US 11,720,827 B2
Method and systems for departure control
Lee William Huntley, III, Ball Ground, GA (US); Stephen David Goddard, Wick (GB); and Maurice Royston Pope, Halesowen (GB)
Assigned to SITA Information Networking Computing UK Limited
Filed by SITA Information Networking Computing UK Limited, Middlessex (GB)
Filed on May 15, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/979,851.
Prior Publication US 2019/0354902 A1, Nov. 21, 2019
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/02 (2012.01); G06F 16/25 (2019.01); G06F 16/955 (2019.01)
CPC G06Q 10/02 (2013.01) [G06F 16/252 (2019.01); G06F 16/955 (2019.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a computerized airline departure control system, the system comprising a central departure control system and a plurality of local departure control systems, the method comprising:
receiving, via a communications interface, check-in information for a flight from an airport for at least one passenger at the central departure control system, the central departure control system being responsible for controlling departure of the flight;
forming, from the check-in information, a passenger data message for the at least one passenger, the passenger data message comprising information necessary to validate the passenger to which it relates for boarding the flight for which the passenger is checked-in;
sending the passenger data message from the central departure control system to the respective local departure control system for the flight;
temporarily storing the passenger data message at the local departure control system;
in response to a data signal or a health signal not being received from the central departure control system for a predetermined period of time, automatically recognizing a non-availability of communications with the central departure control system;
on recognition of the non-availability of communications with the central departure control system, assuming, via the local departure control system, responsibility for the flight by handling check-ins occurring after assuming responsibility by reconfiguring check-in equipment to communicate with the local departure control system instead of the central departure control system;
receiving, via a terminal separate from the local departure control system, a boarding pass of the passenger, wherein the check-in equipment comprises the terminal;
communicating, via the terminal and over a local area airport network, the boarding pass of the passenger to the local departure control system to validate the boarding pass based on the local departure control system assuming responsibility for the flight;
validating, via the local departure control system, the boarding pass of the passenger against the passenger information stored at the local departure control system for boarding the flight for which the passenger is checked-in; and
upon restoration of communications with the central departure control system:
transferring the passenger data message back to the central departure control system; and
deleting the passenger data message.