Baggage handling verification device and method

A method of determining whether an intended action relating to an item of baggage, to which is fixed an RFID baggage tag containing data, matches a predetermined desired action relating to that baggage item, the method including:

• determining an intended action relating to the baggage item;
• providing a baggage handling verification device, the device including:
• a device user interface adapted to emit user-detectable signals;
• at least one device attachment element adapted to releasably attach the device to a part of the body, other than the hands, of a user of the device;
• an RFID signal receiving antenna;
• an RFID reader adapted to read data received by the antenna from the tag, that data representing first information;
• data memory that stores data representing second information pertaining to a predetermined passenger journey;
• and
• a CPU adapted
• to compare the first information represented by data read by the RFID reader with the second information stored in the data memory, to determine if the compared first information and second information match each other,
• to cause the user interface to emit at least one first predetermined user-detectable signal indicative of the compared first information and second information matching each other, and
• to cause the user interface to emit at least one second predetermined user-detectable signal indicative of the compared first information and second information not matching each other;
• releasably attaching the device to the body of a device user with the at least one device attachment element such that the device is attached to a part of the body other than the hands of the user;
• providing the baggage item, wherein the RFID baggage tag containing data representing first information is attached to the baggage item;
• causing the RFID signal receiving antenna to receive, from the tag, said data representing first information;
• causing the RFID reader to read the data representing first information, received by the antenna from the tag;
• causing the CPU
• to compare said first information represented by data read by the RFID reader with the second information represented by the data stored in the data memory,
• to determine if the compared first information and second information match each other,
• to cause the user interface to emit at least one first predetermined user-detectable signal if the compared first information and second information match each other, and
• to cause the user interface to emit at least one second predetermined user-detectable signal, different to the first predetermined user-detectable signal, if the compared first information and second information do not match each other;
• and
• carrying out the intended action relating to the baggage item if the user interface emits the at least one first predetermined user-detectable signal;
• and
• carrying out another action if the user interface emits the at least one second predetermined user-detectable signal.

A baggage handling checking device for use with baggage to which is fixed an RFID baggage tag containing data, the device including:

• a device user interface adapted to emit user-detectable signals;
• at least one device attachment element adapted to releasably attach the device to a part of the body, other than the hands, of a user of the device;
• an RFID signal receiving antenna;
• an RFID reader adapted to read data received by the antenna from the tag, that data representing at least an identifier of the tag;
• a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit data to a remote receiver said transmitted data representing at least said identifier;
• a wireless receiver adapted to receive data from a remote transmitter in response said transmission of data to said remote receiver;
• and
• a CPU adapted to cause the user interface to emit a user-detectable signal based on data received by the wireless receiver from the remote transmitter.