Hotel Voice Control Gateway for Multi-System Interface Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hotel technology faces challenges in integrating different electronic systems, leading to complex and error-prone installation processes, and guest discomfort with hotel-provided devices due to concerns over privacy and hygiene, particularly with voice-controlled systems like in-room iPads that raise trust issues.
Innovation Solution
A data gate system that learns and adapts to various interface formats, allowing seamless communication between hotel systems and enabling voice control of in-room devices using a guest's own device, eliminating the need for hotel-provided devices and simplifying system integration and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a preconfigured iPad is provided in each guest room for voice control, then voice control functionality is achieved, but device complexity and installation maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that hosts the voice control application and coordinates communication between guests' personal devices and hotel room systems. This eliminates the need for preconfigured devices in each room, as the server handles all processing and coordination, reducing device complexity and maintenance burden while preserving voice control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables guests to use their own personal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) for voice control instead of providing hotel-specific devices. This universal approach allows any device with appropriate software to function as a voice control interface, eliminating the need for hotel to purchase, configure, and maintain dedicated devices in each room.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic systems are directly connected with dedicated connections, then system integration is achieved, but installation complexity and error potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system integration task by introducing a central server that handles all inter-system communication. Instead of directly connecting multiple electronic systems (PMS, PBX, video system, etc.) with each other, the server acts as a central hub that manages all connections and data exchange, simplifying installation and reducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The server serves as an intermediary between different hotel systems, managing all communication and data exchange. This eliminates the need for direct dedicated connections between multiple systems, reducing installation complexity while maintaining full system integration capability through centralized coordination.
3Ease of operation
If hotel-provided devices are used for voice control, then voice control is enabled, but guest comfort and trust decrease due to privacy and hygiene concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that processes voice commands remotely, allowing guests to use their own personal devices instead of touching hotel-provided devices. This eliminates hygiene concerns related to shared devices while the server ensures privacy by securely handling voice data processing without requiring guests to interact with potentially compromised hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing physical voice control devices in hotel rooms, the patent enables guests to use copies of their own personal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that they already trust. This allows voice control functionality to be replicated on guest-owned devices, eliminating privacy and hygiene concerns associated with hotel-provided equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A data gate apparatus for integrating functionalities of an interface format into a plurality of services. The data gate comprises a storage device, a communication interface and a processor coupled to the storage device and the communication interface. The processor detects a device supporting a first interface format that is different than the interface formats stored in the storage device. The processor learns the first interface format by receiving data function in the first interface format and associating a field in the data function with a variable representing information of a particular type. The processor verifies that the first interface format has been successfully learnt by generating a message in the first interface format and sending the message to the device. The processor receives a response to the message and parses the response to thereby confirm that the first interface format is functional and integrable into the plurality of services.