التحضير المنعزل للمعطيات - المناهج - البرامج - شركات الطيران .. الحاسبات تعمل

Isolated data preparation - Curricula - Programs -
Airlines .. Computers work

Isolated data preparation

Usually all programs and most of the information they contain are prepared

(The computer is concerned with most of the ground missions of the aircraft)
(Classifications (1 to H in the text) stored in the central computer store.

Computer classifications are on punched cards and completely isolated from the computer, then entered into the computer by a card reader. Paper tape and magnetic tape cartridge may also be used to enter information.

Curricula

The following classifications are kept in the main computer store:

A - Flight programs, including arrival and departure times, aircraft model, ticket price, etc., classified according to the flight start airport and the flight end airport.

B - A list for each flight and for each scheduled date showing the confirmed and provisional reservation for the flight and the waiting list.

C - A record for each travel ticket showing the stages of travel, the reservation status, the method of payment, etc.

D - Payment accounts Cash and accounts payable of branch offices.

Travel agencies and credit card agencies, lists of defaulters and stolen credit cards, etc.

e - Operational affairs records, such as aircraft movement details, crew service records and catering records.
Similar records are kept in the computers of regional offices, but they are limited to operations within the area concerned and flights to and from that area.

Programs

A passenger reservation system requires two types of programs: those that create the necessary records in the central computer store and those that respond to inquiries and update the records with new reservations or cancel existing reservations. Other programs are required for operational planning that rely on the same records, as will be discussed later.

Contextualizations

The contextualizations on the opposite page explain most of the operations of the reservation system, and detail what might happen when a reservation is made for a single, continuous flight, without changing the flight route or interrupting the flight at a station.

The first line of the contextualizations requires the creation of records (A) and (B). The creation of record (A) requires a very complex program, as it prepares detailed timetables for all scheduled passenger flights based on the information provided to it about the airports through which the flight will pass, the daily or weekly flight rate, the types and speeds of available aircraft, expected weather conditions, airport congestion, the requirements of air traffic laws, etc.

The second line shows a query directed to the timetable, such as a question about flights from Los Angeles to Sydney on Sundays. While this question can be answered by referring to the printed timetables, the computer system is able to quickly publish any changes in the timetables to all users of this system.

The inquirer decides, based on the answer, whether or not to book a seat.

(Contextual statement of typical booking procedures for a single flight).

The next four lines show the booking process. The booking request specifies the flight number, time, name and address of the traveler. This information is recorded on the traveler's card in the "C" folder. The computer reviews the "B" folder to see if there is a vacant seat on this flight. If not, the passenger's identification number is added to the waiting list for that flight in the "B" folder, and this information is added to his card record in the "C" folder. The traveler is informed via the television screen at the travel agency that he is on the waiting list.

If a vacancy is available, the computer classifies the “C” to see if the reservation is provisional or confirmed. If the reservation is provisional, the passenger’s identification number is added to the provisional reservation list in class “B,” and the passenger is informed that his reservation is provisional and must confirm it by a certain date. The computer takes no further action regarding this passenger until he confirms his reservation or until the specified date for confirmation arrives. The computer inquires from the relevant travel agency about this confirmation. If the travel agency has not received notification of confirmation, the provisional reservation is cancelled, and the computer returns to the waiting list and awards the holder a provisional reservation pending confirmation.

The context diagram on the opposite page illustrates the process of making a confirmed reservation, using a credit card, for a trip with multiple flights.

The context diagram on page 68 illustrates an inquiry about vacancies for a specific trip on specific dates. The program shown responds by showing vacancies on those dates. If no vacancies are available, the computer reports the flight with the shortest waiting list and follows the program shown on page 65.