Method and System for Airport Security

Abstract

A method and system for airport or other building security where passengers or persons entering a building approach a check-in point or check-in counter and must undergo a positive identification (ID) by fingerprint scan, retinal or iris scan, face feature scan, or an other means of positive identification. A digital photograph can then be taken of the person. This data plus the positive ID data and optional data about the person including a scan of a government supplied ID like a drivers license or passport is entered in a database and checked against various law enforcement databases such as FBI or others for law enforcement interest in the person. The person is given an electronic card that has wireless capability. The person carries the card while in the airport or building. The system is notified when the person enters a secure gate area, boards or leaves an aircraft, etc. In addition, the system can determine if a person is carrying more than one card or if a card has been abandoned. The system detects and tracks any undesirable person in the airport or building an provides a means for apprehending the person by security or law enforcement personnel. In addition, immigration or customs can be notified about any undesirable person arriving in an airport or building. The system can track a passenger through airports and aircraft in the world air transportation system.

Description

[0001]This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11 / 433,830 filed May 12, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______ which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 751,552 filed Jan. 5, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,109,869 which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 023,421 filed Dec. 17, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,367 which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 669,417 filed Sep. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,335,688 which was related to, and claimed priority from provisional patent application No. 60 / 156,447 filed Sep. 28, 1999. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,109,869, 6,335,688, 6,674,367 and application Ser. Nos. 11 / 433,830 and 60 / 156,447 are hereby incorporated by reference.[0002]The text of this application is substantially similar to that of the parent application Ser. No. 09 / 669,417.BACKGROUND[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]This invention relates generally to the field of airport security and more particularly to a method and system for identifying...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]After the ID process, the passenger can be checked into the flight in the normal way and then given a smartcard wireless device (which will be called a PASS smartcard) which serves as a boarding pass and airport tracking device. The pass smartcard is a small, flat, card like a credit card that can contain electronics and wireless communication capabilities. Since the location of this smartcard wireless device can be tracked in the airport by normal wireless antenna location means, by GPS, or by direction fixing between multiple antennas, or any other tracking means, the approximate location of the person is known at all times while in any area of the airport or building. In the case of a positive ID of a dangerous or wanted individual, law enforcement officials can apprehend the person anywhere in the airport or building that allows a safe and non-disruptive apprehension.

[0013]The system also reports when the person has passed through carry-on security (normal X-ray, etc.), or any other security check point, when the person is in the departure gate area, and when the person has boarded an aircraft. At boarding, a second security check can be made with a second fingerprint or retinal scan or any other positive identification means to verify that the person who checked in originally is the one boarding the flight. The system can positively make sure the person boards a certain aircraft and stays on since egress could be controlled by having to present the PASS smartcard to exit. In the rare case of someone having to legitimately leave an aircraft after boarding, airline personnel would be immediately notified by the smartcard at egress to ascertain why the exit is being made and being able to assist the person (who might have gotten on the wrong plane, might be sick, etc.). An illegal or unexpected egress would be immediately noted by airport security personnel. It is also possible to continue to communicate with the PASS smartcard inside the aircraft if the craft is also equipped with a wireless system. In addition, satellite communication can be carried on with the aircraft and smartcards inside the aircraft while it is in flight or parked at a gate.

[0018]The present invention anticipates the need for greater and more sophisticated security at airports, other buildings, secure venues, and / or government facilities. It offers a simple but elegant solution to the problem of whether a person should be in a certain area or not, whether the correct passenger has actually boarded and stayed on a flight, and whether at a final destination, a passenger has deplaned and actually left the airport. The present invention prevents someone having two boarding passes, or someone boarding the wrong flight, or someone exiting an aircraft after boarding without airline personnel being aware. In addition, the present invention allows apprehension of wanted persons entering airports or boarding flights while preventing identity switches between the person who checked in and the person who actually boarded the aircraft. The present invention can also optionally be used for non-passengers such as employees and visitors.

Problems solved by technology

The prior art thus teaches systems where passengers and / or employees carry wireless smartcards that communicate in data bases; however, none of these systems solve the tremendous security problem that exists at airports where potential passengers could be terrorists, felons or other dangerous persons, and whether a passenger actually boards a flight and remains on the plane, and whether the passenger actually arrives and exits a second or subsequent airport.

In addition, a system is badly needed that ties into police or FBI databases to identify dangerous people in the airport or approaching flights or boarding aircraft and then leaving the craft before takeoff.

Images