Method and apparatus for an on-board call

A method for providing telephone service on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing a passenger identity, including the step of:
• receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
• b) obtaining information about the passenger's flight, including a seat assignment for the passenger, wherein step b) comprises the step of:
• receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, information about the flight from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller, the flight information including a flight identification or location of the aircraft;
• and
• c) directing an incoming call for the passenger to a selected telephone on-board the aircraft, including the steps of:
• selecting a passage responsive to the passenger identity for the incoming call;
• selecting a receiver for a group of telephones on-board the aircraft responsive to the flight identification or the aircraft location;
• and
• selecting the on-board telephone responsive to the seat assignment and the information about the craft.

An apparatus for providing telephone service on-board an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

• a number of telephones on-board a number of aircraft, including telephones associated with respective rows of seats on each respective aircraft;
• a network for receiving a call for a passenger and transmitting the call to a selected one of the telephones on a selected one of the aircraft;
• a processor;
• and
• memory, wherein the memory has a computer program operable with the processor for performing the steps of:
• a) establishing a passenger identity;
• b) receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, information about the flight from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller, the flight information including a flight identification or location of the aircraft;
• and
• c) directing an incoming call for the passenger to a selected on-board telephone, including the steps of:
• selecting the aircraft responsive to the flight identification or aircraft location for the incoming call;
• and
• selecting the on-board telephone responsive to the seat assignment.

A computer program product for providing telephone service to a passenger on-board an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

• first instructions for establishing an identity for the passenger, including instructions for receiving, by an on-board telephone service provider, communication by an off-board communications means;
• second instructions for obtaining information about the passenger's flight, including instructions for receiving, by the on-board telephone service provider, at least a portion of the flight information from a flight information provider other than the passenger or a caller;
• and
• third instructions for selecting an on-board telephone for an incoming call to the passenger, the selecting being responsive to i) the flight information provided by the flight information provider and ii) the passenger identity.