Travel Document Printing via Short-Range Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for printing travel documents, such as boarding passes and bag tags, are rigid and require extensive network infrastructure, leading to inefficiencies and security concerns, including the need for paper-based documents and costly infrastructure maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows travel documents to be generated and stored on a customer's device, enabling printing through short-range communication with self-service printers, reducing reliance on centralized IT infrastructure and enhancing security with digital signatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized network infrastructure with DCS and CUTE workstations is used for printing travel documents, then document printing capability is ensured, but system complexity and infrastructure cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the printing capability from the centralized DCS system and relocates it to portable printing devices that customers can carry. The printing function is separated from the main system, allowing customers to print documents independently using their own devices without requiring connection to the centralized infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces portable storage media (such as USB drives, memory cards, or portable hard drives) as intermediaries between the DCS system and the printing devices. Documents are first transferred to these portable media, which then serve as the bridge enabling printing without direct connection to the centralized system.
2Ease of operation
If customers print boarding passes at home or office before travel, then convenience is improved, but security risks increase due to potential forgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary verification of customer identity and document authenticity at the airport printing device before printing occurs. The system validates the customer's credentials and the legitimacy of the travel document request in advance, ensuring that only authenticated documents are printed, thus preventing forgery while maintaining convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the printing device communicates with the DCS system to verify document authenticity in real-time. The DCS system provides immediate feedback on whether the requested document is valid, allowing the printing device to accept or reject printing requests based on this feedback, thereby preventing fraudulent document generation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If SMS-based mobile check-in is implemented, then customer accessibility is improved, but functionality is limited and additional agreements with telecom providers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the printing device universal by enabling it to accept and process multiple types of input methods including SMS messages, portable storage media, and direct wireless connections. The device can handle various communication protocols and data formats, allowing it to work with different customer preferences and existing mobile devices without requiring separate systems for each method.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for generating and printing travel documents for a customer associated with a journey having one or more parts, the system comprising: a travel documentation distribution module capable of generating travel documentation for the customer and capable of passing the documents for storage on a customer device at the request of the customer; and a printer located in the vicinity of a starting point of one of the parts of the journey which is capable of responding to a short range communication from the customer device to print the travel documents for said part of the journey for the customer.