Bag-Tag OCR for Automated Remote Return Check-In
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baggage handling systems are inefficient and costly, requiring significant human resources and prone to data entry errors, especially for return flights from high-volume lodging entities like cruise ships, where employees are scarce and costly, and the printed bag tags are often discarded, losing valuable information.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses optical character recognition to extract data from the original printed bag tags, creating digital passenger information records, which are then used to autonomously generate passenger manifests and print new bag tags for return flights, reducing the need for manual data entry and employee intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual data entry is used for baggage handling, then employees can process passenger information, but labor costs and data entry errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data entry with an automated optical character recognition (OCR) system that captures images of bag tags and automatically extracts passenger information, eliminating the need for employees to manually type data and reducing both labor costs and data entry errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the baggage handling process to automatically extract and process information from bag tags without human intervention, with the OCR system independently capturing, recognizing, and transferring data to the baggage management system
2Productivity
If employees are hired to handle baggage at lodging entities, then baggage processing capacity increases, but employee costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes human employees with an automated system consisting of image capture devices and OCR software that can process multiple bag tags simultaneously, dramatically increasing baggage processing capacity without requiring additional human labor
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides multi-functionality by handling various types of bag tags from different airlines and lodging entities through a single unified OCR platform, replacing the need for specialized employees trained for different processing scenarios
3Loss of substance
If printed bag tags are discarded after use, then space is freed for new tags, but valuable passenger information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing an image of the bag tag and extracting information through OCR before the physical tag is discarded, preserving the passenger information in digital form for future use in generating return flight manifests
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables discarding of the physical printed bag tag while recovering the valuable information contained on it through image capture and OCR technology, converting the discarded physical object into useful digital data for automated manifest generation
4Ease of operation
If remote check-in is implemented without automated systems, then passenger convenience improves, but data entry errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual data entry in remote check-in with automated OCR technology that accurately extracts passenger information from bag tag images, maintaining passenger convenience while eliminating data entry errors through automated recognition and validation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances efficiency and reduces costs by automating the baggage handling process, ensuring accurate data transfer and minimizing errors, allowing seamless luggage handling across multiple travel modes without the need for passengers to be present.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining image data representative of at least one image of printed passenger information associated with an airline travel carrier on an originating hardcopy bag tag
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of remote check-in using optical character recognition of a bag tag is provided, the method including: a) obtaining, by at least one of at least one processor, image data representative of at least one image of printed passenger information associated with an airline travel carrier on an originating hardcopy bag tag or a printed instrument having at least a portion of the printed passenger information on the originating hardcopy bag tag to create a digital passenger information (DPI) data record linked to the airline travel carrier, wherein the originating hardcopy bag tag is issued for a luggage item of a passenger, and wherein the DPI data record comprises an International Air Transport Association (IATA) license plate number, a passenger name record (PNR) number, an airline code, an airline name, a name of the passenger, or any combination thereof; b) accessing, by at least one of the at least one processor, passenger return flight information from a computer system associated with the airline travel carrier, based on the DPI data record; c) autonomously creating, by at least one of the at least one processor, a passenger manifest record based on the DPI data record and the passenger return flight information, wherein the passenger manifest record comprises data for check-in with a designated return travel carrier of a return leg of travel of the luggage item, the passenger, or a combination thereof; and d) repeating a)-c) for a plurality of passengers beginning a stay associated with a lodging entity and autonomously forming a manifest file.