Systems and methods for verifying a location of an item

{
  "publication_number": "US9817113B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems and methods for verifying a location of an item",
  "abstract": "A method for use in verifying a location of an item aboard a vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving, by a transceiver device located in the vehicle, at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) signal. Each RFID signal is associated with an RFID tag of an item aboard the vehicle. The method additionally includes processing the at least one RFID signal and transmitting, by the transceiver device, the at least one RFID signal to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for use in verifying a location of a passenger's luggage item aboard a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, by a transceiver device located in the vehicle, a first radio frequency identification (RFID) signal transmitted from a first RFID tag associated with a first luggage item aboard the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment, and wherein the first luggage item is located in the cargo compartment; processing the first RFID signal; retransmitting, by the transceiver device, the first RFID signal to a first passenger computing device located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the first passenger computing device is associated with a first passenger, wherein the first passenger is associated with the first luggage item; receiving, by the first passenger computing device, the retransmitted first RFID signal; processing, by the first passenger computing device, the received first RFID signal; determining that the first RFID signal is associated with the first RFID tag; and displaying, on a display screen of the first passenger computing device, information regarding the first luggage item associated with the first RFID signal to the first passenger associated with the first luggage item.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first RFID signal further comprises receiving the first RFID signal in the cargo compartment of the vehicle.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first RFID signal further comprises receiving the first RFID signal in the cargo compartment of an aircraft.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating at least one reformatted signal based on the first RFID signal; and transmitting, by the transceiver device, the at least one reformatted signal to a luggage tracking server computing device using at least one of a wireless network and a wired network.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the first RFID signal further comprises amplifying the first RFID signal.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at first passenger computing device is at least one of a smart phone, a laptop, and a watch.",
    "7. A system for use in verifying a location of a passenger's luggage item aboard a vehicle, said system comprising a transceiver device configured to: receive a first radio frequency identification (RFID) signal transmitted from a first RFID tag associated with a first luggage item aboard the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment, and wherein the first luggage item is located in the cargo compartment; process the first RFID signal; retransmit the first RFID signal to a first passenger computing device located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the first passenger computing device is associated with a first passenger, wherein the first passenger is associated with the first luggage item; receive, by the first passenger computing device, the retransmitted first RFID signal; process, by the first passenger computing device, the received first RFID signal; determine that the first RFID signal is associated with the first RFID tag; and display, on a display screen of the first passenger computing device, information regarding the first luggage item associated with the first RFID signal to the first passenger associated with the first luggage item.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein said transceiver device is further configured to receive the first RFID signal in the cargo compartment of an aircraft.",
    "9. The system of claim 7, wherein said transceiver device is further configured to: generate at least one reformatted signal based on the first RFID signal; and transmit the at least one reformatted signal to a luggage tracking server computing device using at least one of a wireless network and a wired network.",
    "10. The system of claim 7, wherein said transceiver device is further configured to process the first RFID signal by at least amplifying the first RFID signal.",
    "11. The system of claim 7, wherein the at first passenger computing device is at least one of a smart phone, a laptop, and a watch.",
    "12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for use in verifying a location of a passenger's luggage item aboard a vehicle, wherein when executed by a transceiver device, the computer-executable instructions cause the transceiver device to: receive a first radio frequency identification (RFID) signal transmitted from a first RFID tag associated with a first luggage item aboard the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment, and wherein the first luggage item is located in the cargo compartment; process the first RFID signal; retransmit the first RFID signal to a first passenger computing device located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the first passenger computing device is associated with a first passenger, wherein the first passenger is associated with the first luggage item; receive, by the first passenger computing device, the retransmitted first RFID signal; process, by the first passenger computing device, the received first RFID signal; determine that the first RFID signal is associated with the first RFID tag; and display, on a display screen of the first passenger computing device, information regarding the first luggage item associated with the first RFID signal to the first passenger associated with the first luggage item.",
    "13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the transceiver device, a plurality of RFID signals transmitting from a plurality of RFID tags each associated with a luggage item in the cargo compartment of the vehicle, and wherein each RFID signal of the plurality of RFID signals includes a unique identifier associated with the corresponding RFID tag; processing the plurality of RFID signals; and retransmitting, by the transceiver device, the plurality of RFID signals to the first passenger computing device located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.",
    "14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: storing, in the first passenger computing device, a first unique identifier associated with the first RFID tag; receiving, by the first passenger computing device, the plurality of RFID signals from the transceiver device; comparing, by the first passenger computing device, the plurality of unique identifiers associated with the plurality of RFID signals to the first unique identifier to detect the first unique identifier associated with the first RFID tag; and if the first unique identifier is detected, displaying, on the display screen of the first passenger computing device, information indicating that the first luggage item is located in the vehicle.",
    "15. The method of claim 14, further comprising if the first unique identifier is not detected, displaying, on the display screen of the first passenger computing device, information indicating that the first luggage item is not currently located in the vehicle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to transporting luggage aboard a vehicle, and more specifically to informing a passenger that the passenger's luggage has been successfully loaded for transport.\n\nIn known systems for transporting a passenger's luggage, for example in a cargo compartment of a vehicle such as an aircraft, the passenger is unaware of whether the luggage has actually been loaded before the aircraft departs for a destination. Rather, the passenger trusts that operators of the airline have successfully identified the passenger's luggage and loaded it in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. At least some passengers may experience anxiety from being uncertain of whether their luggage was actually loaded into the aircraft. Accordingly, it would be beneficial if passengers could obtain verification that their luggage has been successfully loaded aboard the aircraft.\n\nIn one aspect, a method for use in verifying a location of an item aboard a vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving, by a transceiver device located in the vehicle, at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) signal. Each RFID signal is associated with an RFID tag of an item aboard the vehicle. The method additionally includes processing the at least one RFID signal and transmitting, by the transceiver device, the at least one RFID signal to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.\n\nIn another aspect, a system for use in verifying a location of an item aboard a vehicle is provided. The system includes a transceiver device configured to receive at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) signal.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01S 13/88",
    "G01S 13/758",
    "G06K 7/10297",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "G06Q 10/0833",
    "G06Q 50/28",
    "H04L 67/12",
    "H04L 67/52",
    "H04W 4/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01S 13/75",
    "G01S 13/88",
    "G06K 7/10",
    "G06Q 10/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Boeing Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Richard John Loftis",
    "Andrew Lewis Armatorio"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-10-22",
  "publication_date": "2017-11-14",
  "grant_date": "2017-11-14",
  "priority_date": "2014-10-22",
  "application_number": "US-201414520444-A",
  "family_id": "54329472",
  "cited_by_count": 10,
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}