Communication system for managing hotel operations

• US 20040019513A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cartmanager LLC
• Original Assignee: Cartmanager LLC
• Inventors: Colalancia, Marco S., Miller, Jon S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing hotel operations through a wireless communications network. A central computer includes software for organizing and prioritizing data regarding desired room usage based upon input from arriving hotel guests. The data is organized into shift orders which take into account particular hotel guests needs. The shift orders are transmitted wirelessly to mobile units in the hotel mounted to housekeeping carts. Housekeeping personnel respond to tasks or orders which appear on the screens of the mobile units. The mobile units are also used to wirelessly transmit back to the central computer the status of the work being completed, as well as to advise the central computer as to changing conditions encountered by the housekeeping personnel. The central computer continually updates shift orders, prioritizes assignments to the particular mobile units, and therefore enhances communications directly between the needs of the guests and housekeeping personnel.

Claims

1. A method of managing room servicing operations such as in a hotel, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computing means including data storage means for storing data and a microprocessor;

(b) providing software means loaded in the computing means for providing desired functions for manipulating and organizing the data;

(c) inputting data into the computing means reflective of orders for rooms of the hotel;

(d) prioritizing the orders and creating a shift order;

(e) wirelessly transmitting the shift orders to a plurality of mobile units designating selected mobile units to complete specific tasks on the shift orders;

(f) performing at least one task on the shift orders;

(g) wirelessly transmitting completion of the task by one of the mobile units;

(h) updating the shift orders based on completion of the task;

(i) performing the next task on the shift order, and wirelessly transmitting completion of the next task by one of the mobile units;

j) further updating the shift order based upon completion of the said next task; and

(k) repeating steps i and j until completion of the shift orders.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

periodically transmitting additional updates from the computing means to the mobile units reflective of additional tasks to be completed, said additional tasks being further prioritized within the shift orders.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting intermediate updated information from the mobile units to the computing means reflective of information generated by housekeeping personnel as to the status of the shift orders being worked on.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sorting data in the data storage means reflective of the types and mounts of amenities stocked by completion of the shift order over a preset time period;

storing the data in the data storage means reflective of the sorted data; and

generating a report indicative of the amount and type of consumed amenities over a particular time period thereby achieving inventory management.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information in the form of email type of communications from the mobile units to the computing means whereby the computing means then forwards the email messages to the addressed hotel personnel or hotel staff group.

6. A method of managing room servicing operations such as within a hotel, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computing means for manipulating and storing data;

(b) providing software means loaded in the computing means for providing desired functionality to manipulate and organize the data;

(c) inputting data into the computing means reflective of orders for rooms of the hotel, the orders including at least instructions concerning a guest'"'"'s preference for room amenities, a desired check-in time, and a room type preference;

(d) using said software means to prioritize the orders for a shift, and creating a shift order reflective of tasks to be completed for designated rooms to be serviced;

(e) wirelessly transmitting the shift order to a plurality of mobile units by a base unit communicating with said computing means, said mobile units each having a means for receiving the shift order and means for displaying the shift order, said shift order designating tasks to be completed by one or more personnel attending to preselected mobile units;

(f) performing at least one task on the shift order;

(g) using one of the mobile units to wirelessly transmit indication of completion of the task;

(h) updating the shift order by the computing means based upon the transmitted completion of the task from the mobile unit;

(i) performing the next task on the shift order, and using one of the mobile units to wirelessly transmit indication of completion of said next task;

(j) updating the shift order by the computing means based upon the transmitted completion of the said next task by the mobile unit; and

(k) repeating steps (i) and (j) to complete the shift order.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

periodically transmitting additional updates to the mobile units reflective of additional tasks to be completed, said additional tasks being further prioritized within the shift orders.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

transmitting intermediate updated information from the mobile units to the computing means reflective of information generated by housekeeping personnel as to the status of the shift orders being worked on.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said base unit includes a plurality of transceivers selectively located within the hotel to reduce transmission and reception distances of the mobile units.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

indication of completion of a task in said second using step is achieved by a person manipulating an input device of the corresponding mobile unit.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said shift order is displayed on a screen of the mobile unit in time order sequence so that rooms required to be prepared first are displayed first on the screen.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

sorting data in the data storage means reflective of the types and mounts of amenities stocked by completion of the shift order over a preset time period;

storing the data in the data storage means reflective of the sorted data; and

generating a report indicative of the amount and type of consumed amenities over a particular time period thereby achieving inventory management.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information in the form of email type of communications from the mobile units to the computing means whereby the computing means then forwards the email messages to the addressed hotel personnel or hotel staff group.

14. A system for managing hotel operations to include housekeeping tasks, said system comprising:

a computer means including a microprocessor, a data entry device, and storage means for storing data;

software means for providing functionality to manipulate said data by said microprocessor, said software for organizing said data in shift orders reflective of tasks to be completed by housekeeping personnel;

a base unit communicating with said computer means for exchanging data with the computer means;

at least one transceiver communicating with the base unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data;

a plurality of wireless mobile units communicating wirelessly with said at least one transceiver, each said mobile unit having means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data including the shift orders, each said mobile unit further including a screen display and a means for signifying completion of tasks on the shift orders; and

wherein said mobile units receive instructions from the computer means via said at lest one transceiver and base unit reflective of specific tasks be completed on the shift order, the mobile units periodically transmitting data back to the computer means via said transceiver and base unit reflective of task completed.

15. A system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said base unit receives the shift orders from the computer means in digital data format, and said base unit converts the digital data format to a wireless protocol format.

16. A system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said base unit receives data from the mobile units in a wireless protocol format and converts the data into a digital data format for transmission to the computer means.

17. A system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said mobile unit includes a personal digital assistant including second software means loaded therein for providing functionality to manipulate data received from the computer means, and for transmitting data from the mobile unit to the computer means.

18. A system for managing hotel operations to include housekeeping tasks, said system comprising:

a computer means including a microprocessor, a data entry device, and storage means for storing data;

software means for providing functionality to manipulate said data by said microprocessor, said software for organizing said data in shift orders reflective of tasks to be completed by housekeeping personnel;

a plurality of wireless mobile units communicating wirelessly with said computer means, each said mobile unit having means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data including the shift orders, each said mobile unit further including a screen display and means for signifying completion of tasks on the shift orders;

means for interconnecting said computer means and said mobile units enabling said mobile units to wirelessly transmit data to said means for interconnecting and to receive wireless data from said interconnecting means, said interconnecting means reducing required transmission and reception distances of said mobile units with respect to said system; and

wherein said mobile units receive instructions from the computer means via said means for interconnecting reflective of specific tasks to be completed on the shift order, the mobile units periodically transmitting data back to the computer means via said means for interconnecting reflective of tasks completed.

19. A system, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said means for interconnecting receives shift orders from the computer means in digital data format, and said means for interconnecting converts the digital data format to a wireless protocol format.

20. A system, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said means for interconnecting receives data from said mobile units in a wireless protocol format and converts the data into a digital data format for transmission to the computer means.

21. A system, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said mobile unit includes a personal digital assistant including second software means loaded therein for providing functionality to manipulate data received from the computer means, and for transmitting data from the mobile unit to the computer means.