Mobile check-in station and method of use

Claim 1

The method of alleviating congestion at a passenger fixed check-in or gate area terminal that includes a computer and printer(s), that includes x 1 ) providing a mobile check-in station that includes a) a mobile cart having an ambulatory element or elements, b) a computer and at least one printer stored in or at the cart and accessible for use in printing trip documents or bag tags, at the cart, and for retrieving of said documents or tags when printed, c) an electrical power supply on the cart for supplying power to said printer and computer at the cart, said power supply including a battery provided and carried at a low level location in the cart, x 2 ) determining the location of passenger congestion occurring at any one of a number of fixed, spaced apart, passenger check-in terminals, x 3 ) then ambulating said mobile station to said location, and exchanging information between said mobile station and said one, fixed check-in terminal, via RF communication from the mobile station to a host computer, said exchanging including operating the printer and computer at said mobile station in support of the operation of said computer and printer at said fixed terminal; and wherein said cart includes a housing having upright side walls, a top counter, a battery storage zone below said top counter, and a cabinet for the computer at the cart for use proximate said top counter, the cart having a forward edge, a rearward zone, a push handle at said rearward zone, the top counter located between said forward edge and said handle.

Claim 2

The method of alleviating congestion at a passenger fixed check-in or gate area terminal that includes a computer and printer(s), that includes x 1 ) providing a mobile check-in station that includes a) a mobile cart having an ambulatory element or elements, b) a computer and at least one printer stored in or at the cart and accessible for use in printing trip documents or bag tags, at the cart, and for retrieving of said documents or tags when printed, c) an electrical power supply on the cart for supplying power to said printer and computer at the cart, said power supply including a battery provided and carried at a low level location in the cart, x 2 ) determining the location of passenger congestion occurring at any one of a number of fixed, spaced apart, passenger check-in terminals, x 3 ) then ambulating said mobile station to said location, and exchanging information between said mobile station and said one, fixed check-in terminal, via RF communication from the mobile station to a host computer, said exchanging including operating the printer and computer at said mobile station in support of the operation of said computer and printer at said fixed terminal; and wherein said cart includes a housing having upright side walls, a top counter, a battery storage zone below said top counter, and a cabinet for the computer at the cart for use proximate said top counter, the cart having a forward edge, a rearward zone, a push handle at said rearward zone, the top counter located between said forward edge and said handle.