Automatic registration system, as for lodging or other application

• US 20010034623A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amerasia International Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amerasia International Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Kevin Kwong-Tai
• Application Number:
  US09/776,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

A registration system associates a customer, such as by a personal identifier, with a data record relating to a particular facility at a particular property or location, or other premises and issues an access card containing an access identifier for such particular facility. The access card includes a memory to which data such as the access identifier may be written and from which data such as the personal identifier may be read, such as by an electronic lock or other access control device. The registration system cooperates with a property management system for the property and, alternatively, may also cooperate with a personnel management system.

Claims

1. Registration apparatus associated with a premises comprising:

a processor and a memory operably coupled thereto;

a user interface including a display for displaying registration information relating to the premises and a data entry for entering user information, said user interface being operably coupled to said processor for coupling the registration information and the user information therebetween; and

a card issuing device for providing an access card having a card memory, said card issuing device being operably coupled to said processor for coupling information related to the registration information and the user information to be stored in the card memory of the access card for enabling access related to the premises.

2. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the registration information relates to at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises and at least one of the status and availability of same.

3. The registration apparatus of

claim 2

wherein the user information includes selection of at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises.

4. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

wherein said card issuing device includes a card writer for writing information to the card memory of the access card.

5. The registration apparatus of

claim 4

wherein the card memory is one of a magnetic stripe and an electronic memory.

6. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

in combination with at least one access card wherein the access card is one of a magnetic stripe card having a magnetic memory stripe and a smart card having a processor and an electronic memory.

7. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

in combination with at least one access device adapted for enabling access responsive to the information stored in the memory of the access card.

8. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

in combination with a property management system providing at least part of the registration information.

9. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the user information includes at least one of personal information, credit information, identifying information, loyalty program information and selection of at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises.

10. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

wherein the information related to the registration information and the user information includes an identifier of at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises for which access using the access card is authorized.

11. The registration apparatus of

claim 1

wherein at least one of the registration information and the user information includes, at least in part, information communicated to said processor from a source external to said registration apparatus via a communication link.

12. The registration apparatus of

claim 11

wherein said communication link includes one of a network, telephone and the Internet.

13. A registration system associated with premises comprising:

a processor and a memory operably coupled thereto;

a user interface including a display for displaying registration information relating to the premises and a data entry for entering user information, said user interface being operably coupled to said processor for coupling the registration information and the user information therebetween;

a card issuing device for providing an access card having a card memory, said card issuing device being operably coupled to said processor for coupling information related to the registration information and the user information to be stored in the card memory of the access card for enabling access related to the premises; and

at least one access device adapted for enabling access to at least one portion of the premises responsive to the information stored in the memory of the access card.

14. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein the registration information relates to at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises and at least one of the status and availability of same.

15. The registration system of

claim 14

wherein the user information includes selection of at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises.

16. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein said card issuing device includes a card writer for writing information to the card memory of the access card.

17. The registration system of

claim 16

wherein the card memory is one of a magnetic stripe and an electronic memory.

18. The registration system of

claim 13

in combination with a plurality of access cards wherein the access card is one of a magnetic stripe card having a magnetic memory stripe and a smart card having a processor and an electronic memory.

19. The registration system of

claim 13

in combination with a plurality of access cards wherein the access card is one of a contact-type smart card and a wireless-type smart card.

20. The registration system of

claim 13

in combination with a property management system providing at least part of the registration information.

21. The registration system of

claim 20

wherein said property management system is run on said processor.

22. The registration system of

claim 20

wherein said at least one access device is operably coupled to one of said processor and said property management system.

23. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein the user information includes at least one of personal information, credit information, identifying information, loyalty program information and selection of at least one of rooms, areas, facilities and services at the premises.

24. The registration system of

claim 13

in combination with means coupled to said user interface and responsive to a credit card for effecting at least one of credit verification, credit authorization, billing and payment.

25. The registration system of

claim 24

wherein said means for effecting is responsive to a smart card credit card and/or a magnetic stripe credit card.

26. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein at least one of the registration information and the user information includes, at least in part, information communicated to said processor from a source external to said registration system via a communication link.

27. The registration system of

claim 26

wherein said communication link includes one of a network, telephone and the Internet.

28. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein the at least one access device includes a given electronic lock providing selective access to a given portion of the premises, and wherein the information stored in the card memory of a given access card is for enabling access to that given portion during a predetermined period of time, said given electronic lock including a clock for providing the selective access to the given portion only during the predetermined period of time.

29. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein worker-related information is stored in the card memory of the access card, in combination with at least one time-clock station responsive to the worker-related information for recording at least time information relating to a worker.

30. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein the access card is a loyalty card.

31. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein the access card includes at least one of an accessible memory into which information can be stored and a secure memory storing unchangeable information for providing one of different levels of access and security.

32. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein said premises includes at least one of a hotel, motel, resort, lodging and hospitality facility, and wherein said at least one access device includes at least an electronic lock for a room.

33. The registration system of

claim 32

in combination with a property management system providing registration information relating to availability of rooms.

34. The registration system of

claim 13

wherein said user interface further includes means for providing a tangible receipt.

35. The registration system of

claim 34

in combination with a property management system providing charge information relating to charges to an account, wherein insertion of one of the access cards related to a given account into said user interface causes the property management system to provide charge information related to the given account and causes said means for providing to provide the tangible receipt including the charge information.

36. A electronic registration system associated with a premises including a number of spaces, said system comprising:

at least one processor and at least one memory operably coupled thereto;

a property management system including a computer program stored in said at least one memory and operating in conjunction with said at least one processor;

a plurality of electronic access devices each adapted for enabling access to one of the spaces of the premises responsive to information stored in the card memory of an access card;

an access control system including a computer program stored in said at least one memory and operating in conjunction with said at least one processor for defining access parameters for said plurality of electronic access devices;

a user interface operably coupled to said at least one processor and said property management system for registering a user in relation to at least a given one of the spaces of the premises; and

a card issuing device operably coupled to said at least one processor for storing registration information from said property management system and access parameters from said access control system in the card memory of a given access card for providing the given access card in response to registering a user for the given space, the given access card enabling at least one of said plurality of electronic access devices for access to the given space.

37. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

further comprising a personnel management system including a computer program stored in said at least one memory and operating in conjunction with said at least one processor for defining parameters relating to at least one worker, wherein said card issuing device issues a second given access card having parameters relating to a given worker of the at least one worker stored in the card memory thereof.

38. The electronic registration system of

claim 37

further comprising at least one time clock station responsive to the second given access card for recording information stored therein.

39. The electronic registration system of

claim 38

wherein said at least one time clock station records the information relating to the second given access card in one of the card memory of the second given access card and a memory included in said time clock station.

40. The electronic registration system of

claim 37

wherein said second access card has information stored in its card memory for enabling predetermined ones of said electronic access devices for access to predetermined ones of the spaces at the premises.

41. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

wherein the access card is a loyalty card adapted for storing registration information relating to a plurality of registrations.

42. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

wherein said plurality of electronic access devices include an electronic lock having a clock therein providing time information.

43. The electronic registration system of

claim 42

wherein said electronic lock either compares time information from the access card to time information from said clock or records time information from said clock in at least one of the card memory and a memory in said electronic lock, or both.

44. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

wherein the access card is one of a magnetic stripe card and a smart card including a processor and a memory.

45. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

wherein at least ones of said plurality of electronic access devices are operably coupled to said at least one processor.

46. The electronic registration system of

claim 36

wherein the registration information includes, at least in part, information communicated to said processor from a source external to said electronic registration system via a communication link.

47. The electronic registration system of

claim 46

wherein said communication link includes one of a network, telephone and the Internet.

48. A method for registering a user comprising:

providing a user terminal;

providing a plurality of electronic access devices each operable responsive to an access card having certain information stored in a memory thereof to provide access to a facility or facilities;

entering and displaying registration information using the user terminal;

allowing the user to use the user terminal to change the registration information;

allowing the user to use the user terminal to select the facility or facilities to which the user is to have access;

storing information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities into a computer;

storing certain information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities into the memory of the access card; and

providing the access card with the certain information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities stored in the memory thereof, whereby the access card may be used with the electronic access devices to gain access to the facility or facilities.

49. The method of

claim 48

after the access card has been used in at least one electronic access device which stores use information in the memory of the access card, further comprising:

placing the access card operably proximate the user terminal for reading the use information stored in the card memory thereof; and

completing a transaction using the information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities stored in the computer and the use information from the access card.

50. The method of

claim 49

wherein said completing the transaction includes at least one of effecting billing and/or payment and providing a tangible receipt containing information relating to the transaction.

51. The method of

claim 48

wherein said entering includes at least one of placing a credit card operably proximate the user terminal and entering credit information for initiating a credit transaction, and wherein said displaying includes displaying information relating to the credit transaction.

52. The method of

claim 51

wherein the credit transaction includes at least one of verifying credit, authorizing credit, billing, and payment.

53. The method of

claim 48

wherein said storing certain information and said providing an access card include:

placing a loyalty card operably proximate the user terminal, storing the certain information in a memory of the loyalty card as an access card, and providing the loyalty card as the access card.

54. The method of

claim 48

wherein said entering registration information includes at least one of communicating information from a property management system, obtaining information from a credit card, communicating information with a billing/payment system, and communicating information with a personnel management system.

55. The method of

claim 48

wherein said entering and displaying includes obtaining at least part of the registration information from a source external to said user terminal.

56. The method of

claim 55

wherein said obtaining includes communicating preregistration information via one of a network, telephone and the Internet.

57. A time recording and access control system associated with a premises including a number of spaces, said system comprising:

at least one processor and at least one memory operably coupled thereto;

a plurality of electronic access devices each adapted for enabling access to one of the spaces of the premises responsive to the information stored in the card memory of an access card;

an access control system including a computer program stored in said at least one memory and operating in conjunction with said at least one processor for defining access parameters for said plurality of electronic access devices;

a user interface operably coupled to said at least one processor and said property management system for registering a user in relation to at least a given one of the spaces of the premises;

a card issuing device operably coupled to said at least one processor for storing registration information from said user interface and access parameters from said access control system in the card memory of a given access card for providing the given access card in response to registering a user, the given access card enabling at least one of said plurality of electronic access devices for access to the given space; and

at least one time clock station including a clock for providing time information and responsive to the given access card for recording information relating to the given access card.

58. The system of

claim 57

wherein said user interface registering a user includes said at least one processor obtaining at least part of the registration information from a source external to said system via a communication link.

59. The system of

claim 58

wherein said communication link includes one of a network, telephone and the Internet.

60. The system of

claim 57

further comprising a personnel management system including a computer program stored in said at least one memory and operating in conjunction with said at least one processor for defining parameters relating to at least one worker, wherein said card issuing device provides the given access card having parameters relating to a given worker stored in the card memory thereof.

61. The system of

claim 57

wherein said at least one time clock station records the information relating to the given access card in one of the card memory of the given access card and a memory included in said time clock station.

62. The system of

claim 57

wherein the given access card has information stored in its card memory for enabling access by predetermined ones of said electronic access devices.

63. The system of

claim 57

wherein said electronic access control devices either compares time information from the access card to time information from said clock or records time information from said clock in at least one of the card memory and a memory in said electronic access device or both.

64. The system of

claim 57

wherein the access card is one of a magnetic stripe card and a smart card including a processor and a memory.

65. The system of

claim 57

wherein at least ones of said plurality of electronic access devices are operably coupled to said at least one processor.

66. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer instructions for registering a user using a user terminal comprising:

means for causing the computer to enter and display registration information on a user terminal;

means for causing the computer to allow the user to use the user terminal to change the registration information;

means for causing the computer to allow the user to use the user terminal to select a facility or facilities to which the user is to have access;

means for causing the computer to store information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities into the computer;

means for causing the computer to store certain information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities into the memory of an access card in format adapted for operating an electronic access device associated with the selected facility or facilities; and

means for causing the computer to provide the access card with the certain information representative of the registration information, the changed registration information, if any, and the selected facility or facilities stored in the memory thereof,

whereby the access card is adapted to be used with an electronic access device to gain access to the selected facility or facilities.

67. The storage medium of

claim 66

wherein said means for causing the computer to enter and display registration information includes communicating credit information with one of a credit card having a memory and a computer billing/payment system.

68. The storage medium of

claim 48

wherein said means for causing the computer to enter and display registration information includes means for causing the computer to obtain at least part of the registration information from a source external to said computer.

69. The storage medium of

claim 68

wherein said means for causing the computer to obtain includes communicating preregistration information via one of a network, telephone and the Internet.