion and making change for merchandise sales represents assets which are tied up and at risk to the provider. 
   The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. Heretofore, there has not been available a system and method for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the practice of the present invention, a system is provided for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales aboard commercial airline flights. The system includes a point-of-sale (POS) computer which is carried on board the aircraft for use by air crew members in conducting currency exchange and merchandise sales transactions. Inventory and transactional data are transferred preflight and post-flight between the POS computer and a cash/currency processing computer (CPC) located remotely from the aircraft. The control system is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with airline service carts stocked with merchandise and mounting security drawers for currency. In the practice of the method of the present invention, currency and merchandise are inventoried preflight by the CPC computer, data therefrom is loaded into the POS computer, currency exchange and merchandise sales transactions are recorded by the POS computer in-flight, reports are generated by the POS computer post-flight and the CPC computer receives flight-related data from the POS computer. Transaction and ending inventory reports are generated post-flight for reconciling with preflight reports. Additional reports are generated for documenting profits and losses, currency exchange and merchandise sales historical data and discrepancies between beginning and ending inventory balances. 
   OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
   The principal objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing a system for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales; providing such a system which is adapted for use on board commercial airline flights; providing such a system which utilizes existing airline service carts for stocking merchandise and currency inventories; providing such a system which utilizes a touch-screen, point-of-sale (POS) computer on board the aircraft for recording inventories preflight and transactions in-flight; providing such a system which utilizes a cash/currency processing computer (CPC) located remotely from the aircraft for transferring data to and from the POS computer; providing such a system which is secure; providing such a system which is relatively easy to operate; providing such a system which utilizes readily available equipment; providing such a system which utilizes existing airline service carts without modifying same; providing a method of controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales; providing such a method which reduces the risk of currency or merchandise loss; providing such a method which performs preflight inventory functions; providing such a method which records transactions in-flight; and providing such a method which generates reports and reconciles beginning and ending inventories post-flight. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 1   a  is an upper, perspective view of a service cart with a security drawer for use with the control system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a procedure for in-flight technical documentation of currency exchange and merchandise sales transactions. 
       FIGS. 4   a – 22  are screen displays and documentation of the control system and method. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   I. Introduction and Environment 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
   Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  2  generally designates a foreign currency exchange (FX) and merchandise sales system ( FIG. 1 ). The system  2  generally includes a service cart  4  with a locking security drawer  4   a  ( FIG. 1A ) for receiving currency  6  and merchandise  8 . The security drawer  4   a  is the subject of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/652,086, which is assigned to a common assignee herewith and is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Without limitation on the generality of useful applications of the control system  2  and the control method, an application in a commercial airliner  10  is shown and described. The aircraft  10  operates out of originating and nonoriginating stations  12 ,  14  respectively. A point-of-sale (POS) computer  9  is utilized on the aircraft  10  for recording the transactions involving the currency  6  and the merchandise  8 . Without limitation on the generality of suitable computing devices, hand-held, touch-screen computers available from TouchStar Technologies, LLC of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Suitable programming is available from Novo ivc of Warwickshire, England. Data from the POS computer  9  is stored on an FX PC card  11  and a merchandise PC card  13  for transfer to a cash/currency processing computer (CPC)  15  which can be located remote from the aircraft and airports. 
   II. Method for Currency Exchange and Merchandise Sales 
     FIG. 2  is a flowchart of the method of the present invention. A service provider determines the currency inventory at  18  based on such factors as the origin and destination of the flight, aircraft type, passenger load, historical sales penetration, average historical transaction amounts, input from air crews, time of flight and business/pleasure passenger mix. 
   The merchandise vendor determines the merchandise inventory at  20 , which generally consists of relatively expensive, small goods likely to appeal to international travelers. Size restrictions imposed by the service carts  4  significantly affect the merchandise inventory. Currency data is loaded on the FX PC card  11  at  22  and merchandise inventory data is loaded on the merchandise PC card  13  at  24 . The FX and merchandise cards  11 ,  13  are inserted in the POS computer  9  at  26 . One or both of the FX and merchandise cards  11 ,  13  can be utilized depending on the availability of FX or merchandise sales or both on a particular flight. 
   FX and merchandise sales transactions are recorded on the POS computer  9  at  28 . The POS computer  9  identifies the inventory and reconciles the transactions at the end of the flight at  30  and generates appropriate reports at  32 . The merchandise sales data is provided to the merchandise vendor at  34  and the service provider receives transaction data (i.e., both FX and merchandise sales transactions) at  36 . Revenues are allocated among the airline, service provider and merchandise vendor at  38 . 
   III. In-Flight Technical Documentation 
     FIG. 3  shows a procedure for in-flight technical documentation of the method of the present invention. Support files are loaded in the POS computer  9  at  42 . Application forms are loaded at  44  and can include a card load form allowing a user to enter information needed to load the POS PC cards  11 ,  13 ; a form reading data from the POS PC card  11  for reconciling currencies from the flight and a history form for producing a listing of all transactions. 
   Application reports are generated at  46  and include a flight summary report, a listing of currencies returned from a flight, a listing of credit card transactions that occurred during the flight, a listing of all currencies expected and actual amounts, a listing of transactions from the flight, a listing of rates for currencies being sold and tendered and history reports. Text files are generated at  48  and include an archive comprising a complete copy of the data used to reconcile flight, a journal consisting of entries to be entered into the system and a history file with a transaction listing used for historical and/or marketing purposes. 
   Batch procedures are run at  50  and include creating rate files to be sent to all CPC&#39;s, loading historical transaction data and a data extraction section. Files are copied from the POS computer  9  at  52  and are transmitted to the CPC  15  for processing. Reconciliation occurs at  54 . 
   IV. In-Flight User Documentation 
     FIG. 4   a  shows a Main Screen for loading necessary data such as currencies, currency spot rates, currency pricing and beginning inventories of currencies packed in the security drawer  4   a  and onto a PC card  11  or  13 . When the data is transferred to the PC card  11  or  13 , the card loading process is complete and the cash bag data is deleted from the database, which is thereby readied for a new flight. The card load form also allows users to input and maintain information on airlines&#39; flight schedules, currencies, currency spot rates and currency pricing.  FIG. 4   b  shows the toolbar functions therefor. 
     FIG. 5   a  shows an Airlines Screen which allows the user to enter and maintain identifying information about the airlines which utilize the FX and merchandise sales services. The user can enter new records, update existing records or delete existing records. Upon entry to the screen, existing airlines&#39; data is populated automatically.  FIG. 5   b  shows the information managed by the Airlines Screen. 
     FIG. 6   a  shows a Flight Screen used to enter information about the flights on which the service provider will be providing FX services. The user enters flight numbers, origination airports and destination airports. The records can be entered and existing records updated or deleted from this screen, whereupon existing flights&#39; data is populated automatically. Cash bag data being loaded onto a PC card  11  or  13  must be finished or reset through the Cash Bag Screen before deleting a flight.  FIG. 6   b  shows the information managed by the Flight Screen. 
     FIG. 7   a  shows a Currency Screen which allows a user to enter information about the currencies and crew discount currencies for which the service provider offers FX services. The information entered will be used in building the files used by the POS computer  9  to perform the FX and the merchandise sales transactions. Crew currencies for providing air crew members with a discount are also entered in this screen, with the crew currencies being distinguished from the “real” (i.e., nondiscounted) currencies by a character (e.g., “Z”) at the beginning of the currency code. The information managed by the Currency Screen is shown in  FIG. 7   b.    
     FIG. 8   a  shows a Rates Screen for entering and retaining current spot rates for each of various currencies. Crew currencies, if applicable, can also be entered and maintained on this screen. Rate information is in a “per dollar” format and can be entered periodically, e.g., daily.  FIG. 8   b  shows the information managed by this screen. 
     FIG. 9   a  shows a Pricing Screen allowing a user to enter and maintain transaction fees, par fees and spreads for each currency that is applied to an FX or merchandise sales transaction. The information is maintained according to flight origin and destination, and generally will not change on a frequent basis. If applicable, crew currencies can also be maintained on this screen.  FIG. 9   b  shows information managed by this screen. 
     FIG. 10   a  shows a Cash Bag Screen for entering currency inventories that will be loaded onto a flight for a single POS computer  9 . A specific set of files containing data is loaded onto a PC card  11  or  13  prior to the flight. Data entered on the screen is used to build the required files on the PC card  11  or  13 .  FIG. 10   b  shows the information managed by this screen. 
     FIG. 11   a  shows a Validate Screen for performing a final check on information entered from the Cash Bag Screen. The cash information for each individual flight can be viewed. Dates, currencies and start totals can be modified if they were originally entered in the Cash Bag Screen. A Bart Report ( FIGS. 14   a,b , discussed below) is run for the use of the flight crew to load rate information. The user is given the option of loading the data on a duplicate, backup PC card.  FIG. 11   b  shows the information managed by this screen. 
     FIG. 12   a  shows a PC Card screen. The PC Card screen is used to upload the data from a PC card  11  or  13  into the local database.  FIG. 12   b  shows the fields displayed in the PC Card screen. 
     FIG. 13   a  shows a Reconcile Screen which allows the user to enter quantities of each denomination of a currency being counted after it has returned to the originating station  12  and been uploaded into the CPC  15  database for reconciling currency amounts removed from the aircraft at the end of the flight, based on beginning currency amounts and all in-flight transactions. Reconciliation is performed for all POS computers  9  and all cash bags on a particular round trip.  FIG. 13   b  shows the fields displayed by the Reconcile Screen. 
     FIG. 14   a  shows a Bart Report displaying currencies that are going to be sold at a rate against the currencies that are going to be tendered for a particular flight. This information is used by flight attendants to announce what the rates are for the currencies that are going to be sold in-flight.  FIG. 14   b  shows rate information for announcing by a flight attendant. 
     FIG. 15  shows an Inventory Report (INV) listing the currencies that were counted and the total number of notes in each denomination for logging the currencies back into the inventory system. 
     FIG. 16  shows a Flight Summary Report (SUM). The Flight Summary Report is a general summary of currencies exchanged during the flight including separate line items for each currency&#39;s transactions of FX merchandise sales, travelers&#39; checks and credit cards. Net gain or loss is calculated and displayed. Crew currency is added into the base currency. 
     FIG. 17  shows a Credit Card Report (CCD) listing all credit card transactions used to purchase currency on a particular flight. 
     FIG. 18  shows a Transaction Detail Report (TRX) with a list of all FX and are calculated along with profit, which corresponds to the Flight Summary Report. 
     FIG. 19  is an Over and Short (Exceptions) Report (XCP) displaying what was expected and what was actually received for each currency on the trip. Separate breakdowns are provided for currency, bank notes and travelers&#39; checks. 
     FIG. 20  is a Journal Text File (JRN) with information for a round-trip for feeding into the service provider&#39;s accounting system. 
     FIG. 21  is a History Text File (HIS) which contains flight and transaction-level data formatted in a specific manner for loading the history database for the history application. 
     FIG. 22  is an Archive Text File (ARC) which contains all transaction details uploaded from the PC card(s)  11  or  13  for a particular round trip. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.