Automated Passenger Seat Assignment via Electronic Messaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual processes for managing standby and upgrade passenger seat assignments on flights are time-consuming for airline employees, diverting them from providing customer service and leading to inefficiencies and confusion at the gate.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a server device to automatically communicate with passengers via their network-enabled devices, offering seat assignments and managing queues through electronic messages, allowing passengers to accept or decline seats electronically, thereby automating the seat assignment process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual processes are used for managing standby and upgrade passenger seat assignments, then employees can directly assist passengers and handle complex situations, but employee time is consumed and gate congestion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemployee availability for customer serviceVSAvoidseat assignment processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables standby and upgrade passengers to automatically receive seat assignment notifications and accept or decline seats through electronic messaging, eliminating the need for employee intervention in routine seat assignment tasks while maintaining service quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (employees physically managing queues and assigning seats) with an automated electronic messaging system that communicates seat availability and assignments directly to passengers' devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated messaging system is implemented for seat assignments, then processing efficiency increases and employee time is freed, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat assignment processing speedVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated messaging system serves multiple functions including notifying passengers of seat availability, transmitting seat assignment details, enabling passenger responses (accept/decline), and integrating with existing airline reservation systems, thereby justifying the system complexity through multi-functional utility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If manual queue management is used, then passengers receive personalized attention, but gate congestion and confusion increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger service qualityVSAvoidgate congestion and confusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual queue management with automated electronic messaging that delivers seat assignment information directly to passengers' devices, eliminating physical gate congestion and confusion while maintaining service reliability through systematic notification and response tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10885475B2Method and system for automating passenger seat assignment procedures

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 UNITED AIR LINES INC

AI summary

A method and system may provide automated passenger seat assignment procedures for an airline. A server device may determine passengers for a departing flight who are eligible to receive seat assignment notifications. When an eligible passenger is next in a standby or upgrade queue, the server device may transmit an electronic communication such as an email, short message service (SMS) message, push notification, etc., to the passenger's network-enabled device. The electronic communication may indicate that a seat assignment is available and may provide instructions for accepting or declining the available seat assignment. If the user accepts, for example, by transmitting an electronic reply message to the server device accepting the available seat assignment, the server device may transmit an electronic boarding pass to the user corresponding to the available seat assignment.