Self-Service System and Method for Lodging Establishment Convenience Shops

• US 20140081677A1
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Kobres, Erick C., Craig, Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US13/622,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081677A1
• 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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A self-service system and method for lodging establishment convenience shops to allow a guest to pay for convenience shop items and avoid waiting in line at a front desk. An example method includes obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer at a convenience shop of the lodging establishment by a self-service terminal, obtaining prices of the items by the self-service terminal, recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option by the self-service terminal, determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal, and charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.

Claims

1. A convenience shop transaction method at a lodging establishment comprising:

obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer at a convenience shop of the lodging establishment by a self-service terminal;

obtaining prices of the items by the self-service terminal;

recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option by the self-service terminal;

determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal; and

charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

obtaining room key information from a room key of the customer by the self-service terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether the room key information corresponds to a room at the lodging establishment by the self-service terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining step further comprises:

determining whether the room is currently assigned or unassigned.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining step further comprises:

recording customer entry of verification information by the self-service terminal; and

comparing the verification information to reservation information associated with the room.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

obtaining a room number from a room key of the customer by the self-service terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining step further comprises:

recording customer entry of a verification room number by the self-service terminal; and

comparing the verification room number to the room number obtained from the room key by the self-service terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:

obtaining a room number from a reservation barcode of the customer by the self-service terminal;

recording customer entry of a verification room number by the self-service terminal; and

comparing the verification room number to the room number obtained from the reservation barcode by the self-service terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the room number obtaining step comprises:

scanning the reservation barcode from a mobile communication device of the customer by the self-service terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the prices obtaining step comprises:

sending the item identification information to a point of sale system by the self-service terminal; and

obtaining the prices from the point of sale system by the self-service terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying payment by the self-service terminal when the customer has not registered.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending an alert to a front desk computer asking an attendant to provide assistance to the customer.

13. A lodging establishment convenience shop transaction self-service terminal comprising:

a code reader for obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer; and

a processor for obtaining prices of the items, for recording customer selection of a charge to room payment option, for determining whether the customer has registered as a guest of the lodging establishment, and for charging a total cost of the items to a reservation record by the self-service terminal when the customer has registered.

14. The self-service terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor obtains a room number from a room key of the customer.

15. The self-service terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor records customer entry of a verification room number, and compares the verification room number to the room number obtained from the room key.

16. The self-service terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor obtains a room number from a reservation barcode of the customer.

17. The self-service terminal of claim 16, wherein the code reader comprises a barcode reader and wherein the barcode reader scans the reservation barcode from a mobile communication device of the customer.

18. The self-service terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is also for denying payment when the customer has not registered.

19. The self-service terminal of claim 18, wherein the processor is also for sending an alert to a front desk computer asking an attendant to provide assistance to the customer.

20. A lodging establishment convenience shop transaction system comprising:

a property management system for creating a record of a reservation for a guest; and

a convenience shop transaction self-service terminal including

a code reader for obtaining item identification information associated with items selected for purchase by a customer; and

a processor for obtaining prices of the items, for recording selection of a charge to room payment option by the guest, for determining that the guest has the reservation at the lodging establishment, and for charging a total cost of the items to the record of the reservation.