Personal information display system and associated method

Abstract

A system for identification and/or authentication of a user in a travel terminal, the system comprising: a multiuser interactive screen having one or more interaction zones, with which a user can interact; an image generation system for generating information on the interaction zone to provide information to the user with which the user can interact and; an image capture system which generates a captured image of any item in contact with the interaction zone; a recognition system for recognizing one or more features from the captured image to enable identification and/or authentication of the user; a communication system for communicating with the user by means of the image generation means to confirm identification or request additional information.

1 . A system for identification and/or authentication of a user in a travel terminal, the system comprising:
 a multiuser interactive screen having one or more interaction zones, with which a user can interact;   an image generation system for generating information on the interaction zone to provide information to the user with which the user can interact;   an image capture system which generates a captured image of any item in contact with the interaction zone;   a recognition system for recognising one or more features from the captured image to enable identification and/or authentication of the user; and   a communication system for communicating with the user by means of the image generation means to confirm identification or request additional information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recognition system recognizes one or more features of a document brought in contact with the interaction zone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recognition system includes at least one of: a character recognition system; a logo recognition system; a barcode recognition system; each of which include a search mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the search mechanism for the character recognition system includes a word search, such as a key word search or a fuzzy search to identify character related features based on a database of user information. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the database of user information comprises a passenger name record (PNR) database and the information is used to identify a passenger having a PNR record. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the search mechanism for the logo recognition system includes comparing via a computer features from the captured image with pre-loaded images on a database relating to logos and the like. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the search mechanism for the bar code recognition system includes identifying via a computer a bar code and reading the same. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the recognition system includes a matching engine for matching features from the item with one or more user records to determine the most likely matching user record. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database including a list of potential users known to be in the vicinity of the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multiuser interactive screen is in the form of a wall. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the wall is made of an optically transmissive material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a printing system for printing travel related documents on identification or authentication of the user. 
     
     
         13 . A method for identification and/or authentication of a user in a travel terminal using an identification system having a multiuser interactive screen having one or more interaction zones; an image generation system for generating information on the interaction zone; an image capture system which generates a captured image of any item in contact with the interaction zone; a recognition system for recognizing one or more features from the captured image; and a communication system for communicating with the user by means of the image generation means to confirm identification or request additional information, the method comprising:
 providing information to a user by illuminating part of the multiuser interactive screen so that the user may interact therewith;   detecting an item in contact with an interaction zone that is captured by the image capture system;   extracting one or more features from the captured image to identify or authenticate the user; and   communicating identification or authentication or requesting further information by means of the image generation system on the screen.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising recognising via a computer one or more features of a document brought in contact with the interaction zone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising recognizing the features using at least one of: a character recognition; a logo recognition; a barcode recognition, using a search mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising searching via a computer for features in the image in the form of words using a key work or fuzzy search to identify character related features based on a database of user information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising searching via a computer a passenger name record (PNR) database to identify a list of PNR records with a likelihood of matching the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising matching engine for matching features from the item with one or more user records to determine the most likely matching user record. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a determining list of potential users known to be in the vicinity of the system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing the multiuser interactive screen in the form of a wall. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing at least some of the wall made of an optically transmissive material. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising printing travel related documents on identification or authentication of the user. 
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out a method for identification and/or authentication of a user in a travel terminal using an identification system having a multiuser interactive screen having one or more interaction zones; an image generation system for generating information on the interaction zone; an image capture system which generates a captured image of any item in contact with the interaction zone; a recognition system for recognizing one or more features from the captured image; and a communication system for communicating with the user by means of the image generation means to confirm identification or request additional information, the method comprising:
 providing information to a user by illuminating part of the multiuser interactive screen so that the user may interact therewith;   detecting an item in contact with an interaction zone that is captured by the image capture system;   extracting one or more features from the captured image to identify or authenticate the user;   communicating identification or authentication or requesting further information by means of the image generation system on the screen.