System and method for aircraft passenger check-in and boarding using iris recognition

An automated biometric identification and billing system for collecting usage fees upon entry of a user into a fee-for-access area, comprising:

• account record storage means for storing a plurality of user account records, each record including at least (a) biometric data sufficient to identify the user and (b) designation of a collection method to be used for collecting usage fees incurred by the user;
• biometric identification means connected to said account record storage means, for scanning at least one biometric feature of a person seeking entry to the access controlled area to obtain biometric feature, comparing said biometric feature information to said user account records to match said person seeking entry to a user account record, and generating a signal identifying the user account record;
• account charging means connected to said biometric identification means and said account record storage means, for receiving said signal identifying the user account record, initiating a financial transaction debiting the identified user for the usage fee, and generating an access permission signal indicating that the financial transaction has been processed;
• turnstile means connected to said account charging means for receiving said access permission signal and, in response to said access permission signal, permitting the user to pass through an entry point into the fee-for-access area;
• cash request input means for receiving a cash dispensation request from the user;
• cash request processing means connected to the cash request input means and associated with the account charging means, for receiving said cash dispensation request, initiating a financial transaction debiting the identified user for a requested amount of cash, and generating a cash dispensing actuating signal;
• and
• cash dispensing means connected to the cash request processing means for dispensing the requested amount of cash in request to said cash dispensing actuating signal;
• and
• code storage means for storing a code for permitting cash requests, where such code is provided for some but not all users;
• wherein said cash dispensing means is operated only for accounts including said code for permitting cash requests.

An automated iris recognition boarding system for aircraft passengers, comprising:

• account record storage means for storing a plurality of passenger account records in a common data repository, each record including an account number and iris recognition data sufficient to positively identify the passenger without requiring further identification;
• reservation record means for receiving and storing flight reservation records in association with said account numbers, said flight reservation records including at least an identification of the flight, a seat assignment, and an association with one of said account numbers;
• iris identification means connected to said account record storage means, for obtaining iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification, comparing said iris feature information to at least those stored passenger account records having an associated reservation for a flight to match said person seeking entry to said iris recognition data in a passenger account record, and generating a signal identifying a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record without requiring further identification or manipulation of tokens;
• access authorization means connected to said iris identification means for receiving said access permission signal and, in response to said access permission signal, indicating that the passenger may board the aircraft.

A method for expedited passenger boarding onto an aircraft using iris recognition, comprising the steps of:

• enrolling passengers to create a plurality of passenger account records stored in a common data repository, each including an account identifier and iris recognition data sufficient to positively identify the passenger without requiring further identification;
• accepting a flight reservation from a passenger having a passenger account record, and storing a flight reservation record linked to said account identifier, said flight reservation record including a seat assignment;
• imaging the iris of a person seeking entry to the aircraft to obtain iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification and tokens;
• comparing said iris feature information to at least those passenger account records in the common data repository having an associated reservation for a flight to match said person seeking entry to a passenger account record, and generating a signal identifying a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record;
• and
• permitting a passenger with a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record to board the aircraft without requiring further identification or manipulation of tokens.

A method for expedited passenger baggage check and boarding onto an aircraft using iris recognition, comprising the steps of:

• enrolling passengers to create a plurality of passenger account records, each including an account identifier and iris data sufficient to positively identify the passenger without requiring further identification;
• accepting a flight reservation from a passenger having a passenger account record, and storing a flight reservation record linked to said account identifier;
• providing a first iris identification station at a baggage check location and imaging an iris of a person seeking to check baggage to obtain iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification or tokens;
• comparing said iris feature information obtained at said first iris identification station to at least those passenger account records having an associated reservation for a flight to match said person seeking entry to said iris data in one of said passenger account records, and when a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record are identified, tagging and receiving the person's baggage;
• providing a second iris identification station at a gate location and imagine the iris of a person seeking to board the aircraft to obtain iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification or tokens;
• comparing said iris feature information obtained at said second iris identification station to at least those passenger account records having an associated reservation for a flight to match said person seeking entry to said iris data in one of said passenger account records, and when a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record are identified, permitting the person to board the aircraft without requiring further identification or manipulation of tokens.

A method for automated aircraft passenger baggage checking, boarding, and baggage reconciliation using iris recognition, comprising the steps of:

• enrolling passengers to create a plurality of passenger account records, each passenger account record including an account identifier and biometric iris data sufficient to positively identify the passenger without requiring further identification;
• accepting a flight reservation from a passenger having a passenger account record, and storing a flight reservation record linked to said account identifier, said flight reservation record including a seat assignment;
• providing a first iris recognition station at a baggage check location and imaging an iris of a person seeking to check baggage to obtain iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification;
• comparing said iris feature information to at least those passenger account records having an associated reservation for a flight to match said person seeking entry to a passenger account record, and when a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record are identified, tagging and receiving the baggage;
• providing a second iris identification station at a gate location and imagine an iris of a person seeking to board the aircraft to obtain iris feature information sufficient to positively identify said person without the presence of other forms of identification;
• permitting a passenger with a matched passenger account record and flight reservation record at the second iris identification station to board the aircraft without requiring further identification;
• and
• automatically reconciling records of baggage checked at said first iris identification station with records of passenger boarding at said second iris identification, station to identify baggage which was checked but whose owner did not board the aircraft, so that such baggage does not go with the aircraft.