NZ513521A - Linked database systems for verification and validation of travel passenger documentation - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of border management consisting of storing passenger passport data and reservation number in a travel database, maintaining a central database, transmitting the passport data and reservation number to the central database, issuing a clearance to board following validation against the central database and updating the passenger registrant record in the central database.

Description

fl) 1 51352 PATENTS FORM 5 Number 513521 PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated 10 August 2001 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION METHOD OF BORDER MANAGEMENT We, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF NEW ZEALAND, ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE MINISTER OF CUSTOMS, of 17-21 Whitmore Street, Wellington, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be 20 particularly described in and by the following statement. 0 2 METHOD OF BORDER MANAGEMENT FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a method of border management, particularly but not solely designed for enhancing border security, improving risk management, and facilitating passenger travel. The invention could be applied to international travel by air, boat, train or bus where applicable.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION International travel, even before the events of September 11 2001 was a rather cumbersome process. A passenger on an international flight, for example, is involved with manual filling in of departure cards, departure fee or tax collection, manual 15 processing, and multiple queues for various services. The organisations affected by the current process are the airport authority, different airline companies, border agencies and travel agents apart from the travelers themselves. The present process can lead to increased queues, airport congestion, less efficient administrative processes, increased costs and reduced customer satisfaction.

The events of September 11, 2001 have put additional pressures on this situation. Border security, predicated on a relatively benign international environment, has meant a relatively low level of border agency interaction with people crossing the border. However, heightened risk awareness, strengthened processes, better management and 25 greater scrutiny are now essential. The increase in international terrorist activities and related security threats along with increasing drug trafficking, fraudulent travel documents as well as continuing growth in passenger numbers affects Border Agencies, passengers, airlines and airport authorities, the impact being greater border risk and security vulnerabilities while exacerbating problems already experienced. 3 It would be particularly desirable to reduce wait time significantly for a passenger, to streamline administrative processes, to reduce costs, to improve data accuracy and enhance risk management. This would deliver a positive experience to airline passengers as they proceed through the airport processes. Improved journey management and the 5 associated improvement in customer service extends to airlines, the promise of higher customer satisfaction, and the capability to cost-effectively process larger numbers of passengers through existing airports. At the same time Border Agencies will be assured of better risk management and improved security.

There have been some developments toward more efficient processing of passengers. One such development is the reservation and payment for airline tickets online. One example of electronic tickets is ticketless travel, or electronic ticketing, which is becoming commonplace. Electronic tickets enable passengers to book tickets over the phone or over the Internet, eliminating the need for the airline or the travel agent to issue 15 a paper ticket.

Airlines and other service providers in the value chain are now implementing wireless technology. Wireless access connects passengers having wireless devices from virtually anywhere to an airline system. Through cellphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) 20 and other mobile devices, passengers can quickly check in and select their seat directly from the device, view updated arrival and departure information, and receive notification from either the airline or travel agency when changes occur mid-journey, such as when a flight has been delayed or cancelled.

Some jurisdictions have implemented initiatives to issue a smartcard clearance system to replace passports for cross-border travel.

Some airports have installed self-service kiosks. Customer-oriented kiosk applications can offer passengers the capability to make travel reservations, check in, receive boarding 30 passes, select seats, check frequent flyer miles, request upgrades, purchase a ticket, print e-ticket receipts, or check bags, all without waiting in line for an agent. Self-service 4 kiosks deliver fast and direct services to passengers right at the point of service, thereby minimising check-in queues, reducing check-in unit costs and increasing customer satisfaction.

Biometric technology creates highly accurate digital records of a person's physiological features. These records can be safely stored for later comparison against a live image that is captured from the user at the time the service is delivered. The devices create electronic digital templates that are stored and compared to live images when there is a need to verify the identity of an individual. Biometric technologies, based on for 10 example fingerprints, voice, iris, hand geometry, and face recognition, have been used in some cross-border systems to facilitate travel.

Much of the existing methods are focused on particular points in the process departure flow and do not provide an entire solution for departure. None of the prior art techniques 15 provide an integrated method for border management. It would be particularly desirable, for example, to collect information from a passenger and then share this information electronically with other service providers in the travel process.

In broad terms in one form, the invention comprises a method of border management comprising the steps of storing passenger passport data in a travel database; storing a passenger reservation number in the travel database; maintaining a central database; transmitting the passport data and the reservation number to a passenger registrant record 25 in the central database; issuing a clearance to board to a passenger following validation against the central database; and updating the passenger registrant record in the central database.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION 95968-1 received -3 FEB 2001* BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Preferred forms of the method of border management will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 show a block diagram of the preferred form system in which the invention operates; and Figure 2 shows a process description of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS Figure 1 illustrates a preferred system 10 in which one form of the invention may be implemented. Conceptually the system 10 comprises one or more travel agents 100 for 15 passenger information and ticketing, one or more airline systems 200 for ticketing and check-in, one or more airport authorities 300 for departure fee or tax processing, a central system 400 operated for example by Customs or a border agency, for capturing movements and alert checking and one or more government departments 500, for example the Department of Statistics for batch systems data collection.

The invention will be described with reference to both Figure 1 and Figure 2 interchangeably.

The system 10 includes one or more travel agents 110, for example 110A. Each travel agent could be interfaced to or at least have access to one or more travel databases, for example 25 travel agent 110A is interfaced to travel database 120A. Travel database 120A comprises a series of records representing travel data for a particular passenger.

It is envisaged that travel database 120 for example travel database 120A could be maintained by a travel agent. Alternatively, the travel database 120 could be maintained by 30 an individual organisation or by a third party and accessible over the Internet.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 19 apr im received 6 The system 10 further comprises one or more airlines 210, for example 21 OA. Each airline could be interfaced to an airline database, for example airline 21 OA is interfaced to airline database 220A. The airline database 220A comprises a series of records representing flight data, for example flight number, origin, destination, time of 5 destination, time of arrival, and price.

The system 10 also includes one or more airport companies or authorities 300, for example 31 OA. One example of an airport company is Auckland International Airport Limited (ALAL). The Airport Authority 310 maintains an airport database, for example 10 320A, which is described below.

The central system 400 is preferably maintained by an organisation, such as the New Zealand Customs Service in New Zealand or its equivalent in countries outside New Zealand. The central system 400 typically includes a workstation 410 which is interfaced 15 to travel agents 100, airlines 200, airport companies or authorities 300 and government agencies 500. The workstation 410 preferably comprises a data memory and processor provided with appropriate ports and communication interfaces to enable data transfer between the various components of the system.

The workstation 410 is interfaced to a plurality of business rules which could be implemented as an alert list 420. The alert list could store data on certain individuals or passport numbers or other travel document references. Various organisations, for example Courts, Police, Inland Revenue, Immigration, Customs and welfare agencies or any other authority, could place an alert with Customs relating to a certain individual or a 25 passport number. The authority could also provide instructions, for example an alert placed by the police could provide instructions to inform the police should a certain individual or passport be encountered. Police, for example, may place an alert on a person due to previous convictions or a person of interest, so that the person's movements can be monitored. The alert list could preferably be searched by an individual name, a 95968-1 intellectual property OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 3 APR 2004 received 7 passport number, a gender, date of birth, nationality or country of birth. The alert list could comprise a series of records, each identified by a suitable unique record identifier.

More generally, the alert list is an example of a plurality of business rules representing one or 5 more passengers. Passenger data could be checked for applicability of these business rules.

The central system 400 could further comprise a central database 430 which further comprises a series of registrant records 440. The central database 430 could be replaced by a distributed database for example. The central database will be further described below. The 10 workstation 410 is also interfaced to a passenger travel database 450 in which is stored a series of passenger travel records 460.

It is typical to position a Customs station at a departure gate 470 through which a passenger landside passes to go airside ready to depart. The departure gate 470 of the invention could 15 be interfaced to the workstation 410 and to a printing device 480.

The integration and operation of the various components of the system 10 are described below and can be divided into four steps, namely Pre-flight process, Departure process, Inflight process, and Post-arrival process.

Pre-Flight Process Pre-flight processes include Registration and Ticketing with Risk Management at each step. 25 Registration Each passenger contacts a travel agent 110 for example travel agent 110A, either in person or by telephone, fax or email. Each travel agent or airline maintains a travel agent database 120, for example 120A. The travel agent 11 OA is interfaced to one or more airlines 200 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 17 MAR 20» RECEIVED 8 and particularly airline CRS (client reservation systems) to check travel options and to make bookings.

Each passenger thus 'enrols' by providing passenger data which may include bio-data, ' 5 travel document, travel purpose data and biometric data. The travel agent 11 OA gathers passport data and other statistical data from the passenger. This data is stored in and validated against a central system 400 including the central database 430 which approves or declines the registration. A registrant record 440 is created for registered passengers.

At the time of booking for travel each passenger contacts the travel agent to request and finalise travel arrangements. The passport data and statistical data is stored as a record, for example 13 OA in the travel database 120A together with itinerary data. The travel database 120 A preferably comprises a series of travel records, each record identified by a reservation number or other unique identifier. The reservation number is preferably a 15 unique combination of text and/or numbers which identifies an individual and an itinerary. The travel agent 11 OA transmits data from a passenger travel document, for example passport biodata, and statistical data to the central system 400. Any changes to passenger details are preferably updated in the registrant record, as this could affect the passenger's entitlement to travel.

Ticketing When it is time for the travel agent 11 OA to issue a ticket to the passenger, the travel agent 110A checks the central database 430 for the registrant record 440 representing the 25 passenger wishing to travel. The alert list 420 could also be checked at this stage. If a passenger is entitled to travel, the passenger's itinerary, reservation number and departure card data, which has been stored in database 130A, is transmitted from the travel agent database 120A to the workstation 410 where it is stored in the central database 430 and/or the passenger travel database 450. The workstation 410 acknowledges receipt of the 30 transferred data and checks to ensure that the passenger represented by the data transferred from the travel agent 11 OA is found in the central database 430. If the 9 individual is not found in the central database 430, a rejection message is sent back to travel agent 110A.

In this way, itinerary data, reservation number and associated departure card data are sent to 5 the workstation 410 at the time of ticketing. Changes to ticketing, for example dates of travel, could be represented by transmitting a cancellation record from the travel agent 110A to the workstation 410, followed by an updated travel record to the workstation 410.

An airport authority 320 may charge a departure fee and this departure fee is preferably 10 collected by the travel agent 11 OA as an agent for the airport authority at the time of ticketing.

The travel agent 110A preferably provides the passenger with terms and conditions of travel, for example quarantine and Customs regulations, requirements to notify the travel agent 15 11 OA of any changes in flight details and so on.

Departure Process The Departure Process covers Check-in by Airline and Gate processing.

Check-in When the passenger arrives at the Airline counter for check-in, the Airline captures passenger data for example using document readers that automatically capture information from 25 machine readable travel documents. This data is validated against passenger and itinerary data held on the airline database 220A and also validated against central database 430. When a clearance to board message is obtained, the passenger is issued a clearance to board (such as a boarding pass) by the airline. The central system also creates an expected movement record for the passenger in anticipation of their arrival at the destination airport. 95968-1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 17 MAR 20IW RECEIVED Gate Once the passenger has had a clearance to board issued and is ready to board, the customer presents a valid travel document such as a passport to an officer at the departure gate 470. The officer scans the passport and transmits passport data to the workstation 410. The workstation 410 performs a further search through the alert list 420 to ensure that the passenger is cleared for travel. Once again, the workstation 410 could transmit a rejection message to the departure gate 470 to enable the passenger to be apprehended.

If the passenger does not appear in the alert list 420, the workstation 410 checks the itinerary record 460 of the passenger in the travel database 450 to validate the passenger, to ensure that the passenger is travelling on the correct flight. If the flight on which the passenger desires to travel matches the data stored in the appropriate record 460, a message is transmitted to airline 210, the message comprising the passenger record and passenger reservation number. The airline 210A retrieves from the airline database 200 boarding pass data and transmits this boarding pass data including a reservation number back to the departure gate 470 to be printed on printing device 480. The boarding pass is presented to the passenger, granting the passenger airside, enabling the passenger to pass through the departure gate 470.

The workstation 410 updates the appropriate registrant record 440 to record movement of the passenger airside. The workstation 410 transmits passenger movement to airport 31 OA for reconciliation of the departure fee or tax against travel agent 110A. Itinerary and departure card details are preferably also sent to government agencies 500 representing statistics, immigration and aviation security.

In-flight Process Information on all passengers and crew on an incoming aircraft available to Border Agencies is transmitted by the Airline within about 30 minutes of the aircraft departing. This advance information processed electronically permits a thorough and rigorous 95968-1 intellectual property office OF N.Z. 19 APR 2004 received 11 screening of inbound passengers to be accomplished, targeting those passengers that present the highest risk, and allowing for the faster throughput of low risk passengers.

The central database and related systems 400 allow collating, processing, and 5 disseminating of passenger information before the passenger actually arrives at the border. This includes advance warning regarding any possible alert matches, quicker processing at the Customs primary processing line, management of workload for an incoming flight and data mining of summarised flight/voyage information and whole of flight risk profiling.

Post-Arrival Process The Post-arrival process includes operational processing at the Border, Risk Management activities as well as subsequent reconciliation and related actions.

Primary Line Border Agency ground staff process passengers once they arrive at their destination using expected movement data and risk assessments obtained earlier. Actual movement records 20 for arrival are created.

Departure Fee or Tax The passenger record is updated in the central database 430 to record passenger 25 movement, together with a travel agent identifier including a reservation number from previously captured itinerary data stored in the travel database 450. Departure fees collected by the travel agent 110 are preferably transferred to the airport 310 using a suitable clearance house. The workstation 410 provides both the travel agent 110 and the airport 310 transaction data for reconciliation and audit purposes. 12 By collecting data initially from passengers and then sharing this data electronically among service providers, the invention enables passengers to reduce wait time significantly, streamline administrative processes, reduce costs and improve data accuracy. The invention eliminates the need for passengers to fill in departure cards and for the organisations to collect departure fees and taxes, thereby removing the need for multiple queues.

It is envisaged that the method of the invention could be applied to any form of international travel other than air travel. Where appropriate, the invention could be applied to international travel by boat, train or bus.

The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined by the accompanying claims. 13

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of border management comprising the steps of: storing passenger passport data in a travel database; 5 storing a passenger reservation number in the travel database; maintaining a central database; transmitting the passport data and the reservation number to a passenger registrant record in the central database; issuing a clearance to board to a passenger following validation against the central 10 database; and updating the passenger registrant record in the central database.

2. A method of border management as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of validating passenger data against the central database after storing the passenger 15 passport data in the travel database.

3. A method of border management as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising the step of validating passenger passport data against the central database prior to issuing a ticket to the passenger 20 25

4. A method of border management as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising the steps of: maintaining a plurality of business rules representing one or more passengers; and checking the passenger passport data for applicability of the business rules.

5. A method of border management as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the passenger registrant record includes bio-data.

6. A method of border management as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 30 wherein the passenger registrant record includes itinerary data. 95968-1 intellectual property office OF N.Z. - 9 FEB 2004 received 14

7. A method of border management as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the passenger registrant record includes travel purpose data.

8. A method of border management, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures. intellectual property office of n.z. - 3 FEB » received | 95968-1