Patent Publication Number: US-2003236706-A1

Title: System and method for providing a third party originating item to a passenger on a commercial airliner

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates generally to methods and systems for providing items from a third party (i.e., non-airline) source to a passenger travelling on a commercial airliner and, more particularly and in a preferred embodiment, to a method and system for providing an off-site (i.e., off-airliner) prepared coffee-type drink to a passenger located on a commercial airliner.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Custom-prepared coffee-type drinks are increasingly popular in today&#39;s world. Coffees, espressos, lattes, hot chocolates, mochas, and others are examples of the kinds of drinks that large numbers of people purchase in cafes or the like at the beginning of a typical day. Starbucks® is an example of a particularly successful chain of cafes that provide a large variety of coffee-type drinks and that caters to this type of consumer. Other known preparers of coffee-type drinks include Dunkin Donuts®, Seattle&#39;s Best®, and The Coffee Plantation®, among others.  
       [0003] A class of consumer that would generally be expected to desire to partake of a coffee-type drink from a café is the commercial air traveler. Particularly where an individual needs to travel in the early part of a day, the desire for a coffee-type drink can be strong. However, a number of obstacles can get in the way of an air traveler who wishes to enjoy a custom-prepared coffee-type drink.  
       [0004] If the air traveler lacks time to stop at a cafe before heading to the airport, or if the terminal lacks a café, he or she will be unable to purchase the desired coffee-type drink before travelling. Or, even if he or she is able to purchase a drink at a cafe, the air traveler may finish the drink and be desirous of ordering another by the time he or she boards the plane and is ready to depart. Still further, if the air traveler waits until he or she is on the plane, the only option will be to obtain a plain cup of coffee from the plane&#39;s in-flight beverage service. For obvious logistics reasons—including limitations on preparation time and the lack of sophisticated brewing equipment—in-flight beverage services have not offered the full range of coffee-type drinks, including lattes, espressos and the like.  
       [0005] A need therefore existed for a method and system that permits an air traveler on a commercial airliner to be provided a specialized coffee-type drink that has been prepared off-site (i.e., remote from the airplane on which the air traveler is to travel). The system and method should not require the in-flight server to be responsible for preparation of the coffee-type drink. The system and method should provide the air traveler with the ability to be provided, while seated on a commercial airliner, a coffee-type drink of a type that cannot be provided by prior art in-flight service methods and systems, such as a latte or espresso. The system and method should permit the convenient ordering of such a coffee-type drink by an air traveler, by providing an ordering facility in the airport terminal (in the form of a coffee shop, stand, kiosk, waiter or otherwise), or by permitting the ordering of a coffee-type drink over the Internet prior to travel. The system and method should further provide for the efficient delivery of the coffee-type drink to the commercial airliner, together with sufficient identifying information concerning the air traveler so as to facilitate ready delivery of the drink to the air traveler located on the commercial airliner. And the system and method should be capable of being adapted for use with other items originating from a non-airline source, such as food items, office supplies, clothing, reading materials, information, and the like. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing a commercial air traveler with a specialized coffee-type drink, such as a latte or espresso.  
       [0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing a commercial air traveler with a specialized coffee-type drink, wherein the drink is prepared at a location that is remote relative to the airplane upon which the commercial air traveler travels.  
       [0008] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing a commercial air traveler with a specialized coffee-type drink, which permits the convenient ordering of such a coffee-type drink by an air traveler prior to boarding a commercial airliner, by providing an ordering facility in the airport terminal (in the form of a coffee shop, stand, kiosk, waiter or otherwise), or by permitting the ordering of a coffee-type drink over the Internet.  
       [0009] It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing a commercial air traveler with a specialized coffee-type drink, which provides for the efficient delivery of the coffee-type drink to the commercial airliner, together with sufficient identifying information concerning the air traveler so as to facilitate ready delivery of the drink to the air traveler located on the commercial airliner.  
       [0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing other items originating from a non-airline source, such as food items, office supplies, clothing, reading materials, information, and the like, to an air traveler located on a commercial airliner, where such items are ordered prior to boarding the commercial airliner.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing a coffee-type drink to an air traveler on a commercial airliner is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: an air traveler, prior to boarding a commercial airliner, ordering a coffee-type drink from an ordering location; the air traveler providing to the ordering location identifying information regarding the air traveler; communicating the order for the coffee-type drink to a remote coffee-type drink preparation facility; preparing the coffee-type drink in accordance with the order at the coffee-type drink preparation facility; applying the identifying information to the coffee-type drink; delivering the coffee-type drink from the preparation facility to the commercial airliner; and delivering the coffee-type drink to the air traveler at the commercial airliner.  
       [0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a coffee-drink preparation and delivery system is disclosed. The system comprises, in combination: a coffee-type drink preparation facility; wherein the coffee-type drink preparation facility is remote from a commercial airliner; an ordering location where an air traveler can order a coffee-type drink prior to boarding the commercial airliner and provide identifying information regarding the air traveler; wherein the ordering location and the preparation facility are in communication with one another; a first delivery mechanism for delivering coffee-type drink prepared at the preparation facility to the commercial airliner; and a second delivery mechanism for delivering the coffee-type drink prepared at the preparation facility and delivered to the commercial airliner to the air traveler.  
       [0013] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing a third-party originating item to an air traveler on a commercial airliner is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: an air traveler, prior to boarding a commercial airliner, ordering a third-party originating item from an ordering location; the air traveler providing to the ordering location identifying information regarding the air traveler; communicating the order for the third-party originating item to a remote third-party originating item preparation facility; providing the third-party originating item in accordance with the order at the preparation facility; applying the identifying information to the third-party originating item; delivering the third-party originating item from the preparation facility to the commercial airliner; and delivering the third-party originating item to the air traveler at the commercial airliner.  
       [0014] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a block-type diagram, illustrating the components of a system, consistent with the present invention, for providing an off-site prepared coffee-type drink to an air traveler.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a flow-chart, illustrating a method, consistent with the present invention, for providing an off-site prepared coffee-type drink to an air traveler.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a block-type diagram, illustrating the components of a system, consistent with the present invention, for providing an item originating from a third party source to an air traveler on a commercial airliner.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method, consistent with the present invention, for providing an item originating from a third party source to an air traveler on a commercial airliner. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] Referring first to FIG. 1, the main components of a system  10 , consistent with the present invention, for providing an off-site prepared coffee-type drink to an air traveler is shown. These include an ordering location  12 , where an air traveler can place an order for a coffee-type drink; a remote preparation facility  14 ; a delivery mechanism  16  for delivering a coffee-type drink from the remote preparation facility  14  to a commercial airliner; and a delivery mechanism  18  for delivering a coffee-type drink on the commercial airliner to a specific air traveler.  
     [0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method consistent with the present invention is shown. A description of the method of FIG. 2 will further clarify the components of the system  10  of the present invention. The first step in the method shown in FIG. 2 is the placement by the air traveler of an order with an ordering location  12 , prior to the boarding of a commercial airliner, for a coffee-type drink. Preferably, at the same time, the air traveler will also make payment to the ordering location  12  for the coffee-type drink. It would be possible, however, for payment to be made by the air traveler at the time the coffee-type drink is delivered to the air traveler on the commercial airliner. Still further, it should be noted that, except as specifically claimed herein, it would be possible for the airline rather than the air traveler to make payment for the coffee-type drink.  
     [0021] The air traveler will provide the ordering location  12  with sufficient identifying information so that the coffee-type drink can later, as described in more detail below, be delivered to the air traveler on a commercial airliner. The identifying information will likely include, at a minimum, the air traveler&#39;s name. Preferably, it will further include the identity of the airline upon which the air traveler is to be travelling, the number of the air traveler&#39;s flight, and perhaps still further information such as the air traveler&#39;s seat assignment, gate assignment for the flight, etc.  
     [0022] The ordering location  12  can be the physical location where the coffee-type drink is to be physically prepared, i.e., the remote coffee-type drink preparation facility  14 . For example, the ordering location  12  can be a coffee shop located in an airport facility, and which an air traveler may visit prior to boarding a commercial flight to place an order for a coffee-type drink. It is also possible that the ordering location  12  may be remote from the preparation facility. Thus, for example, the ordering location  12  may be a stand in an airport terminal that accepts orders for a coffee-type drink and payment therefor, and that then transmits those orders to the preparation facility  14 . The ordering location  12  may be an individual, such as a waiter, who passes through a terminal, preferably in an identifying uniform of some type, collecting orders for coffee-type drinks and then transmitting them in appropriate fashion to the preparation facility  14  (e.g., by physically delivering the orders, by electronically transmitting the orders, or otherwise).  
     [0023] Yet further, the ordering location may be a web-site in communication with the preparation facility  14 , where drink orders and preferably payments are received and from where orders may be communicated to the preparation facility  14 . (Where the preparation facility  14  is owned by an entity other than the commercial airline, it will be preferred that the web-site be maintained by that entity.) The ordering location  12  could also be a kiosk or the like having a personal computer or the like located therein, and where an air traveler may place an order for a coffee-type drink and which order may then be transmitted electronically to the preparation facility  14 .  
     [0024] Still further, the ordering location  12  may be an airline check-in staff member, who will take the order, perhaps also process payment, and communicate the order to the preparation facility  14 . Where the ordering location is provided by the airline, ordering can be accomplished in-person, by telephone, or electronically via an electronic communication to an airline web-site.  
     [0025] The preparation facility  14  is the location where the coffee-type drink is physically prepared. It should be located in sufficient proximity to the commercial airliner so that a drink can be prepared and delivered, in a fresh and hot (or fresh and cold for a cold beverage) state to the airliner. Preferably, the preparation facility  14  will be located in the airport, and preferably in one or more terminals. The preparation facility  14  can be a coffee shop where walk-up customers can purchase coffee-type drinks and perhaps other items for immediate consumption, or it could be a production facility that does not also accept walk-up business. Some combination of these is also possible.  
     [0026] In accordance with the order received, the coffee-type drink will be prepared at the preparation facility  14 . Additionally, the identifying information previously supplied by the air traveler will be coupled to the coffee-type drink in appropriate manner, so as to facilitate delivery (discussed below) of the prepared coffee-type drink first to the airliner and later to the air traveler on the airliner. Preferably, this will be accomplished by placing the identifying information directly on the container of the coffee-type drink, by either handwriting it onto the container, or perhaps by writing or printing it onto a sticker that is later applied to the container. It may also be accomplished in other ways, for example by placing the prepared coffee-type drink in an appropriate portion of a container/carrier, wherein identifying information is located on a wall, surface, or other portion of each such section, and where perhaps an entire multi-section container/carrier is dedicated to a single flight, gate, airline, or other classification.  
     [0027] Once the coffee-type drink is prepared and the identifying information is applied in appropriate manner, it will be necessary to deliver the coffee-type drink from the preparation facility  14  to the commercial airliner on which the air traveler is to travel. It would be possible, for example, for a person associated with the preparation facility  14 , or with the commercial airliner, to hand carry one or more prepared coffee-type drinks from the preparation facility  14  to the commercial airliner. To promote efficiency, it would be preferred for a plurality of coffee-type drinks associated with a particular flight leaving from a particular gate, or associated with a particular section of a terminal, or otherwise grouped to promote delivering efficiency, to be positioned in a multi-sectioned drink container/carrier and then delivered to the commercial airliner.  
     [0028] Once the prepared coffee-type drinks are at the commercial airliner, it is necessary to bring them on board and ready them for delivery to the individual air travelers who have placed orders. This can be accomplished in a number of different ways. Preferably, one or more multi-sectioned drink containers/carriers will be associated with a particular flight. Further, it is preferred that such multi-sectioned drink containers/carriers be adapted to be loaded onto a beverage/food cart of the type commonly used on commercial airliners. It is further possible to load prepared coffee-type drinks onto their own carts that are adapted to fit with an aisle of a commercial airliner, and which carts may themselves be brought directly onto the commercial airliner and utilized for purposes of distributing the prepared coffee-type drinks.  
     [0029] Where the air travelers have provided identifying information that includes seat assignments, or where the preparation facility  14  has itself been able to obtain such information by communication with the airliner, it would be preferred to load the prepared coffee-type drinks according to the row and seat assignment of the air travelers. (In this regard, where electronic communication is established between the preparation facility  14  and the commercial airline on which the air traveler is to travel, seat assignment information may be later obtained by the preparation facility  14  from the commercial airline after placement of the order by the air traveler, in those instances where the air traveler may not have yet received a seat assignment and thus may not have this information to provide.) This would ease service of the prepared coffee-type drinks to air travelers.  
     [0030] As the final step in the method, the prepared coffee-type drink is delivered by an in-flight service professional on the commercial airliner to each air traveler who has ordered such a product.  
     [0031] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns the provision of an off-site prepared coffee-type drink to a commercial airliner, it should be understood that the present invention is intended to encompass the provision of other third-party originated items, following the placement of a pre-flight order by an air traveler, to an air traveler on a commercial airliner. For example, a meal prepared by a third-party vendor, such as a nationally-known restaurant chain, could be ordered by (and preferably paid for by) the air traveler in one of the manners discussed herein, prepared remote from the airliner, and delivered to the airliner prior to flight for subsequent delivery to the air traveler. Other commodities could also be ordered, paid for, and delivered according to the system and method described herein. For example, an air traveler could order and pay for books, magazines, newspapers, office supplies, clothing, stock quotes, or other items prior to boarding a commercial airliner, and have those items delivered on the commercial airliner. The system and method of the present invention, in a non-coffee-type drink embodiment, is generally illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 4 , utilizing equivalent reference numbers to describe equivalent features to those described in FIGS.  1 - 2 .  
     [0032] It should be further understood that, while it is preferred that the coffee-type drink or other item be delivered to the air traveler at his or her seat, it would also be possible for these to be delivered to the air traveler prior to boarding the commercial airliner. In this embodiment, the ordered drink or other item would be delivered to the gate from where the commercial airliner is to depart, and there provided to the air traveler prior to or at the time of boarding of the airliner. In this embodiment, the delivery of the item to the air traveler at the commercial airliner is intended to include either delivery on the airliner (preferably to the air traveler in his or her seat) or proximate the airliner (such as at the gate).  
     [0033] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.