Automated self service hotel/motel front desk attendant system
First Claim
1. A lodging facility front desk guest operated processing station connected to a Property Management System, the station comprising:
- an upright stand alone housing containing a touch screen, the availability of rooms and rates appearing on the screen in response to a touch, a keyboard for inputting guest information, and a signature pad in an upper portion;
a credit, debit or brand card swipe device positioned on a front face of the housing for scanning a credit, debit or brand card;
a key slot on a front face of the housing for dispensing a room key card from a key maker within the housing;
a currency slot on a front face of the housing for accepting various denominations of currency, the currency slot leading to a receptacle for the currency within the housing;
a printer within the housing leading to a slot on the front face for dispensing guest receipts, a currency return slot in a front face of the housing connected to a means within the housing for storing and dispensing paper and coin currency; and
a connector mounted on the housing for interconnecting a computer within the housing with a first end of a network data cable, a second end of the network data cable connected to the Property Management System.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guest operated front desk processing station is all contained in an upright stand alone housing. The housing contains a touch screen and keyboard for guest inputting information, and a signature pad in an upper portion. The housing front face contains a credit card swipe device for scanning a credit, debit or brand card, a slot for dispensing a receipt from a printer inside the housing and a key slot for dispensing a key card generated by a key making device within the housing. The housing front face also contains a slot for accepting various currency denominations and a slot for dispensing currency change. The processing station is connected by a network data cable to a Property Management System.
20 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A lodging facility front desk guest operated processing station connected to a Property Management System, the station comprising:
-
an upright stand alone housing containing a touch screen, the availability of rooms and rates appearing on the screen in response to a touch, a keyboard for inputting guest information, and a signature pad in an upper portion;
a credit, debit or brand card swipe device positioned on a front face of the housing for scanning a credit, debit or brand card;
a key slot on a front face of the housing for dispensing a room key card from a key maker within the housing;
a currency slot on a front face of the housing for accepting various denominations of currency, the currency slot leading to a receptacle for the currency within the housing;
a printer within the housing leading to a slot on the front face for dispensing guest receipts, a currency return slot in a front face of the housing connected to a means within the housing for storing and dispensing paper and coin currency; and
a connector mounted on the housing for interconnecting a computer within the housing with a first end of a network data cable, a second end of the network data cable connected to the Property Management System. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A terminal located in a lodging facility connected by a network data cable to a Property Management System, the terminal operable by a guest without lodging facility staff direct involvement to check in or out of the lodging facility, the terminal comprising:
-
a stand alone housing containing on an external portion a touch screen, the availability of rooms and rates appearing on the screen in response to a touch, a keyboard for inputting guest personal data, a signature pad, a swipe device for scanning credit, debit or brand payment card, a key slot for dispensing a room key card, a currency slot for accepting various denominations of U.S. currency, a currency dispensing slot, a cup for coin change, a slot for ejecting printed receipts and a network data cable leading to the Property Management System;
the housing containing internally a computer programmed to interface with the touch screen, the keyboard, the signature pad, the swipe device, a key making device within the housing, a paper printing and storage device with the housing, a currency receiving and recording device within the housing, a currency dispensing device within the housing and the computer connected with the network data cable to the lodging facility Property Management System, so that upon activation of the terminal by a guest, a check in or check out procedure can be carried out without lodging facility staff assistance. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification