Abstract:
A system and method of providing a requested service at a lodging establishment which relies on personal identification numbers (PINS) and corresponding travel cards. The system includes a travel card reader, and a computer for recording a request of a traveler, for reading a travel card of the traveler, for establishing an assigned personal identification number (PIN), for comparing the assigned PIN to an entered PIN, and for performing the request if the entered PIN equals the assigned PIN.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to self-service terminals and more specifically to a system and method of providing a requested service at a lodging establishment. 
     Kiosks provide a publicly accessible computing platform for displaying World Wide Web (web) pages and other web-delivered content from web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software. 
     There is a need in the travel and entertainment industry to allow customers to check-in to a lodging establishment and to find and book entertainment activities. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method of providing a requested service at a lodging establishment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method of providing a requested service at a lodging establishment is provided. 
     The system includes a travel card reader, and a computer for recording a request of a traveler, for reading a travel card of the traveler, for establishing an assigned personal identification number (PIN), for comparing the assigned PIN to an entered PIN, and for performing the request if the entered PIN equals the assigned PIN. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a system and method of providing a requested service at a lodging establishment. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a travel kiosk for providing services at a lodging establishment. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a check-in method at a lodging establishment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a travel system; 
     FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a first operation of the travel system; and 
     FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a second operation of the travel system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, travel system  10  includes travel kiosk  12 , which is a self-service terminal and which is preferably located at a resort or other lodging establishments, such as a hotel or cruise ship. Kiosk  12  may include an NCR  7401  computer. 
     Kiosk  12  primarily includes processor  16 , touch screen  18 , memory  22 , and storage medium  20 . Kiosk  12  may be simple and additionally include only card reader  24 , receipt printer  26 , travel card dispenser  25 , and travel card reader  27 . Card reader  24 , travel card dispenser  25 , and travel card reader  27  may be combined into a single unit. 
     Processor  16  executes self-service travel application  38 , which processes travel-related requests from guests. For example, self-service travel application  38  provides access to entertainment, dining, shopping, and check-in and check-out services. 
     During check-in, a traveler swipes a credit card through card reader  24 . Self-service travel application  38  dispenses a travel card from travel card dispenser  25 . The travel card is both a room key and payment card while the traveler stays as a guest in the lodging establishment. Self-service travel application  38  allows a guest to select a personal identification number (PIN). Self-service travel application  38  may alternatively assign a PIN automatically at check-in. The PIN may be used to purchase goods and services while staying at the lodging establishment. 
     To purchase goods and services, a guest inserts a travel card into travel card reader  27 . Self-service travel application  38  adds purchases made with the travel card to the lodging bill of the guest, which is stored in travel database  60 . When the guest checks out using kiosk  12 , self-service travel application  38  charges final payment for lodging and goods and services purchased with the travel card to the credit card swiped at check-in. 
     Application  38  communicates with server  52  over a network connection, such as one which uses the TCP/IP protocol. Application  38  stores guest and PIN information in PIN database  54 . 
     Processor  16  may also execute web browser software  36  and web wrapper software  40 . 
     Web browser software  36  allows a guest to display information in a format established by the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”). Application  38  may be written as a web application which displays travel information in the form of web pages  46 , although application  38  may also be a non-web application and operate without web browser software  36  and web wrapper software  40 . Web pages  46  may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language. 
     Web browser software  36  may include commercially available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menu bars to prevent guest access to those functions. 
     Web browser software  36  may also display a start or “home” page within web pages  46  which operates as a default page from which kiosk operation begins and to which operation returns when a guest is finished using kiosk  12 . 
     Web wrapper software  40  provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software  40  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, or other applications, or the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk  12  to reboot. 
     Touch screen  18  records guest selections and displays information to guests. 
     Storage medium  20  stores web pages  46  for use by application  38 . 
     Memory  22  stores executed program information. 
     Card reader  24  reads credit, debit, SMART, and/or other types of payment or identification cards carried by a passenger. Card reader  24  may record payment information from a guest. 
     Printer  26  prints receipt information for purchased goods and services. 
     Travel card dispenser  25  dispenses travel cards. 
     Travel card reader  27  reads travel cards. 
     Kiosk  12  may include a number of other peripherals to enhance payment and check-in options, including cash acceptor  28 , cash dispenser  30 , check reader  32 , and personal identification number (PIN) keypad  34 . 
     Cash acceptor  28  includes currency storage canister  29 . Cash acceptor  28  takes in currency, validates the currency, sends tendered amount information to application  38 , and sends currency count information to application  38 . Cash acceptor  28  may include a cash acceptor manufactured by CashCode or Mars. 
     Cash dispenser  30  dispenses any change due. 
     Check reader  32  reads checks and includes a magnetic ink character (MICR) reader. Check reader  32  also includes printer  33  for printing information on checks. 
     PIN keypad  34  records PIN numbers for debit card transactions. 
     Server  52  is preferably not within travel system  10  in order to avoid major changes to each and every travel system  10  in existence. A standalone server can easily be linked to travel system  10 . 
     Server  52  stores PIN database  54 . Server  52  also stores travel database  60 , which contains information about guests, reservations, and travel card purchases. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, operation of self-service travel application  38  is illustrated in detail beginning with START  70 . 
     In step  72 , self-service travel application  38  records a request to check-in from a traveler through touch screen  18 . 
     Self-service travel application  38  takes the customer through the check-in process in steps  74 - 86 . 
     In step  74 , self-service travel application  38  displays a message to the traveler to enter identification and address information. 
     In step  76 , self-service travel application  38  records customer identification and address information through touch screen  18 . 
     In step  78 , self-service travel application  38  displays a message to the traveler to enter payment information using card reader  24 . 
     In step  80 , self-service travel application  38  records payment information through card reader  24 . 
     In step  82 , self-service travel application  38  assigns a PIN to a travel card. Self-service travel application  38  may assign the PIN automatically, or request a PIN from the traveler. 
     In step  84 , self-service travel application  38  dispenses a travel card through travel card dispenser  25  and the traveler is now a guest at the lodging establishment. 
     Operation ends at step  86 . 
     Following check-in, the guest may search for restaurants, entertainment locations, or make additional reservations. Application  38  performs requested searches and displays search results. The guest may also purchase items on-line. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, operation of self-service travel application  38  is further illustrated in detail beginning with START  90 . 
     In step  92 , self-service travel application  38  records a request from a guest through touch screen  18 . The request may include a request to purchase an item or a service or to use self-service travel terminal to search for dining or entertainment. 
     In step  94 , self-service travel application  38  displays an instruction to insert a travel card into travel card reader  27 . 
     In step  96 , self-service travel application  38  reads the travel card. 
     In step  98 , self-service travel application  38  displays an instruction to enter a PIN. 
     In step  100 , self-service travel application  38  records the PIN entered through touch screen  18  or PIN pad  34 . 
     In step  102 , self-service travel application  38  determines whether the PIN is correct by comparing it to a corresponding PIN in PIN database  52 . If the PIN is correct, operation proceeds to step  104 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  106 . 
     In step  104 , self-service travel application  38  performs the requested service. If the service is a purchase, self-service travel application  38  charges the purchase price to the account of the guest in travel database  60  and orders the item or service. If the service involves a search for dining or entertainment, self-service travel application  38  performs the requested search. Operation proceeds to step  108 . 
     In step  106 , self-service travel application  38  displays and error message and denies the request. Self-service travel application  38  may prompt the guest several times to enter the correct PIN before terminating. 
     Operation ends in  108 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.