System and method for locating individuals and equipment, airline reservation system, communication system

A travel reservation system comprising:

• a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying passengers who have made travel reservations, information about the scheduled departure, and information identifying passengers who have checked in;
• a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the computer being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the passengers who made travel reservations has checked in, responsive to the wireless transponder receiving a response from the portable identification device associated with that passenger, which response includes identifying data for that passenger, provided that the scheduled departure is scheduled for a time less than a predetermined amount of time in the future;
• and
• a second antenna selectively alternately connected to the wireless transponder and configured to communicate with portable identification devices that have passed to a predetermined area indicating that the passenger has boarded a vessel, the computer being configured to modify the database, to indicate that a passenger has boarded the vessel, in response to a portable identification device identifying a passenger communicating with the wireless transponder from the predetermined area.

A system for communicating custom travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

• a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets for a trip, information identifying passengers who have checked in for a trip, and information about scheduled departures for trips;
• a monitor coupled to the computer;
• a wireless transponder in communication with the computer, and an antenna coupled to the wireless transponder, the wireless transponder being configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit wireless identifying data in response to receiving a command, the wireless transponder having a communications range for communicating with portable identification devices, the antenna being located within a predetermined distance from the monitor, the computer being configured to cause information about a passenger's trip to be displayed on the monitor in response to the wireless transponder receiving a response from one of the portable identification devices using the antenna, the information including departure time information for the passenger's trip, and
• a second antenna selectively alternately connected to the wireless transponder and configured to communicate with portable identification devices in a predetermined area, the computer being configured to modify the database, to indicate that a passenger has checked in for a trip, in response to receiving a response, using the second antenna, from the portable identification device associated with that passenger.

A system for communicating travel information to a passenger, the system comprising:

• a computer configured to operate on a database having information identifying passengers who have purchased tickets, information identifying passengers who are checked in, and information about scheduled departures;
• a monitor coupled to the computer;
• and
• a plurality of wireless transponders in communication with the computer and configured to periodically send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, each portable identification device being associated with a passenger and being configured to be borne by that passenger, the wireless transponders having a range for communicating with portable identification devices within a desired distance from the monitor, the computer being programmed to cause information about all passengers whose portable transponders are within range of the monitor to be displayed, the information including details of a passenger's departure time.