This disclosure generally relates to a communication system, and more particularly, to setting up devices with the communication system for establishing local services.
Today, travelers rely more heavily on the use of their mobile device to stay in communication. While booked into a hotel, the traveler can be contacted either through their hotel room telephone number or through their mobile device. Present systems allow for the traveler to be reached at their mobile device regardless of whether they are called on their personal phone number, their corporate extension or at their hotel room telephone number. While this improves availability, it results in significant additional toll charges as there are often fees associated with mobile device use when outside of the local coverage area.
Calls made from a mobile device are also subject to additional toll charges. The traveler can place a call using either their corporate communication system or their hotel's communication system prior to or as part of placing a call. When using the hotel's communication system, there are many issues with voice over internet protocol (VoIP) client compatibility. For example, not all VoIP clients work with every service provider. Furthermore, extensive client configuration is required that is often beyond the end user's capability. Administration actions can be required to accept the VoIP client on the wireless network and program it into the service provider.
To overcome these challenges, the traveler can subscribe to a plan with the mobile phone service provider for reducing the additional expense involved on calls outside the local coverage area. These plans, however, represent significant expense depending on the nature of the contract involved. Alternatively, the traveler can choose to not use their mobile device to answer and place calls and instead use a telephone provided by the hotel or alternate phone service provider with Internet or wireless client capability.
Another mechanism for reducing charges to a traveler's mobile device is to replace the subscriber identity module (SIM) card that changes the service provider to one or more other providers which maintain an appropriate coverage area where a traveler is staying. However, this requires the individual to be actively involved in the change and can result in considerable toll charges when not managed correctly. The traveler can also download and install a VoIP client approved by the mobile phone service provider. Nonetheless, this requires addition configuration on the mobile device, and additional arrangements within the mobile phone service provider network to link the device to the hotel room phone.
The traveler can have their own VoIP client, but in order to integrate this into the hotel communication system, significant configuration is required. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the VoIP client will operate correctly with the hotel communication system. A need therefore exists to provide a VoIP client to operate on the mobile device that automatically pairs itself with a room number as a dynamic extension or personal ring group with the hotel room phone and associated communication system instead of through the mobile phone service provider. Furthermore, the service provider and WiFi network access should be approved allowing the mobile device to originate and receive calls over WiFi or other medium.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
Generally described, the present disclosure relates to communications, and more specifically, to localizing devices with a wireless communication system to establish services. According to one illustrative embodiment, where the communication system is within a hotel, a traveler can download a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) client onto their mobile device. The VoIP client default configuration can then establish a connection between the mobile device and the communication system. Typically, the VoIP client is pre-authorized before registering with the communication system. After registration, all subsequent phone services can be provided to the mobile device by the VoIP client in association with the hotel phone. Upon check-out, the VoIP client can be removed or disabled from the mobile device and the configuration connection to the communication system can be discontinued.
Numerous advantages can be provided as shown by the illustrative embodiment described above. Phone charges associated with most mobile phone networks can be reduced or removed by routing incoming and outgoing calls through the communication system. The communication system can provide localized phone services independent of call origination. The mobile phone service provider is typically not involved in call delivery thus eliminating associated usage or toll charges. Localized phone services can also be available wherever connectivity is provided between the VoIP client and the communication system, regardless of mobile phone location. Many additional features and elements of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of relevant skill in the relevant art as provided for in the following description.
The communication system having localized devices can be integrated into other businesses, for example, coffee shops. In addition, the communication system can provide short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS), e-mail, Internet access, data transfers, etc. and is not limited to phone services. The localized devices do not necessarily have to be mobile and instead can include stationary devices such as desktop computers, tablets or the like. Throughout the present disclosure, WiFi is primarily described as being used with the VoIP client operating on the device. However, other types of networks can be used, for example, picocell, femotocell, or other wireless network technologies.
Before describing embodiments of the present disclosure, an exemplary environment for localizing devices with the communication system will be described in
Turning now to
The communication system 112 can be connected to room phones 106. While a small subset of rooms 104 are shown, the hotel 102 can include many additional rooms 104, and the communication system 112 can even service a number of hotels 102 in a centralized fashion. The room phones 106 can be associated with a room number, for example, 2000, 2001 and 2002 shown in
Travelers can also use their mobile devices 108. The mobile devices 108 can be located within or outside of the room 104. Through a phone network 110, incoming calls can be received and outgoing calls can be made. More than one phone network 110 can be used and is not limited to a single network 110 as shown. To bypass the phone network 110, the mobile devices 108 are localized with the communication system 112.
The technology described herein can be implemented as logical operations and/or modules in one or more systems in the communication system 112 and mobile device 108. The logical operations can be implemented as a sequence of processor-implemented steps executing in one or more computer systems and as interconnected machine or circuit modules within one or more computer systems. Likewise, the descriptions of various component modules can be provided in terms of operations executed or effected by the modules. The resulting implementation is a matter of choice, dependent on the performance requirements of the underlying system implementing the described technology. The logical operations making up the embodiment of the technology described herein are referred to variously as operations, steps, objects, or modules. It should be understood that logical operations can be performed in any order, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language.
Referring now to
At block 204, the communication system 112 can associate the directory number to the room phone number. The directory number can be associated with the hotel room phone 106 regardless of whether there is a physical phone 106 present in the room 104. The processes can end at block 206. For purposes of illustration,
The device 108 can be authorized using two approaches. In one embodiment, a media access control (MAC) address of the device 108 can be used. The MAC address can be stored within the communication system 112 at check-in. Alternatively, the MAC address can be preprogrammed into the communication system 112 such that a personal profile can be maintained for the traveler. The MAC address can be used for a single VoIP client on top of a mobile device 108 associated with a room 104. In the illustration shown, Paul Pea has been checked into suite 2001104 and his MAC address information has been stored. The directory number of 20011 has been configured against room number 2001.
In one embodiment, for security considerations, the MAC address can be used to restrict network access. When the MAC address is known in advance it is simply added to an accepted MAC address list. In one embodiment, the MAC address can become known during the initial access and upon personal identification number (PIN) validation. The MAC address can be added to the traveler's profile, which can be the same logic to update the accepted MAC address list.
One drawback for using the MAC addresses, however, is assigning several devices 108 to a room 104 becomes difficult. For example, when Josh Bean has several devices 108 that are to be assigned with a room 104, the amount of work linking the devices 108 increases. Generally, the configuration processes described above are optional if a PIN is used to establish the association. Processes for localizing the devices 108 using both the MAC addresses and PIN will be described below.
Continuing with the illustration provided above, Paul can connect to the hotel's network and download the VoIP client from the hotel login page typically through a default access portal. Before allowing the mobile device 108 to download the VoIP client, at decision block 304, the communication system 112 can determine what type of mobile device 108 is being used. When the communication system 112 cannot determine the type of device 108, the system 112 can allow the user to select the type of device 108 at block 306. In one embodiment, a MAC address of the device 108 can be used to identify the device manufacturer. The user can also select the type of device from a list which can be narrowed, if possible, using the MAC address.
At block 308, the communication system 112 can provide the appropriate VoIP client to the mobile device 108. After receiving the VoIP client, the mobile device 108 can download and install the VoIP client. The VoIP client can be pre-configured with all information required to connect to the communication system 112. The VoIP client can use the default configuration and the mobile phone destination address to register with the hotel communication system 112. These configurations are common to the VoIP clients that access the hotel communication system 112 and identify network access protocol, for example, IP addresses and registration/security settings. Typically, this creates a uniform VoIP client between devices 108 that are to be localized to the communication system 112.
The association between a VoIP client operating on a device 108 and a room phone 106 can be accomplished using the dynamic extension functionality and the mobile phone destination address. A PIN, MAC address or other method of identification can be utilized to associate the VoIP client to a hotel phone number regardless of the existence of a hotel phone. Typically, the device 108 can automatically obtain a VoIP client approved by the hotel communication system 112. The device 108 can be granted access to the communication system 112 seamlessly through the downloaded VoIP client.
After the VoIP client is provided to the mobile device 108, the VoIP client is linked to a room 104. This can be resolved in one of two ways, depending on the authentication and validation process in use both of which use the VoIP client to initiate a data query. At decision block 310, the communication system 112 can determine whether a MAC address or PIN has been used to link the VoIP client to the room 104. At block 312, the VoIP client can use the device MAC address to query the traveler profile database to obtain the room number, which was setup in the processes shown in
With the room number now known, i.e. assigned identifier, and a reasonable measure of login security provided through the MAC or PIN verification used for data lookup, the communication system 112 can optionally allow other mobile devices 108 to query for directory numbers within a suite ring group at block 316. Through the directory numbers, the mobile devices 108 can also link themselves with the room number. Turning to
To link other devices 108, a second data query to obtain a directory number can be used. For example, Josh Bean can be provided a PIN when initially checking into the hotel 102. Using the PIN, Josh can link numerous devices 108 to the room 104 as shown. Directory numbers can be configured against the room number on the communication system 112, for example, directory number 20021, 20022 and 20023. These directory numbers can already exist and are programmed within the suite ring group on the communication system 112. Each suite can have several pre-configured directory numbers associated with it to accommodate multiple travelers per room 104. In the case of a session initiation protocol (SIP), multiple devices 108 can register using the same number. The SIP protocol can fork calls to all the devices 108 using the same suite directory number.
Continuing with
Upon check-out, the user's mobile phone destination can be disabled from the communication system 112 as the dynamic extension and the VoIP client registration are disconnected at block 322. In one embodiment, the configured PIN for the hotel room can be changed and that used by the VoIP client is no longer valid. This can be done automatically by the communication system 112 as part of the check-out process. In the illustration, Paul Pea and Josh Bean can check-out of the hotel 102 and continue to use their mobile devices 108 normally whereby calls can be placed and received using the phone network 110. On check-out, the PIN that is contained in the traveler profile database and is associated with the room 104 can be regenerated.
As shown above, to localize devices 108 with the communication system 112 and thereby removing the need to use the phone network 110, the VoIP client can access the traveler's profile using a MAC address as a key or PIN. Thereafter, the traveler's profile can be accessed to obtain the room number assigned to the traveler. Optionally, queries can be provided to the communication system 112 for additional available directory numbers within a suite ring group. Generally, the communication system 112 does not require a programming change. As such, new devices 108 associated with different travelers can be integrated into the communication system 112 without configuration overhead.
As shown above, once the VoIP client has been installed, user involvement or awareness is not required. Frequent travelers who stay at the same hotel 102 or chain can automatically be accepted into the communication system 112 at check-in with no additional actions. The VoIP client can also grant the mobile device 108 additional network access and features while registered. For example, the mobile device 108 can be directed to an alternate internet portal that bypasses the usual login at the hotel login page. While the VoIP client is normally disassociated or disabled at check-out, this can be performed at a different time to allow for an early check-out where the traveler does not vacate the room until later in the day.
The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.