GB2469026A

GB2469026A - Information delivery method to registered terminals

Info

Publication number: GB2469026A
Application number: GB0905391A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Mark Wardale
Original assignee: NEC Europe Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-30
Filing date: 2009-03-30
Publication date: 2010-10-06
Also published as: GB0905391D0

Abstract

An information delivery system receives user identification data at a registration terminal, with wireless communication of user identification data from the registration terminal to an information terminal, establishes user device identification data for communicating with the user device, communicates data between the registration terminal and the information terminal to register the user device, determines user-specific information based on the received user identification data, and sends the user-specific information to the user. The system may be used in an airport to track a passenger's position using near field communications (RFID tag), dect telecommunications, femtocell, wi-fi or GPS, wlan, providing location specific information for the network about the passenger's movements, and guiding the passenger from check-in through departures to the plane, or from the plane to arrivals. The device therefore provides tailored information, perhaps using voice over internet protocol communication to assist, a visitor based on the location of a local access point with which the currently registered. The system may also be used in a hospital, a multi-activity exhibition, conferences or concerts, and provide information to a waiting person.

Description

Information delivery method and apparatus The present invention relates to the delivery of information. The invention has particular, although not exclusive relevance to the delivery of passenger specific travel information to a passenger of a transport system, for example to a passenger in a departures or arrivals area of an airport.

Passengers at airports and in other transport hubs often need to keep track of information pertaining to their journey. This can be done by way of checking departure screens to determine whether their flight is ready for boarding and if so, at which boarding gate. Finding appropriate departure screens and regularly monitoring them, for example in case the departure gate is changed, is a tedious inconvenience. Airports can make announcements to passengers over their public address systems, but public address announcements can be hard to hear and passengers do not wish to hear announcements for other passengers. Furthermore, making announcements over a number of speakers covering a large area is a waste of energy as the intended recipient will likely only hear the announcement from a single speaker.

Passengers arriving at airports are often tired after their flights and may be disorientated if the airport is foreign to them. Seeking out information pertaining to their journey, such as which immigration queue to use, where to pick up their luggage, or where to find persons waiting for them is often the last thing that they want to do.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides an information delivery system comprising a registration terminal, a user device and an information terminal; the registration terminal comprising: an input for receiving user identification data; network communications circuitry for communicating with the identification terminal over a network; near field communications circuitry for communication with the user device; and a controller operable: to use the network communications circuitry to transmit the user identification data to the information terminal; to communicate with the user device using the near field communications circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and to communicate the user device identification data with the information terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user; the user device comprising: near field communication circuitry for communication with the registration terminal; wireless communication circuitry for communicating messages with the information terminal via one or more wireless access points; and a controller operable: to communicate with the registration terminal using the near field communication circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and to communicate with the information terminal using the wireless communications circuitry via messages including the user device data established with the registration terminal; the information terminal comprising: network communications circuitry for communicating with the registration terminal and the user device; and a controller operable: to receive the user identification data from the registration terminal; to communicate the user device identification data with the registration terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user; to communicate messages with the user device via one or more wireless access points, wherein the messages include the user device identification data; to determine user-specific information based on the received user identification data; and to output the user-specific information for the user in dependence upon the user device identification data.

As near field communications are limited in range, their use when communicating the user device identification data improves communication security as the environment in which the communication takes place can easily be controlled. The use of wireless communications to relay user-specific information to the user device, means that the user device does not need to be in close proximity to a near field communicator in order to receive the user-specific information as would be the case if the user device were only equipped with near field communication means. Furthermore, if communication of the user device identification data is performed under controlled conditions, communication of the passenger-specific information may be performed using a simpler, less secure communication protocol than would otherwise be required; advantageously, the use of a simpler communication protocol reduces network load and reduces the power requirements for both the user device any the access points with which it communicates.

In one embodiment, the user device further comprises means for determining the location of the user device, and the user device's wireless communication circuitry is operable to include location data in messages communicated with the information terminal; and the information terminal's means for communicating messages with the user device are operable to receive messages including the location data, and the information terminal's means for determining user-specific information are operable to determine the user-specific information based on the location data.

By basing the user-specific information on the location data, information can be sent to the user only when it is relevant thus saving energy and reducing network load by not sending irrelevant messages.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: means for communicating using device identifying information between a portable user device and a registration terminal using near field communication; means for associating the portable user device with the passenger using the device identifying information; means for determining to send passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device associated with the passenger; means for determining the device identifying information associated with the passenger; means for detecting the location of the associated user device; and means for, based on the detected location, communicating the passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: means for associating a portable user device with the passenger; means for detecting the location of the portable user device; and means for, based on the detected location, communicating passenger-specific and location-specific travel information to the passenger.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a user with user-specific information, comprising: communicating, using network communications circuitry, user identification data between a registration terminal and an information terminal; communicating, using near field communications circuitry, between the registration terminal and a user device to establish user device identification data to be used when communicating between the user device and the information terminal; communicating, using network communications circuitry, user device identification data between the registration terminal and the information terminal to establish a registration between the user device and the user; communicating, via one or more wireless access points, between the user device and the information terminal one or messages including the user device data; determining user-specific information based on the user 1 0 identification data; and outputting the user-specific information for the user in dependence upon the user device identification data.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises: determining the location of the user device; communicating location data between the user device and the information terminal; and determining the user-specific information based on the location data.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: communicating using device identifying information between a portable user device and a registration terminal using near field communication; associating the portable user device with the passenger using the device identifying information; determining to send passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device associated with the passenger; determining the device identifying information associated with the passenger; detecting the location of the associated user device; and based on the detected location, communicating the passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: associating a portable user device with the passenger; detecting the location of the portable user device; and based on the detected location, communicating passenger-specific and location-specific travel information to the passenger.

Once the location of a user or passenger has been determined, this information may be conveyed to third parties, for example persons waiting to meet an arriving passenger.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the above aspects can be implemented separately or in any combination in an information delivery system. These and various other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment which is given by way of example only and which is described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates an airport departure building comprising a number of access points located in different areas of the building for communicating with user devices carried by passengers; Figure 2 schematically illustrates a communication system comprising a number of access points which communicate with user devices carried by passengers; Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the registration terminal shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the check-out terminal shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of one of the user devices shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the airline computer shown in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the airport computer shown in Figure 2; and Figure 8 schematically illustrates an airport arrival building comprising a number of access points located in different areas of the building for communicating with user devices carried by passengers.

Overview Figure 1 shows schematically an airport departure building 100 comprising check-in areas 102, 104, a plurality of air-side facilities 106a to 106d located in departure lounges 108a to 108d, and a plurality of gate areas llOa to hOd from which passengers board aeroplanes 112a to 112d. Departure building 100 further comprises a plurality of distributed wireless communication access points 114a to 1 14j that define communication cells for communication with portable user devices given to and carried by passengers (not shown). In this embodiment, the portable user devices are electronic devices each having a device identifier stored in memory for identification of that user device and further having both WiFi and near field communications circuitry. The near field communications circuitry is capable of communicating using an electric and/or a magnetic field, for example by magnetic field induction; as the near field communications circuitry uses electric and/or magnetic fields for communication, its maximum communication range is limited and may only be several centimetres, for example 10 centimetres, and so communication between near field devices is only possible when the devices are in the immediate vicinity of one another. The access points of this embodiment are WiFi access points 114 and are located within each of the check-in areas 120, 104, the departure lounges 108, and the gate areas 110. The access points 114 typically have a communication range between 30 and 300 meters.

Passengers arriving at check-in area 102 have their identity confirmed at registration terminals 102a, for example by verification of their passport, identity card, or other identification documentation. Following confirmation of the passenger's identity, they are issued with a user communications device (not shown). As will be described in more detail below, in this embodiment the user device is in the form of a smart card-type device having Near Field Communications (NFC) circuitry, WiFi communications circuitry, and a display. At the time of check in, the user device is associated with the passenger by communication between the device and the registration terminal 102a using the NFC circuitry. As the range of the NFC circuitry is very limited, NFC communication allows the association between the user device and the passenger to be performed under the controlled conditions of the registration terminal 102a.

The passenger then carries the user device with them as they move about the airport between the cells defined by the WiFi access points 11 4a to 11 4j. As the passenger moves from cell to cell, the user device that the passenger is carrying communicates with the access point of the cell in which the passenger is located, i.e. the access point from which the user device receives the strongest signal. The airport computer system can then determine and track the approximate location of the passenger by detecting the WiFi cell with which the user device is currently registered. The airport computer system can then communicate passenger-specific information, which may be based upon their location, to the passenger. This information may be displayed on the display of the user device or it may be output via a terminal display or a loudspeaker in the passenger's vicinity.

Examples of information that may be communicated to the user include: boarding information such as the gate number, time required to get to the boarding gate from the passenger's current location, the distance to the boarding gate, time until the gate closes; passenger location information; location of nearest amenities, help points, and/or shops; maps of passenger location indicating how to get to the boarding gate, amenities, help points and/or shops; targeted advertising, voucher, and/or incentive schemes; the need to reticket and the nearest place where this can be done; rescheduled flight information; and change of gate information.

When the passenger reaches the gate 110 and before they board their aeroplane 112, the passenger's user device is disassociated from them by NFC communication with a gate desk 116 and the user device is returned to the airline staff.

System infrastructure Figure 2 schematically illustrates the communication infrastructure 200 used in this embodiment. Initially a passenger presents themselves in a first area of the airport, in this case at the registration terminal 102a of Figure 1. The passenger then provides a piece of documentary identification, for example a passport, identity card or driving licence, and the passenger's identity is confirmed by comparing the documentary identification with the passenger. Comparison may be performed by a visual comparison of the passenger's face with their photograph, or by comparing other biometric data such as fingerprints, iris scans, or speech recognition. Identity confirmation may be performed manually by an operator and the results input to registration terminal 102a, for example by way of a keyboard and/or pointing device (not shown), or may be performed automatically, for example by way of a digital camera and automatic facial recognition software.

Once the passenger's identity has been determined, registration terminal 102a sends a PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE containing PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION via network 210 to airline computer 212 which accesses airline database 214 to retrieve PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION such as which flights they will take. Additional travel information, such as a need for mobility assistance, may also be supplied by the passenger at the registration terminal 102a and communicated to the airline computer 212 with the PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE. The airline computer 212 then instructs registration terminal 102a to associate a user device 216 with the passenger via an ASSOCIATE MESSAGE.

Registration terminal 102a then communicates with the user device 216 using an NFC communication protocol via an NFC antenna 208 to associate the user device 216 with the passenger. Association is achieved by interrogating the user device 216 to determine a USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER that the device already possesses, in this embodiment the MAC address of the user device, and associating the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER with the passenger. Information about the association including the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER is then sent by registration terminal 102a in an ASSOCIATION INFORMATION MESSAGE via the network 210 to the airline computer 212 which then transmits the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION to the airport computer 220 which stores this information in airport database 222. The user device 216 is then provided to the passenger at registration terminal 102a, for example by being handed to the passenger by an airline employee.

Once a passenger has checked in and passed through any security screening areas (not shown), they are free to wander about the departure lounges (108a to 108d in Figure 1) and to make use of air-side facilities such as shops, restaurants, and bureaux de change (106a to 106d in Figure 1) before they go to their boarding gate to board their aeroplane 112.

As the passenger moves about the airport, the user device 216 uses its WiFi circuitry to register with the nearest access point 114. Accordingly, when a passenger moves from check-in area 102 to departure lounge area 108a, user device 216 will register with access point 114c so that the access point 114c knows the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER of the user device 216. In this embodiment, whenever a user device 216 registers with a new access point 114, the access point 114 is configured to send, via the network 210, a PASSENGER LOCATION MESSAGE that includes the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER, to the airport computer 220. This informs the airport computer 220 that a user device 216 having the received USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER is located in the cell of the reporting access point 114. Airport computer 220 then uses this information to update a location field within the airport database 222, that can be used later to send location specific information for the passenger associated with the user device 216 or that can be used to identify a terminal display or loudspeaker in the vicinity of the passenger associated with that user device 216.

Table 1 illustrates the information that may be held in airport database 222. -10-

Table I

USER DEVICE PASSENGER LOCATION PASSENGER TRAVEL

IDENTIFIER IDENTITY INFORMATION INFORMATION

(MAC address of INFORMATION (network address of Destination Flight No. user device 216) access point 114) 01:23:45:67:89:ab John Smith 195.167.243.62 Ibiza BA1 342 ba:98:76:54:32:1O Samuel Smith 208.77.122.145 Munich LF7645 01:23:45:ba:98:76 Samuel Adams 201.72.183.167 Boston U54527 Airport computer 220 is operable to determine whether or not PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION should be sent to the user device 216. Determination may be by way of manual instruction, for example by an airport employee inputting via a keyboard and/or pointing device (not shown) that a final boarding call for a passenger should be sent to their user device 216, or it may be automatically scheduled, for example a final boarding call may be sent out five minutes before a gate closes.

Once the airport computer 220 has determined that PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION should be sent to a user device 216, the airport computer 220 accesses the airport database 222 to retrieve the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER associated with the passenger and it then generates and sends the PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION in a PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE to the user device 216 (using the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER to address the message so that it will be delivered to the correct user device). This message is then routed by the network 210 to the appropriate access point 114, which relays the message to the user device 216 using a WiFi protocol.

Upon receipt of the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE, the user device 216 presents the PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION to the passenger, for example -11 -on its display.

When the passenger reaches their gate area hUb, check-out terminal 116b communicates with the user device 216 using an NFC communication protocol via NFC antenna 224 to determine the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER. Once the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER has been determined, check-out terminal 116b sends a DISASSOCIATE PASSENGER MESSAGE containing the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER via network 210 to airport computer 220 which amends the passenger's entry in the airport database 222 to reflect that the passenger has left (or is about to leave) the airport; and the user device 216 is reclaimed. Check-out terminal 116b may also communicate with airport computer 220 to check that the passenger is at the correct gate 110.

An overview of the system used in this embodiment has been given above. A more detailed description will now be given of the main components.

Registration terminal Figure 3 is a block diagram that illustrates the main components of one of the registration terminals 102a shown in Figure 2. As shown, the registration terminal 102a includes a near field transceiver circuit 310 which is operable to transmit signals to and to receive signals from user devices 216 via one or more near field antennae 312, and a transceiver circuit 314 which is operable to transmit signals to and to receive signals from the network 210 via a network interface 316. As shown, the registration terminal 102a also includes a controller 318 which controls the operation of the registration terminal 102a and which is connected to the transceiver circuit 314, the near field transceiver circuit 310 and to a display 320, a keyboard 322, and a pointer 324. The controller 318 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 326. As shown, these software instructions include, among other things, an operating system 328, a passenger identity module 330 and an association module 332.

-12 -In operation, PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION, such as the passenger's passport number, name and/or date of birth are input to the controller 318 via keyboard 322, or via the interaction of pointer 324 with display 320. The passenger identity module 330 receives this PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION and prepares a PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE containing the PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION and instructs controller 318 to send the PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE to the airline computer 212 using the transceiver circuit 314 and network interface 316.

As discussed above, once the passenger identification data has been sent to the airline computer 212, an ASSOCIATE MESSAGE is sent back to the registration terminal 102a via the network interface 316 and transceiver circuit 314. This message causes the association module 332 to send an INTEROGATE MESSAGE to the user device 216 using the near field transceiver circuit 310 and the near field antenna 312 to determine the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER. To successfully communicate with the user device 216, the device 216 has to be held in close proximity (typically within tens of centimetres) of the near field antenna 312. In response, the association module 332 will receive back an IDENTIFIER MESSAGE containing the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER from the user device 216 via near field antenna 312 and near field transceiver circuit 310. The association module 332 then prepares an ASSOCIATION INFORMATION MESSAGE containing the PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION and the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and instructs controller 318 to send the ASSOCIATION INFORMATION MESSAGE to the airline computer 212 using the transceiver circuit 314 and network interface 316.

Check-out terminal Figure 4 is a block diagram that illustrates the main components of one of the check-out terminals 116 shown in Figure 2. As shown, the check-out terminal 116 includes a near field transceiver circuit 410 which is operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from user devices 216 via one or more near field antennae 412; and a transceiver circuit 414 which is operable to transmit signals to and to receive -13-signals from the network 210 via a network interface 416. As shown, the check-out terminal 116 also includes a controller 418 which controls the operation of the check-out terminal 116 and which is connected to the transceiver circuit 414 and the near field transceiver circuit 410. The controller 418 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 426. As shown, these software instructions include, among other things, an operating system 428 and a disassociation module 430.

In operation, the disassociation module 430 instructs the controller 418 to intermittently send an INTEROGATE MESSAGE to any user device 216 within communication range via near field transceiver circuit 310 and near field antenna 312 to determine their USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER. Upon receipt of an IDENTIFIER MESSAGE containing a USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER via near field transceiver circuit 310 and near field antenna 312, disassociation module 430 prepares a DISASSOCIATE PASSENGER MESSAGE containing the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and instructs controller 418 to send the DISASSOCIATE PASSENGER MESSAGE to the airport computer 220 using the transceiver circuit 414 and network interface 416. To ensure that disassociation was intended, prior to sending the DISASSOCIATE PASSENGER MESSAGE, disassociation module 430 may require confirmation of the disassociation from the passenger, for example by way of pressing a key on a keypad (not shown).

User device Figure 5 is a block diagram that illustrates the main components of a user device 216 shown in Figure 2. As shown, the user device 216 includes a WiFi transceiver circuit 510 which is operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from access points 114 via one or more antennae 512; and a near field transceiver circuit 514 which is operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from check-in and check-out terminals 102a, 116 via one or more near field antennae 516. As shown, the user device 216 also includes a controller 518 which controls the operation of the user device 216 and which is connected to the transceiver circuits 510, 514 and to a -14 -loudspeaker 520, and a display 524. The controller 518 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 528. As shown, these software instructions include, among other things, an operating system 530, an NFC identifier module 532, and a passenger information module 536. Memory 528 further comprises a USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER 538 for identifying the user device 216. In this embodiment, the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER 538 is the user device's MAC address; as the user device 216 will need to use its MAC address to communicate with access points 114, this avoids the need to assign an additional identifier to the user device 216.

In operation, when user device 216 receives an INTEROGATE MESSAGE via near field antenna 516 and near field transceiver circuit 514, NFC identifier module 532 prepares an IDENTIFIER MESSAGE containing its USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER 538 and instructs controller 518 to send the IDENTIFIER MESSAGE using the near field transceiver circuit 514 and near field antenna 516.

When user device 216 receives a PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE via antenna 512 and transceiver circuit 510, passenger information module 536 extracts the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER from the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE and compares the extracted USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER to its own USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER 538. If the extracted USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER corresponds to the device's USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER 538, passenger information module 536 extracts the PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION from the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE and presents it to the passenger, for example by displaying the PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION on display 524, or by playing an audio message on loudspeaker 522.

Airline computer Figure 6 is a block diagram that illustrates the main components of the airline computer 212 shown in Figure 2. As shown, the airline computer 212 includes a transceiver circuit 610 which is operable to transmit signals to and receive signals -15-from the network 210 via a network interface 612. As shown, the airline computer 212 also includes a controller 614 which controls the operation of the airline computer 212 and which is connected to the transceiver circuit 610 and the network interface 612. The controller 614 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 616. As shown, these software instructions include, among other things, an operating system 618, a passenger confirm module 620, and a passenger association module 622.

In operation, upon receipt of a PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE via network interface 612 and transceiver circuit 610, passenger confirm module 620 extracts PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION from the PASSENGER IDENTITY MESSAGE and instructs controller 614 to interrogate airline database 214 to retrieve PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION. If the airline database 214 has PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION corresponding to the PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION, controller 614 retrieves the PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION and the passenger confirm module 620 prepares an ASSOCIATE MESSAGE and instructs controller 614 to send the ASSOCIATE MESSAGE back to the registration terminal 102a using the transceiver circuit 610 and network interface 612.

Upon receipt of an ASSOCIATION INFORMATION MESSAGE via network interface 612 and transceiver circuit 610, passenger association module 622 extracts the PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION and USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and puts it into a PASSENGER ASSOCIATION MESSAGE along with the PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION. Passenger association module 622 then instructs controller 614 to send the PASSENGER ASSOCIATION MESSAGE to the airport computer 220 using the transceiver circuit 610 and network interface 612.

Airport computer Figure 7 is a block diagram that illustrates the main components of the airport computer 220 shown in Figure 2. As shown, the airport computer 220 includes a -16-transceiver circuit 710 which is operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from the network 210 via a network interface 712. As shown, the airport computer 220 also includes a controller 714 which controls the operation of the airport computer 220 and which is connected to the transceiver circuit 710 and the network interface 712. The controller 714 operates in accordance with software instructions stored within memory 716. As shown, these software instructions include, among other things, an operating system 718, a passenger association module 720, a passenger location module 722, a passenger message module 724, and a disassociation module 726.

In operation, upon receipt of a PASSENGER ASSOCIATION MESSAGE, passenger association module 720 extracts the PASSENGER IDENTITY INFORMATION, USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and PASSENGER TRAVEL INFORMATION and instructs controller 714 to make an entry in airport database 222 containing the extracted information.

Upon receipt of a PASSENGER LOCATION MESSAGE from an access point 114, passenger location module 720 extracts the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and instructs controller 714 to make an entry in airport database 222 indicating the present location (defined by the cell of the access point 114 that sent the message) of the user device 216.

Passenger message module 724 is operable to determine when passenger-specific information should be sent to the user device 216. Determination may be by way of manual instruction, for example by an airport employee inputting via a keyboard and/or pointing device (not shown) that a final boarding call for a passenger should be sent to their user device 216, or it may be automatically scheduled, for example a final boarding call may be sent out five minutes before a gate closes.

Once passenger message module 724 has determined that PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION should be sent to user device 216, it instructs controller 714 to -17-retrieve from airport database 222 the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and, if the information depends on the passenger's current location, the current location information stored for that passenger. The location information may be used, for example, where the information to be sent includes an estimated distance between the passenger's current location and the departure gate. In this case, the passenger message module 724 would use the retrieved location information and pre-stored data that it has on the layout of the airport to work out the relevant distance. The passenger message module 724 then prepares a PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE containing the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER and the relevant PASSENGER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION and instructs controller 714 to send the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE to the user device 216. Controller 714 then sends the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE to the user device 216 via the transceiver circuit 710, the network interface 712, and the access point 114 with which the user device 216 is currently registered.

Upon receipt of a DISASSOCIATE PASSENGER MESSAGE, disassociation module 726 extracts the USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER from the message and instructs controller 714 to make an entry or deletion in airport database 222 to indicate that user device 216 is no longer associated with the passenger.

Alternative embodiment In the above embodiment, an airport passenger departure system was described. In an alternative embodiment, the invention can be used in an airport arrivals system.

Such an alternative embodiment is shown schematically in Figure 8, which shows an airport arrival building 800 comprising an arrival gate 802, a transfer gate 804, a plurality of luggage reclaim areas 806a to 806c including luggage belts 808 and an oversized-luggage desk 810, an immigration area 812 having a plurality of passport/visa control desks 814; customs and excise areas 816, 818 and an arrivals lounge 820. Arrival building 800 further comprises a plurality of wireless access points 822a to 822g distributed about arrival building 800 and defining communication cells for communication with user devices carried by passengers (not -18-shown). For illustrative purposes only, the cells associated with access points 822a to 822g have been made to coincide with the location of each respective access point. Thus, for example, access point 822a is located at arrival gate 802 and the cell defined by access point 822a is defined by arrival gate 802 as delimited by phantom lines.

In this embodiment, when disembarking from aeroplane 824, recently arrived passengers are issued with a user device (not shown) that is associated with them in the manner described in the first embodiment.

The passenger then carries the user device with them as they move about the airport. As the passenger moves from cell to cell, the user device that the passenger is carrying communicates with the access point of the cell in which the passenger is located thereby providing location information of the passenger to the airport computer. Passenger-specific information, which may be based upon their location, may then be communicated to the passenger.

If a passenger is in transit, then the passenger-specific information may comprise how to get to the transfer gate 804 and/or the time required to get there so that they can catch plane 826 in time. As another possibility, the information may include: directions to the luggage reclaim area 806a to 806c, relevant luggage belt 808 and/or oversize luggage desk 825, or the location of the nearest amenities 825 or help points (not shown). When a passenger approaches immigration area 812, the information may direct the passenger to the relevant passport/visa control desks 814.

If persons are waiting for the passenger to arrive, the waiting persons may identify themselves to the airport computer, for example via kiosks 828, so that the passenger can be informed of the waiting persons. The passenger may also be informed via the user device how to identify and/or where to find the waiting persons.

The passenger may also use their user device to authorise such waiting persons to -19-track their location within the airport, for example by displaying this information at kiosk 828. If the waiting persons have not previously met the passenger, for example taxi drivers engaged to collect the passenger, then advantageously by tracking the location of the passenger the waiting person may determine whether the passenger has been held up or has already left the airport -for example by taking another taxi.

Upon reaching the arrivals lounge 820, the passenger's user device is disassociated from them by NFC communication with an arrivals desk 830a, 830b and the user device is reclaimed.

Although Figures 1 and 8 show alternative embodiments, if both departure and arrival airports have the capability, a user device could be associated with a passenger at check-in and carried by the passenger until they reach the arrivals lounge of their destination airport when the user device would be disassociated from them.

Modifications and alternatives A number of detailed embodiments have been described above. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a number of modifications and alternatives can be made to the above embodiments whilst still benefiting from the inventions embodied therein.

By way of illustration only a number of these alternatives and modifications will now be described.

In the above embodiment, the airport computer 220 sent passenger-specific information to the user device of each user. In an alternative embodiment, the airport computer 220 may send out "flight-specific" information destined for all passengers of a particular flight. The airport computer 220 may send different messages to the different access points 114. For example, different boarding call communications for boarding aeroplane 112d may be sent to user devices at locations 108d and 108c, with the communication at location 108d saying "Boarding -20 -for plane 11 2d will close in 10 minutes"; and with the communication at location 1 08c saying "Boarding for plane 112d will close in 10 minutes, plane 112d is 10 minutes walk away".

In the above embodiment, each passenger was given a user device when they checked in. In an alternative embodiment, instead of issuing passengers with user devices 216, if the passenger possesses a user device that is suitable for use in the methods described herein, for example a laptop computer or mobile telephone having NFC and WiFi capabilities, the passenger's user device may be used instead of an issued user device. A software application enabling the passenger's device to perform these methods may be made available for the passenger to download prior to their arrival at the airport. Passengers having installed such applications on their own user device may be given preferential treatment, for example by being given access to a preferred check-in desk 1 04a in order to encourage other passengers to do so to improve the efficiency of the use of airport resources.

In the above embodiment, the location of the user device 216 is determined by detecting the WiFi cell with which the user device is currently registered. As another possibility, if the user device is within communication range of multiple access points at any one time, a triangulation technique may be used to locate the user device 216 even more accurately. Alternatively still, instead of the access points 114 being used to determine the location of the user device 216, the cell associated with each access point 114 may include a plurality of short range position identifying devices, for example Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, that can provide more accurate position information. In such an embodiment, the short range position identifying devices would be connected to network 210 and/or to the nearest access point 114 and would be programmed to report to the airport computer 220 whenever a user device came within its range. To work in this way, the user device 216 would have to include some form of transponder circuit (such as an RFID tag) that can be detected by the short range position identifying devices. The transponder circuit would have to transmit some form of identification signal which may be the same as -21 -the USER DEVICE IDENTIFICATION of the embodiment described above or it may be a different identification (in which case the airport computer would have to maintain an association between the different user device identifiers and the passenger identification). In this embodiment, as device location is determined without the use of WiFi communications, in place of WiFi transceiver circuit 510 the user device 216 may simply have a WiFi receiver circuit (not shown) operable to receive PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGEs from access points 114 via the one or more antennae 512. Advantageously, by removing the need to transmit WiFi signals, the power requirements of the user device 216 are significantly reduced and in a simple implementation may allow the user device to operate without a battery, for example by using the RFID interrogating electromagnetic field or solar cells to power its circuitry. For devices having batteries, the reduced power requirements reduce battery load, extend battery life, and/or allow smaller or lower specification batteries to be employed.

In the above embodiments, a user device was described having a number of transceiver circuits. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, these transceiver circuits may have shared components. For example, an RFID transceiver and the NFC transceiver may share a common antenna; or the transceiver circuits may share common analogue to digital conversion circuits.

In the above embodiment, the access points were configured to report to the airport computer 220 whenever a user device registers itself with the access point. In an alternative embodiment, the airport computer 220 may use conventional network tools to identify the access point to which a user device is currently registered in order to determine the desired location information.

In another embodiment, instead of the access points 114 being used to determine the location of the user device 216, the user device 216 may possess its own position determining means, for example a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator.

In this case, the user device may be configured to send location update messages to -22 -the airport computer 220 on a regular basis.

In the above embodiments, the access points 114 were WiFi access points. In alternative embodiments other types of access points may be used. For example, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) access points or femtocell access points could be used instead or in addition to the WiFi access points.

Access points 114, registration terminal 102a, check-out terminal 116a to 116d, airline computer 212, and/or airport computer 220 may be connected to network 210 by a cable or wireless connection.

In one embodiment, instead of disassociation occurring when the user device 216 is within communication range of the NFC antenna 224 of check-out terminal 116b, disassociation may occur once the passenger's flight has taken off, or may time out if none of the access points 114 have communicated with the user device for a predetermined time period. If a passenger has been issued with a user device 216, after the device has been reclaimed, it may be reset and reissued to another passenger.

In the above embodiment, the passenger's identification was manually entered at check-in. In an alternative embodiment, the user device may be configured to perform user identification, for example by communication with an e-passport or through some other electronic user verification technique.

In one embodiment, the airport computer 220 may monitor the location of the user device 216 with respect to the location of the passenger's boarding gate and may determine whether to send passenger-specific information based on the amount of time that it will take the passenger to get to the boarding gate, or on the length of the queue/estimated clearance time for airport security etc..

In one embodiment, when a last call for boarding is due to be issued, the airport -23 -computer 220 may notify airport staff of the present location of the passenger so that they can guide the passenger to the gate, or decide to offload the passenger. Airport computer 220 may include in its notification, information indicating that a given passenger is likely to require assistance in boarding, for example elderly or infirm passengers, or unaccompanied child passengers. Passengers requiring assistance need then only be provided with assistance when needed for boarding the aeroplane as opposed to for the entire duration of their stay in the airport.

In one embodiment, airport computer 220 sends targeted information, for example advertising, vouchers or incentives such as an airline frequent fliers program or details of airport retailers (which may have been supplied to the airport computer 220 by a third party) to the user device 216. Airport computer 220 may send targeted information based upon the location of the user device, for example, information relating to a specific retail outlet may be sent to the user device 216 when in the vicinity of the retail outlet.

In one embodiment, user device 216 is operable to receive requests for information from the airport computer 220, and communicate them to the passenger. For example, airport computer may request whether the passenger requires mobility assistance. User device is further operable to receive the passenger's response (via an appropriate input device such as a keyboard) and relay it to airport computer 220.

In one embodiment, airport computer 220 monitors the location of a plurality of user devices 216 and controls airport facilities based thereon. For example, airport computer may determine that extra escalators will need to be turned on in order for all of the as yet unboarded passengers to get to their gates in time and may send instruction messages that this be performed. As another possibility, airport computer 220 may determine that additional passport control desks will need to be opened in order to optimise passenger throughput and it may send an appropriate message to a passport control system.

In another embodiment, instead of the above described systems being employed at an airport, they may be employed elsewhere, for example for the purposes of tracking and providing information to visitors or patients at a hospital, to visitors at multi-activity -24 -exhibitions, to delegates at multi-track conferences, or to concert goers at conferences.

For example, if the system is employed at a hospital, a visitor may be tracked by microcellular wireless devices having, for example, WLAN or DECT capabilities. When the visitor's appointment time is near, a message may be sent to the visitor together with instructions, based upon the visitor's current location for locating the correct facility.

Additional information may also be sent directly to the visitor such as delay information, prescription information, advertising information or the visitor may use the device to indicate that they have a need for special assistance. Visitors may also be able to respond to requests for further information using the device.

In the above embodiments, the user device provided its MAC address to the registration terminal for use as a USER DEVICE IDENTIFIER. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, other identifiers may be used, such as an IP address assigned to the user device. In another embodiment, the user device 216 may be provided with a unique identifier either by the registration terminal or by the airport/airline computer or whatever information terminal is providing the information to the user device. For example, instead of using a MAC address In one embodiment the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE conveys information by way of a pictorial message that can be understood by users irrespective of the language(s) that they speak. As another possibility, the PASSENGER INFORMATION MESSAGE conveys information by way of an audio message, for example using a Voice over Internet Protocol (V0IP) communication.

In the above embodiments, a number of software modules were described. As those skilled will appreciate, the software modules may be provided in compiled or Un-compiled form and may be supplied to the user device or terminals as a signal over a computer network, or on a recording medium. Further, the functionality performed by part or all of this software may be performed instead using one or more dedicated hardware circuits.

Claims

-25 -Claims 1. An information delivery system comprising a registration terminal, a user device and an information terminal; the registration terminal comprising: an input for receiving user identification data; network communications circuitry for communicating with the identification terminal over a network; near field communications circuitry for communication with the user device when located within an immediate vicinity of the registration terminal; and a controller operable: i) to use the network communications circuitry to transmit the user identification data to the information terminal; ii) to communicate with the user device using the near field communications circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and iii) to communicate the user device identification data with the information terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user; the user device comprising: near field communication circuitry for communication with the registration terminal when located in the immediate vicinity of the registration terminal; wireless communication circuitry for communicating messages with the information terminal via one or more wireless access points; and a controller operable: i) to communicate with the registration terminal using the near field communication circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and ii) to communicate with the information terminal using the -26 -wireless communications circuitry via messages including the user device identification data established with the registration terminal; the information terminal comprising: network communications circuitry for communicating with the registration terminal and the user device; and a controller operable: i) to receive the user identification data from the registration terminal; ii) to communicate the user device identification data with the registration terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user; iii) to communicate messages with the user device via one or more wireless access points, wherein the messages include the user device identification data; iv) to determine user-specific information based on the received user identification data; and v) to output the user-specific information for the user in dependence upon the user device identification data.
2. A registration terminal for use in the information delivery system of claim 1, the registration terminal comprising: an input for receiving user identification data; network communications circuitry for communicating with an identification terminal over a network; near field communications circuitry for communication with a user device when located within an immediate vicinity of the registration terminal; and a controller operable: i) to use the network communications circuitry to transmit the user identification data to the information terminal; ii) to communicate with the user device using the near field -27 -communications circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and iii) to communicate the user device identification data with the information terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user.
3. A user device for use in the information delivery system of claim 1, the user device comprising: near field communication circuitry for communication with a registration terminal when located in the immediate vicinity of the registration terminal; wireless communication circuitry for communicating messages with an information terminal via one or more wireless access points; and a controller operable: i) to communicate with the registration terminal using the near field communication circuitry to establish user device identification data to be used by the user device when communicating with the information terminal; and ii) to communicate with the information terminal using the wireless communications circuitry via messages including the user device identification data established with the registration terminal.
4. The user device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further operable: to receive user device location information; and to include the user device location information in messages communicated with the information terminal.
5. The user device according to claim 4, comprising locating circuitry operable to receive signals from a plurality of disparate sources and to determine therefrom location information for the user device, for the controller to send to the information terminal.

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6. The user device according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is receive only circuitry.
7. The user device according to claim 6, further comprising an RFID device to allow tracking of the user device.
8. An information terminal for use in the information delivery system of claim 1, the information terminal comprising: network communications circuitry for communicating with a registration terminal and a user device; and a controller operable: i) to receive user identification data from the registration terminal; ii) to communicate user device identification data with the registration terminal for establishing a registration between the user device and the user; iii) to communicate messages with the user device via one or more wireless access points, wherein the messages include the user device identification data; iv) to determine user-specific information based on the received user identification data; and v) to output the user-specific information for the user in dependence upon the user device identification data.
9. The information terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable: to receive user device location information; and to determine user-specific information based on the received user device location information.
10. The information terminal of claim 9, wherein the user device location information depends upon the location of an access point with which the user device is registered.

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11. Apparatus for providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: means for communicating using device identifying information between a portable user device and a registration terminal using near field communication; means for associating the portable user device with the passenger using the device identifying information; means for determining to send passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device associated with the passenger; means for determining the device identifying information associated with the passenger; means for detecting the location of the associated user device; and means for, based on the detected location, communicating the passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the passenger-specific travel information is location-specific.
13. Apparatus for providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: means for associating a portable user device with the passenger; means for detecting the location of the portable user device; and means for, based on the detected location, communicating passenger-specific and location-specific travel information to the passenger.
14. A method of providing a user with user-specific information, comprising: communicating, using network communications circuitry, user identification data between a registration terminal and an information terminal; communicating, using near field communications circuitry, between the registration terminal and a user device to establish user device identification data to be used when communicating between the user device and the information terminal; communicating, using network communications circuitry, user device identification data between the registration terminal and the information terminal to -30 -establish a registration between the user device and the user; communicating, via one or more wireless access points, between the user device and the information terminal one or messages including the user device data; determining user-specific information based on the user identification data; and outputting the user-specific information for the user in dependence upon the user device identification data.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving user device location information at the information terminal; and determining the user-specific information based on the received user device location information.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user device location information is based on the location of an access point with which the user device is currently registered.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving user device location information at the user device; and including the user device location information in messages communicated between the user device and the information terminal.
18. A method of providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: communicating using device identifying information between a portable user device and a registration terminal using near field communication; associating the portable user device with the passenger using the device identifying information; determining to send passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device associated with the passenger; determining the device identifying information associated with the passenger; detecting the location of the associated user device; and -31 -based on the detected location, communicating the passenger-specific travel information to the portable user device.
19. A method of providing a passenger with travel information, comprising: associating a portable user device with the passenger; detecting the location of the portable user device; and based on the detected location, communicating passenger-specific and location-specific travel information to the passenger.
20. Use of the system of claim I for tracking a passenger from a check-in desk, through departures and to a departure gate and for providing passenger specific information to the passenger between the check-in desk and the departure gate.
21. Use of the system of claim I for tracking a passenger from an arrivals gate, through security and luggage reclaim to an arrivals area and for providing passenger specific information to the passenger between the arrivals gate and the arrivals area.
22. Use of the system according to claim I to track a user within a venue, such as a hospital or concert.
23. A computer program product comprising computer implementable instructions for causing a programmable computer device to become configured as the registration terminal of claim 2, the user device of any of claims 3 to 7 or the information terminal of any of claims 8 to 10.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. A system for providing passenger information, comprising a portable user device, an information terminal and a user terminal, wherein the information terminal is operable to determine and track the location of the portable user device; the user terminal is operable to receive identification information of a user waiting for the passenger and to provide the identification information to the information terminal; the information terminal is operable to inform the passenger of the waiting user; and the portable user device is operable, in response to input by the passenger, to authorise the waiting user to track the location of the passenger.0) 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is operable to display information to the user waiting for the passenger so that they can track the C\J location of the passenger.If) 3. A system according to claim I or 2, wherein the user device is operable to communicate with one or more wireless access points and wherein the information terminal is operable to determine and track the location of the user device based on the communications with the access points.4. A system according to any of claims I to 3, wherein the user terminal comprises a public kiosk.5. A method of providing passenger information using a portable user device, an information terminal and a user terminal, the method comprising: using the information terminal to determine and track the location of the portable user device; receiving identification information at the user terminal, the identification information identifying a user waiting for the passenger and providing the identification information to the information terminal; informing the passenger of the waiting user; and receiving an authorisation from the passenger input to the portable user device and, in response to thereto, authorising the waiting user to track the location of the passenger.6. A method according to claim 5, comprising displaying information on the user terminal to allow the waiting user to track the location of the passenger.7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, comprising the user device communicating with one or more wireless access points and wherein the location of the user device is determined and tracked based on the communications with the access points.0) 8. A method according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the user uses a public kiosk forming part of the user terminal to provide the user identification information. (\J L()