Misconnect management systems and methods

Abstract

A misconnect management system models the movement of passengers, bags, and crew through flights and airports. In various embodiments, a misconnect management system identifies potential misconnected passengers and provides recommendations and input configured to support decision makers, such as ramp controllers and operations controller, in evaluating hold/no hold decisions for a flight. Via use of the misconnect management system and associated methods, misconnected passenger numbers may be reduced, expenses associated with missed connections may be reduced, and organizational efficiency may be improved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 modeling, by a processor for misconnect management, movement of a passenger through a transportation system;   identifying, by the processor, the passenger as a misconnected passenger;   determining, by the processor, a set of gate hold times for a first flight in the transportation system, wherein the first flight is associated with the misconnected passenger; and   communicating, by the processor and to a user, the set of suggested gate hold times for the first flight.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the processor, the effect of each of the set of gate hold times on the misconnected passenger. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the processor, the effect of each of the set of gate hold times on a second flight, wherein the second flight is downline from the first flight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the processor, the effect of each of the set of gate hold times on the transportation system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, a financial cost associated with each of the set of gate hold times;   determining, by the processor, a financial savings associated with each of the set of gate hold times; and   identifying, by the processor, the gate hold time in the set of gate hold times for which the sum of the financial cost and the financial savings has the highest value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modeling, by the processor, movement of a bag through the transportation system;   identifying, by the processor, the bag as a misconnected bag; and   determining, by the processor, a set of gate hold times for a second flight in the transportation system, wherein the second flight is associated with the misconnected bag.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first flight and second flight are the same flight. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first flight and second flight are different flights. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modeling is real-time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modeling comprises utilizing a misconnect database, and wherein the misconnect database is updated at least once per minute. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises:
 determining, by the processor, an available time to connect (ATC) for the passenger;   determining, by the processor, a required time to connect (RTC) for the passenger; and   comparing, by the processor, ATC to RTC to identify the passenger as a misconnected passenger when RTC exceeds ATC.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ATC for the passenger is determined based at least in part on the current arrival time and the scheduled departure time for the first flight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein RTC for the passenger is determined based at least in part on a deplaning rate and a gate-to-gate travel time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 updating, by the processor and in a database, a departure time for the first flight to implement a gate hold time for the first flight; and   identifying, by the processor, the passenger as a connected passenger responsive to implementation of the gate hold time for the first flight.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor for misconnect management, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
 modeling, by the processor, movement of a passenger through a transportation system;   identifying, by the processor, the passenger as a misconnected passenger;   determining, by the processor, a set of gate hold times for a first flight in the transportation system, wherein the first flight is associated with the misconnected passenger; and   communicating, by the processor and to a user, the set of suggested gate hold times for the first flight.