WO2011093780A1

WO2011093780A1 - Electronic luggage tag device, system and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2011093780A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan BYGDÉN
Original assignee: Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark-Norway-Sweden
Priority date: 2010-01-26
Filing date: 2011-01-26
Publication date: 2011-08-04
Also published as: EP2528468A1; SE535039C2; SE1000074A1; EP2528468A4

Abstract

An electronic luggage tag device (300) for use in transportation, comprising at least one communication interface unit (305) arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation; a processing unit (310) for processing or transmitting information comprised in the electromagnetic radiation, a storage (320) for storing the processed or unprocessed information; wherein the storage (320) comprises a first and a second set of computer-executable instructions (321, 329) arranged to control the communication and basic operations of the electronic luggage tag device (300), the luggage tag device (300) further comprising:. a first information presentation unit (353) and optionally a second information presentation unit (355), a first information presentation field (353a) and a second information presentation field (353b), wherein the first presentation field (353a) is arranged to present dynamic information, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device (300), and the second information presentation fields (353b) is arranged to present static information only.

Description

Electronic luggage tag device, system and use thereof Technical field

The present invention relates to an electronic luggage tag device, a system comprising such devices and use thereof.

Background

Baggage tags, luggage tags or just tags are commonly used by e.g. airline, coach or train companies to route the luggage of passengers checked in to a final destination by attaching a tag at the passengers' piece of luggage. In a strict sense the term check-in means the act of a passenger^'s intention to travel, but it has been somewhat extended to mean the act of handing over ones luggage to the airline personnel, which usually is paper luggage tags and attach them to each piece of luggage before placing it on a conveyor band for transport to the cargo zone and taken on board the aircraft; the luggage is then said to be checked-in.

At an airport, the check-in is usually the first step for a passenger who is about to travel to another destination. A purpose of the check-in procedures is to accept luggage that is to go as cargo of the aircraft, to route the passenger's luggage correctly and identify it among other luggage delivered at the destination. After the check-in, the passenger receives a boarding pass to be able to board the aircraft after a security check.

It is becoming more and more common to make flight reservations over the Internet. After the ticket has been paid for with e.g. a credit card, the confirmation of flight and flight information are transmitted to a user^'s mobile communication device such as a cellular phone for instance by SMS or email, which could be read directly on the display of the mobile communication device.

Further on, in today's society most airline companies can also provide the service of checking-in via the Internet/mobile communication device or check-in by an automatic self-service machine at the airport as an alternative from the more traditional way of checking-in at the same time as the luggage at a service desk of the airline company. This, so called, self-service check-in is the process where passengers confirm their presence on a flight via the Internet/mobile communication device or an automatic self-service machine. The passengers print boarding passes at home, i.e. on the printer connected to their personal computer, or print them out from an automatic self-service machine at the airport. This makes it easier for both the airline companies and the passengers, since it minimizes the activity at the airport thereby avoiding queues at the check-in desks; reducing the waiting times for the passengers and saving the airline companies money. Bag tags is typically printed at the airport for instance by means of a self-service machine, or by air line personnel. Passengers, or air line personnel then attach the luggage tag and drop the luggage themselves at a so called "bag-drop" facility.

Although there exists luggage tag solutions with different kinds of paper or plastic based substrates, based on RFID-chip, one common problem with these prior art solutions is that the process of issuing printed paper tags having static route information and attaching them to the luggage is unwieldy and time consuming. This regardless of if the passenger prints and attaches the tag himself at the luggage, or let the personnel of the airline company do it for him. However, it is still necessary to be at the airport. The same problem occurs if the paper tags have RFID- chips printed, or attached, upon the paper substrate. The paper tags will still have to be issued, printed and attached on the luggage, either by the passenger or by the personnel.

Another problem is that the information printed upon paper tags is static. Thus, the information is inflexible for instance for the case something happens at a destination or before take off. For example, if a luggage-break down occurs during an intermediate landing, another route for the luggage has to be determined, and an update of the static route information on each paper tag is then required, which is a man and time consuming task. Another thing that might happen is that a passenger misses a connection flight at a via-destination, and for some reason has to change his route or flight. Since the luggage usually, but not necessary takes the same route as the passenger, it might end up at the final destination at another point in time than the passenger, or be taken aside of the Customs in order to be claimed by the passenger. This inherent lack of flexibility urges the need of a more adaptable concept in relation to the conventional luggage tags having static information.

Even if efforts have been made to implement on-line check-in using different types of electronic tickets, there is still a demand to solve the problem with non-flexible luggage tags having static information. Yet another problem is that a luggage tag for luggage handling at airports and to be used by airline companies typically also fulfils requirements according to IATA. Thus, even if electronic tag systems have been presented per se, they still do not comply with IATA- requirements, or other international requirements, such that cannot in practice be used by airline companies; hence they have not been used in practice instead of conventional paper tags having information printed thereon. Thus, a solution to the problem(s) with conventional inflexible static luggage tags, also complying with lATA-requirements has not been presented despite a long-felt need since many years.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic luggage tag device, a system and use of such an electronic luggage tag in order to achieve a more time efficient, safe and dynamical luggage tag concept, such that the tag can be used everywhere irrespective of infra structure. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this is achieved by an electronic luggage tag device for use in transportation comprising a first information presentation field arranged to present dynamic information, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device, and a second information presentation field arranged to present static information only.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, this is provided by an electronic luggage tag device for use in transportation, comprising at least one communication interface unit arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation; a processing unit for processing or transmitting information comprised in the electromagnetic radiation, a storage providing means for storing the processed or unprocessed information; and which comprises a first information presentation unit and optionally a second information presentation unit,

a first information presentation field and a second information presentation field.

The first presentation field is arranged to present dynamic information, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device, and the second information presentation field is arranged to present static information only such as passenger name.

The electronic luggage tag device is characterized in that at least one presentation unit during some time periods is arranged to present a part of the information dynamically by means of a first information presentation field.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second information presentation fields can be a first, and a second set of information presentation fields.

Typically, the second information presentation unit comprises static information only.

By means of the invention is achieved a way of providing electronic luggage tags instead of issuing printed paper tags. Electronic luggage tags have the advantage, in relation to conventional paper tags, that the electronic tags are or can be issued remotely and downloaded electronically to the electronic luggage tag device. In this way, an all-electronic luggage handling for airlines is provided, not only electronic boarding cards. The inventive electronic luggage tag device typically also complies with the requirements according to IATA. According to second embodiment of the present invention, comprising all the features of the first embodiment, the first information presentation unit is arranged for providing dynamic and static information presented and readable for humans and the second information presentation unit is arranged for providing the same information presented and readable for machines only. By this is achieved a way of presenting information upon two sides of the device, such that if one side is hidden, the other side is still readable by a machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided

a system for use in transportation, comprising a departure control system, at least one electronic luggage tag device, at least one communication device and an intervening data communication network, wherein

the departure control system is arranged to control and authenticate the communication to and from the electronic luggage tag device,; wherein the luggage tag device comprises at least one communication interface unit arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation; a processing unit for processing or transmitting information comprised in the electromagnetic radiation, a storage for storing the processed or unprocessed information; wherein the storage comprises a first and a second set of computer-executable instructions arranged to control the communication and basic operations of the electronic luggage tag device, the luggage tag device further comprising: a first information presentation unit and optionally a second information presentation unit, at least a first information presentation field and a second information presentation field.

The first presentation field is arranged to present dynamic information, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device, and the second information presentation field is arranged to present static information only.

By this is achieved a way of communicating to and from the electronic luggage tag devices in a secure way remotely regardless of where the electronic luggage tag device and the user (passenger) are located.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication to and from the electronic luggage tag device can be arranged to go through at least one intervening device.

By this is achieved a way of communicating to and from the electronic luggage tag devices by using an intervening device, such as for example a cell phone or the Internet, as a link.

Alternatively, also direct SMS, and/or GPRS are possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of an electronic luggage tag device and a system for transportation according to claim 1 and/or 4 to route luggage.

Brief Description of the Drawings To further explain the invention embodiments chosen as examples will now be described in greater details with reference to the drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a first, second and a third transport system and specifically of luggage handling systems at airports located at different destinations from each other. Fig. 2 is an illustration in more detail of the first system illustrated in fig. 1 for transporting luggage and issuing luggage tags according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig.3 is a schematic overview of an electronic tag device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig.4. is an illustration in more detail of the information presented referred to in figure 3.

Detailed Description

Now is referred to Fig. 1 illustrating an embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

In fig. 1 there is illustrated a first system 1000, a second system 2000, and a third transport system 3000, which correspond specifically to luggage handling systems at airports located at different destinations from each other via DCS. The transport systems 1000, 2000 and 3000 can stand in indirect communication with each other, which is indicated by the double-headed arrows denoted 1 '-2', 2'-3', and 1 '-3', respectively. The transport systems 1000, 2000 and 3000 are arranged to communicate in either direct or indirect ways with each other as well as via a first intervening data communication network 1 (e.g. Internet) and at least one satellite 2 (indicated by double-headed arrows 1 '-l, 2'-l, 3'-l and 1-2, respectively).

Now is referred to Fig. 2 where the first transport system 1000 provided for transporting luggage according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in further detail. The first transport system 1000 comprises at least one electronic luggage tag device 300 typically attached to a piece of luggage 105 by attachment means 103 (for example a string), a departure control system (DCS) 1 10, which comprises a database 1 15 and an electronic luggage tag issuing unit 1 17. Typically, each airline company has an associated DCS 1 10 at each airport. The electronic luggage tag device 300 is arranged to present part of the information dynamically and part of the information statically on therefore provided fields of at least one display. Example of static information is passenger name, and examples of dynamic information are destination and via-flight. The first transport system 1000 also comprises at least one communication device 120 and an intervening data communication network 1 , e.g. the Internet. Further on, the first system 1000 comprises a conveyor band 140, for luggage handling, which comprises at least one scanner unit 143 comprising an optical scanner 145 and a communication unit 147. The first transport system 1000 also comprises a luggage cargo zone 150, a luggage claim area 170 and a transport vehicle 160, typically an aircraft.

The database 1 15 of the departure control system (DCS) 1 10 comprises a readable and writeable register 1 13, which comprises information relating to registered and, in some cases, unregistered items. The items could comprise information given by the passengers during registration such as first and last name, bonus card number associated with a particular airline company, cell phone number, home address etc. The registration might be done in advance during the ordering of the flight, for example over the Internet, but might also be done by self- service units or by the airline personnel at the airport, or by using a mobile communication device such as a cellular phone 120. The electronic luggage tag issuing unit 1 17 is arranged to allocate information for the electronic luggage tag device 300 and to communicate this information to the electronic luggage tag device 300, typically wireless, either directly or indirectly via the intervening data communication network 130, or via the communication device 120, or via the second and third transport systems (2000, 3000) referred to in figure 1. The electronic luggage tag issuing unit 1 17 comprises a storage 1 18 in which resides computer- executable instructions 1 19. The computer-executable instructions 1 19 are arranged to control and authenticate the communication to and from the electronic luggage tag device 300, or the communication device 120 and the intervening data communication network 130. The computer- executable instructions 1 19 are typically also arranged to compress, decompress, encode and decode the communication. The DCS 1 10 will at all times have information of the issued luggage tag number, their status as well as their history, so the register will thus almost always be up to date.

When the luggage, after the transport vehicle 160 has arrived at a destination (e.g. at the airport of the third system 3000 by a direct route, or via an intermediate landing at the airport of the second system 2000) and is transported to the luggage claim area 170.

Now is referred to Fig. 3, which is a schematic overview of an electronic tag device 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. The electronic tag device 300 comprises a communication interface unit 305 to allow for data exchange communication within the first system 1000 referred to in figure 2. The communication interface unit 305 could be of any conventional type including transmitting and receiving information. Typically, the communication interface unit 305 comprises optionally one transceiver 307 with at least one build in antenna, if there is only one antenna it could either send simultaneously on both a receiving and transmitting channel, or use a switching device to switch between transmit and receive mode in order to save energy. The transceiver 307 could be set in an on, off or idle-mode on command, or for some predetermined time intervals, during some determined time periods. The wireless bidirectional communication alternatives of the communication interface unit 305 might be mobile data, it might also be a combination of mobile data and Bluetooth, or just Bluetooth, in order to reduce the costs of communication, other examples are GSM, 3G, text messages, NFC, RFI D, IR or Optical, or wire-constraint communication as for example USB-cables.

The electronic tag device 300 also comprises a processing unit 310 arranged to receive, transmit or process information. The processing unit 310 is typically directly or indirectly connected to all other units comprised in the electronic tag device 300, i.e. to the units (305, 320, 330, 340, 350), and routes the transmitted or processed information, i.e. data, as well as distributes power if needed, to itself and the other units from a power supply unit 330 comprised in the electronic tag device 300. The power supply unit 330 could for example be a rechargeable battery or a long life time battery. The electronic tag device 300 also comprises storage 320 for storing information, e.g. a data memory unit, enabling both reading data and writing new data from and to the storage 320, respectively. Storage 320 resides a first set of computer-executable instructions 321 comprised in a first storage segment 325, the first set of computer-executable instructions 321 are arranged to control the communication to be compressed, encrypted and signed, and a second storage segment 327 which resides a second set of computer-executable instructions 329 arranged to control the basic operations of the processor 310. The second storage segment 327 is typically a non-volatile memory, and the second set of program code 329 could for example be the machine code of the firmware of the electronic tag device 300 and a unique identification code configured to provide secure communication, arranged such that the electronic tag device 300 only will respond to authenticated communication, for example with the departure control system (DCS) 1 10, but it could also be authenticated communication with the communication device 120, or the intervening data communication network 130 as well referred to in figure 2. The electronic luggage tag device 300 may also comprise an external connection unit 340, with one or more external connections for communication with external devices (not shown). Further interfaces, communications protocols etc required will not be describe in more detail since this is conventional technology and therefore obvious for a person skilled in the art of electronics and computer science to design.

The electronic luggage tag device 300 also comprises at least a first information presentation unit 353 and a second presentation unit 355 arranged to present information, of which the second information presentation unit 355 can be optional. The first information presentation unit 353 comprises at least two information fields 351 , 352, of which one field is readable for humans, and one field is readable for machines, and at least a first information presentation field 353a and a second information presentation field 353b. The first presentation field 353a is arranged to present information dynamically, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device 300 and the second information presentation field 353b is arranged to present static information only (See FIG. 4). The second information presentation unit 355 comprises at least one field 356 readable for machines, and optionally one field readable for humans 354. The second information presentation unit 355 typically comprises static information only. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the first information presentation field 353a and a second information presentation field 353b comprise a first and a second set of information presentation fields 353a, 353b. Each set can contain two or more fields. In this way, information can be displayed dynamically on both sides of the electronic luggage tag device 300, as well as statically. The information displayed in each set is typically the same. One item of the same set can comprise dynamical information readable for a human, and one item of the same set machine readable dynamical information.

Both the first information presentation unit 353 and the second information presentation unit 355 can be separate electrical units, e.g. electronic ink displays, as well as the fields 351 , 352, 354, and 356. Such electronic ink displays are capable of retaining images almost indefinitely with no or a minimum use of electrical power.

Since an electronic ink display is capable of retaining images almost indefinitely with no or a minimum use of electrical power, the stand-by time is very long. If the display further is in an idle or sleeping mode or turned off during the flight and when placed in the cargo of the aircraft, the stand-by time could even be prolonged. All or some information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the electronic luggage tag device 300. Yet an advantage with the electronic luggage tag device 300 is that it is reusable because it is possible to update the electronic luggage tag device 300 remotely through e.g. the departure control system (DCS) 1 10, the intervening data communication network 130 or the communication device 120. Therefore no large quantities of paper luggage tags will be needed. The passenger is no longer constrained to printed luggage tags, and does not need to waste time on printing the luggage tags or wait for an automatic self-service machine at the airport, or the personnel, to do it for him.

Four communication examples will herein be given for illustrative purpose only. Other communication alternatives are conceivable in order to achieve the same result, and an exhaustive detailed description is therefore not required, nor even desirable. i) Normally the communication with the electronic luggage tag device 300 is initiated by a passenger when he checks in remotely (either through the intervening data communication network 130 (e.g. the Internet) or by the communication device 120, such as a mobile phone, PDA (personal digital assistant), PC (personal computer), laptop, or wire-line based communication as USB-cables, or a regular telephone land-line with for example automatic voice-governing. The passenger declares how many pieces of luggage he intends to check-in, and the departure central system 1 10 then allocates a corresponding tag serial numbers and stores the information communicated by the passenger. When this step is performed, the information (e.g. tag number, via-destinations, final destination, etc) is transmitted to the electronic luggage tag device 300. ii) Another possibility is that the electronic luggage tag device 300 initiates the communications and calls the departure central system 1 10, either directly or indirectly through the intervening data communication network 130. iii) Another possibility is that the communication is initiated by the communication device 120, such as a cell phone, which communicates with both the departure central system 1 10 and the electronic luggage tag device 300, i.e. used as a via-link. The tag information is then assembled by the communication device 120 and downloaded to the electronic luggage tag device 300. In this case computer-executable instructions are provided also in the communication device 120. iv) Another possibility is that the communication is initiated from the intervening data communication network 130 (e.g. Internet), and through for example an Internet-application, is connected to both the electronic luggage tag device 300 (e.g. USB-cable) and the departure control system 1 10. The computer-executable instructions are in this case comprised also in the Internet-application. It is also possible that there exists a special airport-device at the airport from which the communication is initiated; in that case the computer-executable instructions are also comprised in that airport-device.

In one embodiment of the invention the at least one presentation unit 350 is arranged such that the first presentation unit 353 is on one side, for example the front side of the electronic luggage tag device 300, and the second presentation unit is on the other side, i.e. the back of the electronic luggage tag device 300. By this arrangement the information is always visible even if the attachment means 103, typically a string, attached to the electronic luggage tag 300 rotates the tag so that the front end is turned towards the case of the piece of luggage 105. Of course other solutions are thinkable, the presentation units 353, 355 can for example be automatically rotatable, so that if the side which is supposed to be faced against a human reader or a machine reader (but is not), by sensor and driving means in the electronic luggage tag device 300, or in the string 103, automatically rotates it towards such readers. The machine readable fields 352 and 356 can be integrated in the string 103.

Both the first presentation unit 353 and the second presentation unit 355 can alternatively be arranged such that the information is presented in at least two sub-units. The first presentation unit 353 comprises a first field 351 which comprises human readable information, and a second field 352 which comprises machine readable information. The second presentation unit 355 also comprises a first field 354 which comprises human readable information, and a second field 356 which comprises machine readable information. Although the following must not be the case, the human readable information in the field 351 could be the same as the human readable information in the field 354, and the machine readable information in the field 352 could be the same as the machine readable information in the field 356 (i.e. the information presented is the same on both sides of the electronic luggage tag device 300). In case the electronic luggage tag device 300 is to be replaced by an ordinary paper luggage tag, the electronic luggage tag device 300 will have a feature to hide the information presented. It will not be possible to hide information unintentionally. If the information is hidden, it will be presented a way of how to unhide the same.

Now is referred to fig. 4, which is an illustration in more detail of the information presented on the at least one presentation unit 353, 355 referred to in figure 3. The human readable information in the fields 351 and 354 comprises an information matrix 405 which comprises at least one minor field 407 and two lengthwise information fields (401 , 403) on both lengthwise edges of the information matrix 405. The two lengthwise information fields (401 , 403) might be of any colour, typically green or white to indicate for example country departure. Other colour codes, which indicate other particular provisions, for example luggage priority, may also be presented. The at least one minor field 407 presents routing and identification information (e.g. via-routes, destinations and airports, flight numbers, issued tag serial number and datum) on the electronic luggage tag device 300. The machine readable information in the fields 352 and 356 typically comprises vertical 421 and horizontal barcode information 423 to be read by the optical scanner 145 comprised in the scanner unit 143 when the electronic luggage tag device 300 is transported on the conveyor band 140 to the cargo zone 150 or the claim area 170. The scanned information is communicated by the communication unit 147 to e.g. the departure control system (DCS) 1 10.

Claims

1. An electronic luggage tag device (300) for use in transportation, comprising at least one communication interface unit (305) arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation; a processing unit (310) for processing or transmitting information comprised in the electromagnetic radiation, a storage (320) for storing the processed or unprocessed information; wherein the storage (320) comprises a first and a second set of computer-executable instructions (321 , 329) arranged to control the communication and basic operations of the electronic luggage tag device (300), the luggage tag device (300) further comprising:.

a first information presentation unit (353) and optionally a second information presentation unit (355),

at least a first information presentation field (353a) and a second information presentation field (353b),

wherein the first presentation field (353a) is arranged to present dynamic information, such as route information, such that information could be updated electronically via authorized communication to the luggage tag device (300), and the second information presentation fields (353b) is arranged to present static information only.

2. The electronic luggage tag device (300) according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second information presentation fields (353a, 353b) is a first, and a second set of information presentation fields (353a, 353b; 355a, 355b).

3. The electronic luggage tag device (300) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first information presentation unit (353) is arranged for providing information presented and readable for humans

(351 ) and machines (352) and the second information presentation unit (355) is arranged for providing the same information presented and readable for machines (356).

4. A system for use in transportation, comprising a departure control system (1 10), at least one electronic luggage tag device (300) according to claim 1 or 2, at least one communication device

(120) and an intervening data communication network (130), wherein

the departure control system (1 10)) is arranged to control and authenticate the communication to and from the electronic luggage tag device (300); wherein the luggage tag device (300) comprises at least one communication interface unit (305) arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation; a processing unit (310) for processing or transmitting information comprised in the electromagnetic radiation, a storage (320) for storing the processed or unprocessed information; wherein the storage (320) comprises a first and a second set of computer-executable instructions (321 , 329) arranged to control the communication and basic operations of the electronic luggage tag device (300), the luggage tag device (300) further comprising:.

5. The system for use in transportation according to claim 4, wherein the communication to and from the electronic luggage tag device (300) is arranged to go through at least one intervening device.

6. The system for use in transportation according to claim 4, wherein the at least one intervening device is a communication device (120).

7. The system for use in transportation according to claim 4, wherein the at least one intervening device is the intervening data communication network (130).

8. Use of an electronic luggage tag device (300) for transportation according to claim 1 to route luggage.