Flight strips management method and system

A flight strips management system comprises a plurality of information processing devices, each information processing as management information on of aircraft control information, flight information, spot allocation information, gate allocation information, servicing information, or passenger information etc and a flight strips management device that reads management information from the information processing devices, compiles flight strips information representing aircraft movement based on the read management information, and stores the compiled flight strips information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a flight strips management method and 
system for rationalizing management of movement of aircraft at an airport. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Examples of airport information systems are control function systems, 
flight information display systems, spot (embarkation/arrival hatches or 
aircraft parking spaces) allocation function systems, gate (passenger 
entrance/exit) allocation function systems, servicing function systems, 
and crisis management function systems. In each information system, the 
respective computers manage individual items of information and the 
operators perform their respective functions using respective computers. 
Thus, the respective functions in the airport as a whole are automated to 
a high degree. 
Also, aircraft in an airport have been managed by cards (flight strips) 
that give movement information such as take-off and landing times for each 
aircraft. 
All these information systems are designed so that the individual items of 
information can be managed using respective computers. 
Since, with such prior art information systems, information was 
individually managed using respective computers, for example in the case 
of crisis management, overall management of the condition of all the 
aircraft in an airport could not be achieved by any computer. The 
operators were therefore unable to ascertain the condition of all aircraft 
within an airport in real time. 
Also, when an aircraft was late in arrival, or an aircraft was late in 
taking off, or an aircraft was cancelled, since the spot allocation 
function system and gate allocation function system managed their 
information individually, with the prior art information systems, 
management to reallocate an aircraft to the optimum spot or optimum gate 
was not possible. The operators therefore had to perform a troublesome 
process of allocation of optimum resources. 
Accordingly, a management system is desired that can mutually link 
respective information systems such as crisis management function, spot 
allocation function, gate allocation function etc. Also, it is expected 
that flight strips management by electronic means will represent the 
kernel of such a management system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a flight strips management 
method and system whereby overall management can be achieved of 
information necessary for flight strips management, that was performed 
individually by airport information systems. By employing the present 
invention, an operator can easily ascertain the condition of all the 
aircraft in an airport and aircraft management functions can be performed 
in an optimal way. 
A flight strips management system comprising: 
a plurality of information processing devices, each information processing 
device processing management information; and a flight strips management 
device that reads management information from the information processing 
devices, compiles flight strips information representing movement 
information of each aircraft based on the read management information, and 
stores the compiled flight strips information. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said flight strips management device comprises: 
a flight strips compilation unit that collates management information read 
from the information processing devices and compiles this flight strips 
information; a storage unit that stores flight strips information compiled 
by this flight strips compilation unit; and an information reading unit 
that reads this management information from the information processing 
devices and communicates it to the flight strips compilation unit. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said management information includes present, past and future position 
information and present, past and future condition information, and 
wherein 
said flight strips compilation unit collates management information read 
from the information processing devices and compiles the flight strips 
information including the present, past and future position information 
and the present, past and future condition information for each aircraft. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said flight strips management device further comprises an information 
display unit that displays, for each aircraft, current position of the 
aircraft and current condition of the aircraft, on an overall view of the 
airport, based on the present position information and the present 
condition information for each aircraft. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said information display unit displays, for each aircraft, past position 
and past condition of the aircraft based on the past position information 
and the past condition information for each aircraft, and future position 
and future condition of the aircraft based on the future position 
information and the future condition information for each aircraft, on a 
view of the airport as a whole. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said information reading unit reads the flight strips information from the 
storage unit and notified each information processing device of the flight 
strips information. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said management information further includes gate and spot allocation 
information, and wherein 
said flight strips compilation unit collates, when the gate and spot 
allocation information is allocated, the gate and spot allocation 
information in the flight strips information, based on the altered 
information. 
Also, the flight strips management system, wherein 
said flight strips management device further comprises an information 
communication unit that is connected through a network with an aircraft to 
communicate with the aircraft. 
Method of flight strips management wherein flight strips information 
representing movement information of each aircraft is compiled on the 
bases of management information relating to the aircraft and this flight 
strips information is managed, comprising the steps of: 
separately processing by a plurality of information processing devices the 
management information; 
reading from the plurality of information processing devices the management 
information 
compiling the flight strips information of each aircraft by collating the 
read management information; 
displaying the compiled flight strips information; 
storing the compiled flight strips information; 
and communicating the flight strips information to the information 
processing devices. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
during the following discussion in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawing, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Embodiments of the flight strips management method and system of the 
present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
First embodiment 
FIG. 1 is a layout block diagram showing a flight strips management system 
according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
A flight strips management system consists of a plurality of information 
processing devices (subsystems) 10A to 10F, and a flight strips management 
device (main system) 20 connected to these plurality of information 
processing devices 10A to 10F. 
10A is a flight information processing device that processes flight 
information such as aircraft condition information and/or gate allocation 
information for each aircraft. 10B is a control information processing 
device that processes control information of the air field. 10C is a 
service information processing device that processes service information 
relating to servicing of the aircraft. 10D is a spot management 
information processing device that performs management whereby a 
take-off/landing spot is allocated for take-off/landing of an aircraft on 
a runway. 10E is a gate allocation information processing device that 
performs processing whereby a gate is allocated connected to an 
embarkation hatch when an aircraft makes use of an embarkation hatch. 10F 
is a check-in/booking system information processing device that processes 
information relating to check-in and/or booking of passengers. Information 
processing devices 10A to 10F store as management information one or other 
of aircraft flight information, control information, service information, 
spot allocation information, gate allocation information and passenger 
information, and manage these items of management information. 
Flight strips management device 20 is constituted of information reading 
unit 21, flight strips compiling and updating unit 22, storage unit 23, 
information display unit 24, and information input unit 25. 
Flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 compiles the flight strips 
information of each aircraft based on management information relating to 
aircraft movement read from a plurality of information processing devices 
10A to 10F. Storage unit 23 is constituted of a flight strips management 
database 23a for storing compiled flight strips information, and a map 
information database 23b for storing map information relating to an 
overall view of the airport and runways, embarkation hatches etc. 
Information reading unit 21 reads management information relating to 
aircraft movement from a plurality of information processing devices 10A 
to 10F and communicates this to flight strips compilation and updating 
unit 22. Also, information reading unit 21 reads flight strips information 
from storage unit 23 and communicates this to respective information 
processing devices 10A to 10F. Information display unit 24 displays flight 
strips information. Also, information display unit 24 displays on a screen 
aircraft position information and aircraft condition information on an 
overall view of the airport. Information display unit 24 is for example a 
monitor television. Information input unit 25 is for example a keyboard or 
a mouse. The operator inputs various instructions containing flight strips 
information using information input unit 25. 
When flight strips information is input from information input unit 25, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 updates the flight strips 
information stored in flight strips management database 23a using the 
flight strips information input from information input unit 25. Also, the 
updated flight strips information is read by information reading unit 21 
of flight strips management device 20 and is communicated to the various 
information processing devices 10A to 10F. Information processing devices 
10A to 10F update the corresponding management information in their 
databases 11 to 16 using this updated flight strips information. 
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the databases 11 to 16 and 23a used in 
the flight strips management system of the first embodiment. It should be 
noted that databases 11 to 16 and 23a are memory media such as hard disks 
or magnetic disks etc. 
11 indicates a flight information database. Flight information database 11 
is provided in flight information processing device 10A. In flight 
information database 11 are stored as management information flight 
information such as flight name, point of origin, destination, transit 
airports, aircraft schedule, scheduled landing and take-off times 
(hereinbelow simply called "scheduled times"), actual times when take-off 
and landing are completed (hereinbelow simply called "actual times"), 
aircraft condition information, and allocated gate. 
12 indicates a control information database. Control information database 
12 is provided in control information processing device 10B. In control 
information database 12 are stored as management information control 
information such as flight name, aircraft information such as type of 
aircraft, origin, destination, transit airports, schedule, scheduled time, 
actual time, condition information, allocated spot (scheduled and actual), 
allocated runway (scheduled and actual) etc. 
13 indicates a service information database. Service information database 
13 is provided in service information processing device 10C. In service 
information database 13 are stored as management information service 
information such as flight name, aircraft information, schedule, scheduled 
time, actual time, condition information, service information (service 
details), refuelling information (whether refuelled or not, time taken in 
refuelling), restocking information (whether or not stocks have been 
replenished, time taken to replenish stocks) etc. 
14 indicates a spot management information database. Spot management 
information database 14 is provided in spot management information 
processing device 10D. In spot management information database 14 there 
are stored as management information spot management information such as 
flight name, aircraft information, schedule, scheduled time, actual time, 
condition information, allocated spot (scheduled, actual) etc. 
15 indicates a gate allocation information database. Gate allocation 
information database 15 is provided in gate allocation information 
processing device 10E. In gate allocation information database 15 are 
stored, as management information, gate allocation management information 
such as flight name, aircraft information, schedule, scheduled time, 
actual time, condition information, allocated spot (scheduled, actual), 
allocated gate (scheduled, actual). 
16 indicates a check-in/booking system information database. 
Check-in/booking system information database 16 is provided in 
check-in/booking system information processing device 10F. In 
check-in/booking system information database 16 are stored as management 
information check-in/booking system information such as flight name, 
passenger information, scheduled time, actual time, aircraft information, 
and schedule etc. 
23a indicates a flight strips management database. In flight strips 
management database 23a are stored flight strips information compiled by 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22. In flight strips 
management database 23a there are stored flight number, flight name, date, 
schedule, passenger information, current position information, current 
condition, spot information, gate information, service information, and 
aircraft body information etc. 
FIG. 3 is a flow chart explaining in outline the operation of a flight 
strips management system. 
The various information processing devices 10A to 10F store as management 
information in their respective databases 11 to 16 one or other of 
aircraft flight information, control information, service information, 
spot allocation information, gate allocation information, and passenger 
information etc as management information, and manage these items of 
management information (step S1). Information reading unit 21 reads the 
management information relating to aircraft movement from each information 
processing devices 10A to 10F and communicates this to flight strips 
compiling and updating unit 22 (step S2). Flight strips compilation and 
updating unit 22 collates the management information regarding aircraft 
movement and compiles and updates the flight strips information for each 
aircraft (step S3). Storage unit 23 stores the compiled flight strips 
information (step S4). Information reading unit 21 reads the flight strips 
information from storage unit 23 and communicates this to respective 
information processing devices 10A to 10F (step S5). Information 
processing devices 10A to 10F store, as the most recent management 
information, the flight strips information that has been communicated to 
them. 
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing details of the processing executed for 
flight strips information updating by flight strips management device 20 
on arrival of an aircraft. It will be assumed that these items of 
management information are managed by respective information processing 
devices 10A to 10F and stored as management information in the databases 
11 to 16 which they respectively possess. It will also be assumed that 
flight strips management device 20 performs the processing of steps S1 to 
S4 of FIG. 3 and that the flight strips information of all the aircraft is 
stored in flight strips management database 23a for each aircraft. 
Processing is started in response to some prescribed operation. For 
example, processing may be started when the operator inputs a flight 
number using information input unit 25. Information reading unit 21 of 
flight strips management device 20 reads the management information 
relating to aircraft movement corresponding to the flight number from gate 
allocation information database 15, and communicates this to flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22. For example, it reads the gate 
allocation information such as scheduled arrival time, condition, 
allocated gate (scheduled), and allocated spot (scheduled) in respect of 
the aircraft in question and communicates these to flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22 (step 101). 
Next, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 communicates through 
information display unit 24 the gate allocation information (position 
information and condition information of the aircraft) that was notified 
in step 101, together with the view of the airport as a whole and map 
information relating to runways and embarkation hatches etc within map 
information database 23b. Using the map information and gate allocation 
information that have been communicated, information display unit 24 
displays the position information and condition information of the 
aircraft on the screen (step 102). FIG. 5 shows an example of a graphic 
illustrating the position information and condition information of an 
aircraft. In this Figure, the location indicated by the circle indicates 
the scheduled location of arrival of the aircraft. The operator performs 
the control function whilst referring to the flight strips information 
displayed on information display unit 24. 
By means of the gate allocation information called in step 101, flight 
strips compilation and updating unit 22 updates for each aircraft the 
flight strips information in flight strips management database 23a. For 
example, the flight strips information is updated (step 103) by the 
position information (scheduled location of arrival) of the aircraft 
displayed in step 102. It should be noted that if the allocated spot 
information and allocated gate information are stored in information 
databases 11 to 16, these locations (gate and spot) cannot be used by 
another aircraft until this aircraft has completed the functions to be 
performed in the allocated spot and allocated gate. The same applies when 
the spot information and gate information are stored in flight strips 
management database 23a. 
Based on the arrival time that is read in step 101, flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22 decides whether or not the actual arrival 
time of the aircraft is later than the scheduled arrival time; if the 
actual arrival time is ascertained to be later than the scheduled arrival 
time, processing advances to step 105. On the other hand, if it is decided 
not to be later, processing advances to step 106 (step 104). 
In step 105, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 communicates to 
information display unit 24 the delay of the aircraft. The fact that the 
aircraft has been delayed is displayed on the screen of information 
display device 24. The processing of flight strips compilation and 
updating unit 22 then advances to step 106. 
In step 106, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 performs the 
spot gate information management functions including updating of gate 
allocation information and spot allocation information. This spot and gate 
information management processing will be described later. 
When the processing of step 106 is terminated on arrival of an aircraft, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 reads the information: 
flight name, time, gate information, and spot information from the flight 
strips information that is stored in flight strips management database 
23a, and communicates these to information display unit 24. Using the 
information that has thus been communicated, information display unit 24 
displays on its screen the name of the aircraft that has arrived and the 
position in which it has arrived (step 107). FIG. 7 is a view showing 
aircraft name P1 of an aircraft that has arrived, and its actual arrival 
position. 
Using the mouse of the information input unit 25, the operator then drags 
the cursor on to the aircraft P1 indicated in the drawing. The operator 
then makes a double click at the cursor position, with the meaning of 
clicking on the Windows icon. Flight strips compilation and updating unit 
22 monitors whether or not the mouse has performed a double click in the 
condition with the aircraft displayed on information display unit 24 (step 
108). If there has been a double click, flight strips compilation and 
updating unit 22 looks up the flight strips information in flight strips 
management database 23a, and reads the condition information of the 
aircraft (for example, whether it has completed arrival or is embarking) 
(step 109). This condition information is then communicated to information 
display unit 24, whereupon information display unit 24 displays the 
condition information that has been communicated to it (step 110). For 
example, as shown in FIG. 8, the condition information of aircraft P1 is 
displayed as "boarding". 
If, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of aircraft P1 to P4 are displayed on 
the screen, the operator can display the condition information of each 
aircraft by successively double-clicking on aircraft P1 to P4. In FIG. 9, 
the condition information of aircraft P2 is displayed as "arrived", the 
condition information of aircraft P3 is displayed as "servicing", and the 
condition information of aircraft P4 is displayed as "broken down". 
Also, information reading unit 21 reads from control information database 
12 and check-in/booking system information database 16 aircraft 
information and passenger information etc; using this information that has 
been read, information display unit 24 displays the aircraft information 
and passenger information on separate display columns (Windows) of the 
screen (step 111). 
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the spot/gate information management 
processing subroutine executed by the steps of FIG. 4. 
First of all, using the flight strips information for all the aircraft, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22 ascertains whether or not 
the runway and boarding hatch that were initially scheduled are usable at 
the time of actual arrival of the aircraft (step 121). 
If the initially scheduled runway and boarding hatch are usable, without 
changing the gate allocation information and spot allocation information 
in the flight strips information for the aircraft, only the information 
regarding scheduled arrival time is changed to a time at which arrival is 
actually possible (step 128). The altered flight strips information is 
read by information reading unit 21 of flight strips management device 20, 
and is communicated to each information processing devices 10A to 10F 
(step 125). Using this altered flight strips information, information 
processing devices 10A to 10F alter the corresponding management 
information and execute the operations required by the alteration. For 
example, the scheduled time of arrival of control information database 12 
is altered to the actual scheduled time of arrival. The aircraft in 
question can therefore land at the altered scheduled time of arrival (step 
126). 
In contrast, if the initially scheduled runway and boarding hatch are 
unusable in the processing of step 121, flight strips compilation and 
updating unit 22 uses the flight strips information for all the aircraft 
to search for a runway and boarding hatch that are usable (step 122). If 
there is no usable runway and boarding hatch, information display unit 24 
displays a message to the effect that no runway or boarding is usable 
(step 130). If no runway or boarding hatch can be used, spot/gate 
information management processing is terminated. The operator ascertains 
that the aircraft cannot be dealt with by this airfield and guides it to 
another airfield. 
If there are a usable runway and boarding hatch, flight strips compilation 
and updating unit 22 examines whether this aircraft can take sufficient 
time for servicing etc with this runway and boarding hatch. That is, by 
referring to the flight strips information (allocated spot information, 
allocated gate information) in respect of other aircraft, it studies 
whether or not it could happen that other aircraft would be using this 
runway and boarding hatch whilst the aircraft in question was being 
serviced (step 123). If sufficient time cannot be obtained for servicing 
etc, processing returns to step 122, and a usable runway and boarding 
hatch are again sought. On the other hand, if sufficient time is available 
for servicing etc, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22, in the 
flight strips information of this aircraft, alters the allocated spot 
information, allocated gate information, and scheduled arrival time, and 
stores these in flight strips management database 23a (step 124). The 
altered flight strips information is read by information reading unit 21 
of flight strips management device 20, and is communicated to the 
respective information processing devices 10A to 10F (step 125). Using the 
altered flight strips information, information processing devices 10A to 
10F alter the corresponding management information and execute the 
operations required by this alteration. For example, the allocated spot 
information in spot management information database 14 is changed to the 
after-alteration spot; the allocated gate information in gate allocation 
information database 15 is changed to the after-alteration gate. 
Consequently, arrival of the aircraft in question becomes possible (step 
126). 
When the aircraft arrives after the processing of step 126, each 
information processing device 10A to 10F stores the landing time in the 
actual arrival time of its individual database, and stores the allocated 
gate (actual) and allocated spot (actual), and also changes the condition 
information of each database to "arrived" and stores this (step 127). 
Next, processing returns to the processing of FIG. 4. 
In this way, flight strips management device 20 can process the respective 
database management information in a unified way. The operator can 
therefore easily ascertain the current position information and condition 
information of all aircraft in the airport. 
With this first embodiment, flight strips management device 20 can manage 
in an integrated manner the management information stored in the databases 
of the respective information processing devices 10A to 10F. By the use of 
this flight strips management system, an operator can easily grasp the 
movement information of all the aircraft in the airport and so can perform 
airport management in an optimum way. 
Second embodiment 
A second embodiment of a flight strips management system will now be 
described. The point of difference between the first embodiment and the 
second embodiment is that, in addition to the current movement information 
of the aircraft, past movement information of the aircraft is displayed on 
the screen of the information display unit. 
FIG. 10 is a layout block diagram of a flight strips management device 
according to this second embodiment. 
Flight strips management device 20 comprises information reading unit 21b, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22b, flight strips management 
database 23a, map information database 23b, information display unit 24b, 
and information input unit 25. 
It should be noted that, when flight strips compilation and updating unit 
22b stores in flight strips management database 23a the current position 
information that has been compiled and compiles the current condition 
information, this current position information and current condition 
information can be stored together with past position information and past 
condition information. 
For example, using the gate allocation information and service information 
read by information reading unit 21b, flight strips compilation and 
updating unit 22b compiles the current position information and current 
condition information of the aircraft and communicates these to 
information display unit 24b together with map information. Also, flight 
strips compilation and updating unit 22b reads the position information 
and condition information compiled in the passed from flight strips 
management database 23a and communicates these to information display unit 
24b together with map information. 
Information display unit 24b displays on its screen the current position 
information and current condition information of the aircraft and the past 
position information and past condition information compiled by flight 
strips compilation and updating unit 22b. 
FIG. 11 shows an example display displayed on the information display unit 
of the current position information and current condition information and 
past position information and past condition information of an aircraft. 
On information display unit 24b there are displayed the current position 
information and condition information ("boarding") of an aircraft P1, and 
there are displayed the past position information (circle symbol) and 
condition information ("service") of this aircraft P1. 
With the arrangement of the second embodiment, the operator can easily 
ascertain the current and past condition information of aircraft P1. 
Also, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22b may be constituted so 
as to use the actual time of the gate allocation information and actual 
time of the service information to compile the current position 
information and current condition information of the aircraft, and to use 
the scheduled time of the gate allocation information and scheduled time 
of the service information to compile the future position information and 
future condition information of the aircraft. In this case, flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22b compiles the current position 
information and current condition information and future position 
information and future condition information of the aircraft and 
communicates these, together with map information, to information display 
unit 24b. 
Information display unit 24b displays on its screen the current position 
information and current condition information and future position 
information and future condition information of the aircraft compiled by 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22b. 
FIG. 12 is an example display in which are displayed on the information 
display unit the current position information and current condition 
information and the future position information and future condition 
information of the aircraft. On information display unit 24b there are 
displayed the current position information and condition information 
("servicing") of aircraft P1 and there are displayed the future position 
information (circle symbol) and condition information ("boarding") of this 
aircraft P1. 
With the construction of the second embodiment, the operator can easily 
ascertain the present and future condition information of aircraft P1. 
Third embodiment 
Next, a third embodiment of a flight strips management system will be 
described. The point of difference of the third embodiment from the first 
embodiment is that there is provided a function of collating gate 
allocation information and spot allocation information when the actual 
time of takeoff or arrival of an aircraft is later than the scheduled time 
or when an aircraft is cancelled, or an extra flight is added. 
FIG. 13 is a layout block diagram of a flight strips management device 
according to the third embodiment. 
Flight strips management device 20 comprises an information reading unit 
21c, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22c, flight strips 
management database 23a, map information database 23b, information display 
unit 24c, and information input unit 25. 
Information reading unit 21c reads management information constituted by 
gate allocation information and spot allocation information and 
communicates this to flight strips compilation and updating unit 22c. 
Also, if there is any change in the gate allocation information or spot 
allocation information after flight strips information has been collated, 
information reading unit 21c reads this changed flight strips information 
from flight strips compilation and updating unit 22c and communicates this 
to each information processing devices 10A to 10F. 
If the actual time of takeoff or arrival of an aircraft is later than the 
scheduled time or if an aircraft is cancelled or an extra flight is added, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22c of this third embodiment 
uses the management information (for example, gate allocation information 
and spot allocation information) input from information input unit 25 to 
collate gate allocation information and spot allocation information read 
by information reading unit 21c. 
Information display unit 24c displays on its screen the gate allocation 
information and spot allocation information compiled by flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22c. 
FIG. 14 shows a flow chart illustrating the collation processing in the 
third embodiment. This Figure illustrates the case of collation of gate 
and spot allocation information occasioned by arrival delay, takeoff 
delay, sudden cancellation, or an added flight of aircraft. 
First of all, information reading unit 21c reads from management 
information such as aircraft information scheduled time, allocated gate, 
allocated spot etc in gate allocation information database 15 management 
information such as takeoff/arrival delay, cancellation, or additional 
flight, and communicates this to flight strips compilation and updating 
unit 22c (step 301). 
Next, information display unit 24c displays the management information 
communicated by information reading unit 21c. Referring to the display of 
information display unit 24c, the operator inputs management information 
for dealing with arrival delay, takeoff delay, sudden cancellation, or 
additional flight, using information input unit 25. Using the management 
information input from information input unit 25, flight strips 
compilation and updating unit 22c executes re-collation of allocation 
information such as allocated location and time of the gate and spot (step 
302). 
Furthermore, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22c communicates 
the re-collated gate/spot allocation information to flight strips 
management database 23a, where it is stored. Also, information reading 
unit 21c communicates to each database (step 303) including gate 
allocation information database 15, the re-collated gate/spot allocation. 
Simultaneously, information display unit 24c displays on its screen the 
re-collated gate/spot allocation information (step 304). When the 
re-collated gate/spot allocation information has been displayed, 
processing is terminated. 
FIG. 15 is an example wherein the re-collated spot allocation information 
is displayed on the screen of the information display unit. Position 
information of aircraft P1 showing the spot allocation information that 
has been re-collated is displayed on information display unit 24c. 
Thus, when management information for dealing with arrival delay, takeoff 
delay, sudden cancellation or additional flight of an aircraft is input, 
the flight strips management device uses this input management information 
to recompile the flight strips information. Also, the flight strips 
information device communicates this re-collated flight strips information 
to each information processing device. Consequently, the load of each 
function on the operator is reduced to a minimum. 
Fourth embodiment 
Next, a flight strips management system according to a fourth embodiment 
will be described. 
FIG. 16 is a layout block diagram of a flight strips management device 
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
Flight strips management device 20d comprises information reading unit 21d, 
flight strips compilation and updating unit 22d, flight strips management 
database 23a, map information database 23b, information display unit 24d, 
and information input unit 25. 
Furthermore, flight strips management device 20d comprises a network 
connection unit 27 that performs connection control with a plurality of 
aircraft 29 through network 30, and an information notification unit 28 
that is connected to this network connection unit 27. 
Network connection unit 27 effects connection with a plurality of aircraft 
29 through network 30 in response to input designation from information 
input unit 25. Also, under input designation from input unit 25, network 
connection unit 27 effects connection of information notification unit 28 
with network 30. Consequently, network connection unit 27 is made capable 
of communicating information between communication notification unit 28 
and a plurality of aircraft 29. 
Information notification unit 28 consists for example of a microphone 
provided in information input unit 25. Once network connection unit 27 
connects information notification unit 28 and network 30, an operator can 
use information notification unit 28 to communicate information 
individually to respective aircraft 29 through network 30, and can 
communicate information simultaneously to a plurality of aircraft 29. 
Also, if a disaster occurs, the location of occurrence of the disaster can 
be displayed on the screen of information display unit 24d. In response to 
the screen display of this location where a disaster has occurred, an 
operator can use information notification unit 28 to notify relevant 
peripheral sites of the occurrence of a disaster, through network 30. 
FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating execution processing in the fourth 
embodiment. It is to be assumed that flight strips management database 23a 
has already compiled and stored the flight strips information including 
the position information and condition information of aircraft P1. 
Also, in the same way as in the first embodiment, in the fourth embodiment 
also, the operator selects "network connection" from the menu screen of 
the display window that is displayed by double-clicking the mouse in 
accordance with a prescribed operation. When this is done, flight strips 
management device 20d communicates the instruction "network connection" to 
network connection unit 27 (step 401). 
Network connection unit 27 connects network 30 and aircraft 29 (step 402). 
In addition, flight strips compilation and updating unit 22d reads the 
position information and condition information of aircraft P1 from flight 
strips management database 23a, reads the map information from map 
information database 23b, and communicates these to information display 
unit 24d. The position information of aircraft P1 is displayed on position 
information unit 24d (step 403). The operator can ascertain the position 
of the aircraft from the screen. Thereupon, the operator designates the 
aircraft with which he wishes to communicate, using information input unit 
25. 
When this is done, network connection unit 27 allocates a radio frequency 
to the aircraft with which communication is desired. When a radio 
frequency is allocated, and communication with the aircraft P1 becomes 
possible, this is displayed on the screen of information display unit 24d 
(see FIG. 18, step 404). 
When communication has become possible, information notification unit 28 
transmits the voice of the operator by the allocated radio frequency (step 
405). For example, communication with aircraft P1 during boarding is 
performed using a microphone etc as information notification unit 28. 
Thus, with this fourth embodiment, the flight strips management device 20d 
can transmit the operator's voice to an aircraft 29 with which 
communication is desired. The operator can therefore perform airport 
management smoothly. 
Also, a construction is possible whereby network 30 and a plurality of 
aircraft 29 can be simultaneously connected by network communication unit 
27 in the event of an urgent disaster such as a fire. FIG. 19 shows the 
display screen when simultaneous communication has been made possible with 
respect to aircraft P1 to P3. With this arrangement, flight strips 
management unit 20d can transmit the voice of the operator for urgent 
communication simultaneously to a plurality of aircraft 29. Urgent steps 
can therefore be performed in each aircraft. 
Furthermore, in particular, if a fault has occurred whereby damage might 
ensue to the entire airport, an arrangement is possible whereby network 
connection unit 27 can make connection through public circuits with 
information communication unit 28 and relevant peripheral sites. With such 
an arrangement, flight strips management unit 20d can transmit the voice 
of the operator for urgent communication to relevant peripheral sites 
through public circuits. 
As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from 
the spirit of essential characteristic thereof, the present embodiment is 
therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the 
invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description 
pending them, and all changes that fall within meets and bounds of the 
claims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intended dy 
the claims.