Patent Publication Number: US-2016239933-A1

Title: Airport automatic reminder system and method therefor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/115,160, filed Feb. 12, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a communication system. More particularly, the present application relates to an airport automatic reminder system and method therefor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When at an airport, a passenger may need to go to an electronic information board frequently to check flight information such as a boarding gate, boarding time, and airport terminal. An airport environment may be unfamiliar to the passenger, thus, it is possible the flight will be missed if the passenger does not do everything correctly and on time. 
     Most airports are large. For providing a comfortable environment for passengers, the airports may include a lot of convenience facilities. However, when arriving at an airport, due to unfamiliarity with the airport environment, the passengers have no effective navigation to acquire definite information about stores locations, merchandise discounts, and leisure space may be absent, thus the passengers sometimes cannot use the facilities as they expect. 
     Smartphones can be used for indoor navigation via mobile communication services, WI-FI or BEACON; however, not all large indoor places provide a user-friendly communication environment. Especially, airport is unfamiliar for most of people, even if particular application software can be provided for people to acquire information about flight, commodity, and indoor navigation, it may happen that people forget to apply for roaming service in foreign airport, thus, expensive cost for streaming data may be a trouble. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  shows system architecture of one embodiment of an airport automatic reminder system. 
         FIG. 2  shows hardware architecture of a wearable device of the airport automatic reminder system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of one embodiment of an airport automatic reminder method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are given in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 1-3  show respectively system architecture, wearable device architecture, and a method flowchart of embodiments of the airport automatic reminder system of the present disclosure. The embodiments are illustrative only. It will therefore be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited by embodiments herein. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the airport automatic reminder system includes a wearable device  100 , a plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , an airport automatic reminder server  200 , an airport flight server  300 , at least one commodity server  310 , and at least one facility server  320 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  can connect to the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 . Furthermore, the airport automatic reminder server  200  can connect to the airport flight server  300 , the at least one commodity server  310 , and the at least one facility server  320  through a wired network. The airport automatic reminder server  200  can receive relative location information sent by the wearable device  100  via the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , receive flight information such as a flight schedule, arrival time and takeoff time from the airport flight server  300 , and receive a commodity list of the airport from the at least one commodity server  310 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  can also receive store information, store location information, hotel information, and other information concerning the airport, from the at least one facility server  320 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the wearable device  100  of one embodiment of the airport automatic reminder system. The wearable device  100  includes a BLUETOOTH module  101 , a display device  102 , a reminder device  103 , a memory device  104 , a processor  105 , and a fixture (not shown). 
     The display device  102  displays information to passengers. The display device  102  is located on front surface, top portion, or other visible portion of the wearable device  100 , which is convenient for the passengers to read information. The display device  102  can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, or any other suitable electronic display screen. 
     The BLUETOOTH module  101  connects to the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  and transmits related BLUETOOTH parameters. In one embodiment, the BLUETOOTH module  101  establishes connections with the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  and obtains information indicating signal strengths of three adjacent BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 . The wearable device  1  compares the signal strengths of the three adjacent BLUETOOTH base stations; for example, if the signal strength of the BLUETOOTH base station  111  is strongest, it can be determined that the wearable device  100  is closest to this BLUETOOTH base station  111 . The BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  are fixed in predetermined locations in the airport. The wearable device  100  obtains the information of signal strengths and transmits the information of the signal strengths and ID of the wearable device  100  to the airport automatic reminder server  200  through the BLUETOOTH module  101 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  can compute relative location information of the wearable device  100  according to the received information. 
     In one embodiment, when the wearable device  100  is activated, namely a BLUETOOTH function is activated, the wearable device  100  outputs a reminder on the display device  102  to request a passenger to input passenger information. In other embodiment, when a passenger checks in at an airline service center, service staff may input passenger information using a computing device. The computing device then transmits the passenger information to the wearable device  100  wirelessly. The passenger information can include name, gender, age, passport number, ticket information, flight information, and commodity types and facilities of interest in the airport. 
     When the passenger activates the wearable device  100 , the BLUETOOTH module  101  is activated. The wearable device  100  transmits the passenger information to the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  using the BLUETOOTH module  101  and further transmits the passenger information to the airport automatic reminder server  200  through one of the BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  performs computations according to IDs of the BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  and an ID of the wearable device  100  and obtains information, such as remaining time before boarding, distance to a boarding gate and so on, based on the computations for different predetermined functions. 
     The BLUETOOTH module  101  in the present application can be replaced by other wireless transmission module, such as RFID, WI-FI, ZIGBEE, infrared or any other wireless technology of which signal strength as a function of distance can be determined, for indoor positioning. 
     The reminder device  103  reminds the passenger to check or confirm information displayed on the display device  102  of the wearable device  100 , or information audibly given by the reminder device  103 . In one embodiment, the reminder device  103  can be a speaker and play the information, or generate an audible warning sound for reminding the passenger. In another embodiment, the reminder device  103  can be a vibration element located inside of the wearable device  100  and generate vibration to reminder the passenger of the wearable device  100  to check or confirm information displayed on the display device  102  of the wearable device  100 . In another embodiment, the reminder device  130  may be an LED indicator. When displayable information is received, the LED indicator generates and emits color light to remind the passenger of the received information. 
     The memory device  104  stores information transmitted to the wearable device from the BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , the airport automatic reminder server  200 , the airport flight server  300 , the at least one commodity server  310  and the at least one facility server  320 . The information may be a flight schedule, arrival time, takeoff time, a commodity list, store information, store location information, hotel information, a remaining time before boarding, distance to a boarding gate, and so on. The information may include local geography, picture, explanatory note, or audio guide, etc. The memory device  104  can be disposed inside the wearable device  100  and connects to the BLUETOOTH module  101 , the display device  102  and the reminder device  103 . The memory device  104  can be a flash memory, an SD card, a Micro SD card or a Nano SD card. 
     The processor  15  connects to BLUETOOTH module  101 , the display device  102 , the reminder device  103  and the memory device  104 . The processor  105  can processes information received from the airport automatic reminder server  200  via the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 . For example, the processor  105  can store the information in the memory device  104 , and then control the display device  102  to display the information or control the reminder device  103  to generate a reminder message. The reminder device  103  can be a speaker to play the information or generate a warning sound for reminding the passenger, can be a vibration element located inside the wearable device  100  to generate vibration to reminder the passenger of the wearable device  100  to check or confirm information displayed on the display device  102 , or can be a LED indicator to emit color light to remind the passenger of any received information. 
     The fixture is an element for fixing the wearable device  100  on the body of the passenger and enables the passenger to fix the wearable device  100  on his wrist or attach the wearable device  100  to carryon luggage, so that the passenger can easily confirm the information in time. 
     The airport automatic reminder server  200  connects to the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , the airport flight server  300 , the at least one commodity server  310 , and the at least one facility server  320 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  receives relative location information of the wearable device  100  through the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , receives the flight information such as flight schedule, arrival time and takeoff time from the airport flight server  300 , receives a commodity list of the airport from the at least one commodity server  310 , and receives store information, store location information, hotel information, etc., from the at least one facility server  320 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  can compute information including amount of remaining time before boarding and a distance to a boarding gate. 
     The airport flight server  300  stores flight information such as a flight schedule, arrival time and takeoff time. With the flight information provided by the airport flight server  300 , a passenger has no need to check the electronic information board to get important information and can know a remaining time A before boarding and a required time B to walk to a boarding gate by using the wearable device  100  connected to a wireless network. 
     The at least one commodity server  310  stores commodity information such as price and goods information, discount information, and popular commodity information etc., in the stores of the airport. In the present embodiment, a map of the airport is stored, together with commodity information in the airport, duty free commodities, prices of the duty free commodities, and popular commodities, into the at least one commodity server  310 . The passenger can investigate the commodity information via wireless network. 
     The at least one facility server  320  stores basic information of facilities in the airport, availability of the facilities, prices, locations of the facilities, and so on. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of one embodiment of an airport automatic reminder method is illustrated with referring to the system architecture in  FIG. 1 . 
     At block S 10 , the wearable device  100  determines if flight information is received from the airport flight server  300 . When flight information is received from the airport flight server  300 , block S 20  is implemented. When no flight information is received from the airport flight server  300 , block S 65  is implemented. 
     At block S 20 , the wearable device  100  transmits an ID of the wearable device  200 , passenger information of the wearable device  200 , relative location information of the wearable device  100  obtained using the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 , and personal preference and demand of the passenger, to the airport automatic reminder server  200 . 
     At block S 30 , the airport automatic reminder server  200  computes a distance between the relative location of the wearable device  100  and a boarding gate, computes a required time B to walk to the boarding gate according to the distance and a walking velocity, and further computes a remaining time A before boarding according to flight information transmitted from the airport flight server  300 . The airport automatic reminder server  200  transmits the time A and the time B to the wearable device  100 . 
     At block S 40 , the airport automatic reminder server  200  connects to the at least one commodity server  310  and the at least one facility server  320 , performs computations according to the personal preference, demand of the passenger and the information obtained from the at least one commodity server  310  and the at least one facility server  320  so as to obtain a computation result, stores the computation result into the airport automatic reminder server  200 , and further transmits the computation result to the wearable device  100  via the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114 . 
     At block S 50 , the wearable device  100  determines if the difference between the remaining time A before boarding and the required time B to walk to the boarding gate is greater than a first predetermined value T1, namely if A-B&gt;T1. When A-B&gt;T1, block S 60  is implemented. When A-B≦T1, block S 55  is implemented. In one embodiment, the predetermined value T1 can be 15 minutes, or any other value. When A-B≦T1, the passenger need to go to the boarding gate immediately, and no other things can be done. If the passenger does other things, his flight may be missed. 
     At block S 55 , the wearable device  100  displays the remaining time A and the required time B on the display device  102 . 
     Block S 60 , the wearable device  100  further determines if the difference between the remaining time A before boarding and the required time B to walk to the boarding gate is greater than a second predetermined value T2, namely if A-B&gt;T2. When A-B&gt;T2, block S 65  is implemented. When A-B≦T 2 , block S 70  is implemented. In one embodiment, the predetermined value T2 can be 30 minutes, or any other value. When A-B&gt;T2, the passenger does not need to go to the boarding gate immediately. At this time, even if other thing is done, the passenger does not miss his flight. 
     At block S 65 , the airport automatic reminder server  200  transmits the computation result of block S 40  to the wearable device  100 , and the wearable device  100  displays commodity list information and/or facility information included in the computation result, which is computed according to the personal preference and demand of the passenger, on display device  102 . 
     At block S 70 , the wearable device  100  displays the remaining time A and the required time B on the display device  102  of the wearable device  100  every a time interval, for example every T1 minutes. 
     At block S 80 , the wearable device  100  determines the passenger has arrived at the boarding gate according to the signal strengths of the plurality of BLUETOOTH base stations  111 - 114  and displays an arrived message on the display device  102 . 
     The airport automatic reminder  200  can push commodity information and facility information in an adjacent area according to the relative location information of the passenger and the personal preference and demand of the passenger. 
     The present application combines the wearable device  100  with the flight information, the commodity information, and the facility information obtained from the airport automatic reminder server  200 , the airport flight server  300 , the at least one commodity server  310 , and the at least one facility server  320 . According to the relative location information of the passenger of the wearable device  100 , the airport automatic reminder server  200  pushes the flight information and surrounding environment information to the wearable device  100 . Thus, events of missing flights can be reduced and good experiences in the airport can be increased. Using the present application, problems that passengers may face originally in the airport can be solved. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.