Hotel check-in system with wireless communication

• US 5,614,703 A
• Filed: 09/07/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC), Jay R. Martin, Scott Martin
• Original Assignee: Jay R. Martin, Scott E. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Jay R., Martin, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold
• Application Number:
  US08/524,543
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a guest having a valid general purpose credit card to register at a place of lodging having a computer, and which uses the general purpose credit card as a key to the assigned room. The method involves the inserting of a general purpose credit card into a card reader of a guest accessible registration terminal, the card reader reading the credit card information and delivering the information to a computer. The computer stores the card information, and the terminal, by means of registration software obtains further information from the guest, assigns the guest a room, and informs the guest of the room assignment, after which the credit card becomes a key to the guest room. When the credit card is inserted in the proper card reader at the assigned guest room door, the computer will actuate the lock and allow the guest access. The apparatus comprises a registration terminal accessible to a guest, the terminal having a terminal credit card reader, a keyboard, display screen, means to transmit guest and credit card information to the computer, and a plurality of remote general purpose credit card readers disposed at guest room entrances, each connected to the computer to actuate the door lock release apparatus at the assigned guest room when the guest credit card has been read by the guest room card reader and approved by the computer. Alternatively, wireless forms of communication such as commercially available pagers may be used so as to eliminate further expenses for modification and wiring.

Claims

1. A guest registration apparatus for use at a place of lodging having a computer and at least one guest room with a door and lock, by a guest with a general purpose credit card validated by a credit card service company and without altering the card by entering any information on the card, said guest registration apparatus comprising:

a registration terminal accessible to the guest, said terminal including;

a terminal credit card reader capable of reading the general purpose credit card to obtain card identity information;

data input means for receiving data from the guest;

data conveying means for delivering data to the guest; and

means to convey said card identity information and data received at said registration terminal to the computer;

a main paging transmitter, electrically connectable to the computer to receive said card identity information from the computer and to wirelessly transmit an information signal containing said card identity information to the guest room;

a guest room door control unit, including;

a guest room general purpose credit card reader positionable adjacent the guest room door to read the unaltered general purpose credit card of the guest so as to obtain unaltered card identity information so as to use such card as a room key;

paging receiver means for receiving said information signal from said main paging transmitter by wireless communication therewith, said paging receiver means electrically connected to said room card reader and including a paging receiver and paging memory means to store said information signal received from said main paging transmitter, said paging memory means also receiving unaltered card identity information from said room card reader and comparing said card information with said room card identity information from said paging transmitter; and

a guest room door lock release apparatus electrically connected to said door control unit and positionable to actuate the lock at the guest room door upon being actuated by said door control unit.

2. A guest registration apparatus for use at a place of lodging having a computer and at least one guest room with a door and lock, by a guest with a credit card, said guest registration apparatus comprising:

a registration terminal including;

a terminal card reader capable of reading the credit card to obtain card identity information;

data input means for receiving data descriptive of the guest;

data conveying means for delivering data needed by the guest;

means to convey said card identity information and data received at said registration terminal to the computer;

a main paging transmitter, electrically connectable to the computer to receive said card identity information from the computer and to wirelessly transmit an information signal containing said card identity information to the guest room;

a guest room door control unit, including;

a guest room credit card reader positionable adjacent the guest room door to read the credit card of the guest so as to obtain card identity information so as to use such card as a room key;

paging receiver means for receiving said information signal from said main paging transmitter by wireless communication therewith, said paging receiver means electrically connected to said room card reader to store said information signal received from said main paging transmitter, to receive card identity information from said room card reader, and to compare said card information with said room card identity information from said paging transmitter; and

a guest room door lock release apparatus electrically connected to said door control unit and positionable to actuate the lock at the guest room door upon being actuated by said door control unit.

3. The guest registration apparatus of claim 2, wherein said paging receiver means comprises:

a paging receiver for receiving said information signal from said main paging transmitter; and

paging memory means, electrically connected to said paging receiver, to store said information signal received by said paging receiver from said main paging transmitter, to receive said card identity information from said room card reader and to compare said card identity information with said card identity information from said main paging transmitter.

4. The guest registration apparatus of claim 2, wherein said registration terminal is positioned to be accessible to the guest.