In-Room Hospitality Devices and Systems

• US 20130215058A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Vern Brazell, Sullivan, Timothy Michael, Wissner-Gross, Alexander David
• Original Assignee: Robert Vern Brazell, Sullivan, Timothy Michael, Wissner-Gross, Alexander David
• Inventors: Wissner-Gross, Alexander David, Sullivan, Timothy Michael, Brazell, Robert Vern
• Application Number:
  US13/770,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to hospitality systems and in-room hospitality computer devices that are configured to communicate with or control other devices or systems within a hotel. In some aspects, a unified in-room hospitality device comprises a mobile computing device, such as a tablet computer, that is secured in place by an encasement in a hotel room. The encasement can be, for example, secured to a table surface of a night stand.

Claims

3-1. The system of claim 3, wherein the surface is a surface of a table.

15. A system for providing centralized access to hotel services via a computer device, the system comprising:

a computer device having a touch screen display, the computer device having computer executable instructions which when executed display a user interface on the touch screen display, the user interface including a plurality of user interface elements which when selected each display one or more controls for accessing a different service provided by a hotel to thereby allow a guest to access the different services from the computer device within a hotel room;

a mount attached to a surface in the hotel room, the mount being configured to secure the computer device to the surface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mount is adjustable to allow the angle and orientation of the computer device to be adjusted when secured to the mount.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the different services include:

a thermostat service for controlling the settings of an in-room thermostat; and

a television service for controlling an in-room television.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the different services further include:

a reservation service for placing reservations at one or more of a restaurant, a spa, or a golf course.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the different services further include:

a room service for placing room service orders.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the different services further include:

an internet service that provides internet access on the computer device; and

a phone service that enables phone calls to be placed or received from the computer device.