Patent Application
20090070831
The present invention relates to an interactive hospitality system and more particularly to an entertainment and messaging system used in hotels.
There are many types of electronic appliances supporting the comfort of a guest in a hotel or e.g. in a hospital. Today's hospitality systems usually support a subscription of video or audio information like movies, music etc. which are displayed by an in-room screen or played by in-room loudspeakers.
A hospitality system is configured to store information regarding guests utilizing guest rooms. The system includes a media distribution system including a selection to access information and configured to direct said information to a display within said guest room. The system further includes a services operation platform for receiving selection information from the guest and a multi-media processing system responsive to the selection. The network further includes an interface configured to be connected with a mobile a guest's mobile electronic appliance and for interactively exchanging data with said guest.
In one aspect, an interactive hospitality system comprises means for processing multimedia information by the media distribution system, an interface for coupling a guest's mobile electronic appliance to the media distribution system and a plurality of interactive devices coupled to the media distribution system. The guest's mobile electronic appliance is e.g. a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a digital camera, or a portable computer.
Thus one problem with existing hospitality systems can be overcome. The new hospitality system is fully interactive. The system allows a user to interactively access information without requiring special equipment. The hospitality system has e.g. a common interface like USB™, FireWire™, IEEE 1394, LAN, Bluetooth™ or a combination thereof for a connection with the mobile electronic appliance.
The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles and features described herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
Referring now to
The system 10 includes a communication system 12 for connecting to a data network 18 and for receiving and transmitting telephone calls. The communication system 12 is connected to a communication and/or data network 18. The system 10 further includes a services platform 14 and a media distribution system 16 which could be used to select and access movies, music, web pages or the like. The media distribution system 16 includes an in-room remote link (not shown) for a selection of desired media and is further connected to the services operation platform 14. The services platform 14 keeps track of the users that order desired media and may be linked to a mass storage system (not shown) containing stored media. Alternatively, desired media ordered by the guest is subscribed via the data network 18 from a (not shown) media server. The media distribution system 16 communicates with a (not shown) in-room remote control for a selection to access information. The media information is displayed via a (not shown) display within said guest room.
Referring now to
The system 20 includes a communication system 22 for connecting to a data network 18 and for receiving and transmitting telephone calls. The communication system 22 is connected to a communication and/or data network 28. The system 20 further includes a services platform 24 and a media distribution system 26 which could be used to select and access movies, music, web pages or the like. The media distribution system 26 includes an in-room remote link (not shown) for a selection of desired media and is further connected to the services operation platform 24. The services platform 24 keeps track of the users that order desired media and may be linked to a mass storage system (not shown) containing stored media. Alternatively, desired media ordered by the guest is subscribed via the data network 28 from a (not shown) media server. The media distribution system 26 communicates with a (not shown) in-room remote control for a selection to access information. The media information is displayed via a (not shown) display within said guest room.
The media distribution system 26 includes an interface 30 for connecting to a guest's own mobile electronic appliance 32. Examples for such an appliance comprise a digi cam or video cam, an MP3-player, a PDA, etc. Preferably, the interface 30 is a standardized interface, e.g. USB™, FireWire™, IEEE 1394, LAN, Bluetooth™ interface or the like. The interface 30 is configured to support an up- and download of data between the media distribution system 26 and the mobile electronic appliance 32.
The software running at the distribution system 26 includes a user interface software supporting a connection of the mobile electronic appliance 32. The interface 30 as well as the software running on the distribution system 26 support an upload of audio data for personal wakeup service room service, download of vicinity data like current offers, addresses, opening times, theater programs/schedules, electronic brochures, etc. The interactive data exchange advantageously prevents the hotel or the guest to handle paper brochures. The result is a more flexible exchange of guest information and use of personal guest data.
In the other direction, an upload may be supported. In case the mobile electronic appliance 32 of the guest includes a storage for audio and/or video data, these data can be uploaded and played at screen or the loudspeakers of the guest room. Alternatively, the guest might wish to tune a wake-up call according to his favorite music.
The hotel may offer the guest to upload electronic photo data and print out of the photos on photo paper. Alternatively, the hotel may offer the guest to upload electronic video data and offer the guest a data carrier containing the data, e.g. a DVD.
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown in the figures, one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of present invention, the scope of which is defined solely by the appended claims.
