Automated internet based interactive travel planning and management system
An interactive rapid response Internet accessed air travel management system. The system includes a web-based planning and reservation interface system and an interactive access device. The system responds to details of a member's desired travel, to thereafter act in real time to contact the domains of associated travel service providers to arrange for every aspect of the member's trip, from airline and hotel reservations, ticket issuance, and ground transportation, to restaurant and theater reservations, and any other travel related needs of the member. The system stores identification information to verify access device possession to prohibit unauthorized use of the system and to provide security pre-clearance to system members.
1. A travel management system for providing system members with access to a travel facility at a travel terminal, the system comprising:
a central memory that stores member profile records of the system members, the central memory being accessible over a communications network, each member profile record including central member identification information of an associated system member, the central member identification information including at least unique identifying information of the profile record and an image of the member;
a central server in communication with the central memory;
a portable access device associated with each member profile record, the portable access device including (i) a central processing unit, (ii) a local memory storing local member identification information duplicative of information in the associated member profile record, including the unique identifying information and the image of the member; and (iii) a display that is able to display at least the locally stored image of the member at the travel terminal; and
a security checkpoint at the travel terminal that includes (i) an identification information input device that receives input member identification from a presenting member in possession of the portable access device, (ii) a reader that is configured to access the local member identification information stored in the portable access device, and (ii) a communication device that is configured to communicate with the central server,
wherein the travel management system is configured to conduct a three-way match that includes (i) conducting a comparison of the input member identification information with the local member identification information stored in the local memory of the portable access device, (ii) conducting a comparison of the input member identification information and the central member identification information stored in the central memory, and (iii) conducting a comparison of the unique identifying information stored in the local memory of the portable access device and the unique identifying information stored in the central memory, and
wherein the central server is configured to transmit a signal to the communication device that is based on a result of the three-way match.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein, when conducting the three-way match, if there is a match between the input member identification information and the local member identification information, the communication device communicates the input member identification information and the matching local member identification information to the central server, and the central server conducts a comparison of the input member identification information and the matching local member identification information with the central member identification information stored in the central memory.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the central member identification information and local member identification information further include biometric information of the system member in addition to the image of the system member, the identification input device includes a biometric reader capable of obtaining biometric information from the presenting member, and the input member identification information includes the obtained biometric information.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the portable access device further includes an access control device for receiving biometric information and preventing operation of said portable access device unless said received biometric information matches information of said local member identification information stored in said local memory.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the central member identification information and the local member identification information further include an indication of a security threat assessment of the member.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein each member profile is assigned a gradation level based on a comprehensiveness of the member profile and the security threat assessment.
7. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the central member identification information and the local member identification information further include a video image of the member.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portable access device includes a removable chip and wherein at least a portion of the local memory is included on the removable chip.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the local memory includes a portion for personal identification information that is separate from another portion of the local memory that includes the local member identification information.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the member identification information is encrypted.