Systems and methods for accessing hotel services using a portable electronic device

Abstract

This is directed to systems and methods for integrating hotel services in a single application available to a portable electronic device. Using the single application, a user can access and control hotel services before arriving at the hotel, upon arriving at the hotel, in the hotel room, in the local vicinity, and after leaving the hotel. Such services can include, for example, checking-in and checking out, purchasing in-room dining or in-room entertainment, making reservations at local restaurants or local attractions, scheduling hotel guest reminders, and controlling room setting either within the room or outside of the room.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 147,355, filed on Jan. 26, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]This is directed to providing access to hotel services using a portable electronic device.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]As travelers stay in hotels or locations other than their homes, many interactions between the travelers and the hotels can take place. For example, a traveler can interact with a hotel to make a reservation, check-in, order room service, control room settings, use a concierge to identify attractions of interest in the vicinity, purchase entertainment options, check-out, and schedule subsequent aspects of a trip (e.g., order a taxi, reserve a rental car, or check-in to a flight). All of these interactions can require distinct actions from the user from different devices or elements. For example, a user can call ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In some embodiments, the integrated application can allow a user to view concierge information (e.g., hotel amenities, nearby shops and restaurants, and the like). A user may make reservations and / or purchases at the shops and restaurants through the integrated application. For example, the electronic device can be used to interface with a menu providing access to hotel services (e.g., displayed on the television screen of the user's room, shown on a display of the electronic device, or both). Using the menu, the user can order videos available for purchase, send requests to schedule hotel services (e.g., schedule a wake up call, make an appointment at the hotel spa, reserve a hotel conference room, and the like), or purchase goods using the existing hotel interface. In some embodiments, the integrated application can provide social networking abilities by allowing a user to locate friends and acquaintances (e.g., in the nearby area).

[0009]In some embodiments, the integrated application can allow a user to check out remotely (e.g., by displaying their bill and room charges). In some embodiments, the integrated application can provide other post-checkout functions such as allowing a user to access rewards information, allowing a user to request transportation (e.g., to and / or from an airport), providing bounceback offers, and storing travel receipts (e.g., so a user can be reimbursed for travel expenses).

Problems solved by technology

Although this combination of approaches for interacting with the hotel and with the available hotel services can be serviceable, it remains cumbersome and requires the hotel to accommodate all of the possible forms of interaction.

From a user's perspective, the lack of centralization of interactions with the hotel and with the available hotel services can require more effort from the user wishing to take advantage of hotel services, and perhaps even dissuade the user from using available hotel services (thus at a cost to the hotel).

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