AU2005247009B2

AU2005247009B2 - Luggage collection installation

Info

Publication number: AU2005247009B2
Application number: AU2005247009A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Moosa Eisa Al Amri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-16
Filing date: 2005-12-22
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-16
Also published as: AU2005247009A1

Description

SLuggage Collection Installation

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Field of the Invention 00 The invention relates to a luggage collection installation located at a place of arrival where \passengers disembark from an aircraft or other means of transportation.

Background of the Invention (N US patent 6,158,658 discloses a system for matching passengers and their luggage to allow a passenger to leave a baggage claim area only with the passenger's checked-in luggage.

(Ni US patent 6,220,422 discloses a luggage delivery installation with a pusher for removing luggage from a conveyer belt.

US Patent No. US 5,943,651 "Automatic Airline Ticket Issuer And Entry Card Creating System" describes an airline ticket consisting of a main ticket part and a passenger coupon part which are separable from one another along a perforated line. A magnetic strip is formed over both parts of the ticket and encoded data is stored in the magnetic strip. In standard tickets, when the boarding of a passenger was being confirmed, the entire ticket was passed through a reader to read the encoded data. Then, when the boarding formalities were being completed, the ticket was divided along the perforated line and the coupon part handed to the passenger. Dividing the ticket disconnected the tracks on the magnetic strip that became unreadable so that if the ticket were entered in the reader a second time, the boarding information could not be read. This was used to prevent a double confirmation of a boarding.

The patent publication WO 2003/009080 describes a boarding pass with a main coupon part and a passenger coupon part that is detachable along a detachable line. The boarding pass carries magnetized stripes and/or storage chips merged in a thick portion. This boarding pass can supply and speed up passenger boarding and be used for various applications.

Summary of the Invention The invention relates a luggage collection installation located at a place of arrival where passengers disembark from an aircraft or other means of transportation in which passengers and their luggage are transported, the disembarked passengers having with them passenger coupon parts of boarding passes, which passenger coupon parts contain encoded luggage identification corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, the installation comprising: a principal conveyor belt that receives luggage unloaded from said aircraft or other means of transportation; A 13.203-AUS-DIV-BC-0 10607 a plurality of luggage outlets each comprising a subsidiary conveyor belt located outwardly of different locations of the principal conveyor belt, for delivering luggage to locations where 0 passengers can wait for their luggage to be delivered;

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each subsidiary conveyor belt being associated with a reader for the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass, each reader being situated adjacent to a location of its subsidiary conveyor belt where the subsidiary conveyor belt delivers luggage to waiting passengers; means for reading luggage identification data carried by luggage to be collected on the principal conveyor belt, which luggage identification data corresponds to encoded luggage V' identification data stored in the passenger coupon part of the boarding passes; and control means that connects the readers associated with the subsidiary conveyor belts and (Ni said reading means of the principal conveyor belt for diverting luggage from the principal conveyor belt onto a subsidiary conveyor belt when the luggage identification data associated with the luggage corresponds to that on the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass read by the reader of the subsidiary conveyor belt.

Possibly at least one of said readers for the passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards is arranged to receive and store luggage identification data from several successively introduced passenger coupon parts.

The installation can comprise a reader/writer for reading luggage identification data carried by magnetic tapes, bar codes, zebra codes or proximity-detectable storage chips associated with the pieces of luggage.

The principal conveyor belt is usually an endless belt arranged as a loop.

The installation can comprise a luggage delivery entrance where luggage unloaded from said aircraft or other means of transportation is delivered onto said principal conveyor belt.

The luggage outlets where passengers can wait for their luggage to be delivered are possibly separated from said principal conveyor by a partition, which can have openings corresponding to the subsidiary conveyor belts and through which the subsidiary conveyor belts pass, these openings being equipped with curtains through which the delivered luggage passes.

Each of the readers associated with the subsidiary conveyor belts can have a slot for receiving the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass.

The invention also provides a method of processing a boarding pass of which a passenger coupon part contains encoded luggage identification data corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, for the collection of transported luggage at a destination or transit point equipped with a luggage collection installation according to the invention, wherein the passenger coupon part of the boarding pass is passed through a reader at a luggage outlet of the luggage collection installation, and luggage is diverted from the principal conveyor belt onto the subsidiary conveyor belt associated with said luggage outlet when the identification data associated with the luggage corresponds to that on the passenger coupon part of a ;boarding pass read by the reader of the subsidiary conveyor belt of said luggage outlet.

0 Another aspect of the invention is a method of processing a boarding pass of which a

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passenger coupon part contains encoded luggage identification data corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, using a luggage collection installation according to the invention, wherein if transported luggage is missing at a destination or transit point, the Spassenger coupon part of the boarding pass is passed through a reader/writer connected via a communications system to a luggage tracing system for inputting identification data of luggage in transit and determining the location of the luggage. In this method, said o reader/writer at the destination or transit point can be associated with a printer and/or a p screen for providing a print-out and/or a display of information relative to the luggage and its location.

Another aspect of the invention is a system for facilitating the collection of luggage at a place of arrival where passengers disembark from an aircraft or other means of transportation in which passengers and their luggage are transported, the disembarked passengers having with them passenger coupon parts of boarding passes, which passenger coupon parts contain encoded luggage identification corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, the system comprising 1) at a point of departure, means for encoding in passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards encoded luggage identification data corresponding to luggage identification data associated with pieces of luggage checked by the passengers; and 2) at a place of arrival, a luggage collection installation comprising: a principal conveyor belt that receives luggage unloaded from said aircraft or other means of transportation; a plurality of luggage outlets each comprising a subsidiary conveyor belt located outwardly of different locations of the principal conveyor belt, for delivering luggage to locations where passengers can wait; each subsidiary conveyor belt being associated with a reader for the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass, each reader being situated adjacent to a location of its subsidiary conveyor belt where the subsidiary conveyor belt delivers luggage to waiting passengers; means for reading luggage identification data carried by luggage to be collected on the principal conveyor belt, which luggage identification data corresponds to encoded luggage identification data stored in the passenger coupon part of the boarding passes; and control means that connects the readers associated with the subsidiary conveyor belts and said reading means of the principal conveyor belt for diverting luggage from the principal conveyor belt onto a subsidiary conveyor 4 belt when the luggage identification data associated with the luggage ;corresponds to that on the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass inserted 0 in the reader of the subsidiary conveyor belt.

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In this system, the luggage identification data associated with pieces of luggage can be carried by magnetic tapes, bar codes, zebra codes or proximity-detectable storage chips associated with the pieces of luggage.

Also the luggage collection installation may comprise at least one reader for the passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards that is arranged to receive and store luggage identification data from several successively introduced passenger coupon parts.

N Arrival of Passengers After the passenger has disembarked from the means of transportation, he passes to the arrival lounge to collect his luggage.

As aforementioned, dealing with the passenger's luggage needs to be regulated to the satisfaction of the passenger. The passenger's luggage shall be weighed in the usual way and a paper belt prepared, bearing a two or three dimensioned barcode or other identification as well as the airline name, the flight number, the suitcase number and other particulars. The luggage passes by the main conveyor belt where it is sorted by means of a visual or other reader device for the two or three dimensioned barcode. As a result, the whole luggage of each flight passes one way, and the remaining luggage of the other flights continues on its way on the belt until it reaches the next reader device that characterizes whether luggage belongs to another flight. All the luggage will remain on the public belt until sorted, each group of luggage taking a different way depending on the specific flight and airline company.

The reading equipment is characterized by its ability to read two and three dimensioned codes called barcodes and zebra codes.

In the new system, the Boarding Pass would carry the same information in its magnetized strips and/or the storage chips (contact and/or contactless) as on the luggage, where it is carried by magnetic tapes, bar codes, zebra codes or proximity-detectable storage chips.

What is wanted is to sort the luggage in the departure airport according to the flight number and the name of the airline company until all luggage concerning a specific flight is gathered in one place, then the luggage would be carried to the specified plane where it would be stowed on board until the destination airport, then it would be off-loaded in vehicles to the luggage lounge in the arrival airport. What is new in the system is the sorting technique at the arrival.

The Boarding Passes can also be used to make a security check that all luggage being boarded corresponds to that of passengers who have checked in and actually boarded the 00 aircraft, i.e. by reading the luggage data on the passenger coupon parts as passengers actually board the plane, and comparing this with the registered luggage data.

SAt an arrival destination or a transit airport, according to the invention the passenger can use the passenger coupon part of the Boarding Pass equipped with a magnetic strip and/or a storage chip, to remove or allow removal of his luggage at a place where he is waiting. This relies on a connection between the passenger and his luggage through the magnetic strip and/or the storage chip. Such an arrangement (which is described below in connection with OFig. 17) would decrease the confusion and crowd in front of luggage belts and reduce damage to and loss of luggage that is a big burden to the airline and insurance companies.

This novel luggage sorting system and method is very advantageous with the new Boarding Pass of WO 2003/009080, as described below, but may also be used with other Boarding Passes including conventional Boarding Passes with a single magnetic strip, appropriately programmed.

Characteristics of the Boarding Pass Reading/Writing Devices The Boarding Pass system includes reading devices or reading/writing devices, that is units or devices installed at different places for reading and processing the new Boarding Passes.

These reading/writing devices are characterized by the following: They have the ability to read and display the original signature stored in an image of letters, symbols and numbers on the magnetized strip itself or stored in the storage chip, which can be stored image ("scanned image") of the signature of the passenger. The Scanned image can also be a thumb or fingerprint or a photograph of the passenger.

The reading/writing device can be connected to a personal computer where the stored information like the signature, image, fingerprint and photograph images can be read and displayed as a means of security. Connection shall be by various methods including direct connection through RS 232 or RS 422 etc or through an internal or external connection or wireless.

This reading/writing device is characterized by the ability to read magnetized strips and/or storage chips (contact and/or contactlesss) and it can additionally include a personal computer connected with the reading unit. The reading/writing device can be suitable to read contact and contactless types of storage chips.

(-i The reading/writing device would be connected to the below-mentioned sub-server through communication systems allowing such connection.

00 0 The Boarding Pass (of plastic paper or otherwise) is issued with the approval of the airline companies participating in the system according to the invention, and the reading devices will 1 be adapted to the adopted forms of the Boarding Pass.

The reading/writing devices can be fixed. For most locations, it is preferred that the devices will have reading and writing capacity, that is the device can input data for storage in the magnetized strips and/or storage chips and for communication of data via communications Osystems. Depending on the location, the devices may have a limited writing capacity or limited access via a PIN code, so that certain categories of data cannot be erased or altered by that particular device.

All the above components shall be connected together through an integrated net, forming part of a communications system.

Methods of making the Boarding Pass with magnetized strips and/or storage chips on a thick portion The Boarding Pass is made of suitable paper, for example by the following method: The Boarding Pass is made with a rectangle of adequate paper or thin card, in accordance with the standard recognized dimensions in ordinary Boarding Passes, however the new Boarding Pass shall preferably include a thick portion which is in accordance with the standard specifications that suit reader systems to be able to deal with the data reading machines, in particular the standard readers in use at present. Further details are given in the parent application PCT/IB02/02830.

This thick portion will be merged with magnetic strips and/or storage chips, on which the required data and particulars for Boarding Pass will be programmed. Such encoded particulars and information will be invisible but readable by currently available readers.

As for the balance area of the Boarding Pass carrying the visible printed data, this will be of thin ordinary writing paper on the face of which the ordinary particulars of the Boarding Pass will be printed as per the drawings (see below), including passenger and travel data important for meeting the aims of the invention or any other data important for the airline companies, for security purposes, for the traveler, and for service companies participating in the system. The paper will be writeable by writing or computer printing in the appropriate spaces visible data that corresponds at least in part to encoded data stored in the magnetized strips or storage chips.

;For example, the Boarding Pass is made by the following steps: 00 0 1- The thick portions of the Boarding Pass have a magnetized strip and/or storage chip (contact and/or contactless) merged with any appropriate paper or made from any O suitable material, whose dimensions and thickness are in accordance with the required standard specifications allowing writing and reading through standard readers/writers.

The storage chips can be contact and/or contactless chips.

2- The boarding passes carry all the required particulars mentioned in the description or Oillustrated in the drawings and any other information necessary for the airline companies, for security, for the traveler, or for service companies participating in the system, and information related to airline companies and traveler services such as hotels and tourist companies. Further, the same particulars on the front face of the Boarding Pass are stored on the magnetized strip and/or storage chips so that they are invisible but readable by suitable readers.

3- The rear paper face (the back leaf) of the Boarding Pass is left for writing any additional required data. If the magnetized strip and/or storage chip is merged on the back side of the Boarding Pass, the same will be near one of the sides which is allotted to merge the strip and that has a thickness suitable for the readers and is alongside sides allotted for the stored encoded data.

4- The magnetized strips and/or storage chips may be merged on the rear face of the Boarding Pass near one of the sides with dimensions suit the current readers, so it can be easily read with available systems.

Also the magnetized strips and/or storage chips may be merged in any suitable place of the Boarding Pass other than those mentioned above.

The Boarding Pass with its storage chips and/or magnetized strips is made of any suitable type of plastic and paper or any other suitable material, in accordance with the recognized dimensions of ordinary conventional Boarding Passes, or any required dimensions.

Magnetized strips and/or storage chips are merged on the thick portion so that it will be difficult to separate and remove them, while the thick part allotted for the strip/chip will have an area and thickness suitable for the readers/writers. The remainder of the Boarding Pass is preferably thinner, namely of the ordinary thickness of standard known boarding passes.

The thick portion will be merged with paper ply by any method of calendaring/pressing (i.e.

thermal lamination), and the storage chip and/or magnetized strip will usually be uncovered.

For instance, the thin portion can have the usual thickness of a standard boarding card, and the thick portion can be several times thicker while remaining compatible with the standard 0 reading devices, say from 1.5 to 5 times as thick, conveniently about 2 to 3 times as thick. In special cases, the Boarding Pass can be of uniform thickness.

OThe storage chip (or the magnetized strip merged in a thickened portion) provides the possibility to record and store a large quantity of particulars, whether such particulars, data and information are magnetized, coded, or ciphered as required, and whether they are 0 pictures, particular information, or codes.

OFurthermore, it is possible through these magnetized strips and/or storage chips to ensure the soundness and reliability of these Boarding Passes, and to provide correspondence of their particulars with those printed on the Boarding Pass, as well as secure processing thereof. They also enable checking of all the particulars of the traveler, the Boarding Pass, and the signature, the photograph or the thumb impression to confirm the soundness and correctness of these Boarding Passes. Also these magnetized strips and/or storage chips of high storage capacity avoid the traditional defaults of standard known Boarding Passes.

It is possible to make a Boarding Pass with magnetized strips and/or storage chips by other methods, for example: the paper of the Boarding Pass may be made from paper merged with a plastic portion with standard specifications in accordance to the reading/writing devices, or other means could be used to fix the magnetized strips and/or storage chips. A plastic portion could be fixed on the upper side of the Boarding Pass or on the bottom. This plastic portion could be fixed in any suitable place on the Boarding Pass that is suitable for the reading/writing devices. Reference is made to the drawings as non-limiting examples.

The method of writing and reading the storage chip Figures 12-D, 12-A and 12-B illustrate the principle of a method for writing and reading stored encoded data in the storage chip in general, as is known from US Patent 6,112,997.

In these Figures, reference numeral 31 indicates a plastic Boarding Pass with a microchip module 33. On the surface of the plastic chip, in the region of the microchip modules 33, eight contacts 40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47 are mounted and connected electrically conductively to the microchip. They serve to provide electrical contact with eight corresponding fixed counter contacts 50,57 of a plastic Boarding Pass reader that has a slot for receiving the plastic Boarding Pass 31. In Figures 12-A and 12-B the electrical contacting of the first and eighth contacts 40 and 47 of the plastic Boarding Pass 31 with the first and eighth counter contacts 50 and 57 of the plastic Boarding Pass reader is shown. The counter contacts 57 are electrically conductively connected to a microprocessor 60A of the reader. The contacts 40, 47 on the surface of the plastic Boarding Pass 31 are arranged such that two contacts each in the insertion direction, indicated by an arrow, and four contacts each crosswise to the insertion direction are disposed side by side. In Figures 12-A and 12-B, the ;plastic Boarding Pass 31 is introduced lengthwise into the Boarding Pass slot of the Boarding 0 Pass reader. However, it is also conceivable for the plastic Boarding Pass 31 to be 0 introduced widthwise into a corresponding Boarding Pass slot. In that case, the arrangement of the contacts 40, 47 on the surface of the plastic Boarding Pass 31 would have to be 1 rotated by 90 Degree from what is shown in Figures 12-A and 12-B. It does not matter hereinafter whether the plastic Boarding Pass 31 is to be introduced into a slot lengthwise or widthwise, since the disposition of the contacts 40,47 in the insertion direction is always the same. By means of the electric contacting of the contacts 40,47 with the corresponding counter contacts 50,57, writing and/or reading operations on the microchip of the Boarding OPass 31 are possible with the aid of the microprocessor (Ni Figure 12/C illustrates an embodiment of a reader with two paths for reading magnetized strips and storage chips, as described below. The new Boarding Passes can however be used with any other suitable reading/writing devices.

Thus, the new Boarding Pass system and methods of processing the Boarding Pass are able to confirm the correctness and integrity the Boarding Pass, and to immediately discover any illegal changes.

The storage chip and/or magnetized strips merged on the thick portion of the Boarding Pass could be merged in any suitable place on the front or rear side of the Boarding Pass. The thickness and specification of the Boarding Pass in the merged area with the storage chip and/or magnetized chip should be accordance to the specific standard of the reading/writing devices.

The Boarding Pass can incorporate normal storage chips or Proximity contact chips, or both, and be read/encoded using standard reading/writing devices suitable for these chips. As mentioned above, the inventive luggage collection installation can also function with conventional boarding passes.

Brief Description of the Drawings The drawing shows, by way of non-limiting example, various Boarding Passes and Readers useful in the invention as well as an embodiment of the luggage collection installation according to the invention, and associated equipment. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a first type of Boarding Pass according to the invention, viewed from its front face.

Figure 2 shows the rear face of the Boarding Pass of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another Boarding card with magnetized strips around part of its 00 periphery.

Figure 4 shows the rear face of the Boarding Card of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows another Boarding Pass having thick portions of "winged" shape.

Figure 6 shows the rear face of the Boarding Card of Figure Figure 7 shows another Boarding Pass showing the possibility of having "winged" thick portions protruding from any side of the Boarding Pass in different positions.

Figure 8 shows the rear face of the Boarding Card of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows a Boarding Pass with a magnetized strip at one end on the main coupon part and a storage chip at the other end on the passenger coupon part.

Figure 10 shows the rear face of the Boarding Card of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a Boarding Pass with a magnetized strip at one end on the passenger coupon part and a storage chip at the other end on the main coupon part.

Figure 12 shows the rear face of the Boarding Card of Figure 11.

Figures 12-A and 12-B illustrate the method of reading and writing of a storage chip in detail.

Figure 12/C is a perspective view of a device for reading the magnetized strips and storage chips.

Figure 12-D illustrates the method of reading and writing of a storage chip in general.

Figure 13 shows a Boarding Card having thick parts with storage chips at both ends.

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a dual-purpose card (contact and contactless).

Figure 15 shows a Boarding Card having thick parts with storage chips inclinably mounted at both ends.

Figure 16 shows another Boarding Card having thick parts with storage chips inclinably mounted at both ends.

00 Figure 17 is a schematic plan view of a luggage collection installation, with a detail shown in side elevation.

Detailed Description SBoarding Passes The Boarding Pass 60 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 consists of two parts, a passenger coupon part 63 and a main coupon part 64. The Boarding Pass 60 is generally rectangular and made from special paper suitable for writing/printing. On its opposite narrow edges it has two thick portions 61 made of plastic or any other material each with a merged magnetized strip 62. As shown, these thick portions 61are situated on the right side of the passenger coupon part 63 and the left side of the main coupon part 64. The thick portions 61 are for example generally rectangular and are merged inside with the thin paper portion of the Boarding Pass, carrying on one or both of its sides a magnetized strip 62.

The magnetized strips 62 fixed on the thick plastic portions 61 carry the required magnetized information stored in the Boarding Pass, as described elsewhere; also it is possible to load entry card information thereon.

Figure 2 shows the perforated line 65 that divides the main and passenger coupon parts of the Boarding Pass, illustrating the possibility to fix the magnetized strip 62 on the thick portion 62 from the front and rear sides. If required, the magnetized strips 62 are on one side only.

As shown in Figure 1, the front face of the Boarding Pass 60 carries printed indications and has corresponding spaces for printing data. The printing/data on the front face includes, at appropriate locations and where appropriate duplicated on the passenger coupon part 63 and on the main coupon part 64: a carrier logo 66; the passenger name 67; service information 68; the departure airport 69; the arrival airport 70; the carrier (airline company/flight number) 71; the travel class 72; the departure date 73; the scheduled departure time 74; smoking or non-smoking passenger 75; transit details 76; entry card requirements 77; seat 78; serial number 79; the boarding time 80; security counter 81 for immigration and passport data; the departure gate number 82; luggage information 83; a notice 84 to inform the passengers to be at the departure gate 30 minutes before departure; an indication of the class/category 85; and the issuing agency 86. Corresponding data is encoded and stored in the magnetized strips 62.

As shown, part of this information is pre-printed on the front face of the Boarding Card that has spaces for printing further data, in particular data printed in correspondence with 0 encoded data stored in the magnetized strips 62 (or storage chips). The printed information appears on the thin portion of the Boarding Card 60. The thick portions 61 in principle have no printed information, or only permanent printing (like a logo), but normally not data that is printed in correspondence with the encoded data.

The above-mentioned information is given as example and is not exhaustive. It is possible to add any necessary data for the passenger, security, airlines companies, and service companies relating to airlines industry, and by using the insurance number of the passenger, Oall such information could be printed on and/or be readable from the Boarding Pass, stored into the magnetized strip and/or storage chip merged into the Boarding Pass.

In the following drawings of different Boarding Cards 60, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements and data, which will not be repeated.

Figures 3 and 4 show another Boarding Card 60 having magnetized strips 62 that extend around a major part of the perimeter of the Boarding Card, but excluding the zone in the vicinity of the perforated line 65. These magnetized strips are located on a thick plastic portion 61 that extends all the way around the perimeter, including over the perforated line 61. Generally, the magnetized strips 62 can be located at any locations on the passenger coupon part 63 and the main coupon part 64 that are convenient for recording/reading the strips, but avoiding the perforated line 65. For instance, the magnetized strips could extend on only the top or bottom edges. The thick portions 61 can correspond more or less exactly to the position and dimensions of the magnetized strips 62, or can extend over a greater area.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of Boarding Card having thick portions 58 of "winged" shape in which storage chips 59 are merged. These thick portions 58 are attached to the opposite ends of the Boarding Pass 60, one to the right hand end of the passenger coupon part 63, the other to the left hand end of the main coupon part 64. At their point of connection, the winged thick portions 58 have the same width as the narrow edges of the boarding pass 60. The storage chips 59 are merged in a narrower protruding part or tab at a convenient location for reading/writing. This allows easier fixing of the storage chips 59 on the thick parts 58 and facilitates insertion thereof in a reading/writing device. The specifications of the thick portion 58 and storage chips 59 are suitable for standard reading/writing devices.

Further, as illustrated by Figure 6, the winged thick portions 58 and storage chips 59 can be fixed on the Boarding Pass portions from the rear or front side, or as shown the thin portion of the Boarding Pass can be merged in the middle of the thick portions 58.

;Figure 7 shows a further type of Boarding Card 60 illustrating several possibilities for including thick portions 58 of "winged" shape protruding from different parts of the periphery of the Boarding Card at locations suitable for the reader/writer devices, on the two parts 63,64 of the Boarding Pass with the possibility of fixing the storage chips 59 into the thick 0wing portions 58 from the front or rear side according to the standard of the reader and writer devices.

Figure 8 illustrates the two parts of the same Boarding Pass 60 from the rear side with a suitable design of the thick winged portions 58 to fix the storage chips, the specification of Othe thick portions 58 and storage chips 59 according to the standard of the reader and writer devices. As shown, the storage chips 59 can be placed on the front and/or rear side of the two parts 63,64 of the Boarding Pass 60, in any suitable place on the Boarding Pass. Such Boarding Pass will have at least two thick parts 58 with storage chips 59 at any of the given locations of the Boarding Pass. As shown in Figure 8, the thick part can extend around the periphery of the Boarding Pass, even if there are only two thick portions 58 with storage chips. Alternatively, the thick part 58 can extend along only those edges provided with storage chips 59. Other shapes and locations for the thick parts 58 are possible.

Figures 9 and 10 show another Boarding Card illustrating the possibility of using both a storage chip 59 and a magnetized strip 62 on different parts of Boarding Pass, namely in this example a thick rectangular part 61 and magnetized strip 62 on the end of the main coupon part 64, and a winged thick part 58 with storage chip 59 on the end of the passenger coupon part 63. These thick parts and magnetized strips or storage chips could however be attached to any location of the respective parts of the Boarding Card suitable for the reader/writer devices. Figures 9 and 10 show usage of the magnetized strip 62 and storage chip 59 respectively from the front and rear side of the Boarding Pass, it being understood that reading and writing may be possible from either or both faces.

Figures 11 and 12 show another Boarding Card illustrating the possibility of using both a storage chip 59 and a magnetized strip 62 on different parts of Boarding Pass, namely in this example a thick rectangular part 61 and magnetized strip 62 on the end of the passenger coupon part 63, and a winged thick part 58 with storage chip 59 on the end of the main coupon part 64. As before, these thick parts and magnetized strips or storage chips could be attached to any location of the respective parts of the Boarding Card suitable for the reader/writer devices. Figures 11 and 12 show usage of the magnetized strip 62 and storage chip 59 respectively from the front and rear side of the Boarding Pass, it being understood that reading and writing may be possible from either or both faces.

Figure 12/C is a perspective view of a reader 61A for the Boarding Passes. Currently, there are available on the market devices which can read magnetic strips the electronic storage chips possibly through passages and openings 65A, 66A as per the illustration of Figure 12/C. The reader 61A also has a keypad 62A, a display 63A and a print-out 64A. These 0 device and others can be used to read a Boarding Passes equipped with magnetic strips only as in Figures 1,2,3 and 4 or equipped with storage chips only as per the Figures 5,6,7 and 8, or Boarding Passes equipped with a magnetic strip and a storage chip as per Figures 1 9,10,11,12,13,15 and 16, on condition that the Boarding Pass shall be adapted to the reading devices and both shall be as per the standard specifications. The type of reader shown in Figure 12/C can be portable or fixed and could for instance be used for reading the Boarding Pass at a point of sale; the same or different designs of readers could be used at baggage check-in, passenger embarkation and other points of transit. Preferably the device will be a Ocombined reading/writing device.

Figure 13 illustrates another Boarding Pass with a storage chip 59 on the two parts of the Boarding Pass, namely the main coupon part 64 and the passenger coupon part 63, the storage chips 59 being merged in thick parts 58 which are generally rectangular with rounded edges, i.e. without using the winged design with a protruding tab. Other shapes of the thick portions 58 are possible. The storage chips 59 are located on parts of the rectangular thick portions protruding from the respective ends of the Boarding Pass 60, for easy engagement with reading/writing devices.

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a proximity (or "prox") card showing the merged circuit or IC Chip that cooperates with contacts and has an integrated loop antenna for contactless operation. Such card is a "dual interface" card that operates in both contact and contactless modes and can be incorporated into Boarding Passes according to the invention, as well as possibly also in luggage identification tabs.

Figure 15 illustrates another type of Boarding Card 60 having generally rectangular thick portions 58 that are inclinably attached to the opposite ends of the Boarding Card 60, one inclinable thick portion 58 is attached to the passenger coupon part 63 and the other inclinable thick portion 58 is attached to the main coupon part 64. In Figure 15, the storage chips 59 are on the parts of the thick portions58 that protrude from the ends of the Boarding Pass 60 when the thick portions 58 lay flat againt the Boarding Pass or are slightly inclined, as illustrated. In this way, the storage chips59 on the protruding parts can easily be engaged with reading/writing devices, the user gripping the other, inner edge of the thick par 58.

Figure 16 illustrates another Boarding Pass 60 that has inclinable thick portions 58, like in Figure 15, but in this case the storage chips 59 are on the parts of the thick portions 58 that lie over the Boarding Pass 60, or point inwards, when the thick portions 58 lay flat against the Boarding Pass 60 or are slightly inclined, as shown. To insert the storage chips 59 of this Boarding Pass 60 into a reading/writing device, the user grips the narrow outer edge of the respective thick portion 58, inclines it relative to the Boarding Pas 60, and places the part of the thick portion 58 with the storage chip 59 in the reading/writing device.

00 0 As illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, such inclinable thick portions can be attached to the ends of the passenger coupon part 63 and the main coupon part 64 at different points of Sattachment allowing different possibilities for inclining the thick portions. Also, the generally rectangular inclinable thick portions of Figures 15 and 16 could be replaced by "winged" shapes, for example as shown in Figures 5 to 12, or other shapes.

Installation according to the Invention Figure 17 schematically shows a luggage collection installation according to the invention in an arrival lounge, with means for recognizing luggage to facilitate its removal by the entitled passenger. This installation has a luggage delivery entrance 1 where luggage unloaded from an aircraft is delivered onto an endless public conveyor belt 2 turning in a loop, of oval shape as shown by way of example. Around the oval conveyor belt 2 are a plurality of outwardlydirected subsidiary conveyor belts 3 for delivering luggage to locations where the passengers are waiting.

The conveyor belt 2 is surrounded by a partition wall 7 of corresponding shape and having a series of openings 6 through which the ends of the subsidiary conveyor belts 3 protrude for the delivery of luggage to passengers standing just outside these openings 6. The partition wall 7 preferably keeps the main conveyor belt 2 out of sight of the passengers, who only see the luggage delivered via the openings 6. These openings 6 can be equipped with curtains through which the luggage passes.

The conveyor belt 2, which turns counter-clockwise relative to Figure 17, is associated with a series of readers 4 each of which is situated just before a corresponding subsidiary conveyor belt 3. The readers 4 are arranged to read identification data carried by luggage on the conveyor belt 2, and divert identified luggage onto the respective subsidiary conveyor 3.

Each subsidiary conveyor 3 has, integrated in the partition wall 7, an associated Boarding Card reader with a slot 5 for entering the passenger coupon part of a Boarding pass. These readers are connected via a control circuit to the readers 4 such that when a passenger coupon part of a Boarding Pass is inserted in the reader slot 5, the reader reads the stored encoded data including luggage identification data. When a piece of luggage carrying corresponding identification data passes the corresponding reader 4, the luggage is diverted from the conveyor belt 2 onto the respective subsidiary conveyor belt 3 for delivery via the opening 6 to the passenger waiting there.

The readers with slots 5 for insertion of the Boarding Pass coupons can have a memory for ;storing the encoded data from several Boarding Pass coupons, so that for instance a family 0 or group of passengers traveling together can all use the same luggage outlet opening 6 by 0 inserting their Boarding Pass coupons one after the other in the corresponding slot 5, without having to wait for the delivery of the first item(s) of luggage.

In case of lost/undelivered luggage, the readers associated with the luggage outlets, or a special reader associated with the conveyor belt 2 or with several such conveyor belts, could provide a display and/or print-out by means of an associated screen and/or printer. Such reader can be connected via a communications system to a luggage tracing system. The Oreader inputs identification of the lost luggage, and the communications system stores data from luggage in transit, whereby the location of the missing luggage can be determined.

With the invention as set out above, time and effort would be saved and the passenger trip would be accomplished easily, smoothly and comfortably.

Further Features of the Luqggage Collection Installation and Boarding Pass System The following is a detailed description of elements and features of the Boarding Pass system and its communications system, constituting the technical means for implementing same, taking into consideration the overall context of the invention. The implementing elements include: A Mid-Range Server, on which the main database is stored, and pertaining to the various transactions that will be executed among the various airline companies, airports, and all organizations participating in the system, to execute the operation of the required writing and reading the Boarding Pass, execute, and the financial settlement between the airline companies.

A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) containing all the particulars and data pertaining to the Boarding Pass, together with the transactions to be executed, the airline codes, the reader units and others.

Communication Devices, through which connection will be made between the aforementioned Mid-Range Server and the below-mentioned sub-servers, using various types of communications, including Dial-Up, Leased Line, ISDN, etc.

Fire Walls, though which monitoring and controlling all the communications with the Mid-Range Server will be made, eliminating any unauthorized entry.

The above-mentioned elements will be available, and will be installed within a Main ;Processing Center pertaining to the authority in-charge of the new Boarding Pass 0 system according to the invention, for carrying out all transactions pertaining to it.

A sub-Server, which is a computer which will be installed with every one of the airline company participating and subscribing to the service of the Boarding Pass system of the invention, on which the data and particulars pertaining to the subscribers will be stored, together with the numbers of the new Boarding Pass issued by the airline companies and the same will be associated with the accounts of the clients, etc.

Sub-Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS): theses bases will contain such data and particulars mentioned in each confined in the clients of the particular airline company only.

Sub-Communication Devices through which connection between the server mentioned in and the reader systems and processing systems mentioned hereunder, together with the sub-server mentioned in will be made.

Sub-Fire Walls, namely systems for protecting, monitoring and controlling the entries made to the systems mentioned in The elements from to above will be installed with every airline company that participates and subscribes to the services of the Boarding Pass system.

(11) Boarding Pass reader/writer systems, namely units and systems that will be installed with the various parties that handle and make transactions with the Boarding Pass, including security passing points, passports, transit lounge, departure gates and others, and are distinguished by the possibility of reading the thumb(print)s from the storage chip or magnetized strip and comparing them with the passenger thumbprint from the thumbprint reader devices or any specific devices.

(12) The above-mentioned reader/writer systems will be connected with the sub-server mentioned in through communication systems that allow the above-listed types of connection.

(13) The reader/writer systems will contain a reader/writer for the magnetic strip and/or stored chip integrated in the Boarding Pass, together with a keyboard, through which the data and particulars pertaining to the transactions to be executed will be entered, as specified herein.

(13) The reader/writer systems will contain a reader/writer for the magnetic strip and/or stored chip integrated in the Boarding Pass, together with a keyboard, through ;which the data and particulars pertaining to the transactions to be executed will be 0 entered, as specified herein.

(14) The reader/writer device should be equipped with a reader screen for thumbprints, 0to compare the thumb(print) of the passenger with the stored one on the magnetized strip or storage chip. These devices are in common use now, similar to devices for monitoring employee attendance through thumbprints.

C] The Boarding Pass is a pass issued by an approved airline company, which is Oparticipant and subscriber of the services of the Boarding Pass system of the invention, this Boarding Pass being constituted of the paper or plastic or other material together with the integrated magnetized strip and/or stored chip.

(16) All the above-mentioned elements from to (15) will be connected together, through an integrated communications network, as specified above.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives is intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context requires otherwise.

Claims

2. The installation of claim 1, wherein at least one of said readers for the passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards is arranged to receive and store luggage identification data from several successively introduced passenger coupon parts.
3. The installation of claim 1 or 2, comprising a reader/writer for reading luggage identification data carried by magnetic tapes, bar codes, zebra codes or proximity-detectable storage chips associated with the pieces of luggage.
4. The installation of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said principal conveyor belt is an endless belt arranged as a loop. The installation of claim 4, comprising a luggage delivery entrance where luggage ;unloaded from said aircraft or other means of transportation is delivered onto said principal 0 conveyor belt. O
6. The installation of any preceding claim, wherein said luggage outlets where 0passengers can wait for their luggage to be delivered are separated from said principal conveyor by a partition.
7. The installation of claim 6, wherein said partition has openings corresponding to the subsidiary conveyor belts and through which the subsidiary conveyor belts pass, said Oopenings being equipped with curtains through which the delivered luggage passes. (Ni
8. The installation of any preceding claim, wherein each of said readers associated with the subsidiary conveyor belts has a slot for receiving the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass.
9. A method of processing a boarding pass of which a passenger coupon part contains encoded luggage identification data corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, for the collection of transported luggage at a destination or transit point equipped with a luggage collection installation according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the passenger coupon part of the boarding pass is passed through a reader at a luggage outlet of the luggage collection installation, and luggage is diverted from the principal conveyor belt onto the subsidiary conveyor belt associated with said luggage outlet when the identification data associated with the luggage corresponds to that on the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass read by the reader of the subsidiary conveyor belt of said luggage outlet. A method of processing a boarding pass of which a passenger coupon part contains encoded luggage identification data corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, using a luggage collection installation of any one of claims 1-8, wherein if transported luggage is missing at a destination or transit point, the passenger coupon part of the boarding pass is passed through a reader/writer connected via a communications system to a luggage tracing system for inputting identification data of luggage in transit and determining the location of the luggage.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said reader/writer at the destination or transit point is associated with a printer and/or a screen for providing a print-out and/or a display of information relative to the luggage and its location.
12. A system for facilitating the collection of luggage at a place of arrival where passengers disembark from an aircraft or other means of transportation in which passengers and their luggage are transported, the disembarked passengers having with them passenger coupon parts of boarding passes, which passenger coupon parts contain encoded luggage identification corresponding to identification data on transported luggage, the system 0 comprising S1) at a point of departure, means for encoding in passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards encoded luggage identification data corresponding to luggage Sidentification data associated with pieces of luggage checked by the passengers; and 2) at a place of arrival, a luggage collection installation comprising: a principal conveyor belt that receives luggage unloaded from said aircraft or Oother means of transportation; a plurality of luggage outlets each comprising a subsidiary conveyor belt located outwardly of different locations of the principal conveyor belt, for delivering luggage to locations where passengers can wait; each subsidiary conveyor belt being associated with a readerfor the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass, each reader being situated adjacent to a location of its subsidiary conveyor belt where the subsidiary conveyor belt delivers luggage to waiting passengers; means for reading luggage identification data carried by luggage to be collected on the principal conveyor belt, which luggage identification data corresponds to encoded luggage identification data stored in the passenger coupon part of the boarding passes; and control means that connects the readers associated with the subsidiary conveyor belts and said reading means of the principal conveyor belt for diverting luggage from the principal conveyor belt onto a subsidiary conveyor belt when the luggage identification data associated with the luggage corresponds to that on the passenger coupon part of a boarding pass inserted in the reader of the subsidiary conveyor belt.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the luggage identification data associated with pieces of luggage is carried by magnetic tapes, bar codes, zebra codes or proximity- detectable storage chips associated with the pieces of luggage.
14. The system of claim 12 or 13, wherein the luggage collection installation comprises at least one reader for the passenger coupon parts of the boarding cards that is arranged to receive and store luggage identification data from several successively introduced passenger coupon parts. A luggage collection installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 17 of the accompanying drawings. 22 O O S16. A method of processing a boarding pass substantially as hereinbefore described with 00 reference to Fig. 17 of the accompanying drawings. O
17. A system for facilitating the collection of luggage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 17 of the accompanying drawings.