Airplane mode for wireless transmitter device and system using short-range wireless broadcasts

• Main Authors: WURSTER CHARLES S, WOODAHL LEIF A, SPRIGG STEPHEN A, MEIJERS NEVILLE J, HUNTER KEVIN E, JACOBS PAUL E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.04.2015
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; HAND CARRIED BAGS; HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; LUGGAGE; PHYSICS; PURSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

Methods, systems and devices for tracking and handling broadcast devices associated with luggage. A wireless identity transmitter within luggage may periodically transmit wireless broadcast messages that include obscured identifiers. When within proximity, a proximity broadcast receiver, such as a stationary device within an airport, may receive and relay the broadcast messages to a server which may process the included information. Based on decrypting the obscured identifiers, the central server may determine proximity information of devices related to the relayed messages. The proximity broadcast receiver may transmit messages based on whether the wireless identity transmitter should be handled via a luggage service. Additionally, the wireless identity transmitter may activate/deactivate an operational mode for use in an aircraft in response to receiving disable and enable wireless signals from proximate signaling transmitters. After receiving a disable wireless signal, the wireless identity transmitter may not transmit wireless signals until receiving an enable wireless signal.