Bathroom servicing request communication devices and method

• US 7,439,857 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WHB Consulting Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WHB Consulting Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Bodenhamer, William Jr., Hertz, Allen D., Pughe, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/402,365
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/326, 340/332, 340/286.07, 340/286.09, 340/286.02, 340/286.06, 340/286.11, 466/2, 466/4
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The present invention describes a restroom attendant system. The restroom attendant system utilizes a notification device placed in a restroom. A patron would select a request for service button when the patron recognizes that the restroom needs servicing. The notification device can include a cancel feature as well as indicators to indicate when a request for service is in process and if the restroom is considered cleaned. The notification device would communicate with either a main terminal or a service person. The main terminal can further monitor the time between cleanings and request that a restroom be serviced should the time since the previous servicing exceeds an acceptable time-span. The information can be stored, printed, and uploaded to a central receiving station.

Claims

1. A method for requesting service to a restroom, said method for requesting service to a restroom comprising the steps:

placing a restroom attending apparatus in a restroom, said restroom attending apparatus comprising;

a user request servicing input device providing the user a device to request servicing, and

a communications transmitting circuit to communicate to a service person that a request for servicing has been made,

selecting said user request servicing input device;

communicating by at least one of a wired and a wireless transmitting circuitry to a service request receiving device; and

said service request receiving device presenting said request for service to the service person;

determining a time since pervious servicing;

comparing said time since previous servicing to a predetermined allowable time span;

determining if a restroom requires servicing based upon a result of comparing said time since previous servicing to the predetermined allowable time span;

requesting servicing of said restroom should the result of determining if a restroom requires servicing based upon the result of comparing said time since previous servicing to the predetermined allowable time span determines such action is required; and

indicating a service is requested for said restroom to the service person.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the additional steps:

said restroom attending apparatus further indicating an identification;

said service request receiving device interpreting said identification to determine a user understandable restroom identification; and

presenting said user understandable restroom identification for service to the service person.

3. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the additional steps:

said service person entering a service completed via at least one of a respective user entry on said restroom attending apparatus and a service completed entry on said service request receiving device.

4. The method of claim 2, said method further comprising the additional steps:

said service person entering a service completed via at least one of a respective user entry on said restroom attending apparatus and a service completed entry on said service request receiving device.

5. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the additional steps:

indicating via a request for service indicator further incorporated in said restroom attending apparatus that a request for service has been made and respective service has not been completed.

6. The method of claim 4, said method further comprising the additional steps:

indicating a time of most recent serving on at least one of a main terminal and said restroom attending apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the additional steps:

indicating a time of most recent serving on at least one of a main terminal and said restroom attending apparatus.

8. The method of claim 3, said method further comprising the additional steps:

indicating via a request for service indicator further incorporated in said restroom attending apparatus that a request for service has been made and respective service has not been completed.