511 results about "Hotel room" patented technology

A system and method for, by means of a mobile terminal, wireless hotel search and selection, reservation / booking, check-in, room access control, check-out and payment services for hotel customers is disclosed. The mobile terminal (1) comprises a mobile telephone and processing unit (23), operating with wireless applications, for wireless communication (2) with a hotel search and reservation server (12) and a reservation / IT system (7) of a selected hotel, and a short-range wireless device (25) for wireless communication (10) with wireless devices (9,16) of door locks (32) and user locating arrangements, respectively. By means of the wireless application of the mobile terminal (1), the user reserves a hotel room. A hotel room key token is transferred from the reservation / IT system (7) to the wireless device (35) of the mobile terminal, and hence to the wireless door lock (9,32). When the terminal (1) and the wireless door lock (9,31) are in-range, the hotel room key token is transferred from mobile terminal (1) to the wireless door lock (9,32), the door is unlocked and check-in is registered. On departure, exit or expiration of the reservation period, the system provides wireless check-out and electronic bill settlement.

The present invention provides methods and devices for determining the location, identity and age of a user who desires to initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled environment such as a home, a gaming kiosk or a hotel room. In some implementations, the user's location is determined in part by reference to a database of land telephone lines and corresponding addresses. The location may be verified by reference to a location determined by other methods, e.g., by determining the location of an Internet service provider's network device that is near a user's host device. In other implementations, the user's location is determined by information provided by a cellular telephone network. The user may be asked to input a confirmation number and / or make an oral response during a telephone call to a telephone number associated with the uncontrolled environment. These the oral response may be analyzed to verify the user's identity. The user may also be prompted to make statements verifying his or her identity, age, a maximum amount available for wagering or other statements, which are preferably recorded and stored.

A system and method for, by means of a mobile terminal, wireless hotel search and selection, reservation / booking, check-in, room access control, check-out and payment services for hotel customers is disclosed. The mobile terminal (1) comprises a mobile telephone and processing unit (23), operating with wireless applications, for wireless communication (2) with a hotel search and reservation server (12) and a reservation / IT system (7) of a selected hotel, and a short-range wireless device (25) for wireless communication (10) with wireless devices (9,16) of door locks (32) and user locating arrangements, respectively. By means of the wireless application of the mobile terminal (1), the user reserves a hotel room. A hotel room key token is transferred from the reservation / IT system (7) to the wireless device (35) of the mobile terminal, and hence to the wireless door lock (9,32). When the terminal (1) and the wireless door lock (9,31) are in-range, the hotel room key token is transferred from mobile terminal (1) to the wireless door lock (9,32), the door is unlocked and check-in is registered. On departure, exit or expiration of the reservation period, the system provides wireless check-out and electronic bill settlement.

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.

A system and method for grouping and selling products or services using a computer system, potentially connected to a network. The computer system includes a computer with multiple terminals, potentially instantiated as a server computer or computers and distributed client computers. The computer system presents a sales interface on some terminals. The sales interface shows products or services and groups of products and / or services that are for sale. The computer system presents a back end interface on some terminals, which can be used to enter new products, services and groupings of products and / or services to be offered for sale on the sales interface. Descriptions of the products or service offerings are entered into the computer system either by data entry operators using the back end interface or by a program reading product or service descriptions from external computer systems. The method groups these products or services according to an affinity algorithm. The groupings may then potentially be reviewed and approved or selected by human operators using the back end interface before being offered for sale on the sales interface. One advantageous application is the dynamic packaging of perishable items such as travel goods and services (e.g., airline tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms, entertainment opportunities, etc.).

The present invention provides methods and devices for determining the location, identity and age of a user who desires to initiate a gaming session from an uncontrolled environment such as a home, a gaming kiosk or a hotel room. In some implementations, the user's location is determined in part by reference to a database of land telephone lines and corresponding addresses. The location may be verified by other methods, e.g., by determining the location of an Internet service provider's network device that is near a user's host device or via a cellular telephone network. The user may be asked to input a confirmation number and / or make an oral response during a telephone call to a telephone number associated with the uncontrolled environment. The user may also be prompted to make statements verifying his or her identity, age, a maximum amount available for wagering or other statements.

A system for microbially and / or chemically decontaminating a room such as a hotel room includes a vapor generator which supplies a decontaminant vapor, such as hydrogen peroxide vapor to the room. The room is then aerated to a level at which it is safe for normal occupants to enter. By using a two step aeration, with a second step at lower humidity than the first, the concentration of residual hydrogen peroxide is reduced rapidly to safe levels of 1 ppm or less, typically about 0.5 ppm, in under four hours. The room is rendered substantially free of contaminants, such as those responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Norwalk virus, and unpleasant odors.

A disclosed gaming machine may be customized according to one or more player preferences. A player may view and modify player preferences stored in a player preference account as preference account information. The preference account information may include but is not limited to loyalty point account information, loyalty point account settings, promotional opportunities, preferred games, preferred game features for the preferred games, preferred gaming machine settings, preferred bonus games, preferred service options and preferred progressive games. The preference account information may be stored in a plurality of preference accounts on a preference account server. Using a preference account interface which may be compatible with a web-browser, a player may be able to view and modify preference account information stored on the preference account server from a number remote devices such as a gaming machine, a home computer, a hotel room video interface and a casino kiosk.

A disclosed gaming machine may be customized according to one or more player preferences. A player may view and modify player preferences stored in a player preference account as preference account information. The preference account information may include but is not limited to loyalty point account information, loyalty point account settings, promotional opportunities, preferred games, preferred game features for the preferred games, preferred gaming machine settings, preferred bonus games, preferred service options and preferred progressive games. The preference account information may be stored in a plurality of preference accounts on a preference account server. Using a preference account interface which may be compatible with a web-browser, a player may be able to view and modify preference account information stored on the preference account server from a number remote devices such as a gaming machine, a home computer, a hotel room video interface and a casino kiosk.

Environmental characteristics of habitable environments (e.g., hotel or motel rooms, spas, resorts, cruise boat cabins, offices, hospitals and / or homes, apartments or residences) are controlled to eliminate, reduce or ameliorate adverse or harmful aspects and introduce, increase or enhance beneficial aspects in order to improve a “wellness” or sense of “wellbeing” provided via the environments. Control of intensity and wavelength distribution of passive and active Illumination addresses various issues, symptoms or syndromes, for instance to maintain a circadian rhythm or cycle, adjust for “jet lag” or season affective disorder, etc. Air quality and attributes are controlled. Scent(s) may be dispersed. Hypoallergenic items (e.g., bedding, linens) may be used. Water quality is controlled. Noise is reduced and sounds (e.g., masking, music, natural) may be provided. Passive and active pathogen controls are employed. Controls are provided for the occupant and / or facility personnel, as is instruction, and surveys, including assessing wellness.

A player is permitted to participate in an interactive gaming event from a remote location, such as a hotel room or home computer, once the player's entitlement to participate has been confirmed using a biometric identifier. One method of the invention includes first verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event, such as by verifying the age of the player. If verified, the fingerprint of the player is obtained and the fingerprint is stored in association with an assigned identification code. When a player requests to participate in a gaming event from a remote location, the player's identification code is received from the player and is used to locate the corresponding stored fingerprint. The player then transmits their scanned fingerprint. If the transmitted fingerprint and stored fingerprint match, the player is verified as entitled to participate in the gaming event.

A system and a method for management, monitoring and control of hotel amenities for providing guests staying in discrete hotel rooms access to a plurality of hotel amenities through a single interface has been disclosed. The system 100 includes portable devices 102 which are provided to guests of a hotel and acts as a single point of access for controlling the use of all the amenities and a controller 112 which wirelessly interfaces with each of the portable devices 102 to facilitate the monitoring and control of the amenities.

A system and method of processing a travel plan request from a customer includes (1) receiving customer information from a customer; (2) storing in a database the customer information; (3) sending to an agent a notification by an email, the notification including a link to the website, wherein the agent can access package request details by navigating to the link; (4) sending to the agent periodic re-notifications if the agent fails to respond within a first predetermined period of time; (5) displaying to the agent the package request details on the website; (6) receiving via the website a response to the email from the agent; (7) storing in the database the response from the agent; (8) sending to the customer a notification of the response from the agent; (9) sending a re-notification to the customer if the customer fails to respond within a second predetermined period of time; (10) displaying to the customer a package quotation based on the response from the agent, wherein the package quotation includes any combination of budget, destination, origin, departure and return dates, preference of hotel type, preference of hotel room, preference of meal type, preference of flight type, flight class, number of passengers (adults, children, infants), additional remarks; (11) from the customer receiving a response indicating an acceptance or a rejection; (12) upon acceptance, sending an email to the agent with details of customer acceptance.

A method and apparatus are provided for suppressing display of advertisements within a video over IP stream provided by a content provider. Metadata is prepended to advertisements within the stream. When the stream is received by an access aggregation point, the access aggregation point compares the metadata of an advertisement with preset criteria provided by an enterprise subscriber, and suppresses the advertisement if a comparison of the metadata and the preset criteria indicate that the advertisement is undesirable to the enterprise subscriber. The access aggregation point suppresses the advertisement by switching to a second video channel within the stream for the duration of the advertisement. In this way, the access aggregation point can control display of content provider advertisements without manipulating data within the stream, so as to allow the enterprise subscriber to prevent display of undesirable advertisements to endpoints within the enterprise subscriber site such as set-top boxes within hotel rooms.

A system and method for the efficient distribution of travel inventory, and more specifically the efficient distribution of hotel rooms is provided. The system comprises a distribution system which organizes users (i.e., clients) into tiers. Each tier contains at least one user, and each tier is assigned a maximum allotment of travel inventory in each inventory category. The system further comprises a management engine which monitors the maximum travel inventory allotments for each tier, monitors a total inventory available for each inventory category, determines if a reservation is allowed, and automatically updates total inventory available after each allowed reservation.

The present invention is a method for completing wagers and purchases from a gaming device when a player presses or selects the cash out feature on the device. The present invention provides for a more convenient method for players to make additional gaming wagers and purchases directly from a gaming device. The player can select the option to make a wager on a sporting event, lottery game, Keno game or any game of chance offered by the gaming establishment. The present invention also enables the player to select the option to make purchases for among other things show tickets, sporting events, movies, retail items or even credit the proceeds from the gaming device to the players hotel room account.

A hotel reservation system comprises hotel rooms having combination locks electronically set so as to be openable by any one of a plurality of combination codes whenever the combination code is inputted. A computer system accessible through a telecommunications network allows remote sign-in and reservation of a hotel room for a check-in date under a guest identity by payment and selection of a combination code specific to the hotel room. The computer system, upon electronic notification of a selection of a combination code, automatically electronically may set or schedule the setting of the combination lock controlling entry to the reserved hotel room. The computer system may be programmed to automatically electronically set the combination lock at a set time on the check-in date. The hotel may maintain digital records of the codes for each room and of instances of entry into the room using the code.

A detection device and method for monitoring infestation by insects such as bed bugs is provided. A suitable device comprises a pair of plates separated by an internal spacing sized to permit entry into the detection device by one or more insects. Also disclosed is a method for readily detecting insects such as bed bugs in a multiple areas such as in multiple hotel rooms, areas where animals are housed, or the like.

There is disclosed systems and methods for displaying current prices of goods or services provided at a plurality of locations within a geographical area. In an embodiment, a system includes a computer terminal, a map server, an information source, a set of map markers, and a web server. In another embodiment, a method includes specifying the geographical area by an input of data, providing a map of the geographical area to a computer terminal, sending a query to an information source, matching map markers indicating specific prices to the current prices for selected ones goods or services, and relaying the map markers to the computer terminal, and overlaying the map markers onto the map so as to display current prices simultaneously for each of the plurality of locations. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Wheeled luggage having a telescopically expandable body is disclosed. The luggage body may be manually adjusted from a normally sized carry-on configuration during transit, to a vertically enlarged configuration once the final destination, such as a hotel room, is reached. The body further includes a plurality of interior horizontally disposed, vertically stacked shelves connected in accordion fashion to an internal liner so as to automatically expand from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration when the main body is telescopically expanded thereby providing a series of vertically spaced shelves which provide convenient access to the contents. A garment folding apparatus may be incorporated with the luggage to provide a tool that assists the user in quickly folding clothing to dimensions compatible with storage spaced within the luggage.

A pillow / pillow cover combination is transformable between a relatively compact folded configuration where it functions as a comfortable stand-alone pillow for travel situations where personal space may be limited, such as inside a car or plane, and an unfolded configuration where it functions as a padded pillow cover, able to accept a standard pillow inside an attached pouch, thereby making it suitable for use as a personal pillow enhancer for enhancing a pillow provided in a hotel room or other travel lodgings.

The invention relates to an intelligent door lock hotel unified management system and a realizing method thereof. The system comprises an intelligent door lock which is arranged in each hotel room, a gateway box, a central server, a hotel management web and a mobile terminal. The gateway box is arranged in a room. The system abandons troubles which are caused by the fact that an ad hoc network is used to carry out operation and management on an individual hotel. Intelligent door lock unified system management is realized through Internet operation, and at the same time unified remote monitoring is carried out on a number of hotels. According to the method, a guest logs in a guest web to reserve a room; a password is set by the hotel and is informed to the guest; the central server issues a password command to a related door lock through the gateway box, and the customer completes remote password setting on the room; the guest can choose the room type and the room and carry out reservation, payment, check out and other customer services online through a variety of ways; the operation is simple and easy; and the system and the method are convenient for the guest to check in, check out and travel.

A method of generating an offer for resources, such as a hotel room, which meets a customer request and satisfies at least one customer preferences to a predetermined extent, the method comprising: receiving a customer request for one or more resources meeting one or more requirements; searching for a set of resources which meet one or more of the requirements; determining one or more customer preferences from a set of business rules; determining an order of importance for the one or more customer preferences; applying the most important customer preference to the set of resources to select the resources which satisfies the most important customer preference to a predetermined extent so as to produce a revised set of resources; and creating an offer for presentation to a customer from the revised set of resources such that the customer may select an offer for purchase.

A universal data gate converts between interface format types of interconnected systems. The data gate learns new interface types and greatly simplifies the requirement for a human user to reprogram the new interface types. A library of known interface types is built up over time and allows re-use of known interface types as required. Voice based room control is enabled by automatically activating the voice control on a guest device when the guest is checked in to a hotel room. Text corresponding to voice commands captured from the user's voice is passed to a hotel app. The system automatically pairs the guest device with the user's assigned room and determines which in-room controllable devices are to be operated by the user's voice commands. When the user switches to a new guest room during travel, the system automatically updates the room pairing and new voice commands operate the new in-room devices.

A system and method for grouping and selling products or services using a computer system, potentially connected to a network. The computer system includes a computer with multiple terminals, potentially instantiated as a server computer or computers and distributed client computers. The computer system presents a sales interface on some terminals. The sales interface shows products or services and groups of products and / or services that are for sale. The computer system presents a back end interface on some terminals, which can be used to enter new products, services and groupings of products and / or services to be offered for sale on the sales interface. Descriptions of the products or service offerings are entered into the computer system either by data entry operators using the back end interface or by a program reading product or service descriptions from external computer systems. The method groups these products or services according to an affinity algorithm. The groupings may then potentially be reviewed and approved or selected by human operators using the back end interface before being offered for sale on the sales interface. One advantageous application is the dynamic packaging of perishable items such as travel goods and services (e.g., airline tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms, entertainment opportunities, etc.).

Some embodiments provide a novel process for ordering items available in a menu or specials at a particular location. In some embodiments, the location can be any one of a table in a restaurant, a lounge, a bar, a hotel room with room service, a seat in a sports arena, and any other location which is served by a business. In some embodiments, the process operates by scanning one of a QR code, a bar code, and an NFC tag available on a designated order scan location. In some embodiments, the designed order scan location is one of a seat, a table, and a hotel room placard or sticker. In some embodiments, the process is implemented as a software application that runs on a mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the software application is downloaded if not previously available on the mobile computing device and that locations menu is opened by identifying the location from the scanned code and is tailored based on time of day or further customized to users language preference or their dietary requirements.

Printing over a network, such as the Internet, by uploading, via the network, to a printing service provider, print data information and location information, determining identification information based on the uploaded location information, correlating, at the printing service provider, the determined identification information with the uploaded print data information, inputting the identification information at a printing device connected to the network, transmitting the print data information having the correlated identification information to the printing device, and printing the print data information on the printing device. The location information may be a network address from which the uploading step is initiated, where the network address is dynamically determined by a hotel server when a user connects a computing device to a network connection in the hotel. After the uploading step, the printing service provider may query the hotel server for the identification information, with the hotel server determining the identification and transmitting the identification information to the printing service provider in response. The location information may comprise hotel information and the identification information may comprise hotel room key information or credit card information.

In a method of managing an inventory of service resources, a plurality of criteria characterize service resources. The inventory of service resources is divided, based on the criteria, into plural elements, each comprising an exclusive subset of the service resources sharing common criteria. A plurality of groups is also created. Groups aggregate those of the elements that have at least one common criterion value. Groups and elements are offered for sale by the service provider. Elements belong in general to several groups. Service resources are, e.g., travel service or leisure resources such as airplane seats and hotel rooms. Customers or travel agents book in an element or in a group. The invention allows maximizing inventory availability while bookings are done by customers, on the basis of a specific request (in an element) or a more indefinite request (in a group). A specific inventory item is attributed later, i.e., at check-in.

There is provided a vending machine and concurrently ice-box furnished in a hotel room, etc. that serves the paying guest of the room with cold water and personal articles as a room service and enables them to conveniently purchase various kinds of beverages and drinks such as beer and side dishes for wine as they likes, wherein the vending machine and concurrently ice-box is provided with a counting function in itself. In a vending machine and concurrently ice-box with a cabinet-type main body having a relatively cold region formed therein, the vending machine and concurrently ice-box includes: an ice-box compartment for keeping food in the defined cold region of the main body; and a vending machine reservation compartment located at a position adjacent to the ice-box compartment in the main body, wherein the vending machine reservation compartment is sequentially provided with at least one kind of commercial beverage and drink cans and releases any one of the beverage and drink cans selected according to a specified order condition.