Distributed Commerce Satellite Seating for Airport Social Distancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air travelers face challenges in accessing airport services and products due to the need to stay near their gates and avoid congestion, especially when social distancing is required, limiting their ability to patronize businesses within the airport.
Innovation Solution
Deployment of compact commerce satellites with integrated services and amenities, such as flight information displays, order interfaces, and foot massages, that allow travelers to access goods and services without leaving their seats, reducing the need for physical movement and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If travelers congregate around central service kiosks and restaurants to access services and products, then service accessibility is improved, but crowd congestion and loss of social distancing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments airport services by deploying multiple distributed commerce satellites throughout the terminal rather than concentrating services at central locations. Each satellite provides a subset of services (food ordering, flight information, shopping) independently, allowing travelers to access services at dispersed locations and maintain social distancing while still obtaining needed services.
Solution Approach 2:
The commerce satellite acts as an intermediary between travelers and airport businesses. It provides a digital interface (display screen, ordering system) that connects passengers to restaurant menus, flight information, and store catalogs without requiring physical presence at centralized service points, thereby reducing crowd congestion while maintaining service accessibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If travelers remain seated near their gates to maintain social distancing, then crowd exposure is reduced, but access to airport services and products is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions services from physical space to digital space by implementing contactless ordering and information display systems at commerce satellites. Travelers can browse menus, place orders, and access flight information through digital interfaces without physically moving to service locations, effectively adding a digital dimension to service access that eliminates the need for physical congregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The commerce satellite enables self-service capabilities where travelers can independently place food orders, check flight status, and access shopping information through the display screen and ordering interface without requiring assistance from staff or interaction with other passengers, allowing service access while remaining seated and maintaining social distancing.
3Productivity
If traditional centralized service locations are used, then service concentration is efficient, but traveler movement and congestion are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides centralized services into multiple distributed commerce satellite units positioned throughout the airport terminal. Each satellite handles a portion of service transactions independently, eliminating the need for travelers to travel to centralized locations and reducing movement time while maintaining service delivery efficiency through parallel operation of multiple units.
Data Source
AI summary
A commerce satellite for airports and the like allows individuals to interact with vendors and airport information systems in a distributed fashion improving social distancing.