Method, devices and system for improved control of a service means for dedicated use in infrastructures

A client device equipped in a semi-movable service apparatus of a plurality of semi-movable service apparatuses used at an airport, to control the semi-movable service apparatus, the client device comprising:

• an information reader configured to obtain identification information of a user from the user or from a user device;
• a transmitter configured to send a request message to a server device based on the identification information, the request message requesting the server device to perform an identification process to verify an identity of the user, and, if verification of the user is confirmed, an authorization process to determine whether the semi-movable service apparatus is among a subset of the semi-movable service apparatuses the user is authorized to use,
• wherein, if the authorization process determines that the user is authorized to use the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, the authorization process further determines whether the user is authorized to use all functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only a subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• a receiver configured to receive a response message from the server device, wherein the received response message indicates an inhibition of use of the semi-movable service apparatus by the user or an enablement of use of all the functions of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only the subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• and
• a controller configured to perform a control of the semi-movable service apparatus based on the received response message.

A server device for controlling a plurality of semi-movable service apparatuses used at an airport, the server device comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a request message from a client device, the request message including identification information of a user obtained by the client device from the user or from a user device, and the request message requesting an identification process to verify an identity of the user, and, if verification of the user is confirmed, an authorization process to be performed to determine whether the user is authorized to use one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses being associated with the client device,
• wherein, if the authorization process determines that the user is authorized to use the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, the authorization process further determines whether the user is authorized to use all functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only a subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• a memory configured to store identification data for a plurality of users and authorization information for each of the users, wherein for each of the users the authorization information indicates a subset of the semi-movable apparatuses the user is authorized to use,
• a processor configured to perform the identification process and the authorization process for the user for the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses based on the received request message;
• and
• a transmitter configured to send a response message to the client device based on a result of the authorization process, wherein the response message indicates an inhibition of use of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses by the user or an enablement of use of all the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only the subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses.

A system for controlling a plurality of semi-movable service apparatuses used at an airport, the system comprising:

• a client device equipped in one of the semi-movable service apparatuses to control the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• and
• a server device for enabling control of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses,
• wherein the client device comprises:
• an information reader configured to obtain identification information of a user from the user or from a user device,
• a client transmitter configured to send a request message to the server device based on the identification information, the request message requesting the server device to perform an identification process to verify an identity of a user, and, if verification of the user is confirmed, an authorization process to determine whether the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses is among a subset of the semi-movable service apparatuses the user is authorized to use,
• a client receiver configured to receive a response message from the server device, the received response message from the server device indicating an inhibition of use of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses by the user or an enablement of use of one or more functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses by the user, and
• a client controller configured to perform a control of the semi-movable service apparatus based on the received response message from the server device, and
• wherein the server device comprises:
• a server receiver configured to receive the request message from the client device, the request message including the identification information of the user obtained by the client device,
• a memory configured to store identification data for a plurality of users and authorization information for each of the users, wherein for each of the users the authorization information indicates a subset of the semi-movable apparatuses the user is authorized to use,
• a processor configured to perform the identification process and the authorization process for the user for the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses based on the received request message,
• wherein, if the authorization process determines that the user is authorized to use the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, the authorization process further determines whether the user is authorized to use all functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only a subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, and
• a server transmitter configured to send a response message to the client device based on a result of the authorization process, the response message sent to the client device indicating an inhibition of use of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses by the user or an enablement of use of all the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only the subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for controlling a plurality of semi-movable service apparatuses used at an airport, wherein the method comprises:

• obtaining, at a client device associated with one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, identification information of a user from the user or from a user device;
• sending a request message from the client device to a server device based on the identification information, the request message requesting the server device to perform an identification process to verify an identity of the user, and, if verification of the user is confirmed, an authorization process to determine whether the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses is among a subset of the semi-movable service apparatuses the user is authorized to use,
• wherein, if the authorization process determines that the user is authorized to use the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses, the authorization process further determines whether the user is authorized to use all functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only a subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• receiving, at the client device, a response message from the server device, the received response message relating to a result of the authorization process and indicating an inhibition of use of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses by the user or an enablement of use of all the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses or only the subset of the functions of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses;
• and
• performing, at the client device, a control of the one of the semi-movable service apparatuses based on the received response message.