Aircraft dining systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10970798-B2
Application number	US-201816167633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

An aircraft dining system and method are configured to allow a passenger for a scheduled flight of an aircraft to order one or more items from restaurants within an airport. The aircraft dining system includes an order fulfiller including an order fulfillment control unit that is configured to receive an order for an item from a restaurant within the airport from the passenger for the scheduled flight so that the item is delivered to the aircraft or an area proximate to the aircraft prior to the aircraft departing the airport. In at least one embodiment, an ordering device includes an ordering control unit that is configured to allow the passenger to submit the order.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft dining system that is configured to allow passengers for a scheduled flight of an aircraft to order one or more items from restaurants within an airport, the aircraft dining system comprising:
an order fulfiller including an order fulfillment control unit that is configured to receive orders for items offered by one or more restaurants within the airport from the passengers for the scheduled flight so that the items are delivered to the aircraft or an area proximate to the aircraft prior to the aircraft departing the airport;
packages that are configured to retain the items that are ordered, wherein the items are prepared at the restaurant and secured in the packages;
a cart that is configured to receive the packages for the passengers, wherein the cart is configured to deliver the items that are ordered and retained within the packages to the aircraft or the area proximate to the aircraft; and
an automated unmanned delivery truck that includes the cart having the packages for the passengers, wherein the automated unmanned delivery truck includes an automated motive system that automatically delivers the cart to the aircraft or the area proximate to the aircraft.

2. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein the area proximate to the aircraft is a gate within the airport.

3. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein the order fulfillment control unit is further configured to contact the one or more restaurants to prepare the items and have the items delivered to the aircraft or the area proximate to the aircraft prior to the aircraft departing the airport.

4. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , further comprising ordering devices, wherein each of the ordering devices includes an ordering control unit that is configured to allow one of the passengers to submit one of the orders, the ordering control unit being in communication with the order fulfillment control unit.

5. The aircraft dining system of claim 4 , wherein each of the ordering devices further comprises a user input device coupled to the ordering control unit, the user input device configured to allow one of the passengers to submit one of the orders to the ordering control unit.

6. The aircraft dining system of claim 4 , wherein the ordering device further comprises a display coupled to the ordering control unit.

7. The aircraft dining system of claim 6 , wherein the ordering control unit is configured to show a flight information screen on the display, the flight information screen configured to prompt one of the passengers to input one or more of passenger name, flight number, or seat assignment.

8. The aircraft dining system of claim 6 , wherein the ordering control unit is configured to show a restaurant option screen on the display, the restaurant option screen configured to prompt one of the passengers to pick one of the restaurants within the airport.

9. The aircraft dining system of claim 6 , wherein the ordering control unit is configured to show a menu options screen on the display, the menu options screen configured to prompt one of the passengers to pick the item from one or more items.

10. The aircraft dining system of claim 6 , wherein the ordering control unit is configured to show a service time screen on the display, the service time screen configured to prompt one of the passengers to pick a preferred service time during the scheduled flight.

11. The aircraft dining system of claim 6 , wherein the ordering control unit is configured to show a payment screen, the payment screen configured to prompt one of the passengers to enter payment information.

12. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein the restaurant is within a secured area of the airport.

13. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , further comprising a flight schedule database that stores flight schedule data regarding the aircraft.

14. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein each of the orders comprises passenger information, flight information, a choice of one of the restaurants, and a choice of the item offered by the one of the restaurants.

15. The aircraft dining system of claim 14 , wherein each of the orders further comprises a chosen service time for the item during a flight.

16. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the orders is submitted at a time the scheduled flight is booked.

17. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the orders is submitted at the airport.

18. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the orders is submitted outside of the airport.

19. The aircraft dining system of claim 1 , wherein the order fulfillment control unit limits a time period for the passengers to submit the orders.

20. An aircraft dining method that is configured to allow passengers for a scheduled flight of an aircraft to order items from restaurants within an airport, the aircraft dining method comprising:
receiving, by an order fulfillment control unit, orders for items from one or more restaurants within the airport from the passengers for the scheduled flight so that the items are delivered to the aircraft or an area proximate to the aircraft prior to the aircraft departing the airport;
preparing the items that are ordered at the one or more restaurants;
securing the items that are ordered in packages;
retaining the items that are ordered in the packages;
receiving the packages in a cart; and
delivering the items that are ordered by the passengers and retained in the packages via the cart to the aircraft or the area proximate to the aircraft, wherein the delivering comprises automatically delivering the items by an automated unmanned delivery truck that includes the cart.

21. The aircraft dining method of claim 20 , further comprising contacting, with the order fulfillment control unit, the one or more restaurants to prepare the items and have the items delivered to the aircraft or the area proximate to the aircraft prior to the aircraft departing the airport.

22. The aircraft dining method of claim 20 , further comprising submitting the orders to ordering control units of ordering devices, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the orders from the ordering control units.

23. The aircraft dining method of claim 22 , further comprising using user input devices coupled to the ordering control units to submit the orders to the ordering control units.

24. The aircraft dining method of claim 22 , further comprising showing, on displays of the ordering devices:
a flight information configured to prompt the passengers to input one or more of passenger name, flight number, or seat assignment;
a restaurant option screen configured to prompt the passengers to pick one of the restaurants within the airport;
a menu options screen configured to prompt the passengers to pick the items;
a service time screen configured to prompt the passengers to pick preferred service times during the scheduled flight; and
a payment screen configured to prompt the passengers to enter payment information.

25. The aircraft dining method of claim 20 , wherein the restaurants are within a secured area of the airport.

26. The aircraft dining method of claim 20 , further comprising storing flight schedule data regarding the aircraft within a flight schedule database.

27. The aircraft dining method of claim 20 , wherein each

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Vandewall Cynthia A
• Lane Blake
• Vogel Craig
• Popik Leigh Ann
• Mcintyre Kristen
• Reese Ryan
• De Icaza Alberto

Classifications

• G06Q50/12 Primary

  Hotels or restaurants · CPC title

• G06Q30/0641

  utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping · CPC title

• G06Q30/0635 Primary

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title