Abstract:
A method of providing guest room services and guest room control in a building including a plurality of guest rooms includes: storing in memory a plurality of addresses corresponding to a plurality of guest room control devices, each guest room control device in the plurality of guest room control devices is a centralized electronic locking system component, a guest room energy management system component, a direct digital control system component, a minibar monitoring device, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing guest room control devices; selecting an address of a guest room control device from the plurality of addresses; encapsulating data in a first packet configured according to a packet switching protocol; indicating in the packet the address of the guest room control device; and sending the first packet to the guest room control device through a network.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/263,940, filed Jan. 24, 2001, and to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/323,872, filed on Sep. 21, 2001, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Energy conservation is a proven means to reduce the operating costs of hotels. But many lodging facility operators shun attempts at saving energy in the guestrooms, as they are concerned about the negative impact such measures may have on guest perception and comfort.  
           [0003]    A modern guestroom uses approximately 25 Kilowatt-hours (KWHr) of electricity each day. Based on a cost estimate of $0.07 per KWHr, this amounts to about $1.75 per day per room. This figure assumes the following appliances are used in a typical room: Heating/Ventilation/Air-Conditioning (HVAC), Lamps (portable), Lights (fixed), Television, Radio, and Minibar. A mini-bar is a convenient store of goods within each room, usually within a refrigerator, that can be accessed by the guest at his or her discretion.  
           [0004]    With the exception of the minibar, the appliances are manually controlled, and their daily hours of use can be reduced using an energy management system (EMS). In the case of the HVAC system, a well-designed EMS can reduce not only the number of hours the system is used each day, but can also reduce the average power required. The EMS can set back the HVAC temperature whenever a room is not rented and, when rented, whenever a guest is not in the room. The EMS will turn off lamps and lights when the guest or housekeeping leaves the room. The EMS can turn off the television when the room is not rented, and it can open or close the drapes to control heat exchange with the outside.  
           [0005]    In modern lodging facilities, the EMS is part of a larger guest room control system, which also includes direct digital control (DDC) of the HVAC system, guestroom controls and a central electronic lock system (CELS). The guestroom controls allow a guest to remotely control the lamps, lights, drapes, television, and other appliances from a single control station. The CELS connects guestroom doorlocks to a central computer in the hotel for logging keycard access operations and for enabling and canceling access cards.  
           [0006]    Guest room control systems are typically comprised of a control computer or device for each room. The control computer receives data from various sensors throughout the room and, in response to the feedback provided by the sensors, operates a number of remote room control devices. Such remote sensors include, for example, motion sensors, temperature sensors, smoke detectors, and door and other closure switches. Such remote room control devices include, for example, thermostats and associated relays for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, electronic locks, lighting control switches and relays, and motors and switches for opening and closing drapes. The central control computer uses the data and control devices to, for example, adjust the room&#39;s temperature, determine and annunciate whether the room is occupied or unoccupied, determine and annunciate whether the room&#39;s mini-bar has been accessed, sound fire and emergency alarms, turn lights on or off, permit or deny access to the room, open and close drapes, turn audio-visual equipment on or off, and perform other functions related to controlling equipment or annunciating status in rooms. The central control computer located in each room can be tied to a single master central control computer. The central computer from each room provides data to the master central control computer from which such data is disseminated to display and control terminals at housekeeping, front desk, security, engineering or any number of other locations in order to provide hotel personnel with access to the data and with the ability to remotely control various room functions or settings from such terminals.  
           [0007]    In one such guest room control system, a telephone console fitted with a touch screen acts as the control computer for the room. It obtains room temperature information from internal sensors, target temperature information from the guest through the touch screen, and room status information (rented/vacant) from the master central control computer via a twisted pair of low voltage wires connecting all of the rooms through a network structure. The control computer then decides if the various appliances in the room should be adjusted and controls the appliances by providing control signals to the appliances accordingly.  
           [0008]    Such guest room control systems work well to provide conveniences to the guest. For example, a guest can control many functions in the guest room through a bedside telephone console. Such guest room control systems also provide convenience to housekeeping staff. For example, a housekeeper would simply refer to the screen on the master central control computer to determine if the guest room was occupied or if the minibar needs re-stocking. Moreover, guest room control systems work well to conserve energy in a guest room. However, modem guest room control systems have limitations as well. Applications that depend on a faster and unconditional link to the master central control computer, such as digital video, cannot be implemented under this architecture. To overcome this limitation, additional data lines are required to be installed. However, the installation of additional data lines in an existing hotel is expensive and increases the maintenance required for the hotel.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The above described drawbacks and deficiencies are overcome or alleviated by a method of providing guest room services and guest room control in a building including a plurality of guest rooms. The method comprises: storing in memory a plurality of addresses corresponding to a plurality of guest room control devices, each guest room control device in the plurality of guest room control devices is a centralized electronic locking system component, a guest room energy management system component, a direct digital control system component, a minibar monitoring device, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing guest room control devices; selecting an address of a guest room control device from the plurality of addresses; encapsulating data in a first packet configured according to a packet switching protocol; indicating in the packet the address of the guest room control device; and sending the first packet to the guest room control device through a network.  
           [0010]    In an alternative embodiment, a smart router for a guest room control system comprises: a first port configured to be in operable communication with a computer network; at least one processor in operable communication with the first port;  
           [0011]    at least one memory device in operable communication with the at least one processor, the at least one memory device includes a network address table stored therein, the network address table indicates an address for a guest room control device in operable communication with the computer network, the guest room control device includes one or more of a centralized electronic locking system component, a guest room energy management system component, a direct digital control system component, and a minibar monitoring device; and wherein the at least one processor encapsulates data in a first packet configured according to a first packet switching protocol and outputs the first packet to the first port, the first packet includes a header indicating the address for the memory device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a centralized guest room control system;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an external view of a smart router;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting an internal view of the smart router of FIG. 2;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram depicting the interface of application programs and portions of operating systems in the smart router of FIG. 2; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a network address translation table. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 depicts a centralized guest room control system or network  10  by which building-level services such as, but not limited to, digital video-on-demand, central electronic lock control, energy management, room control, and Internet access services are provided to one or more guest rooms  12  throughout one or more hotels  14  over the same network  10 . While the embodiment described herein is directed to one or more hotels  14 , it will be recognized that the system  10  has application in a wide range of buildings including, but not limited to, universities, health care, multi-dwelling units (MDUs), office, resort, and residential.  
         [0019]    Guest room control system  10  is distributed across three general areas: one or more guest rooms  12 , hotel  14  including the one or more guest rooms  12 , and a location external to the hotel  14 . It will be appreciated that the guest room control system  10  can be distributed across any number of rooms  12  in the hotel  14  and any number of buildings or hotels  14  as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    Within each room  12 , a room hub  16  coordinates communications to and from various service devices  18  within the guestroom  12 . Room hub  16  is a common point of connection for the various devices  18  within guestroom  12 . Room hub  16  may be a passive hub, such that when a packet arrives at one port in room hub  16 , it is copied to the other ports so that all devices in the guest room can see all packets. An example of a passive hub is the commercially available Netgear® model DS 104 4-port Dual Speed (10/100) Hub. Alternatively, room hub  16  may be a switching hub that reads the destination address of each packet and then forwards the packet to the correct port. Room hub  16  may also include an intelligent hub that enables an administrator to monitor the traffic passing through the hub  16  and to configure each port in the hub  16 .  
         [0021]    Within network  10 , User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) packets, Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) packets, Simple Network Management Protocol SNMP packets, Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) packets, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), or the like, are passed through room hub  16  to the various guest room service devices  18 . The various guest room service devices  18  may include: high-speed Internet access for a guest laptop  20 ; a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone  22  that provides the guest with phone service (e.g., a VoIP phone commercially available from Nortel); an Internet Protocol (IP) radio  23  that provides the guest with music service (e.g., a Moving Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) 1 audio layer  3  (MP3) capable radio); and a signal converter (set-top) box  24  that provides the guest with digital video-on-demand (VoD) for viewing on television  26  (e.g., model DSN-300 commercially available from Daewoo). Information to guest room service devices  18  can be transmitted within room  12  using data transmission media such as twisted-pair wire, coaxial cables, or fiber optic cables, or can be transmitted via a radio or infrared signal.  
         [0022]    Room hub  16  also coordinates communications to and from a room gateway  28 . Room gateway  28  translates the data received from room hub  16 , which is formatted in packets, into a secondary protocol that may be readable by room control devices  30  in room  12 . Room gateway  28  also translates the data received from room control devices  30  into a protocol (e.g., TCP/IP or UDP/IP) that can be transmitted via room hub  16 . The secondary protocol is determined based on the types of room control devices  30  that are used. For example, the secondary protocol may include the IR5 infrared protocol as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,792, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In another example, the secondary protocol may include Inncom International&#39;s CINET protocol, which is commercially available in Inncom International&#39;s Central Interface Networks. Other secondary protocols may include the ModBus protocol, the Bluetooth protocol, or the like.  
         [0023]    The room control devices  30  serviced by room gateway  28  may include one or more of: an Energy Management System (EMS) device  32 , a minibar monitoring device  34 , a direct digital control (DDC) system device  35 , and a central electronic lock system (CELS) device  36 . Energy Management System (EMS) device  32  is a component in a system that digitally controls a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system associated with the room  12  and which may include a digitally controlled thermostat. One example of an EMS is the e 4 ™ Energy Management System commercially available from Inncom International, Inc. of Niantic, Conn. Minibar monitoring device  34 , is a device that indicates when the minibar in room  12  has been accessed and may indicate which consumable items have been removed. One example of a minibar monitoring device  34  is a minibar door switch such as a model S441 door switch commercially available from Inncom International, Inc; another example is a minibar with built in monitoring capabilities commercially available from Bartech Systems Corporation of Millersville, Md. Direct digital control (DDC) system device  35  is a component in a system that allows a guest to remotely control lamps and lights, window draperies, television, or other appliances. DDC device  35  may include, for example: a model L207 lamp control module commercially available from Inncom International, Inc; a motorized window drapery system such as those commercially available from the Makita, BTX, or Silent Gliss companies; an infrared television remote control; and a model P463 Do Not Disturb/Make Up Room plate commercially available from Inncom International, Inc. A central electronic lock system (CELS) device  36  is a component in a system for locking and unlocking an access door to room  12 . CELS device  36  may include, for example, a model K294 Infrared Transciever, which is commercially available from Inncom International, Inc., and infrared capable guest room door locks commercially available from such companies as TimeLox, Sargent, Safelok, and VingCard.  
         [0024]    Inside hotel  14 , guest room control system  10  is divided by a smart router  50  into two sub-networks: a primary network  52  and a secondary network  54 . Secondary network  54  includes a local area network (LAN)  55  employing the Ethernet protocol for transferring data encapsulated in packets. LAN  55  includes a main switch  56  that filters and forwards packets between one or more floor switches  58 . Floor switches  58  filter and forward packets between one or more room hubs  16  on a floor of hotel  14 .  
         [0025]    Secondary network  54  includes a commercially available property management system (PMS) server  74  connected serially or via the Ethernet to smart router  50 . PMS server  74  may include, for example, the Micros® Fidelio OPERA PMS, which is commercially available from Micros Systems, Inc. of Columbia, Md. PMS server  74  stores, processes, and recalls room usage information (i.e., whether the room is rented or vacant) and room billing information for lodging fees, Internet access, video-on-demand, mini-bar usage and other services. PMS server  74  transmits room status information to and accepts billing information from smart router  50 .  
         [0026]    Secondary network  54  also includes a web browser station  60 , which is a personal computer connected to a port of main switch  56 . Web browser station  60  allows hotel personnel to access hotel information. The station  60  uses a browser to provide indication on rented status, room occupancy, minibar service, do-not-disturb (DND) and make-up-room) requests, diagnostics and other data. Engineering or management personnel will be able to see information on energy management performance, diagnostic alerts and other useful items. A central interface server (CIS)  70  is also provided, which stores, processes, and recalls guestroom control signals to augment on-site capability. One example of a CIS  70  is Inncom International&#39;s commercially available CIS-5 22058 Central Interface Server.  
         [0027]    Primary network  52  includes a LAN  63  employing the Ethernet protocol for transferring data encapsulated in packets. LAN  63  includes one or more information servers  64  and a router  66 . Information servers  64  store, process, and retrieve data typically used in the operation of a modern hotel system. Information servers  64  include a digital video server  68 , which stores, processes, and recalls digital video programming for viewing on television  26 . While digital video server  68  is shown, it will be recognized that primary network  52  may include other information servers as well.  
         [0028]    Router  66  connects primary network  52  with the Internet  80 . Router  66  receives TCP/IP packets from the Internet  80  and uses packet headers and a forwarding table stored within router  66  to direct the packets to smart router  50  or digital video server  68 . Router  66  also provides firewall and security services for the primary and secondary networks  52 ,  54 . In addition to router  66 , a modem  82  connects primary network  52  with the Internet  80  via smart router  50 , and smart router  50  provides a firewall and security services for the primary and secondary networks  52 ,  54 .  
         [0029]    Outside hotel  14 , all hotel data, including the hotel&#39;s in-house Internet homepage, are stored and maintained on a remote server  84 . Remote server  84  is connected to the Internet  80 , and a connection between the remote server  84  and router  66  in hotel  14  is maintained via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) Tunnel  86 . All Internet traffic coming from router  66  or modem  82  in hotel  14  is automatically directed to remote server  84  through Virtual Private Network (VPN)  86 . A CIS  88  is located outside hotel  14  and communicates with primary system  52  via VPN  86  and router  66 . By placing CIS  88  at a remote site, CIS  88  can store, process, and recall control signals for legacy guest room control systems in any number of hotels  14 . The remote CIS  88  can replace or supplement server  68  in hotel  14 .  
         [0030]    Because all Internet traffic to and from hotel  14  traverses VPN  86  to remote server  84 , remote server  84  can act as a portal for internet traffic to and from guest laptop  20 . For each guest laptop  20 , remote server  84  provides access to certain Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) pages stored in remote server  84  (e.g., the hotel&#39;s homepage, local information, and advertiser pages) free of charge. As a result, the remote server  84  offers possibilities for selling advertising, demographic data, and other services, which can be displayed on the HTML pages available to the guest. In addition, once the guest has agreed to a high-speed Internet access charge (unless the property offers Internet access free of charge), remote server  84  allows guest laptop  20  to have unrestricted access to the Internet  80  via VPN  86  and remote server  84 . Remote server  84  achieves this Internet portal function in conjunction with smart router  50 . Smart router  50  monitors the secondary network  54  for guests&#39; laptops  20 , assigns a local IP address to those laptops  20 , and dynamically adapts to the network and mail settings of those laptops  20 . This feature allows guests to access guest room control system  10  without having to reconfigure their laptops  20 . Remote server  84  filters traffic to and from the local EP addresses, and passes only those TCP/IP packets addressed to, or sent from, the IP address of those guests that have agreed to the access charge, or have been given access free of charge.  
         [0031]    Filtering of the TCP/IP packets may also be accomplished by assigning an available bandwidth to each laptop  20 , where higher priority packets (e.g., packets sent from a guest that has paid a fee for premium access) are given greater bandwidth, and lower priority packets (e.g., free services) are given less bandwidth. This bandwidth can be based on, for example, Quality of Service (QoS) attributes indicated in the headers of packets provided to, or sent from, each laptop  20 . For packets sent from each laptop  20 , smart router  20  may review the QoS attributes of the packets and give priority to those packets having a higher priority QoS. Conversely, smart router  20  may review the QoS attributes of the packets sent from each laptop  20  and drop or queue (delay) those packets with a lower priority QoS. For packets sent to each laptop  20 , remote server  84  may review the QoS attributes of the packets and give priority to those packets having a higher priority QoS. Conversely, remote server  84  may review the QoS attributes of the packets sent from each laptop  20  and drop or queue (delay) those packets with a lower priority QoS. Using both the smart router  20  and remote server  84  to filter packets reduces traffic in VPN Tunnel  86 .  
         [0032]    Smart router  50  periodically connects through modem  82  and VPN  86  to the remote server  84 . Through these connections, smart router  50  off-loads collected hotel and guest information to the remote server  84 . This information can be monitored using a browser station  90  connected with the remote server  84 . In addition, remote server  84  provides this information back to the hotel  14 , via router  66  and VPN  86 , where the information can be viewed through browser station  60 . In this manner, a single user can view the status of any number of hotels  14  or hotel rooms  12  from a single location (e.g., browser station  60  or browser station  90 ).  
         [0033]    Remote server  84  also connects with smart router  50  to upload data from remote server  84  to smart router  50 . Smart router  50  will then direct the data to the PMS server  74  or to the appropriate floor, room, and appliance. In this manner, a single user can alter the state of the PMS or any appliance in any room from a remote location.  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicting an external view of smart router  50  is shown. Smart router  50  is housed in a rack mountable chassis  100  that includes four serial ports  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  and two Ethernet ports  110  and  112 . The smart router  50  includes light emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate the following: power-on (LED  114 ), traffic on primary Ethernet port  110  (LED  116 ), traffic on secondary Ethernet port  112  (LED  118 ), traffic on RS-232 port of serial ports  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  (LEDs  120 ), and traffic on RS-485 port of serial ports  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  (LEDs  122 ). The smart router  50  also includes a push button  124  for instant connection to remote server  84  (FIG. 1). Push button  124  allows a service technician to off-load data instantly to the remote server  84  during tests and debugging phases, without having to wait for the next scheduled data off-load.  
         [0035]    Ethernet port  110  is connected to LAN  63  of primary network  52 , and Ethernet port  112  is connected to LAN  55  of secondary network  54 . Serial port  104  is connected to modem  82 , and serial port  108  is connected to PMS  74 . Serial ports  102  and  106  allow smart router  50  to act as a replacement to a network bridge, such as the B271 riser bridge commercially available from Inncom International, Inc., in a legacy guest room control system  126 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicting an internal view of smart router  50  is shown. Smart router  50  includes two processing systems  152  and  154 . Processing system  152  processes data received from and provided to primary network  52 , and processing system  154  processes data received from and provided to secondary network  54 . Primary network processing system  152  includes a microprocessor  156 , dynamic random access memory (DRAM)  158 , and flash memory  160  interconnected by a bus  161 . Stored in flash memory  160  and accessed by microprocessor  156  via DRAM  158  and bus  161  is an operating system program  162  and a primary side smart application program  164 . Stored in DRAM  158  is a first-in first-out queue  166  of data for off-loading to remote server  84 , as will be described in further detail hereinafter. Secondary network processing system  154  includes a microprocessor  168 , DRAM  170 , and flash memory  172  interconnected by a bus  174 . Stored in flash memory  172  and accessed by microprocessor  168  via DRAM  170  and bus  174  is an operating system program  176  and a secondary side smart application program  178 . Stored in DRAM  170  are one or more room process database images  180 , a hotel process database image  182 , and a network address translation (NAT) table  184 , as will be described in further detail hereinafter.  
         [0037]    Microprocessors  156  and  168  operate independently of each other and share information via an interface device  186 . Processors  156 ,  168  and interface device  186  are commercially available from Net Silicon, Inc. of Waltham, Mass. Microprocessor  156  is connected to serial ports  102  and  104  and to Ethernet port  110 . Microprocessor  168  is connected to serial ports  106  and  108  and to Ethernet port  112 . In general, microprocessors  156  and  168  execute applications  164  and  178 , which instruct microprocessors  156  and  168  to perform various steps necessary to off-load data stored in queue  166  to remote server  84  (FIG. 1) and to route and to track all data transferred between devices  18  and  30  in guest rooms  12  and PMS server  74 , remote server  84 , CIS  70  and/or CIS  88 , and digital video server  68 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram depicting the interface of smart application programs  164  and  178  and portions of operating systems  162  and  176  in primary and secondary network processing systems  152  and  154 , respectively. Operating systems  162  and  176  each include a stack of protocol layers, with each layer representing a process or group of processes that perform related communications tasks according to a communications protocol. In one embodiment of primary network processing system  152 , the stack of layers  200 ,  202 ,  204 , and  206  is known as the Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack. Processes in each layer  200 ,  202 ,  204 , and  206  can call on, or be called by processes in adjacent layers  200 ,  202 ,  204  or  206 , or by application  164 . Layer  200  is the sockets layer; layer  202  is the TCP layer; layer  204  is the IP layer; and layer  206  is the network layer. Network layer  206  includes a process or group of processes  208  that perform communications tasks according to the Ethernet protocol for communication with LAN  63 . Network layer  206  also includes a process or group of processes  210  that perform communications tasks according to the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) for communication with modem  82 . The functions of the processes in the various layers  200 ,  202 ,  204 , and  206  of the TCP/IP stack are well known in the art. Operating system  162  also includes various device drivers and a network layer process  208  for handling network layer protocols (e.g., the CINET protocol used in Inncom International Inc. commercially available guest room control systems) used in legacy guest room control system  126 .  
         [0039]    Application  164  includes processes to perform various functions. These processes include: a dial-up scheduler process  211 , a data compression and elimination process  212 , a flow management process  214 , a security process  216 , a program upload process  218 , a traffic separation process  220 , and a modem driver process  222 . Dial-up scheduler process  211  periodically initiates a connection between the smart router  50  and the remote server  84 . Dial up scheduler process  211  activates modem driver process  222 , which dials a local Internet service provider (not shown). Dial up scheduler process  211  then initiates a data off-load through a file transfer protocol (FTP) link towards the remote server  84 .  
         [0040]    Data compression and elimination process  212  compresses data prior to placing the data in queue  166  to increase the amount of data that can be buffered in DRAM  158  and to reduce the chances of data congestion and bottleneck. Security process  216  provides a basic level of encryption on the data packets that leave the smart router  50  to ensure that the data is secure from inside or outside intrusion. Program upload process  218  allows application  164  in the primary network processing system  152  to be replaced on the fly by downloading new code into the flash memory  160 .  
         [0041]    Traffic separation process  220  identifies the data destined for the room devices  18  or  30 , room gateway  28 , PMS  74 , Internet  80 , etc. by monitoring data provided by a set of socket servers in sockets layer  200 , as will be described in further detail hereinafter. After the data has been identified, the traffic separation process  220  directs the data to its appropriate destination. Flow management process  214  ensures that the traffic is directed in an efficient and organized fashion by delaying the transmission of certain data while expediting the transmission of other data based on such factors as data criticality and expected delays.  
         [0042]    Sockets layer  200  includes a plurality of socket servers. Each socket server in sockets layer  200  is assigned to establish an assigned port for data from the TCP layer of the TCP/IP stack, and to handle data sent to that port. In addition, each socket server provides a basic security feature. The following TCP/IP sockets servers are found in sockets layer  200 : socket server  224  for PMS  74 , socket server  226  for an INNCOM or third-party peak-demand monitoring system (not shown), socket server  228  for remote server  84 , socket server  230  for ISP gateway (e.g., remote server  84 ), socket server  232  for other third-party servers (not shown), socket server  234  for CIS  70  or  88 , socket server  236  for configuration, and a socket server  238  for network address table (NAT)  184  management. Socket server  224  for PMS  74  ensures connectivity to PMS  74 . PMS  74  uses the link established by socket server  224  to send room status information (e.g., occupied/vacant) to smart router  50 .  
         [0043]    Socket server  226  for an INNCOM or third party peak-demand monitoring system ensures connectivity to EMS  32 . EMS  32  uses the link established by socket server  226  to send information such as outside temperature, humidity, etc. to the smart router  50 . Socket server  228  for remote server  84  ensures connectivity to the remote server  84 . The smart router  50  uses the link established by socket server  228  to offload data from queue  166  to the remote server  84 . The socket server  230  for ISP gateway ensures connectivity to the ISP gateway server, which is the remote server  84  in the present embodiment. The socket server  232  for other third-party servers ensures connectivity to any other servers. The socket server  234  for CIS  70  ensures connectivity to CIS  70 . Smart router  50  uses the link established by socket server  234  to transfer any legacy data (e.g., a CINET frame) received by the smart router  50  to the CIS  70 . Correspondingly, room gateway  28  requests from the CIS  70  are routed towards the devices  30  serviced by room gateway  28 , and device  30  responses are routed to the CIS  70 . The socket server  236  for configuration is opened to set or change various data in flash memory  160  or  172  of smart router  50 . The socket server  238  for NAT  184  management allows remote access to NAT  184 .  
         [0044]    In addition to TCP/IP socket servers  224 - 238 , sockets layer  200  includes an FTP server  240  for downloading changes to application  164  or  178  stored in flash memory  160  or  172 , and a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent  242  for use in remotely setting Ethernet switches  56  and  58  in LAN  55 .  
         [0045]    In an embodiment of secondary network system  154 , a stack of layers  250 ,  252 ,  254 , and  256  is known as the User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) stack. Processes in each layer  250 ,  252 ,  254 , and  256  can call on, or be called by processes  250 ,  252 ,  254 , or  256  in adjacent layers or by application  178 . Layer  250  is the sockets layer; layer  252  is the UDP layer; layer  254  is the IP layer; and layer  256  is the network layer. Network layer  256  includes a process or group of processes  258  that perform communications tasks according to the Ethernet protocol for communication with LAN  55 . Network layer  256  also includes a process or group of processes  260  that perform communications tasks according to the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) for communication with PMS server  74 . The functions of the processes in the various layers  250 ,  252 ,  254 , and  256  of the UDP/IP stack are well known in the art. Operating system  176  also includes various device drivers and a network layer process  262  for handling network layer protocols (e.g., the CINET protocol used in Inncom International Inc. commercially available guest room control systems) used in legacy guest room control system  126 .  
         [0046]    Application  178  in the secondary network system includes processes  264 - 288  to perform various functions. Process  264  is a laptop traffic management process, which allows microprocessor  168  to manage any traffic from guest laptop  20 . Process  266  is a legacy data management process, which allows microprocessor  168  to manage all of the legacy data (e.g., CINET frames) received on the secondary Ethernet port  112  (i.e., via LAN  55 ). Process  268  is a NAT management process, which allows microprocessor  168  to read and write from NAT  184 . Process  270  routes traffic to and from the various room devices  18  and  30 . Process  272  is a database image creation process that updates the room process image  180  every time the smart router  50  receives information from the room devices  18  and  30 . Process  274  collects information from the PMS  74  and the room devices  18  and  30  about the status of the rooms (e.g., rented or vacant). A UDP exchange process  276  receives UDP packets from the room gateway  28 , decodes the packets and routes the packets to the primary network processing system  152 . Process  280  acts as a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent for remote setup and maintenance of switches  56  and  58 . Processes  282  and  284  allow for automatic configuration of guest laptop  20 , where process  282  provides Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) binding of dynamically configured laptops  20 , and process  284  provides address spoofing of statically configured laptops  20 . In the former case, microprocessor  168  will act as the DHCP server, and mapped IP addresses will be provided by the ISP gateway (e.g., remote server  84 ). Process  286  provides information on the various devices  18  and  30  connected to the secondary network  54 , such as device type, connection status, and quality of connection. Process  288  provides a histogram of traffic in the secondary network  54 .  
         [0047]    As can be seen in FIG. 4, data communication between LAN  63  or modem  82  and LAN  55  or PMS  74  is accomplished at the application levels of primary and secondary network processing systems  152  and  154 . That is, data communication between LAN  63  or modem  82  and LAN  55  or PMS  74  is handled by applications  164  and  178 . As can also be seen in FIG. 4, data communication between portions of legacy guest room control system  126  is accomplished between network layers processes  209  and  262 . In other words, smart router  50  acts as a network layer bridge between portions of legacy guest room control system  126 .  
         [0048]    With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, the functionality of guest room control system  10  and smart router  50  can now be described. Communication between smart router  50  and devices  30  via room gateway  28  is performed using a series of query and reply frames (packets) using UDP as the link protocol. Each frame includes a frame header containing addressing information for a specific room gateway  28  and a specific device  30 , a frame sequence number, a control flag that can disable a reply to the frame, and a field that defines the type of the frame (e.g., query by smart router  50 , query by room gateway  28 , response by smart router  50 , or response by room gateway  28 ).  
         [0049]    Smart router  50  can off-load data to a device  30  via room gateway  28  by using a series of query frames with their control flags set to disable any reply. For example, when a guest checks in to hotel  14 , a desk clerk enters guest information into a terminal (not shown) connected to PMS server  74 . The guest information is stored as a record in the PMS server  74 , and the PMS server  74  provides the data to smart router  50  via serial port  108 . Room status process  274  receives the data via sockets layer  250 , stores the data in non-volatile memory, and initiates the transfer of room status data to EMS  32  by calling traffic separation process  270 . Traffic separation process  270  establishes a link with room gateway  28  over LAN  55  and sends frames containing the room status information to the room gateway  28  via LAN  55 . Room gateway  28  strips the header from the frame and determines the destination of the device  30 . Room gateway  28  then converts the data from the packet into a protocol understood by EMS  32  (e.g., Inncom International&#39;s IR5 protocol as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,792). EMS  32  accepts the data and acts according to preprogrammed, rented-status logic. For example, EMS  32  may switch the room heating or air conditioning system from an energy savings mode to a guest comfort mode. Room status process  274  periodically resends room status data to EMS  32 . Upon the guest&#39;s check out, the process is repeated with PMS providing the guest information to the smart router  50 , and room status process  274  providing the room status data to EMS  32 . EMS  32  accepts the data and acts according to its pre-programmed, vacant-status logic. For example, EMS  32  may switch the heating or air condition system from the guest comfort mode to an energy savings mode.  
         [0050]    Where smart router  50  requires a reply from device  30 , smart router  50  can query a device  30  via room gateway  28  using one or more frames having their control flags set to enable a response. Upon receiving these frames, room gateway  28  will strip the header from the frame and send the data to the appropriate device  30 . Room gateway  28  saves the frame sequence number in anticipation of the response. Upon response from the device  30 , room gateway  28  encapsulates the response data within a frame and includes the frame sequence number in the appropriate field. Upon receiving the frame, smart router  50  identifies the response using the frame sequence number and processes the response data from the frame.  
         [0051]    Devices  30  may be configured to provide an event message in response to some event within room  12 . An event message may include the opening of a door to minibar  34  or operation of door lock  36  by someone in guest room  12 , for example. Upon receiving such an event message, room gateway  28  encapsulates the event message into one or more frames. Each frame includes addressing information from the device  30 . Room gateway  28  sends the frames to smart router  50 , which uses the addressing information to determine the origin and appropriate response to the event message.  
         [0052]    The query and reply frames are also used to synchronize data stored in smart router  50  and room gateway  28 . Synchronization is performed periodically, as initiated by the room status process  274  in smart router  50 . Room status process  274  initiates a query containing a number of attributes (parameters) that impact on the operation of guest room  12 . These parameters are retrieved from the room process image  180  for the particular room  12  and from the hotel process image  182  for the hotel  18 . The parameters include, for example: rented status of the room, outside temperature, water temperature in the HVAC supply piping, system-wide energy demand situation, fire condition (i.e., if a fire alarm has been activated), central HVAC settings, and date and time. Data in the query frames are translated by room gateway  28  and provided to devices  30 , which use the data to configure room control settings. In response to these query frames, devices  30  provide data to room gateway  28 , which, in turn, provides one or more reply frames to smart router  50 . The reply frames contain a number of attributes that indicate status information from the guest room  12 . These parameters include, for example: occupancy status (i.e., if the room is unoccupied or occupied by the guest or by staff), do not disturb (if indicated by the guest), make up room (if indicated by the guest), butler request (if indicated by the guest), balcony door open/closed, entry door open/closed, room temperature, target temperature, air conditioning mode (e.g., off, fan only, auto), air conditioning fan speed, heat valve percentage open, cooling valve percentage open, and electric heater relays activated. Upon receiving the response frames, room status process  274  updates the room process image  180  for the room  12 .  
         [0053]    Hotel process image  182  is updated by input from PMS server  74 . Hotel process image  182  includes hotel-wide information such as outside temperature, water temperature in the HVAC supply piping, system-wide energy demand situation, fire condition (i.e., if a fire alarm has been activated), and central HVAC settings. In addition, the information in hotel process image  182  can be changed remotely from remote server  84  via VPN  86  router  66  and LAN  63 . Remote changing of hotel-wide information, in conjunction with the synchronization process described above, allows an operator at web browser station  90  attached to remote server  84  to alter the configuration of devices  30  in one or more hotels  14 . This feature is particularly important for a remote server  84  that services a number of hotels  14 . In this case, remote server  84 , by changing the system-wide energy demand situation setting, can change the power consumption in hundreds or thousands of rooms  12  simultaneously. In effect, remote server  84  aggregates these rooms  12  into a single power consumer. As a single power consumer, the operator of remote server  84  can negotiate with electric utility companies for better power rates in exchange for promising to lower power consumption during peak demand times.  
         [0054]    Data from hotel process image  182  and one or more room process images  182  are periodically provided by microprocessor  168  in secondary network processing system  154  to microprocessor  156  in primary network processing system  152 . This data is then stored in FIFO queue  166 . If the smart router is constantly connected to remote server  84  through LAN  63 , router  66  and VPN  86 , the data is sent immediately to remote server  84 . If the connection is of the dial-up type, smart router  50  periodically establishes a connection with remote server  84  via modem  82  and VPN  86 . This data can be viewed through web browser station  90 .  
         [0055]    In addition to receiving off-loaded data from smart router  50 , remote server  84  is able to provide data to any individual device  18  or  30  in room  12 . To accomplish data transfer to devices  18  or  30 , remote server  84 , smart router  50  and other information servers  64  are provided with a network address translation (NAT) table  184  such as that shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 5, NAT table  184  is a mix of static (persistent) data and dynamically acquired data. In NAT table  184 , “Room Address” is the logical room number, which is used as the real address for applications. “Wiring Address” indicates the port number of the floor switch (hub)  58  to which the room hub  16  attached. “Suite ID” indicates a grouping of room hubs  16  for servicing a guest suite. “CINET Address” indicates an address for a legacy guest room control system. “MAC Address” indicates a medium access control address assigned to a specific device  18  or room gateway  28  in room  12 . “IP Address” indicates an Internet protocol address for a device  18  or room gateway  28  (or an application in device  18 ). “Device Type/Status” identifies the device  18  or room gateway  28  and indicates whether the device  18  or room gateway  28  is present on the network. “IP Address Towards ISP Gateway” indicates an IP address for use by a guest laptop  20  (FIG. 1) for Internet access. The IP address in this field is generated by the ISP gateway (e.g., remote server  84  of FIG. 1) where process  282  (FIG. 4) provides Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) binding for a dynamically configured laptop  20  (FIG. 1).  
         [0057]    Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, when hotel  14  is being wired, the installer creates a list of room  12  addresses and the respective wiring address information for the room  12 . This information is fed into NAT table  184  through either a tool (e.g., an identification frame injected into room gateway  28  at the time of the installation) or through entering the data manually into the smart router  50 . Preferably, data can be entered into NAT table  184  though an information server  64  and then exported to smart router  50  via LAN  63 .  
         [0058]    The smart router  50  complements NAT table  184  with dynamic data. The SNMP agent process  280  in smart router  50  queries room hubs  16  with SNMP messages. The room hubs  16  respond with the MAC and IP addresses of devices  18  and room gateways  28  that are connected to their respective ports. The SNMP agent process  280  frequently polls the found devices  18  and room gateways  28  to monitor their presence—deriving from it a present/lost status, which is input into NAT table  184 . Information servers  64  and remote server  84  periodically access NAT table  184  using NAT management process  268  in smart router  50  to ensure that their copy of NAT table  184  is up to date. Information servers  64  and remote server  84  can then use the data NAT table  184  to address data to any individual device  18  or  30  in room  12 .  
         [0059]    Centralized guest room control system  10  provides high speed Internet access, sophisticated energy management, direct digital control, digital video-on-demand, minibar reporting, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, central electronic lock control, and a myriad of other services to the hotel and resort owner. Centralized guest room control system  10  provides these services to each room through a single wire, rather than the large number of wires previously associated with guest room control systems. Accordingly, centralized guest room control system  10  reduces installation and maintenance costs from those previously attainable using guest room services of the prior art. In addition, guest room control system  10  supports applications that depend on faster, unconditional links, such as digital video or a centralized locking system.  
         [0060]    Centralized guest room system  10  allows a single user at a remote server to control any number of hotels or guest rooms. Because the smart router, switches, and hubs are fully controllable from a remote location, centralized guest room control system  10  allows for remote diagnostics, restarts, and software downloads. Moreover, centralized guest room control system  10  allows any number of rooms to be aggregated into a single power consumer. As a single power consumer, the operator of centralized guest room system  10  can negotiate with electric utility companies for better power rates in exchange for promising to lower power consumption during peak demand times.  
         [0061]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.