SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING HOTEL SERVICES USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100191551A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Westendorf, Courtnee, Drance, Kaiann, Ng, Stanley Carl
• Application Number:
  US12/571,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving identifying information from a user, wherein the information is transmitted via a portable electronic device of the user located remote from a hotel;

receiving, from the user, a request to configure at least one room setting;

determining, based on the identifying information, that the user is an authorized guest of the hotel; and

configuring a hotel room of the hotel with the at least one room setting in response to determining the user is an authorized guest, wherein the configuring is performed prior to the user arriving at the hotel room.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises at least one of adjusting a temperature setting of the hotel room, adjusting a television setting of the hotel room, adjusting an audio setting of the hotel room, adjusting a lighting setting of the hotel room, and adjusting a bathtub setting of the hotel room.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a particular timeframe in which to complete the request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the identifying information, that the user is an authorized guest further comprises:

determining the user is one of a current hotel guest and a hotel guest scheduled to check-in on the current date.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring a hotel room further comprises:

determining a particular hotel room is scheduled for occupancy by the user; and

configuring the particular hotel room with the at least one room setting.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, a request to pre-order a room service item; and

delivering the room service item to the hotel room prior to the user arriving at the hotel room.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the user is not checked into the hotel and is scheduled to check-in on the current date; and

automatically checking the user into the hotel in response to determining the user is not checked into the hotel and is scheduled to check-in on the current date.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the user is not checked into the hotel and is scheduled to check-in on the current date; and

transmitting, in response to determining the user is not checked into the hotel and is scheduled to check-in on the current date, a notification to the user requesting permission to check-in the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving permission to check-in the user, wherein the permission is transmitted via the portable electronic device; and

checking the user into the hotel.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to the user offering an upsell opportunity.

11. A portable electronic device for interfacing with a hotel system, the portable electronic device comprising:

an input component operable to receive a user request to adjust at least one room setting of a hotel room; and

communication circuitry operable to;

transmit the user request to the hotel system;

transmit identifying information to the hotel system for retrieving reservation information of a particular hotel room; and

receive a confirmation from the hotel system indicating the particular hotel room is configured with the at least one room setting.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the user request comprises at least one of adjusting a temperature setting of the hotel room, adjusting a television setting of the hotel room, adjusting an audio setting of the hotel room, adjusting a lighting setting of the hotel room, and adjusting a bathtub setting of the hotel room.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the communication circuitry is further operable to:

receive an electronic key operative to open a hotel room door, wherein the electronic key is operable by the portable electronic device.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a display component; and

a processor, wherein the electronic key comprises a particular optical pattern and wherein the processor is operable to direct the display component to display the particular optical pattern to unlock a door.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 12, further comprising:

a radio signal generator; and

a processor, wherein the electronic key comprises a particular radio signal and wherein the processor is operable to direct the radio signal generator to generate the particular radio signal to unlock a door.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the communications circuitry is further operable to:

transmit a request to schedule a hotel service.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 16, wherein the hotel service comprises one of a wake up call, an appointment at a hotel spa, and a reservation of a hotel conference room.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the communications circuitry is further operable to:

transmit a request to control an entertainment system of the particular hotel room.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 11, further comprising:

a connector operable to couple the portable electronic device to a dock of an entertainment system for at least one of audio and video playback.

20. Machine-readable media comprising machine-readable instructions recorded thereon for:

receiving identifying information from a user, wherein the information is transmitted via a portable electronic device of the user located remote from a hotel;

receiving, from the user, a request to configure at least one room setting;

determining, based on the identifying information, that the user is an authorized guest of the hotel; and

configuring a hotel room of the hotel with the at least one room setting in response to determining the user is an authorized guest, wherein the configuring is performed prior to the user arriving at the hotel room.