Abstract:
A system and method of deploying self-service travel terminals which makes more effectively use of the self-service travel terminals. The system includes a computer for collecting travel information from the self-service travel terminals and from assisted-service travel terminals, for analyzing the travel information to determine optimal numbers and locations of the self-service travel terminals, and for generating a report containing optimal numbers and locations of the self-service travel terminals.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a system and method of deploying self-service travel terminals.  
           [0002]    Kiosks provide a publicly accessible computing platform for displaying World Wide Web (web) pages and other web-delivered content from web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.  
           [0003]    Service companies deploy kiosks in order to improve the quality of their services and to provide customers with more service options. For example, transportation companies may deploy kiosks to reduce passenger waiting time in check-in lines.  
           [0004]    Kiosk owners wish to make optimal use of kiosks. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method of deploying self-service travel terminals.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, system and method of deploying self-service travel terminals is provided.  
           [0006]    The system includes a computer for collecting travel information from the self-service travel terminals and from assisted-service travel terminals, for analyzing the travel information to determine optimal numbers and locations of the self-service travel terminals, and for generating a report containing optimal numbers and locations of the self-service travel terminals.  
           [0007]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide system and method of deploying self-service travel terminals.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to make optimal use of deploying self-service terminals.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to determine through historical testing the optimal number and location of deploying self-service terminals.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to determine through historical testing the optimal number and location of deploying self-service travel terminals. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transportation system; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Turning now to FIG. 1, system  10  includes self-service travel terminal  12 , assisted-service travel terminals  14 , and server  16 .  
         [0015]    Self-service travel terminal  12  is preferably a kiosk located in a travel building, such as an airport or train station. Self-service travel terminal  12  is preferably mounted on wheels to make relocation easy, but the present invention also envisions other means for moving self-service travel terminal  12 , such as dollies. Self-service travel terminal  12  may include an NCR 7401 computer.  
         [0016]    Self-service travel terminal  12  includes processor  18  and network transceiver  20 . Self-service travel terminal  12  additionally includes peripherals for completing a self-service request.  
         [0017]    Processor  18  executes self-service travel self-service travel application  22 . Self-service travel self-service travel application  22  processes travel-related requests from passengers. Self-service travel self-service travel application  22  may be a web (short for “World Wide Web” or “WWW”) application. A passenger may use self-service travel self-service travel application  22  to complete the check-in process, issue a boarding pass, change travel routes, or get scheduling information. Self-service travel self-service travel application  22  records passenger identification information, retrieves itinerary information from database  40  through server  16 , displays instructions for completing check-in, records any payments due, dispenses any change due, prints boarding passes and tickets, and prints receipts. In addition, self-service travel application  22  records and stores travel history information in database  40 . For example, self-service travel application  22  stores check-in times in database  40  during passenger check-in.  
         [0018]    Self-service travel application  22  communicates with server  16  over a network connection, such as one that uses the TCP/IP protocol. Network transceiver  20  preferably includes a wireless transceiver to make moving self-service travel terminals  12  easier, but may include a wired network transceiver if wired connections are readily available.  
         [0019]    Assisted-service travel terminals  14  includes processor  24  and network transceiver  26 . Assisted-service travel terminals  14  execute assisted-service travel application  28 , which also processes travel-related requests, except that a travel employee controls assisted-service travel application  28  to process the requests for the passengers. Assisted-service travel application  28  may be a web application. Assisted-service travel application  28  also records and stores travel history information in database  40 . For example, assisted-service travel application  28  store check-in times in database  40  during passenger check-in.  
         [0020]    Assisted-service travel terminals  14  communicates with server  16  over a network connection, such as one that uses the TCP/IP protocol. Network transceiver  26  may include a wired transceiver, since assisted-service travel terminals  14  are normally mounted in permanent locations.  
         [0021]    Server  16  includes processor  30 , storage medium  32 , and network transceiver  34 . Server  16  may be a web server. Processor  30  executes self-service travel terminal location software  38  which reads travel history data from database  40  to determine optimal numbers and locations for self-service travel terminals  12 . Self-service travel terminal location software  38  generates reports containing the optimal number and locations and either prints the reports on printer  42  or displays them on display  44 . Travel employees may then move self-service travel terminals  12  to these optimal locations.  
         [0022]    Database  40  contains a list of possible departure locations, as well as information such as check-in time data, departure time data, arrival data, destination location data, and anticipated numbers of passengers. Database  40  contains data on individual travelers. Database  40  stores averages and trend information. Database  40  contains data on special events, such as sporting events, conventions, cruises, and associated destinations and departure and arrival times. Finally, database  40  may also store information about levels of customer travel experience.  
         [0023]    For example, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify passenger loads at various locations and locate self-service travel terminals  12  at locations where passenger loads are the highest.  
         [0024]    As another example, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify passenger check-in times at various locations and locate self-service travel terminals  12  at locations where the highest number of last-minute passenger check-ins occur.  
         [0025]    As another example, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify flights whose late arrivals caused travelers to miss their next flights, and the number of travelers affected. Self-service travel terminal location software  38  may locate self-service travel terminals  12  near the arrival gate of the late flights.  
         [0026]    As another example, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify flight cancellations and locate self-service travel terminals  12  at the gates of the canceled flights.  
         [0027]    As another example, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify cruise arrival points and locate self-service travel terminals  12  at the arrival points.  
         [0028]    Finally, self-service travel terminal location software  38  may identify numbers of high volume/short term travelers and times of day, and locate self-service travel terminals  12  at the arrival points where high volume short trip travelers arrive.  
         [0029]    Server  16  communicates with self-service travel terminals  12  and assisted-service travel terminals  14  over a network connection. Network transceiver  34  may include a wired transceiver.  
         [0030]    Network circuitry  36  connects server  16 , self-service travel terminals  12 , and assisted-service travel terminals  14 . Network circuitry  36  may include a hub or switch, or combinations of hubs or switches or other commercially available network equipment to facilitate wired network operation or a combination of wired and wireless network operation.  
         [0031]    Storage medium  32  stores database  40 .  
         [0032]    Turning now to FIG. 2, operation of system  10  is illustrated in detail beginning with START 50.  
         [0033]    In step 52, self service travel terminals  12  and assisted-service travel terminals  14  store travel information in database  40 .  
         [0034]    In step 54, self-service travel terminal location software  38  reads data from database  40 .  
         [0035]    In step 56, self-service travel terminal location software  38  analyzes the data from database  40  to determine optimal numbers and locations for self-service travel terminals  12 .  
         [0036]    In step 58, self-service travel terminal location software  38  generates a report from database  40  and displays or prints the report. Travel management positions self-service travel terminals  12  based upon the results.  
         [0037]    Knowing this information, travel management may improve customer service and more effectively use self-service travel terminals  12 .  
         [0038]    Operation ends at step 60.  
         [0039]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.