Method and system for monitoring room activity
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring room activity comprising the steps of:
- providing a tray sensing device for sensing a tray in a vicinity of the tray sensing device, said tray sensing device adapted for communicating tray information of the presence of a tray to a tray controller;
providing a door lock, said door lock being activated by a door lock card, said door lock adapted for communicating door lock information of said door lock card to a door lock/tag controller;
providing a door tag, said door tag including an associated RFID tag, said RFID tag adapted for communicating door tag information of said RFID tag to said door lock/tag controller;
a room controller receiving one or more of said tray information from said tray controller, said door lock information from said door lock/tag controller and said door tag information from said door lock/tag controller, and associating a room address with said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information; and
forwarding said associated room address and said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information from said room controller to a central information system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for monitoring room activity. A tray sensing device detects the presence of a tray in a given location and forwards the information to a tray controller. The tray can be a conventional tray for supporting food articles or can be supported or integral with a food cart. The system also includes monitoring door lock and door tag information. Information from the tray sensing device, door lock/tag controller and is received at a room controller. The room controller of each room can include a wireless network to the tray controller, door lock/tag controller. The room controller can also monitor information of the room such as, for example, temperature information and light intensity information, and receive information regarding room activities, such as, for example, room service ordering, housekeeping minibar and checkout routine. Information from the room controller can be forwarded to a central information system. The central information system can display the information or activate an alarm. The alarm can be an audio or visual alert. The alarm can be deactivated upon removal of the tray from the given location or upon dispatching of personnel to the given location.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring room activity comprising the steps of:
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providing a tray sensing device for sensing a tray in a vicinity of the tray sensing device, said tray sensing device adapted for communicating tray information of the presence of a tray to a tray controller; providing a door lock, said door lock being activated by a door lock card, said door lock adapted for communicating door lock information of said door lock card to a door lock/tag controller; providing a door tag, said door tag including an associated RFID tag, said RFID tag adapted for communicating door tag information of said RFID tag to said door lock/tag controller; a room controller receiving one or more of said tray information from said tray controller, said door lock information from said door lock/tag controller and said door tag information from said door lock/tag controller, and associating a room address with said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information; and forwarding said associated room address and said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information from said room controller to a central information system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for monitoring room activity comprising:
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a tray sensing device for sensing a tray in a vicinity of the tray sensing device, said tray sensing device adapted for communicating tray information of the presence of a tray to a tray controller; a door lock, said door lock being activated by a door lock card, said door lock adapted for communicating door lock information of said door lock card to a door lock/tag controller; a door tag, said door tag including an associated RFID tag, said RFID tag adapted for communicating door tag information of said RFID tag to a lock/tag door; and a room controller receiving one or more of said tray information from said tray controller, said door lock information from said door lock/tag controller and said door tag information from said door lock/tag controller, and associating a room address with said one or more of said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information; and means for forwarding said associated room address and said tray information, said door lock information and said door tag information from said room controller to a central information system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification